A Rare Story -- Wonderfully Told!
Finnea Winslet, born in Boston, has spent the last 19 of her 25 years in Africa with her father. When her father, a rubber tree farmer, dies of jungle fever, Finnea is forced to return to Boston ? to a brother she doesn't remember and a mother who abandoned her when she was six.
Because the area is wild and dangerous, an American named Matthew Hawthorne is hired to ride the African train together with Finnea. Hawthorne, infamous in the wilds of Africa, manages to terrify the other passengers from the car in which he riding. As they are scattering to other cars, Finnea arrives and sits. Although Hawthorne tries to scare her too, she is unfazed by his antics and unspeakably horrible facial scar.
As they are staring at one another, the train derails; Matthew saves her life by fighting to keep her alive until help came the next morning. By the time she finally awakens in a hospital, Matthew is gone. She assumes she will never see the man again.
Months after her ordeal and recovery, we find Finnea trying to fit into Boston society. After the freedom of Africa, the strict mores of Boston seem stupid and rigid. However, Finnea tries very hard to please her mother; her brother seems to barely tolerate Finnea.
Invited to her first formal dinner party, Finnea is stunned to see the incredible number of forks, spoons and knives arrayed around her plate. However, she has another shock coming ? Matthew is also at the party.
He seems intent on being as indifferent to Finnea as possible. However, when she creates a stir with a terrible social faux pas, Matthew saves her. Realizing that the heady society that her mother and brother move in will not tolerate much more from her, Finnea decides that Matthew will teacher her everything she needs to know of Boston society. As you might imagine, Matthew is underwhelmed with the offer. He refuses; he storms; he rants. The next day they start!
Before you imagine that this is a story of manners and Boston, it isn't. This is a story about 2 seriously damaged people trying to cope. We learn of Matthew's shattering story but later, we find Finnea's back story to be soul-searing.
The author did a beautiful job of conveying emotions. This book is definitely a keeper; it is the first book of a trilogy.
Dove's Way (2000)
Swan's Grace (2000)
Nightingale's Gate (2001)
