SILVER LADY

Two gifted people are drawn to each other along the coast of an alternate Cornwall in 1803.

Bran Tremayne has a gift—he has “perceptions and talents beyond what most people possess.” And in his world, this sort of gift is not well understood and is even hated by many people, including Bran's father, who abandoned him as a child. He was lucky to be adopted by a family that takes in gifted children and helps them thrive. Now, as an adult, he and his brother are working for the Home Office, using their gifts of intuition to assist their country in the pause between wars with France, when he’s surprised to find out he might be the remaining heir to the Penhaligon estate in Cornwall. He has no interest in joining the aristocracy or claiming his inheritance, but his gift tells him he should go because there’s something important he must see. When he arrives, it isn’t long before a random woman literally stumbles into his life and fulfills his intuition. She doesn’t remember anything about her life when they first meet, but it’s clear she also has a gift, and that there’s some sort of strange attraction between them. As she recovers her name and more memories of her life, her gift and Bran’s tell them both that serious danger is on the horizon, but that can't entirely distract them from their connection. Putney begins a new series with this book and, unfortunately, it has a slow start and remains uneven throughout. The idea of “gifts” initially adds an intriguing and slightly paranormal twist to a classic historical romance, but that begins to lose its charm as the story continues and every plot point hangs on them, leaving little room for the characters to develop well enough for readers to understand why they’re so attracted to each other. The book is agreeable enough and has a slightly old-fashioned appeal, but this isn't one that will attract new fans.

An unpromising start to a new series from a well-known author.