Title: The Lady of Esterbrooke: Loves Journey Through Time
Author: Ann W. Phillips
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 9781543442489
Pages: 268
Genre: Fiction / Romance
Reviewed by: Gillian Pemberton
Pacific Book Review
As the daughter of the manager of Esterbrooke Plantation, Marla McIntire has lived on the beautiful South Carolina property since she was a teenager. She enjoys all aspects of her life there, especially caring for the animals, which include horses and barn cats.One day, after enjoying a ride on one of the horses, she meets a man near the plantation’s boathouse. She doesn’t realize, at first, that he is the son of the plantation’s new owners. She doesn’t make the best first impression, with messy hair and a bit of an attitude, but Lance Bridwell is still smitten with the young woman. Their first few meetings are filled with tension as Marla refuses Lance’s initial advances. But eventually, he is able to convince her that his intentions are pure. She warms up Lance and they embark on a slow-burning romance with lots of chemistry — however, their relationship remains chaste until after marriage.
The couple date and eventually marry, but a there’s never the cliché’s that comes along with a regular girl marrying into a wealthy family. In fact, their families blend extremely well, and it’s a refreshing change from a common trope. Lance and Marla build a strong relationship on a foundation of love, trust, family and faith. The years pass and the reader is able to enjoy the growth in the couple’s relationship as they manage and maintain the plantation, have children, and care for one another, their families, and animals. The pets, including horses, many cats, including a few very special ones, a dog, and eventually a couple of donkeys are a large part of their story. Through the life and death of their beloved pets and animals over the years, the author is able to tackle the difficult subjects of death and in a way that is extremely relatable. As an animal lover, I found the animals, their personalities, and the way they fit into the story to be absolutely delightful.
What started as a romance becomes something of a family saga. Children are born and grow up on the plantation, surrounded by a loving family. The family faces difficulties, like illness, death, and the ravages of hurricane Hugo, but show resilience and constant faith. In fact, it is this steadfastness and family unity that contributes to the theme as the story and characters are engaging and enjoyable, yet I feel the plot lacks a single conflict to move it forward. Also some of the dialogue is a bit wooden. However, in spite of its flaws, the book’s strength lies in its well-rounded and multi- layered cast of likeable characters. We meet Marla and Lance as they are just starting out and life and have the pleasure of following their evolution as their budding romance blossoms into an epic love. It carries the couple and their family through the years and the changes that they bring.
The Lady of Esterbrooke is a charming, heartwarming tale of a true love that spans decades. It’s sure to please fans of uplifting contemporary romance.
