"Satisfying quick read by Jackson"

Jackson came up through Silhouette Special Editions and currently does a lot of suspense but her early works show great merit. This one was first printed in 1986, and it shows ﷯﷯﷯dating﷯﷯﷯, but still holds up rather well. She had a strong pattern in SSE, the woman who had been done wrong and left behind. THE man returns some time later and they have to come to terms with the past. I have all her works, and think she is one of the best writers to rise through SSE ranks. Jackson is a strong, emotional writer and always delivers on that level, but there are a few flaws in this particular one. Still, if you are a Jackson fan, as I am, you will want to read this one.

I just found this Jackson title a little off her perfect tempo, due to the heroine just accepting the treatment she received eight years before. She just accepts he married another, leaving her hanging without word then let him right back into her life. It seemed forced.

Savannah Beaumont, rich daughter of a horse breeder, grew up with Travis McCord, loving him first as a child would a brother, later as a woman would a man. Travis declares his love to her in his mind. One night when drunk, he gives into his passion for 17-year-old Savannah, promising to come to her later. Instead, she is greeted the next morning with the news that Travis is marrying Melissa. During the next eightyears, she barely sees Travis. He wanted to explain why he was forced to marry Melissa. It really causes you like Travis a lot less. Also, that Savannah's brother-in-law strikes her nine-year-old nephew and everyone just warns him "not to do it again" shows a dated attitude toward what is and is not acceptable in child abuse.

Now Travis is back demanding Savannah accept his excuses, saying he is going to change everything at the horse farm. Savannah is distressed by the situation. Someone is stealing from the farm, someone is stealing from Travis and he is going to put a stop to it. It's all clear with no mystery here except to Savannah.

You like Savannah, feel for her. But her too easy acceptance of the striking of her nephew and her too easy acceptabce of the betrayal of Travis undermines Jackson's strong writing.

Despite the flaws, Jackson makes you feel for people that are less than perfect, paints vivid characters (though dated). Considering this work is nearly 20 years old, we can forgive a few bumps in an otherwise good read.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted September 29, 2004