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It has always been a burden for quiet, level-headed Tess Lanier to be the daughter of Nina Lane -- the gifted and tormented author who died soon after Tess's birth. Determined to be nothing like her exuberant mother, Tess, a collector of antique lace, lives in California, safe and anonymous, far from theKansas town her family once called home, where Nina penned her extraordinary stories. But when her dying grandfather asks her to go back, she cannot refuse. And on the banks of the Missouri River, she meets Ned Ravenal, a vibrant man who is living his dream, excavating a paddlewheel steamboat that sank one hundred and fifty years ago. Tess had family on that boat, and Ned uncovers their secrets that, in turn, unlock the mysteries of Nina's life. No longer afraid of the past, Tess discovers in herself spirit, passion, and richness as intricate as her lace.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 29, 2026
3, maybe 3.5 stars. The most disappointing of Ms Seidel's books that I've yet read, although it wasn't horrible. Just a bit underwhelming. I quite liked the idea of the FMC. Tess was the daughter of a famous fantasy author with crazy megafans, who had died when Tess was only 3 months old. Raised by grandparents, Tess lived a quiet, low-key life, avoiding publicity. Then she inherited some money and decided to move away and make some changes in her life. All good, and I was looking forward to Tess's story developing, and her blossoming into a bigger, more interesting life. Sadly, that never really happened. Sure, she learned a lot about her past, but she still felt low-key and lacking passion right till the end of the book. It all felt a bit meh.
The MMC, Ned, also started off interesting. A historian but also an engineer, who was excavating a paddle wheeler that went down in the Missouri River in the 1800s, and was now buried in a paddock after the river changed course. (Apparently this was all based on a real excavation of the paddle wheeler 'Arabia'.) I enjoyed this aspect of the story for most of the book, till it started to drag a little in the later section, when nothing much ultimately happened, and Ned and Tess's 'romance' was struggling forward at the pace of a slow snail.
That was one of the main problems with the book for me. I don't mind a clean read, but I was looking for some actual romance. Sure, Ned and Tess ended up together, but there was so little romance in the book it could hardly be called a romance.
The other problem was that the author delved (unnecessarily) into the paranormal in this book, the first time in any of her books I've so far read. Tess on several occasions was hearing voices from her dead ancestors, telling her what 'really' happened. WTAH?? I hear dead people. Really???? And Ned understood and believed her. *shakes head* This was a big 'no' for me. I actually enjoy well-written fantasy and paranormals, but that's not what this book was. I'm not really sure how to classify the book, actually. The paranormal was only a fairly small element, but it just didn't work for me. It felt ridiculous and unbelievable, and each of the few times it occurred I rolled my eyes.
So, interesting characters, an interesting setup, but overall not a very satisfying read.
The MMC, Ned, also started off interesting. A historian but also an engineer, who was excavating a paddle wheeler that went down in the Missouri River in the 1800s, and was now buried in a paddock after the river changed course. (Apparently this was all based on a real excavation of the paddle wheeler 'Arabia'.) I enjoyed this aspect of the story for most of the book, till it started to drag a little in the later section, when nothing much ultimately happened, and Ned and Tess's 'romance' was struggling forward at the pace of a slow snail.
That was one of the main problems with the book for me. I don't mind a clean read, but I was looking for some actual romance. Sure, Ned and Tess ended up together, but there was so little romance in the book it could hardly be called a romance.
The other problem was that the author delved (unnecessarily) into the paranormal in this book, the first time in any of her books I've so far read. Tess on several occasions was hearing voices from her dead ancestors, telling her what 'really' happened. WTAH?? I hear dead people. Really???? And Ned understood and believed her. *shakes head* This was a big 'no' for me. I actually enjoy well-written fantasy and paranormals, but that's not what this book was. I'm not really sure how to classify the book, actually. The paranormal was only a fairly small element, but it just didn't work for me. It felt ridiculous and unbelievable, and each of the few times it occurred I rolled my eyes.
So, interesting characters, an interesting setup, but overall not a very satisfying read.
May 5, 2026
I love this author. I re-read this book on vacation. It is not my favorite book of hers, but has grown on me over the years. Such a great story with lots of interesting and very different characters. Seidel has such a great understanding of people and their thoughts. Tess Lanier goes to Kansas for a Nina Lane festival. She is Nina Lane's daughter, but most of the world does not know that and Tess does not want to be remembered as Nina's daughter. She is alone in the world -- her grandparents have just died. When she returns to CA, Duke Nathan a former lover of her mother's meets her for the first time and finds out that she is not getting any royalties from her mother's books. With his help, Tess is stabilized financial and starts to find a life in Kansas as "Miss Kitty" from Gunsmoke as the owner of a coffee bar in Fleur-de-Lis, KS. I loved all the history of the boat, Ned's search for artifacts, the symmetry of the Ravenal brothers on the boat and today; Marie Lanier and Nina Lane, etc. I thought the author did a wonderful job tying everything together.
October 10, 2023
This was a re-read for me. The first time I read it I liked all the parts except for the diary parts. I skipped a lot of them, but the last time I read them all and enjoyed it even more since having children and struggling with my own depression/mental illness. Parts of it got me a little choked up.
November 15, 2023
On re-reading this novel, I have become obsessed with imagining it as a mini-series. With intertwined layers about the present-day story involving the excavation of the sunken riverboat; the original wrecking of the Western Settler; the 1970s "Settlement" and death of Nina Lane; and the "Game of Thrones" style fantasy trilogy that made Lane famous!
May 5, 2019
This was a pleasant read. Not much romance, not much really happens. Very descriptive. The ending didn't really tie things up as tightly as I would have liked.
May 28, 2015
3 1/2 stars. This was re-read for me, but I enjoyed as much (or more) this time. The main characters are engaging and well-drawn, and Ms. Seidel's portrayal of life in a small town in the Midwest is spot on. Although I'm not usually a fan of historic-story-within-a-contemporary stories, Ms. Seidel handles it deftly, and it enhances the main story instead of detracting from it (as sometimes happens in other books).
January 23, 2008
Kathleen is one of my three favorite living authors. I have never lent one to anyone who didn't like Kathleen, men and women alike. Some of her books are date because she wrote them years ago, but all are still very worth reading - even the Harlequins!
May 15, 2012
It's been a while since I read it but I remember loving anxiously waiting for that riverboat to be dug up...
May 8, 2013
it was kind of the sweetest book i've ever read. tess was a sweetheart. ned was just so perfect for her. it was just adorable!
May 17, 2019
Love her books, so much heart and love and great stories.
October 14, 2013
Held such promise but the end was too rushed to see it properly realized. Left me feeling irritated as a result.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews