Endure My Heart
When gently born Mab and Andrew Anderson’s father dies leaving them penniless, brother and sister are forced to sell the family home. Andrew is a scholar, and no practical use whatsoever in an emergency such as homelessness. Mab, fortunately, is a brighter spark and soon finds the means to set up home in the rectory with her brother as Parson. All well and good, but the living is a poor one. Mab turns her hand to teaching. Then lo and behold, one winter’s night the local smuggling gang asks Mab to store their stash of brandy casks. In a cat’s whisker, she’s head of the smuggling gang and pitting her wits against the forces of law and order, the local customs officer being a bit of a booby. This, whilst satisfying, at first proves ultimately unchallenging. Then a handsome young government officer turns up in the village, and things heat up again nicely. The novel is written solely from the point of view of Mab, who provides a delightfully quirky commentary on her adventures, amorous and otherwise. Thus, we never gain great insight into other characters and consequently they, particularly said government officer, remain sketchy. This, nonetheless, is an entertaining romp. Enjoyable reading.
