cover image Angel's Den

Angel's Den

Jamie Carie, . . B&H, $14.99 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-8054-4814-6

Carie, author of five romances for the Christian market, now offers fans a contrived story set in the early 1800s, the time period noted for exploration of the American West by Lewis and Clark. Carie's female protagonist, Emma Daring, daughter of a well-to-do St. Louis couple, believes she is about to enter into a real-life fairy tale by marrying “the most handsome man.” Eric Montclaire, though devilishly beguiling in outward appearance, swiftly reveals his dark inner side as Emma's new husband. Terrified and emotionally defeated, Emma secretly looks forward to Eric's upcoming travel expedition when she will find freedom from him. Too bad for Emma that Eric decides to take her along. En route, Emma discovers hidden strength and finds support from cartographer Luke Bowen, who sees through Eric's guise and vows to protect Emma no matter the personal cost. Though Carie's previous fiction titles have won accolades, this one fails to deliver the goods in either character or story. (Feb.)