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House Call To The Past by Janet Elaine Smith
REVIEWED by Annette Gisby, author of Silent Screams
In the year 1713, Maria Hallett is seduced and abandoned by the pirate, Black Sam Bellamy. Pregnant, she almost dies giving birth to his son, but help comes in the form of a stranger, a stranger her father sent for.
Modern OB-GYN, Dr. Angus McPherson is on his way to a delivery at the hospital, when he is flagged down by a man in the rain and goes to help the man's daughter, who is weak from loss of blood after a difficult birth.
Angus soon comes to love the young mother, Maria Hallett, and agrees to stay in the past and marry her, to prevent her going to jail accused of witchcraft. Maria reluctantly agrees to the match, but warns him that her heart belongs to Sam Bellamy and she can never love another.
Can Angus ever win her love, when Maria is so determined not to forget her pirate? And what would happen to them if Sam ever returns to claim his son and his woman?
This is a fast paced, page turning book and I was eager to see what happens next. It is based on a true story, but some things have changed for the book, adding to the story of Maria Hallett, rather than detracting from it.
Maria starts off as a bit of a tearaway, but marriage and motherhood have settled her and her transition from child to young woman was deftly handled. The subplots inlcude family feuds and Maria's gradual acceptance by the community who were convinced that she was a witch.
The ending was a little abrupt, but it certainly intrigues and would make you want to know what happens in the sequel "Port Call To The Future."
All in all, a very good read.