My reading choices for 2012 are starting out well. Shadowed in Silk is another great historical romance read. Set in India in 1918, this story is filled with flavors and textures, life in a different time and culture, touches of historical figures, and fictional characters who are memorable by the love they show others. Yep, I enjoyed this one.
The story opens with Abby Fraser heading to India to rejoin her husband now that the war has ended. Though she has a 4-year old son with the man, it turns out she doesn't have much more except a dream of what being married to the love of her life could be — since she spent precious few days with the man before he returned to his military post.
Major Geoff Richards is also on his way to India, but he is grieving over the loss of his Indian troops during their campaign in France. Whoa. Entering another man's point of view, (other than Abby's husband), was a huge clue to this romance reader that things weren't going to go well for Abby's dreams. POV in a romance novel practically screams, "I'm either the hero or the villain." 
So when life goes from bad to worse for Abby in her new home, with her new husband, it doesn't surprise me. But I respect her for trying to build a new life and rekindle her old love.
All the political intrigue of the era keeps the plot moving. The secret identity of the bad guy was a cool diversion. The restrained affection between Abby and Geoff played out for me perfectly. (It reminded me of Jane Austen or Agatha Christie, and how men were gentlemen especially in the midst of love's angst.)
I recommend this book to all romance readers who like to learn — history, interesting facts, and the nuances of human nature.
Oh, my favorite line in Shadowed in Silk was when Abby laid down her demands to her husband, and concluded with, "Remember whose daughter I am." Though she didn't mean it prophetically at the time, I knew that by the book's end, she would know that she was a daughter of the King of kings.
