BOOK REVIEW: A Silent OCEAN AWAY: Colette's Dominion By DeVa Gantt

A Silent  OCEAN AWAY:  Colette's Dominion By DeVa Gantt

1^st Ed.  Avon, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

New York, NY 2008

This book, the first in a trilogy, was nearly thirty years in the making.  True, it languished for two of those three decades, but the writing team of sisters Debra and Valerie (DeVa) Gantt finally finished their labors amidst husbands, children, and careers.  Self-publishing at first, their efforts paid off and HarperCollins stepped in to publish the book as a trilogy.

I devoured this book.  The rich language and characters drew me in immediately.  Each character lives and breaths on these pages.  When one of them hurt, I found myself feeling hurt.  When one felt happy, so did I.  Such was the power of DeVa Gantt's writing. 

One interesting thing I noted is that they write from the point of view of not just one or two of the characters, but of most of the primary characters.  It is fascinating and very well done. 

This is a story about changing one's life.  Each of the characters is attempting to do just that.  Our heroine, Charmaine, arrives from America to a small island called Charmantes to act as governess to the children of the landowners, the Duvoisins.  From that point on she becomes embroiled in their lives.  There's John, the estranged son of Fredrick, the patriarch of the family, and Paul, the son who keeps things going on the island while John wrecks havoc from Virginia. Both have their secrets and things that haunt them.  And then there is Colette, Frederick's very young second wife and mother of the children Charmaine is hired to watch over.  She and Fredrick have a very strained relationship, yet she seems to be the light around which the rest of the family gathers.  We mustn't forget Fredrick's first wife's sister, Agatha Ward.  She moved into the mansion and never left after her husband died, much to the chagrin of many.  Each of these people is trying to change his or her life in some way involving the Duvoisins - whether they do so for the better or worse remains to be seen.

If I have one criticism of the book, it is that not a single plot line has been resolved.  In fact, there are even more questions introduced at the very end.  And, the book ends somewhat abruptly.  This was apparently written as one large volume and then broken into three parts.  I'm afraid it shows.  This is my only real criticism of the book.  Otherwise I found it to be delightful, extremely well written - an altogether enjoyable read.

Of course, I will get the next book, Decision and Destiny:  Colette's Legacy, as soon as it is available in April of 2009 or else I will never know what happens.  Even then I may not know.  Talk about frustrating.  At least they will have a loyal fan!

All in all, if you can stand the wait for the next installment, I would definitely recommend this book as an excellent read.  Well written, rich, full of vibrant characters and just the right touch of romantic angst.  DeVa Gantt are to be commended for their writing talent.

©TSW 2008