Ambitious, willful young woman defies the leaders of their strict Dutch community then fights to follow her dream and protect a child no one wants.
Josef ignored his daughter’s near collapse. “The gossips ruminate over your willfulness and aired ambitions. They warn The Elders I allow you too much privilege. You must prove them just that, rumormongers, without foundation.” Josef grabbed up the newspaper and strode across the room. “As for this marriage offer,” he declared, “I, too, wish to bind our interests.” “I have a right to choose my own future,” Josefina called after his departing back. “Your only ‘right’ is what I grant you," Josef countered over his shoulder. At the archway he stopped and turned around. “Do not make a fool of me, daughter. You know very well I never engage in idle threats. Such folly would not be worth your grief suffered.” His glacial blue eyes never wavered.Josefina froze.
Excerpt
The stone mansion rose like a sacrifical altar in the midst of the green patchwork fields. Inside Josefina squared her shoulders and glared into Father's cold eyes. "I cannot do what you ask."
"Ask?" Josef bellowed. Mine is not a request.You will carry out your part as I command or you will remain locked in this house until your teeth rot and your hair hangs in wisps."
The danger of her platinum curls paling into transparent shreds seemed absurd. I can never live the life Father and The Church demand.
Professional Reviews
Mayra Calvani Review
The Pawn
By Nancy Minnis Damato
Wings ePress, Inc.
www.wings-press.com
403 Wallace Court
Richmond, KY 40475
Copyright 2005
ISBN: 1-59088-602-X
Trade Paperback, 384 pages
General Fiction/Historical
First book of the Taylor Family series
The Pawn is an intricately plotted historical novel about ambition, greed, deceit and revenge. It is the story of Josefine Taylor, an intelligent, wilful, beautiful woman who pays dearly for her ambition and dreams of richness.
Though Josef Taylor, Josefine’s father, is an extremely wealthy man who belongs to the Council of Elders and partly owns Worldwide Bank, sixteen-year old Josefine lives a strict, Spartan life where parties, fun and luxuries are rejected, and where daily prayers and hard work are strongly imposed. The problem is, she wants much more. She dreams of magnificent ball gowns and diamond jewellery, and, more importantly, of taking an active role in her father’s banking business. Josef Taylor, however, has other plans for her. He wants her to marry a much older man to consolidate the family business, never taking into account that Josefine is completely in love with another man.
Rebellious and inexperienced, and blinded by greed, Josefine makes the mistake of her life when she accepts Francois duc LaFevre’s “indecent” proposal. Her mistake sends her into a vortex of misery, suffering and pain like she couldn’t possible have imagined in her wildest dreams. She loses everything, including those most dearest to her.
Only two things keep her moving—her absolute adoration for her small daughter, and revenge. Using her banking knowledge and talents, she develops a careful plan to take control of Worldwide Bank while keeping her identity incognito.
Will she be able to rise to the top and make everyone who hurt and deceived her pay? If yes, at what cost?
The novel, which mostly takes place in St. Louis during the late 1800’s and moves across the span of almost two decades, draws the reader immediately into its suspenseful web and interesting cast of characters. Like a Scarlett O’Hara, Josefina comes across beautifully as a genuine human being with both admirable and damnable qualities. The narrative and dialogue are engaging and always keep the story moving at a fast pace. Some aspects of the plot will affect the reader at an emotional level. This is the kind of novel that, in spite of its length, most readers will want to finish within a few days.
Readers of historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy this book. Highly recommended.
TCM Review
Reviewed by Tami Brady
Josephina Taylor must make a decision that will determine her future. Francois ducLaFevre has chosen Josephine as the mother of his heir. Life with Francois would ensure Josephina a life of luxury, a life of power, wealth, and status that would make her father proud.
But Josephina is torn. She is in love with Jacob Levinia Broderick. Life with Jacob would ensure that Josephina would have a passionate love affair, a life of near poverty, and the wrath of her father. Should Josephina choose her family or the love of her life?
The Pawn is a complexly woven web of power, privilege, scandal, and intrigue. Though at first the storyline seems pretty simplistic (girl has to choose between love and money), the plots becomes quite complex as the reader begins to learn about the various characters and their intentions. The various interactions (hidden and outright) create a really well crafted story with depth that quickly draws the reader into the action. The reader can’t help but wonder who is actually being genuine and who has a hidden agenda not yet revealed.
Romance Studio
The Pawn is a marvelously written, innovative, intricately woven epic of a family. It is thought provoking and emotional. I look forward to the sequel. 5-hearts MUST BUY
Autumn 1940. Germany invades Britain. Newport is blitzed. Danny O’Shea’s house is bombed, his wife is killed. While taking his young son Adam to neutral Ireland, they witness an attack on a German convoy. The result is brutal.
Based on the memoirs of a Pearl Harbor survivor. Letters from two pen pals take the reader on a journey into the past, a past where nightmares came true, and when hatred reigned.
Shanghai Escapist grabs the faint-of-heart right from the get-go and serves up an ultimatum: What would you do if caught in the same circumstances? From the opening scene, the reader is tossed into the maze of daily intrigue as it existed in 1960s-70
