Never Say Never

I will not rehash a review of the story - others have done an admirable job of this. Suffice it to say that Ms. Power is an author whose style is unique. She is not afraid of making her readers think even as they fall in love with her characters. The world she draws is complete and compelling, dragging you into her characters' lives and making you feel as though you are looking over their shoulders. The love scenes are powerful and intensely sensual - they burn the pages. Her American Beauties trilogy is a series not to be missed!

In 1880 London, Lord Bryce Falconer has new reasons to loathe his former spouse, American Beauty Colleen VanderHorn. It is bad enough that he fell in love with her, only to have her cheat on him with a succession of lovers before he ended their farce of a marriage. Now she goes over the top by abducting their child, Ford, demanding money for the lad's safe return. Bryce knows he needs help and turns to Colleen's younger sister Augusta, who has helped him before with his ex-wife's scandals. Gus has secretly loved Bryce for the five years she knows him, but he treats her like a younger sister. As they search for the missing child, whose life they fear from Colleen's latest lover, an Irish freedom fighter, Bryce falls in love with Gus. However, they both know nothing can come of their love because God and country treat any marital relationships even between ex in-laws as taboo. Though this stupendous Victorian romance series is over, readers will shout to author Jo Ann Power for more tales about the American Beauties. All three novels (see NEVER BEFORE and NEVER AGAIN) are warm historical romances that bring to life a piece of the Victorian era. NEVER SAY NEVER is a fine work due to a fast-paced story line filled with authenticity and the forbidden love of the lead characters. It is to be hoped that, Ms. Powers will read her own title and scribe future works, starring other American Beauties.Harriet Klausner