Samburu Hills
Jennifer MuellerHistorical romance
Available from Chippewa Publishing
ISBN: 1-9333400-63-3
May 2007
| Celeste Reed, at age 18, arrived on the dock of Mombassa Island, British settlements, in Kenya, Africa; she was engaged to wed Lord Nicholas Marquardt, who had been a major in the Army and the ninth child of a marquis. He resigned his post when he became a landowner with 25,000 acres and a run-down house. Their home was a several hours ride from the nearest township. Celeste’s father assured her that he had arranged a good marriage for her; her father was the gameskeeper for Nicholas’ father. Immediately it was evident that he really was not interested in getting to know her, nor was he interested in seeing that she was comfortable. They married the next day and he left her quickly on their wedding night. This seemed to set the precedence that he would follow—go to bed with her, leave her and go to his “housekeeper” who knew nothing about keeping house! Understand?
And then…if that was not enough! He died! She was so upset; she knew nothing about the house, the acreage, or the customs. Nicholas had not acquainted her with neighbors or anything else. All he managed to do was beget an heir! And, on top of all that, she was broke! He had spent all his money to impress his friends, but left nothing but land and a house. Celeste was determined to make things work in her new home; when her baby boy, Anthony Thomas Marquardt, was born, she had even more incentive to make her ranch pay. And, while she was still struggling to make ends meet, she met Edward! Ms. Jennifer Mueller has done an incredible work telling this story. The plot is fresh, and the characters are strong. The more trying her situation, the harder Celeste worked to make the ranch provide for her, Anthony, and the workers who stayed with her. She also corresponded with a friend, and Ms. Mueller brought much information, essential to the story, to the forefront through the letters. This is a wonderful book; I highly recommend it. You will love it!
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Reviewer: Brenda Talley |
