 Heart's
Desireby Anna Furtado  Until Soon by Maya Indigal | Introducing
a new reviewer to The
Independent Gay
Writer... Arlene Germain is a former English teacher who currently lives in Massachusetts. She is a book reviewer for The Lambda Book Report [www.lambdalit.org], the Golden Crown Literary Society newsletter, The Crown, [www.goldencrown.org], the Midwest Book Review [www.midwestbookreview.com], and the Just About Write Newsletter [www.justaboutwrite.com]. Like any reviewer, I am sure that she would like to hear from you—either your thoughts on her review, or to submit a book to her for review in future issues of IGW. You can contact her, here. |
| The
Heart's Desire By Anna Furtado Yellow Rose Books ISBN: 1-932300-32-5 Paperback $15.95 198 pages The Heart’s Desire Anna Furtado’s debut historical romance novel, The Heart’s Desire, is set in England during the post-Norman Medieval Period, the early Renaissance. Henry VI is on the throne, and in the small township of Willowglen, Catherine Hawkins, the local spice merchant and herbal healer, is about to encounter the meaning of the book’s title. As she prepares for the annual Harvest Faire, Catherine notices a young noblewoman, Lady Lydia Wellington, staring at her from across the street. She is both captivated and confused. “That grey-green gaze had probed into the depths of her soul and left her overwhelmed with puzzling emotions.” [P.1] Soon they meet which leads Lydia to ask her aunts, the Ladies of Briarcrest, if she may remain after the Faire and learn more about herbs and spices from Catherine. Lydia and Catherine begin working together and a friendship is forged which promises perhaps more. Along the way, the reader meets Sarah, Catherine’s amiable and spunky young assistant, Isadore, a cleric with both a secret and an obsession, Lord Wellington, Lydia’s self-serving father, and the irrepressible Ladies of Briarcrest, Beatrice and Hilary. Through various trials and tribulations inherent in the genre of the historical romance, the reader is pleasantly swept along as each new conflict appears, as each new impediment to possible happiness occurs, and as the two heroines find purpose and resolve they never knew they had. Furtado has created a novel that is rich and vibrant in its authenticity. Having spent two years researching the period to insure the accuracy of the setting and the events, quite remarkably, she has reconstructed a vivid interwoven tapestry of everyday life, the social mores, and these unconventional women of the times. The descriptions of the ordinary workday scenes and of the beginnings of the “enlightenment” in Catherine’s Willowglen Township provide the reader with the opportunity to become part of the story, and this is especially important when reading an historical romance. The timeframe in which the action takes place must be again brought to life, dusted off, and given new insight and vigor. Furtado manages rather effortlessly to accomplish that. The section headings, no chapters here, inform the reader as the plot progresses through the use of place and time. It reads similarly to diary entries. The characterization is written succinctly and compactly, yet the reader never feels that Catherine and Lydia have been slighted in their increasingly dynamic evolution as determined, intelligent, and independent women. There is a good deal of internal dialogue for both of these characters, which, at times, seems repetitious. Occasionally, the diction of the period reads a bit imperiously. However, neither of these points detrimentally affects the storyline. The antagonists in this novel are not the typical mustache-twirling villains. They are not so stereotypical as to be nothing more than cartoon figures, which all too often people the pages of this genre. In fact, all the characters who live their lives on these pages are credible individuals with the same kinds of plausible hopes and aspirations as do those of us living in the present. The Heart’s Desire is Book One in a series entitled The Briarcrest Chronicles. The conclusion of this novel will very skillfully segue into Book Two. Furtado has a vision for this historical romance series, and her first published novel more than promises an admirable foundation. It strays somewhat from the formulaic historical genre, but this surfaces to be one of Furtado’s strengths. The Heart’s Desire uses an intriguing and innovative approach with wonderfully vital and fascinating women. This will surely compel the reader to enthusiastically, if not impatiently, await the next installment. |
Until
Soon By Maya Indigal Yellow Rose Books ISBN: 1-932300-31-7 Paperback $19.95 285 pages Until Soon Andi Marlowe is a twenty-three year-old graduate assistant in the English department and a part-time instructor at a small New England liberal arts school, Northeast Valley College. While making a bothersome yet obligatory appearance at another boring fundraiser, Andi meets Cara Jane Lipinski, a senior history major, who also happens to be CJ Lipinski, the senior star of the college basketball team. A spilt drink prompts the two women to strike up a conversation. Before CJ leaves the party, Andi offers assistance to CJ who is struggling with the completion of an important history research paper. Soon after, the basketball star is dropping by Andi’s office for some research mentoring, and she begins to realize that she is popping in for more than merely how to write a note card. There is a definite attraction for the beautiful graduate assistant. As the story progresses, Andi also realizes that her feelings for CJ go beyond simple friendship, and this presents a variety of conflicts for her as well as for those around her. The teacher/student boundary line, a spurned suitor, unpleasant memories of a past love, and an entirely unforeseen medical crisis are but a few of the troubling events that befall these two young women and which will affect the course of each woman’s life. Until Soon is Maya Indigal’s first novel, and it is undeniably an outstanding effort and worthwhile entry into the genre of lesbian romance. Indigal has meticulously fleshed out her characters completely and carefully. The calm and cautious Andi and the sassy CJ represent their age group quite well, but one does not need to be in that set to appreciate the uncertainty, the humor, and the vulnerability of these two very affable characters. CJ’s interactions with her roommates are often quite raucous and humorous, and her relationship with her teammates and her understanding of the word team ring true. The exchanges between CJ and her coaches also capture the mood and spirit of an athlete and a team that want to win that all-important championship. The plot development, overall, is straightforward and most definitely comprehensible. A series of events often flow effortlessly into each other with a distinct rhythm and purpose. However, the only thing that this reader found a bit excessively drawn was the extent to which the author devoted so much of the storyline to the recuperation scene. It was too repetitive of actions toward the last third of this event. However, when Indigal recreates that magical sledding scene, it is virtually a verbal snapshot of a wonderful time, on a perfect day, with that ideal someone. Conflict drives any story, and there are several struggles that present themselves for these main characters that fully involve the reader. In addition, this reader would have preferred more emphasis on the conflict that involved Andi, CJ, and Jen, the assistant coach. There is a fair amount of internal conflict and internal dialogue involving Andi and CJ. Unlike some other novels, Until Soon refreshingly avoids the often overdone, tedious, confusing, and mundane expression of this plot device. Indigal possesses an easygoing and comfortable writing style that is one reason this reader sat down and finished the novel in several hours. It is the sort of writing that deals with the kind of believable and common experiences that immerse a reader; it is a genuine “put yourself in their places” novel. Until Soon gives the reader that sense of having met some very congenial and agreeable people, the sort one would like to invite over for an evening of good food, drink, and conversation. Until Soon is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Maya Indigal is an author worth remembering. Here’s hoping she’s working on her next novel! |