"Does Anyone Have a Tissue?"

I had not read any of Laura Kinsale's novels before and I must say I'm pretty darn pleased that I chose this book as the first one to read. There are a lot of good romance novels out there but this one I consider one of the best in the genre. Why? Ok, well, because it made me cry. That is a rarity. Sure, I get into the books I read, some times too much. I laugh, I get scared, I get annoyed, but crying? Puh-lease.

Christian Langland, Duke of Jerveaux is a brilliant mathematician and a total rake. When a stroke leaves him permanently unable to speak, his family believes him to be mad and puts him in a sanitarium. The way Kinsale writes about the Duke's thoughts is fabulous. He is understandable and you can actually hear the disability he is up against.

Archimedia (Maddy) Timms is a self righteous Quaker who met the Duke prior to having the stroke through her father's acquaintance. Her father is a blind mathematician who was working on a project with Christian and Maddy had to accompany him on a visit. She has been brought to her cousins sanitarium to assist him with patients. This sanitarium turns out to be the one Christian's family has committed him to. She recognizes Christian and realizes he is not insane, he is just unable to speak.

Christian, of course, falls in love with Maddy while she struggles with her faith and her true feelings for him. Maddy assists Christian in his struggle to recuperate and get himself back into the world.

Flowers from the Storm is a very poignant love story that I would recommend not only to those who love a good romance novel, but even to those who don't necessary read the genre. It's just that good. Just make sure you've got a box of tissues handy.

Reviewed by Kathy Rollins
Posted June 13, 2009