Josette

Roth’s third When Hearts Dare historical (after Alanna), set primarily in a thinly sketched 1857 New Orleans, thoughtfully—and sometimes ponderously—explores not just romantic and erotic attachments, but also the bonds of family. Cameron Andrews, still reeling from his wife’s and infant’s deaths two years before, discovers he has another child, 13-year-old Alexia. Widow Josette LeBlanc, Alexia’s mother’s sister, married a wealthy man to get out of the bayou, but in spite of her place in New Orleans she still feels isolated. With Alexia’s mother long dead, Josette believes Alexia could have a better life with her father, far away from the bayou and its dangerous denizens. Cameron and Josette connect immediately, and are soon overwhelmed by passion. The story builds momentum gradually, but sympathetic characters keep readers’ interest, and Roth gracefully weaves disparate threads together. The pleasure of the exploration of different kinds of love is occasionally marred by stereotypes, including an evil voudounista, and the setting lacks verisimilitude, but readers looking for more or less historical romance with a bit of spice will be satisfied. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Oct.)