"From the very first moment she'd set eyes on this man, he'd disturbed her thoughts... and haunted her dreams... making it impossible for her to think of anything else... He was offering her a way out of hher immediate problems, but her mind tried to reason, don't you think a lifelong commitment tied to him is taking thank you just a little bit too far?"
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Sealed with a Kiss by Carolyn J. Pollack Trafford Publishing
book review by Sherokee Ilse
In contrast to the popular dark, erotic Shades of Gray novels, this is a throwback to the more innocent, earlier romance novels. This is a sweet story line of an unlikely couple who find each other in a most unlikely manner. The setting is the Australian countryside and the outback, reflecting a simpler time and place. When the main character Peta becomes stranded one dark, stormy night on a semi-deserted Capricorn Highway ten hours northwest of Brisbane, the adventure begins. A stranger raps on her window and asks for help. Once the rain stops, does she pick him up and bring him to the nearest gas station or does she drive on due to her fear? The choice she makes eventually changes both their lives. As the road to town twists and turns, so does Peta's befuddled mind and her life. The mystery man keeps showing up here and there. Eventually, Peta learns his name and is intrigued by this charismatic gentleman. A sudden tragedy and a surprising proposal create dynamics that impact her relationship with a stranger.
The characters are believable and very real—Peta, a grieving woman, fairly alone in the world; and charming farmer Beale, who is on an important personal mission. Beale's surprise proposal of marriage—a marriage of convenience, not love—is understandable and very old-fashioned, at least by today's western cultures. Peta struggles with her feelings, "He'd never know the inner turmoil those few words had caused her love torn heart…" The tennsion to understand and love each other drives much of the book.
Many readers are intrigued by Australia—the dialect and scenery—which bring uniqueness to this novel. Learning about this part of the world is only one good reason to read Sealed with a Kiss, which is a fun and easy read.