Roanna Davenport was raised a wealthy orphan on her grandmother's magnificent Alabama estate, Davencourt, where she had a passion for horses, a genius for trouble,
and a deep love for her cousin Webb. But everyone expected Webb to marry their
ravishing cousin Jessie. When he did, Roanna's desire became no more than the
stuff of dreams-until the night Jessie was found bludgeoned to death.
For some reason, I love melodramatic books and no one does them better than Linda
Howard. I could and have read this one over and over again. I can't stand
Jessie or the other cousin. I both love and hate Webb. He's definitely an
alpha. The ending at times can be a bit much for me but I understood why he did
it. Protecting the family name and all that....
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle
Vikki,
Thanks for the reminder of just how much I love Linda Howard's books... I'll be re-reading this one and a few of the others. Her books are always good 'uns.
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
Yep yep
I discovered her for the first time a couple of years ago. I'm addicted the melodrama in her books.
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle
Hi Vikki
I haven't read this one in a long time but I have read it several times. I hated Jessie too and the other cousin. At first when Webb goes to get Roanna, I didn't like him. But of course he grew on me. I liked that, even though he knew how Roanna felt about him, he still had his moment of doubt about her staying around. The first time I read it I was a bit confused about the cousin thing but then after I didn't care.
Margie :)
hehe...
I was a little squeamish about it too, but it seemed that they weren't all that closely related. The reality of the situation is that I know a couple of people that got married last year that were related in the same way as Webb and Rowena. You can't be too squeamish about that in the South. I've been to more than one family wedding where I was asked Bride or Groom and I didn't know what to say.....
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle
That's funny. I know of at
That's funny. I know of at least a couple of sets of distant cousins to me. . . who married but they were first cousins. They had to move away because it was hard to be around their families.
Margie :)
First cousins...
First cousins are a little close to be getting married in my opinion, but second, third, or fourth....you're not really that related. As far as I can tell, Webb and Roanna's grandparents were sister and brother so that made them third cousins... There's no imminent risk of birth defects with third cousins.
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle
I agree. First cousins is
I agree. First cousins is ick to me but it is like not even being related when you are third cousins.
Margie :)
Personally....
I wouldn't date my third cousin...because it wierds me out to date someone that I'm related to...I didn't date until college because of that. I would come home from school and tell my mother that I thought so and so was cute. She would proceed to tell me how I was related to them and that would end that.
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle
Vikki, I agree. I would
Vikki,
I agree. I would never date a third cousin either. We have a very big family on my moms side with lots and lots of cousins, second cousins, third and fourth cousins. Most of us know each other really well and it feels more like I am auntie or first cousins to some of these who are thirds/fourths.
I know that there have been some weddings where my cousins have been eyeing some guys only to be told by their moms that those guys are related!
Margie :)
I come from a very small Southern town
If you're too particular about that (like me), you don't date. Seriously, my great-grandmother was one of 14 children and each of those children had several children. My dad's mother's family is very prolific with lots and lots of offspring so it was really hard to find someone that I wasn't related to.
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle
Vikki
That is too funny. I don't blame you for wanting to be sure it not a relative you get a crush on! My mom comes from a big family too. There were 12 of them. My grandma got a very early start so she was pregnant with many of her daughters. So, many of my first cousins are more my moms age and more like cousins to her while there kids are more like first cousins to me. At least half of her brother/sister have 7 to 10 kids and they all have at least 5 kids. Crazy! My moms bro/sis that are closer to her age, she is fifth youngest, only have 2 to 3 kids but it is the first batch that were like rabbits.
Margie :)
I don't know about you...
But it is the whole farm family thing in my neck of the woods. In my generation, the breeding slowed down to two or three kids, but my dad is one of 9. His mother is one of 7 and her mother is one of 14. We used to have annual family reunions so everyone knows everyone. It would just be awkward, I think.
Laughter is an instant vacation- Milton Berle