Dangerous Attractions

Young Genna Whitworth and Eli Blaylock were told as children that they were wrong for one another. She was from wealth and he a poor Conch boy. Yet their friendship was fast until one violent night of fire and death tore them apart. Seventeen years later they are reunited under quite different circumstances. Genna flees from the unspeakable advances of her cruel brother-in-law only to be shipwrecked and rescued by the man she believd dead. As Genna slowly mends, she and Eli rediscover their past attraction, while he battles against honor in the matter of his fiancee, the daughter of his mentor and benefactor. Author Colleen Easton knows how to tighten the screws of her plot, how to box in her characters until the reader can't figure out how things can possibly work out. No predicable outcomes here, rather there are excellent twists and turns.

It was a time of racial unrest in Indian Key, Florida as the Seminole Indians, intent upon violence, swept through the settlement with fire and evil intent. Eleven-year-old Genna Whitworth shouldered the responsibility of her father's death that night, accepting the unending blame of her mother and sister. She didn't know her childhood friend Eli Blaylock survived, or that he also blamed her for that night. Years later, fate brings Genna and Eli together again, laying them at cross-purposes and tempting their hearts.Jerimiah Hardy rescued the boy from a cistern, taking the twelve-year-old home to become part of his family. Eighteen years later Eli captains the wrecker that comes to the aid of a ship off of the Florida Reef. A woman, battered and nearly dead, captures his attention. Long ago he had decided that having answers to old questions would not matter anymore; that answers would only dredge up memories best left undisturbed. But Genna's presence stirs more than old questions for this man bound by honor and loyalty to marry another.Author Colleen Easton pens an entrancing historical tale in DANGEROUS ATTRACTIONS. Easton's masterful storytelling sweeps readers away into a world by turns romantic and gritty, always compelling. A bird named Heathen, complex loyalties, and unexpected twists keep the plot moving along quickly, pulling the reader into an almost forgotten world torn by racial differences and rewoven by ethics and honor. From the moment their paths cross as adults, Genna and Eli are on a collision course with destiny, forced to deal the repressed secrets of the past and the dangers of the present. Their characters spring vividly alive with rich description and an impressive background. Secondary characters likewise sparkle, from the stolid Jeremiah and his secretive daughter, to Eli's entrancing first mate. DANGEROUS ATTRACTIONS comes very highly recommended.

Set in the Keys of southern Florida in the years of unrest before the Civil War, Dangerous Attractions is as verdant and steamy as the tropical islands about which it's written. A culture of taboos and prejudices direct the life choices and paths of its exciting and well-written characters. Eli Blaylock, a Conch boy rescued at twelve after losing his father and brothers in a Seminole attack, strives to become worthy of acceptance, not only by his rescuer, Jeremiah Hardy, but also into the society which shuns his Bahamian bloodlines. Genna Whitworth is plagued by the guilt of her perceived role in the death of her own father, lost in the same Indian attack. Marred both mentally and physically by the trauma, she has never married and has remained emotionally safe, hidden in a private world of her beloved wildlife drawings. But now, the greed and avarice of a wicked brother-in-law has threatened even that small security. When a vicious storm and subsequent shipwreck throw Genna back into Eli's arms, the emotions, which boil to the surface every time the two old friends are close, jeopardize the honor and loyalty of both. Not only must this hero and heroine deal with the misconceptions of their shared childhood tragedy, but they must also face their current moral dilemma. Eli cannot go against his own pledge and the wishes of the now dying Jeremiah, a man who not only saved his life, but also educated Eli and helped him to start his own wrecker salvage business. Genna must, in turn, face her own sacrifices to regain her wavering self-respect.Dangerous Attractions is a well-woven tale, a balance of honor and morality versus the desire for a lifetime of true love. But at what cost? Colleen Easton has penned a story that tugs at one's heart while pulling the reader along through page after satisfying page. An eclectic and interesting cast of characters, including a foul-mouthed parrot named Heathen, each with their own issues, keeps the pace moving. A great read.

Set in the 1850's of Key West. Genevieve "Genna" Whitworth was from a Boston high class family. She met Eli Blaylock as a child. While her father studied the people and the area of the Indian Keys, Eli and Genna became friends. But a Seminole Indian attack changed it all. Neither knew if the other survived. Almost twenty years later, Fate put them together again. Genna had been living with her married sister. Her brother-in-law, Professor Theo Drummond, was an author of natural histories. Genna received no credit for her amazing illustrations. She never minded. However, Theo began slipping drugs in her drinks and trying to seduce her. Once he all but succeeded. Genna did the only thing she could think of, she ran. She wanted to reach her brother, Hans. Instead, she ended up shipwrecked and badly wounded. Eli rescued her. Eli had become a sea captain. His crew was in charge of the salvage operation. He was engaged to Abbie, who was from a prominent family in the area. Abbie took care of Genna as she healed. Eli and Genna still cared for each other and their attraction grew. Yet Eli believed Genna had abandoned him all those years ago and harbored hard feelings. He knew Genna was running from something or someone, but she would not share her fear. She became terrified when she learned Theo was en route to pick her up and take her home. Eli was determined to find out why. **** That is the main plot. The author, Colleen Easton (a.k.a. Colleen Thompson) keeps the attention of the readers by slowly revealing the horrors of the Seminole attack on that fateful night so long ago. In addition, secondary characters seem to have lives all their own! A few extra plots roll in the background making the suspense build to an even higher pitch. A seductive story that I highly recommend. This author is a gem! **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch.