The Letter

THE LETTER by Elizabeth Blackwell is a beautiful romance from the unique Harlequin Everlasting Love line which tells the story of a lifetime of love as a one character searches the details of her grandmother's life. The reader sees beyond the happily ever after ending of the romance genre though being able to witness a romance lived through decades. Cassie Armstrong finds a letter in her grandmother's quilting supplies, a passionate love letter written to her grandmother and signed by two initials, F.B. She was told her grandparents were childhood sweethearts so who is this mysterious F.B.? How did her grandmother end up with Henry, a man steady and calm in demeanor? Cassie hunts for the answers by exploring her grandmother Lydia's past and as she does so, Cassie questions her relationship to her fiance, Cooper Lynch. Cassie doesn't know how to do pleasure very well. She is all business 24/7. She doesn't even have time to plan her own wedding! She and her fiance constantly miss each other as they jet off to take care of business, but are they missing what is most important? Can discovering the truth about her grandmother, and in fact herself, make her look within to her heart's desire? As Cassie discovers the secrets of her grandmother's life, everything she once knew takes on a different understanding, including her own romance. Elizabeth Blackwell's gift of characterization shines in the main romance between Lydia and Henry. While Cassie hunts for the details of Lydia's life and the mysterious F.B. the reader becomes drawn into Lydia's life alongside Cassie. THE LETTER is a beautiful romance both in terms of the story itself and manner in which the author presents the story through parallel romances. The alternating narrative in creating a parallel between Lydia and Cassie, creating a depth of emotion that expands beyond a single character to another generation. The unforgettable ending is just poignant and tear-inspiring! Although the author has written several articles for magazines, this is her first novel and what an amazing debut novel it is! THE LETTER is a wonderful romance that warms the heart and brings a tear to the eye with the touching, unexpected detail at the ending. For readers who quilt, this romance is a must read!

I loved the characters and the plot had me turning pages well into the night. The best Harlequin I've read in a very long time. I can't wait until Elizabeth's next novel is out.

As a kid growing up in the home of her grandparents, Cassie Armstrong was embarrassed by Grammy's quilting so she never touched the supply box that she passed a zillion times until now. As she plans to move to a Chicago condo over looking Lake Michigan, she visits her Grammy's home. However inside the box she never stopped to look at is a mystifying desperate letter of love from an unknown (to her) F.B. to her Grammy; obviously this was not her grandfather Henry who felt action spoke louder than words. The passionate letter has Cassie thinking that her conservative grandmother apparently had a secret lover, whom she wants to know who he is and wondering whether Henry or F.B. was the love of Grammy's life. Cassie also begins to reconsider her relationship with her fiancé Cooper Lynch, more a trusted friend than a passionate lover. THE LETTER is an interesting romance that uses an old theme yet is made vividly fresh by Cassie's reactions as she slowly begins to understand Grammy's decisions to choose reliability over passion and learns just who F.B. is. Cassie makes this a delightful family drama as she finally comprehends what love is. A final twist wraps up a fine tale as Elizabeth Blackwell reminds her readers that even when they drive you crazy remember the reasons why you married them for its is the entire relationship that matters. Harriet Klausner