• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews - Audio And Video Online Reviews 1991-2018
  On the surface, American-born Fanny Osbourne and Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson might seem an odd match. Osbourne is married (although separated from her unfaithful husband), has two children, and is vibrantly healthy; Stevenson is single, more than 10 years younger, and battling lung disease. The appeal isn't immediate, at least for Fanny, but they eventually bond on their love of literature, their zest for life, and their mutual physical attraction. Their relationship deepens and transforms as they move across Europe, America, and finally Samoa. Potter shifts effortlessly between Osbourne's American accent and Stevenson's Scottish brogue. She pronounces foreign phrases and locations impeccably and gives minor players appropriate characterizations. The story unfolds slowly, but the carefully chosen details give listeners an insight into these appealing characters and their emerging creativity. Potter's voice is pleasant and well matched to Horan's text. Like Horan's first novel, Loving Frank (2007), this compelling tale is historical fiction at its finest. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

Nancy Horan is the author of Loving Frank. She is also a journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications. She has two sons, and lives with her husband on an island in Puget Sound.