Petals on the River

Falsely convicted of being a thief, lovely high-born Shemaine O'Hearn arrives in colonial Virginia from London on a convict ship and is sold as an indentured servant to Gage Thornton, a local shipbuilder in need of a nanny for his young son. Shemaine is relieved to have such a handsome and generous master and eagerly undertakes unfamiliar domestic tasks in Gage's rustic cabin on the edge of the American wilderness. Even persistent rumors that Gage was responsible for his wife's violent and untimely death don't trouble her for long. But as Shemaine and Gage struggle to deal honorably with their growing desire in such close quarters, they're beset by enemies, both nearby and from afar, who are determined to rob them of their newfound happiness. Woodiwiss's lush, leisurely writing and heartwarming story will fully satisfy many of her loyal fans. --Ellen Edwards