Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland

Title: LOVE FINDS YOU IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Summerside Press
December 2011
ISBN: 978-1609363130
Genre: Inspirational/historical romance

Lark Benton has been engaged for two years now to her love, Emerson Fielding. But Emerson seems to care not a whit for her, giving her gifts his mother picks out—even if they are the family jewels, and even if he is displeased she is getting them. But he refuses to be forced into picking a wedding date, until Lark threatens to call off the wedding. Then he rashly agrees to marry her in two months, but instantly regrets it.

When Lark’s cousin, Penelope, comes to visit, she is quick to approach Emerson, and she isn’t there but one evening when Lark and her brother catch her and Emerson in a close embrace. Lark is furious and instantly calls off the wedding, fleeing to Annapolis to recover from her broken heart.

Emerson refuses to accept the news of her calling off the wedding. He may not love Lark, but he doesn’t want the disgrace of a broken engagement—especially once he figures out Penelope’s true personality and motives. But does he have any hope of winning back Lark’s love when he killed it so thoroughly?

LOVE FINDS YOU IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND is a historical romance set just after the Revolutionary War ends. The betrothal was set on class, and not on love, but for some reason Lark did love Emerson. I can’t figure out why, because he was a cad and treated her absolutely horribly in the beginning. I had the misfortune of being engaged to a man like that, and am eternally grateful that relationship ended and I married a man who loved me.

Perhaps that event colored my opinion of this story, but I would have liked it if Lark had kicked Emerson to the curb and never gave him the time of day after that. But even in the note returning her engagement ring and his family jewels, she was as sweet and unassuming as she was elsewhere. A true heroine. My heart broke for her. It was a pleasure watching as Emerson tried to redeem himself and grow into the hero he should have been at the start. By the end of the book I was cheering for this couple.

Ms. White’s writing style is true to the time period she chose, using the historical method of speech and not the more modern terms used in some historical fiction. She has an engaging voice, one that keeps the reader captivated whether she likes the hero in the beginning or not. If you are looking for a good historical romance with characters that make you care, then LOVE FINDS YOU IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND is a book you should consider. 313 pages. $12.99.