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Review by Jodi Israel
Elaine Coffman again attempts to finish her Mackinnon saga in If You Love Me. But the book stands alone. This is the story of Margery Mackinnon, who as a child was captured by Indians and remembered nothing of her former existence save her first name. The year is 1857. William Woodville, Viscount Linwood, rescues Margery by purchasing her from the Crow, but his motives are not truly pure. At permanent odds with his father, Will could think of nothing more devastating to his family than to bring back to England his new wife -- a savage.
He does this with unexpected consequences. He abandons Margery to return to America. Though he correctly guessed his father's reaction, he didn't count on his mother Octavia who turns Margery into the toast of the town. Upon his return, William expects to find the same submissive girl he left and is quite surprised to discover the contrary.
Coffman does a marvelous job expressing Woodville's state of mind, though we principally follow Margery.
Margery and her mother-in-law are rich characters. Octavia's advice on marriage had to be unusual for her time, but is delightfully apt. This is a one-sitting story, so be careful if you start reading before bedtime!
Jodi Israel is an avid reader of romance. She can be reached at israel@faxon.com.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.
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