Lady of Milkweed Manor
Julie Klassen
Bethany House, Jan 2008, $13.99
ISBN 9780764204791
Her father may be a Vicar, but he has no soul as he throws his twenty years old daughter Charlotte Lamb out of his home when she became pregnant. She has no place to go except to Milkweed Manor, a home for unwed mothers.
Ashamed before arriving at the manor, Charlotte is further humiliated when she learns a former suitor rejected by her cold stern father as unsuitable Dr. Daniel Taylor works there. However, he proves a gentleman when upon recognizing her he promises not to reveal her identity. In turn she learns his secret and vows to keep it concealed even after he asks her to help him with a personal matter. Neither expected to fall in love especially since he is staff and she is a fallen woman.
LADY OF MILKWEED MANOR is a discerning look back to the nineteenth century in which single women were ostracized if they became pregnant while society winked at the virile men. The story line is more historical than romance even with a changing relationship between the lead couple. The insight into the era through what happens to a single pregnant female from her out of sight out of mind exile to the birthing to the goat/breastfeeding is fascinatingly profound, but also proves overloading at times and the ending seemingly impossible. Still this is a strong character driven tale that will appeal to historical readers.
Harriet Klausner
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