I bought this book in a grab bag box from "Books Covered" in Woodstock, GA. The aim is to read it and then trade …

c. 1978

I've almost finished The Sudden Guest by Christopher La Farge, c. 1946, and Cooking Up Trouble by Molly O'Keefe, c. 2003. I have rolled the dice to see what is next and ta-da this is it!

"She made a great plantation her realm of fiery forbidden pleasures ... reckless sexuality .. an intriguing story" - Publishers Weekly.

I thought I would share a few passages with you from my collection...

Lady Claymond sniffed as their took their departure. "Australians. Good heavens, what an uncouth lot. I really do not understand what Tommy sees in them." p103
[Comment: only a New Zealander would giggle at this one. Aussies and kiwis like hassling each other.]

"Oh, John." She sat down again. The tears were beginning to hammer against her eyes. p311
[comment: These are tears of gratitude. It is a goal of mine to practice gratefulness for all I have and this passage reminds me of this.]

She was already clambering over the rubble [caused by earthquake], even in the gloom able to pick out the overturned billiards table, the grand piano from which all the keys had sprung like an army of musical ants, to lie around the instrument which had been their home, like so many tiny dead bodies. p354