Book Review-Petals On The River

Petals On The River
 Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Avon Romance
Paperback
Published Sep 1998
540 Pages
Colonial Historical Romance

Synopsis
A proud and spirited woman whose life was stolen from her ... A man of secrets accused of a terrible crime ... In a place of new beginnings their destinies are joined --- in a glorious romantic new work from the incomparable storyteller KATHLEEN E. WOODWISS

The fiery and outspoken adopted daughter of one of England's most formidable women, Shemaine O'Hearn has made powerful enemies. And now her adversaries have found a way to remove the hot-blooded beauty from her life of privilege: by falsely convicting Shemaine of thievery, and sending her in shackles to America, where she is to be sold in indentured servitude to the highest bidder.

In a bustling port city in the colony of Virginia, she becomes the servant of Gage Thornton --- a shipbuilder with a young child in need of a nanny. And despite whispered rumors condemning the handsome widower for the untimely death of his wife, Shemaine cannot ignore her desire for this caring, generous and enigmatic stranger who silently aches with his growing need for her --- even as grave peril reaches out from across a vast ocean to threaten their flowering love.

My Review
Summary 
When Shemaine O Hearn finds herself engaged, and falling in love with a wonderful man she thinks nothing could go wrong, everything is going right, but she has one person that doesn't approve of the match, his grandmother. So before Shemaine knows it, she has been falsely accused of thievery and is sent to America and sold into servitude for seven years. The ride on the ship was hard enough and she doesn't know what is in her future. Then she is surprised when she is sold to a Gage Thornton, who is a shipbuilder and in need of someone to care for his son and to cool and clean....Shemaine figures it couldn't get any worse now. Shemaine is surprised by how well Gage treats her, with courtesy and respect and kindness something no one has treated her since she was taken. So even though Shemaine misses her old life, she is prepared to start a new life with Gage and his son, and in Gage's arms finds "Home".

The Hero (Gage Thornton)
Gage, recently lost his wife and is alone in raising his son. Trying to build a ship, and working at his woodshop, doesn't have time to be with his son all of the time. So he decides he is in need of someone to take care of his home and his son during the day, and when he see's Shemaine on the docks, he has found his answer. Only he was never prepared for her sweet nature and innocence, or for the tender feelings he starts to have for her....and decides he wants her for all time...

The Heroine (Shemaine O'Hearn)
 Shemaine, grew up in a loving home and there learned everything she needed when she would have to take care of a household however none of what she was taught was how to deal with being captured and sold into servitude. But when she is sold to Gage Thornton, she knew her life would never be the same. Gage treats her with such gentleness and care, she is overcome and before she realizes it she starts to fall in love with him....

My Thoughts 
Petals On The River would have to be one of my all time favorite books from this author...one that I have probably read over and over....but its been a while since I have read it, and when I saw it in the library I just wanted to read this old favorite of mine. Petals On The River is such a sweet and charming story, and both Gage and Shemaine are such endearing characters you can't help but love them. Also one thing that I love about this story is how there is much more to this story than a mere love story, it has some difficult conflicts that both Shemaine and Gage have to go through, and there some suspenseful scenes that kept the story going...and I just loved the blossoming romance that developed between these two. And I just thought Gage's little boy Andrew was just charming and adorable.....Overall a loveable story filled with a charming characters, a exciting plot, and a love story that will make you cry, written by a Legend......A Sensational Romance!!!! 

My Grade On This Book 
5 Blossoms