Always Love Those Tortured Heroes

I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago, which always means a lot of reading! I finally have some new books to add.

Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/26/06
Grade: 4

Finnea has spent her life in Africa, and is now returning to Boston to be reunited with her mother. She has no idea how to deal with Boston society. She is helped, reluctantly, by Matthew, scarred and troubled, who she originally met in Africa. Even though they’re both reluctant to let down their guards, they find healing with each other.

This book could have been so much better. The characters were wonderful, but the book seemed underwritten - as if parts were missing out of it. It seemed like the reader was expected to fill in the blanks. There are some wonderful scenes, especially involving the hero’s daughter and Finnea’s grief over her own child. The author does a good job at exploring the psychological backgrounds of the characters, and I always love a good wounded hero and heroine. But the individual pieces just don’t add up to a focused story. This isn’t her best book, but it’s worth reading.