Tarnished Hearts

In 1860 Trevor Shelby and Leah Reese are lovers who are thwarted both individually and as a couple. Trevor's sadistic father refuses to allow him to become a doctor; Leah's parents want her to wed, in spite of her own wishes for an education. Class also separates the two: Trevor's family owns a plantation; Leah's father is an overseer for Trevor's friend, Robert De Moise. Trevor must go away in order to set right the destiny of his sister, Bella, whom he has not seen for nine years; in his absence, the jealous Robert lies and tells Leah that Trevor has no plans to return and later fails to deliver a letter from Trevor in which he asks her to wait for him. Meanwhile, Leah's parents marry her off to a crude farmer, and before long she starts showing with Trevor's child. The Civil War adds to the torment of the separated lovers. Some elements, such as Trevor's father's decay from syphilis, have impact, and the initial chemistry between the lovers is sweetly convincing, but Cantrell ( Calico ) draws out her plot with artificial complications. Leah's interest in Tennyson and her affection for Trevor raise interesting questions about class, which are then avoided by positing that Leah is an exception in her family. (Feb.)