Mailboat by Cade Haddock Strong is a contemporary, sweet romance.
Mail and other assorted package deliveries in the thousand island district of the north Lawrence River requires the dedicated effort of a postal boat. Wen Apollo is the latest generation of her family to travel the islands in all kinds of weather, delivering to all kinds of customers. She dreams of travelling the world, but can’t do that without leaving her isolated patrons in the lurch.
The Gage family who summers on their estate on Owl Island are rich and aloof and don’t normally associate with townies like Wen.
Estelle Gage has come early to Owl Island for the peace and isolation she needs to find herself and to finish writing the book her publisher has been waiting for patiently. One day while looking for fictional inspiration, she spies the real life and yummy Wen as she comes to the island for a delivery.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Wen and Estelle are both likeable characters who fall for each other almost instantly, and their relationship through trial and tribulation remains strong because they never give up on it. Neither woman is coy about their feelings, with both quickly acknowledging their attraction.
There are a lot of influences, mostly outside the two leads, that threaten to swamp their bond. The reader can see the storm coming for a while, and author Cade Strong plays her cards close to keep the reader on edge as the two women navigate personal insecurity, familial threats and dangerous conditions on the river.
It wasn’t clear how they were going to overcome everything, but I found the one constant of their love for one another to be reassuring and very sweet. Instead of the angst of does she or doesn’t she, the reader remains on the edge of their seat guessing how they will find a way to really be together.
The writing style is clear and easy to read, and the plot is straightforward with a clear goal without giving away too much too soon to the reader. Strong mentions in the forward of being sure to get the natural surroundings of the thousand island region right, and I did feel right at home in the boat on the river or secluded on the island with Wen and Estelle. The supporting characters, especially Wen’s lovely family, all have a solid part to play but never get in the way of the main story of the relationship.
Cons And Heads Up
None.
The Conclusion
If you’re looking for a solidly written book with good characters and a fun setting, this is a good choice. I enjoyed my time with Wen and Estelle and their families (well, one of them anyway).
Excerpt from Mailboat by Cade Haddock Strong
A rubber Zodiac dinghy rested in the hoist above one of the boat slips. It would have to do. She lowered it into the water and grabbed a life preserver from a hook on the wall. The door to the boathouse creaked as it rolled open. She fastened the buckles to the life vest and jumped in the Zodiac. It rocked heavily from side to side, forcing her to grab onto the nearby deck to keep from falling in the water. The small chunks of ice floating in the river were a grim reminder that this was no time to take a swim, unintended or not. She plunked herself on the wooden bench flanking the Zodiac’s stern, pulled the choke on the engine, and tugged the start cord. The little outboard started on the first pull. Estelle reversed out of the boathouse, shifted into forward, and steered toward the woman in her disabled craft.
“On my way,” she yelled as she closed the distance between them. The large wooden boat engulfed her dinky dinghy in its shadow.
The woman peeked up from the engine compartment and gave Estelle a broad smile. “Quite a mighty vessel you have there.”
Heat rose up Estelle’s neck, but not because she was embarrassed. She hadn’t been prepared for the soft blue eyes that stared down at her.
“Come on around by the stern and I’ll help you aboard,” the woman said. Under the circumstances she was amazingly calm. Her anchor seemed to be holding, at least for the time being, but the current was unrelenting, and if she drifted even a few feet, her boat would be on the rocks.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781642473742
Publisher: Bella Books
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