Series:
Dove Pond (Book 4)
When an antique tin of love letters is found hidden in
her family home, noted historian Tay Dove rushes home to Dove Pond to
investigate. Tay is still reeling from a romantic betrayal, so she's relieved
to refocus her energies on her latest project: a biography of her
great-great-grandmother Sarafina, a star reporter who began her career in Dove
Pond in the late 19th century before abruptly leaving town.
Tay believes the letters could be the key in solving what
happened, but they only add to her questions -- especially when they reveal a
forbidden love affair with William Day, a wild youth who took part in a
notorious train robbery. Some answers might be found in eighty-year-old Rose
Day's bookshop, which doubles as a town archive, but Rose is curiously
resistant to give Tay access. Just when Tay thinks she's reached a dead end,
she finds an unlikely ally in Rose's grandson, Luke, a fellow puzzle lover. Together,
they set out to uncover what really happened all those years ago…and find the
truth behind a love story that could be more precious than gold.
Good book about love and family. Taylor Dove is the
middle sister of seven sisters. Each of them has a special gift. In Tay's case,
she can touch someone's handwriting and instantly experience the feelings,
sights, and sounds of the person writing. This talent enhances her career as a
noted historian, frequently guiding the direction of her research. When her
sisters find an antique tin of love letters written by their ancestor,
Sarafina, Tay rushes home to investigate. She's happy about the distraction
from her recent breakup and intends to focus on writing Sarafina's biography.
The letters reveal a secret relationship with William Day,
a wild young man later convicted of participating in a notorious train robbery.
Tay's best chance of finding answers lies in the Day family archives in Rose
Day's bookstore. But Rose resists giving Tay access until Rose's grandson,
Luke, gets involved.
Luke returned to Dove Pond after he became the guardian
of his niece, Lulu. Luke is one of those people for whom life comes easy. He's
handsome, brilliant, and charming. He had a good computer job he gave up to
take care of Lulu. Now, Luke works with Rose and does some computer consulting.
There is a lot of tension between him and Rose as he tries to bring the store
into the twenty-first century and meets resistance from his technophobe
grandmother. He is also easily bored, so he begs Tay for the opportunity to
work with her, solving the puzzle of the letters.
The plot intrigued me and kept me turning the pages. Tay
researches her ancestor's career as a journalist in New York, but some of the
information doesn't make sense to her. The letters from William open new paths
of investigation into Sarafina's past. The reader is helped along by chapters
told from Sarafina's point of view. Tay and Luke's teamwork is terrific with
each bringing a different set of skills to the search. The tension rose as they
closed in on the "family secret." While the secret wasn't a complete
surprise, learning how they accomplished it was interesting.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Luke
and Tay. She reluctantly accepts his help initially, but as time passes, she
realizes he isn't the hindrance she expected. There are some great scenes of
them working together and learning to appreciate the other's insights. Neither
expected the feelings that developed between them, leaving Tay to decide if she
would stay in Dove Pond or return to her job.
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