The Kahills of Willow Walk (Book) - 8/2/2009 11:00:06 AM
When I was a teenager, I loved to read Gothic romances like the ones written by Dorothy Eden, Victoria Holt, and Phyllis A. Whitney. The stories always seemed to involve a young bride who married a handsome but mysterious man who moves her into the family home--a sprawling mansion with an evocative name and secrets lurking around every corner. They were usually set in the 1800s, and I loved the descriptions of the elegant dresses too. THE KAHILLS OF WILLOW WALK reminded me of these beloved books from my past, but this book offers modern bonuses that will make it appeal to all readers.
The Kahills are a close-knit family with a richly emotional past that's filled with plenty of secrets, and author S.K. Hamilton reveals some--but not all--of them with perfect pacing as she sketches each character in vivid detail. Brother and sister Dawson and Katarina Kahill are immensely likable in their devotion to each other and to their beloved grandfather, Jedediah, a crusty old gentleman who will steal your heart from his first scene. Factor in Kat's blossoming career in fashion design--with some wonderful descriptions of dresses every bit as elegant as those from the Gothic novels--her courtship by a wealthy playboy aptly named Lincoln Wolf and the places he takes her in New York City, a trio of mentally unstable women who are all out to thwart Kat and Daw's happiness, plus ghosts from their past that they must finally face, and you've got a family saga to rival any I've read before.
And since I've heard through the grapevine that there's a sequel to this book coming soon, I'll be watching my Inbox with bated breath for the release notification so I can find out about those other secrets the author teased me with!
