A very special read, 01 Sep 1999
Living deep in the woods of Oklahoma, Mary Goode watches over her brood like a mother hen. Sometimes tiring of their game of Robin Hood, Mary nevertheless puts up with their antics for the sake of her brother Robin and his friends "Little John" and "Friar Tuck." Mary is the only family Robin has left and being what was termed in the 180os as "slow" he needs her more than he sometimes thinks.
Stumbling into their camp which the group has christened, "Sherwood Forest" is U.S. Marshall Shane Latimer. He's on the trail of a group of outlaws who steal from the rich and give to the poor and believe he has found who he's looking for. However, a run-in with a rattlesnake puts his plans on hold. As Mary tenderly and expertly cares for Latimer (who Robin has christened Will Scarlet), an attraction develops between the two. Shane fakes amnesia in his quest to infiltrate the band of outlaws - or at least to find out what antics Robin and his friends are up to. He believes them to be up to no good, but also believes Mary to be innocent of any wrongdoing.
Adding to the appeal of this story is Robin's romance with Little John's sister, Walks with Sunshine, who is also "slow." The author has created these two special characters with a great deal of depth and insight making them very real to the reader.
Deb Stover, whose forte has been her sensual time travels, makes the transition to historical romance in this doozy of a good yarn. Fans will also welcome the appearance of Sam Weathers from her 1996 time-travel, A WILLING SPIRIT. The great storytelling, tight prose, sexual tension, and rich characterization all combine for a very special book which readers will find difficult to put down once started.
Although a departure for Ms. Stover, STOLEN WISHES does not disappoint her legions of fans. Charming, tender, and absolutely fabulous, this is a keeper in every sense of the word.
Remarkable Deb Stover scores another winner, 25 Jun 1999
In 1888 Kansas, thirteen year old Mary Goode watches her parents die from a fever that she barely recovers from. At her mother's deathbed, Mary swears to take care of her simple-minded brother, Robin. When she finds him in an abusive asylum, he is telling the story of Robin Hood to a gigantic Indian and a midget. Mary rescues Robin and his men, taking them to a remote forest where they live peacefully together for the next eight years.
However, Mary's sibling and his friends live out their fantasies by thinking they truly are Robin Hood and his Merry Men, living in Sherwood. Unbeknownst to Mary, they rob the rich to give to the poor. U.S. Marshall Shane Latimer has entered Sherwood to arrest Robin and his gang. However, Shane is injured and Mary, known as Marion in these parts, tends his wounds. Shane falls in love Mary, but feels a duty to uphold the law and arrest the criminals even if it costs him a lifetime relationship to do so.
Deb Stover is renowned for her superb fantasy and time travel romances. She enters the historical romance realm as if she has been there forever. STOLEN WISHES is a great story that propels forward due to fabulous characters and the incredible interaction between them. Building a western romance on the Robin Hood mythos adds to the fun even as it demonstrates the guts and talent of the great Ms. Stover. Sub-genre fans will flock to their bookstores for this winning tale.
Harriet Klausner
