Saturday, July 5, 2008

Finding Fiona-Mary Fremont Schoenecker

Finding Fiona
Mary Fremont Schoenecker
Five Star, Jul 2008, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594146947

In 2005 in her hometown of Biddleford Pool, Maine, Maddy Fontaine obtains an eighth grade teaching position. With her widower father remarried, Maddy moves out of the only home she has known to share an apartment with her best friend Clare Chamberlain. She has also found herself attracted to artisan Patrick Donovan, the older brother of her student Rosemary and believes he reciprocates her feelings.

However, though she has problems with accepting her new stepmother Kathleen and has ended a relationship with a local lawyer, Maddy hopes to begin one with Patrick. He makes it obvious he desires her, but keeps a distance as his family is full. His father recently died and his other sibling is unmarried and pregnant and Fiona is missing having left home following a dispute with her dad. When Clare’s Tante Margaret informs Maddy that an accident occurred at Patrick’s workshop during a hurricane, she rushes over there. Falling debris hits her in the head; when she awakens she is in 1905 and quickly helps the town’s ancestors, but vows to return to her time to persuade Patrick they belong together, to accept Kathleen as part of her family, and to especially find Fiona.

Although the time travel and a to a degree the paranormal feel unnecessary as there is plenty of angst and anguish for each of the lead couple to cope with starting with FINDING FIONA, fans will enjoy this fine Maine Shore Chronicles. The story line is predominantly driven by Maddy who finds 2005 a year of major change for her; even more than 1905. Fans will enjoy the romance as her dad sums up love and this fine tale with a quote from Jeremiah “More torturous than all else is the human heart”.

Harriet Klausner

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