Winter of the Heart
by E. G. Parsons

A historical romantic novel, set in the USA of the post civil war era.

A young woman applies for a job as teacher on an estate in South Carolina, but gets more than she bargained for. Her employer is similarly affected, a grim mask soon falling off as romance blossoms. Both, however, have a past and it soon comes back to haunt them, and in one case claim them. Or will it?

A nicely written story, which captivates the reader right from the start. The scenes are described with great clarity in the historical backdrop of those years in the 19th century.

The story benefits greatly from a good characterisation, on both sides of the spectrum of good and bad. The parallels between the two central characters, which lie central to the story, are uncanny but appear by no means contrived. A momentum is always maintained in this story, even when there is little activity due to the conditions on the ground.

The eventual outcome provides closure for both the main personalities, and hope for a third – I am looking forward to the sequel in 2010.

E.G. Parsons has written a great story, one that shows a deepening and progression in her writing.

I wish Winter of the Heart well.

Guido Blokland

http://atlantic-lines.blogspot.com