A Silent Ocean Away
DeVa Gantt
Avon, Oct 14 2008, $13.95
ISBN: 9780061578236
In 1836 eighteen years old Charmaine Ryan is euphoric to leave behind her hateful father, the Harrington family who she worked for three years, and her impoverished life in Richmond, Virginia to start over as a governess to the wealthy Duvoisin family. Thus she sails on the Raven heading to the three West Indies islands Les Charmantes. She meets on the ship, Paul Duvoisin, the illegitimate son of family patriarch Frederic.
On the isles she meets the rest of the family to include the reclusive Frederic, his young breeder trophy wife Colette, his heir John (born of his first late wife) and his three young children from his second marriage whom Charmaine is in charge of. She thinks she has found paradise but soon realizes each has dark secrets and enemies. Charmaine begins to help the entire Duvoisin dynasty not just her charges cope especially when Machiavellian schemer Agatha Ward plans to replace Colette as the spouse, but with no brats.
More a historical epic than a romance, A SILENT OCEAN AWAY is an engaging family drama starring a heroine whose coming of age takes her from naïve admirer to pragmatic defender. The vast cast is strong so that key players are fully developed and secondary characters add depth to the plot. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this fine West Indies early nineteenth century saga.
Harriet Klausner
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