For Love of Two Eagles

Riefe again plumbs her Native American heritage for this lukewarm sequel to The Woman Who Fell from the Sky. That book's heroine, Margaret Addison, is an Englishwoman who came to the New World during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) to be with her French husband-by-proxy, only to discover his nefarious dealings. She instead weds Two Eagles, an Oneida chief who rescues her. As this novel opens, Margaret is living blissfully among the Indians, unaware that her father has hired the shady Seth Wilson to find her and return her to England. Meanwhile Blue Creek, the brother of Two Eagles's first wife (whom Margaret had accidentally killed) attempts to kidnap Margaret's new baby as an act of revenge. The kidnapping fails, but a murder occurs. When Margaret is told, erroneously, that her husband has perished in pursuit of his former brother-in-law, she sets out with Wilson for Boston, whence she will return to England. But--as savvy readers will have anticipated--true love triumphs, and Two Eagles is reunited with his bride in the nick of time. Lively dialogue and carefully researched period details somewhat save an otherwise improbable tale. (Mar.)