Frostfire

Only readers prepared to dismiss common sense will be drawn into this implausible romance, the first volume of Ladd's ( Dreamsong ) projected Fire trilogy. In 1871 Tyler MacKenzie arrives in Chicago to hoodwink railroad magnate Gray Kincaid. Gray's Union regiment had deliberately ruined Tyler's family plantation, Rose Point; her father, bankrupted, committed suicide; and Gray then bought the plantation at auction. Tyler's plans to relieve Gray of enough cash to repurchase Rose Point are uncovered, and Gray, contemplating her attempted crime and intense loathing for him, comes to an unexpected decision: he'll marry her and give her the plantation. Tyler wears black to the ceremony and pouts until the wedding night, when she decides Gray does have his merits after all. They next travel to Rose Point where they confront family skeletons. Gray is a standard romance hero--wealthy, handsome, sexy; but Tyler, when she is not sulking, concocts outrageous schemes and beguiles the reader. Moreover, the tale is packed with subplots and supporting characters that keep the action percolating even when logic falters. (Apr.)