Review: Big story in a small package
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 16, 2013
DANIEL'S DESIRE surprised me in several ways, all of them pleasant.First, the story is full-bodied for a novella. Though it's a quick read, the two major and several minor characters are fleshed out more than one might expect in a shorter story. The plot, too, is satisfying, and the romance doesn't take any shortcuts. Readers who enjoy Civil War-era stories that don't actually deal with the war should enjoy this tale.Both the hero and heroine are out of the ordinary. Daniel, a Rebel officer who escapes from a Yankee prison camp at the story's outset, seems a bit detached and unfocused at first. Then he encounters the heroine's children, and his response is absolutely heartwarming. This is a hero worth rooting for: Strong and self-sufficient, he nevertheless leads with his heart. Life in a Yankee prison camp was a cakewalk compared to caring for three pre-teen, fatherless children. Readers can't help but smile as Daniel takes over the kids' care while their widowed mother recovers from a life-threatening injury.Heroine Rosemarie isn't as easy to like at first blush. She's tough and determined, though physically a mite "off" for most of the story after accidentally chopping her leg instead of firewood. Abrasive during the first few chapters due to fever and worry, she grows on readers gradually. By the end, she's a force of nature and as worthy of applause as the hero.The children steal the show. From the eight-year-old boy desperately trying to fill his late father's sizable shoes to the middle child's faith that Daniel will take care of everything and the baby's huggable cuteness, the kids are well-drawn and complete as individuals. Some readers don't care for children in romances, but this small herd is pure delight.A recommended read for those who enjoy R-rated romance. There are no explicit love scenes, but that doesn't mean there's no heat.(Disclosure: I received a pre-publication copy of DANIEL'S DESIRE from the author in exchange for an honest review.)