Which Way Did She Go?
Perkovich populates her novel with richly drawn characters, each unique and interesting in his own way.
A runaway bride, a handsome businessman, and the looming threat of an evil fiancé on the hunt: the perfect recipe for a great weekend read. In Beth Perkovich’s Which Way Did She Go?, the excitement of a historical romance novel is ramped up with the added touch of a suspenseful thriller.
At the end of the eighteenth century, Evie Logan is the daughter of a rich business owner in Philadelphia dreading her arranged marriage to another rich business owner, William Douglas. When she discovers William’s dark side and plans for using her to get what he wants, she flees to a small mining town in Colorado and takes a job as a cook. Unbeknownst to her, she ends up working for her fiancé’s cousin, Jackson, and his two best friends, a lucky twist since they despise William as much as she does. As they plot to foil William’s attempt to get Evie back, Jackson finds himself falling in love with the little redhead. Now they both stand to lose something if William succeeds.
Perkovich populates her novel with richly drawn characters, each unique and interesting in their own way, from the large, but sweet, Henry with his “aw shucks, ma’am” personality to the sophisticated French madam who runs the local brothel. This, combined with detailed descriptions of the setting, makes it easy to fall into the story as though visiting a real place with real people, one worthy of return trips.
Best of all, with her heroine, Perkovich does an excellent job of balancing 1890s social norms with a modern sense of how women should be. Evie seamlessly fits into her time, taking on traditional roles of cooking and cleaning, while maintaining independence and a feisty attitude that proves she’s nobody’s doormat.
One minor problem with the story involves pointing out the main characters’ flaws too often in the first part of the book. There are a few too many references to Evie talking too much and Jackson acting like a jerk to her, to the point where it begins to make the characters unlikable.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable novel with fun characters and an interesting plotline. It’s a perfect summer read for the beach or just a mental escape from a stressful day, and Perkovich’s talent makes her an author to remember.
Reviewed by
Christine Canfield
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
