Someone apparently wants her dead.

The couple is supported by many happy, loving, committed family members. Parents and siblings all believe in family values and the power of love. Everyone is anxious for them to start a family of their own. The real drama does not begin until halfway through the book. Christian’s fortune telling grandmother, Socorro, foresees lies, betrayal, even death, early on. But we do not really meet the sinister characters until later.

Dosha’s old love does not want to let her go. Christian’s cousin, up for the same job promotion, plots to remove his rival. A sulky servant girl and a controlling social diva have significant roles. The real circumstances surrounding the death of Christian’s first wife are only hinted at until the story’s end. Then the truth behind this story of multiple murders is explained.

Romantic Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain, provides most of the setting. Christian is the son of a Brown Baby (the offspring of a Black WWII GI and a European woman), but this really has little impact on the multicultural tale. Only his cousin Francisco seems to care about his mestizo heritage. Christian is haunted by the circumstances of his first wife’s death. Isabel hurt him deeply, and now Dosha is bringing him new happiness. But he finds it difficult to reveal the truth to his new bride.

The physical attraction and lovemaking are tender and explicit. Dosha and Christian adore each other. Perhaps a little doubt and conflict would have made the romance more interesting.

There was, however, a good deal of suspense in the mystery. The real murderer -- and the actual murders -- are not revealed until near the book’s conclusion. Perhaps the author could have developed the killer’s motives a little more, but this is a highly readable story of true and forever love.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
November 18, 2007