Forever and a Day

Scattering quotes and scenes from Alfred Noyes's poem ``The Highwayman'' throughout lends Rinehold's story a touch of magic that she undermines with a plethora of period trivia. Betina Wells, the daughter of a Wyoming landowner, is the reincarnation of the ``landlord's black-eyed daughter,'' whose love for the highwayman resulted in her death. In this ``sequel'' to the poem, Dante, the highwayman, remains suspended in time until Bess lives again. When Betina arrives in England in 1878 to claim her inheritance, strange occurrences and Dante's overwhelming presence convince her that they are the original ill-fated lovers. While Dante ponders the mysteries of telegraphs, suffragettes and bustles, the arrival of a villain leads to a jarring repudiation of the reincarnation theme. Despite the problems, aficionados of time travel and paranormal romance may find the resolution satisfying. Ultimately, though, this is an interesting premise gone awry. (Feb.)