Ryan Daire, a vice cop working for the Chicago Police department is
given a mansion on "Prairie Avenue", by his old college professor,
family friend and mentor Alistair. The Prairie Avenue District in
Chicago was the millionaire's row in late 19th and early 20th
century. The mansion is therefore steeped in history and as Ryan
and his partner Ramiro Menendez walk into the grand ballroom with
it's glittering chandelier he feels an instant appreciation for its
majesty. Ryan can even visualize the elegant décor and a flawlessly
beautiful woman with long dark hair, dressed in a ball gown looking
over her shoulder at him. He thinks she is a mirage.
During their exploration of the house, they find a woman's bedroom
that hosts a large brass bed with two mahogany tables. Ramiro
discovers an old leather bound book in one of the drawers which
proves to be a book of Shakespeare's Sonnets.
Ryan Vincent Daire isn't your average vice cop; he has a degree in
history and was raised by a father who taught him a love of
Shakespeare, which Alistair nurtured. As he cradles the book in his
hands it falls open to a well-worn page which he immediately
recognizes as the 116th Sonnet. A massive mahogany wardrobe is also
housed within the room and Ryan finds a full-length mirror attached
to the door. As he looks into the mirror, which appears somewhat
cloudy with age he sees not his own reflection but the same
stunning beauty he envisioned in the ballroom of the mansion. He
is, needless to say, shocked and mystified; more than that he
cannot believe she is an apparition of his imagination. From here
things really get interesting.
In the year 1906, Hope Stillwater, an upper class virginal
"gentlewoman", is in her bedroom in the Prairie Avenue mansion, she
has locked the door and pulled out a provocative negligee she has
secreted away in the back of the wardrobe. Hope was given the sheer
black lacy garment by her unlikely acquaintance and friend Addie
Sampson, the madam of one of the only "respectable" brothels in the
city. She and Hope share a common goal of abolishing the practice
of white slavery. While Hope feels scandalized wearing the garment,
she carefully puts it on and stares at her reflection in the full
length wardrobe mirror. Instead of seeing herself, a very tall
handsome "exotic" man is staring back at her; Hope of course is
startled and frightened, and leaps away from the mirror.
In a strange turn of events, she finds an inscription Ryan has left
in her book of Shakespearean Sonnets. His name, the address of her
house and the year 2008 is written in the margin on the page of her
favorite sonnet. Ryan finds a dedication to Hope inscribed in the
same book found in the bedroom.
After Ryan moves into the old house he has further magical,
ghostly, erotic encounters with Hope. He manages to glean
information from the police archives that Hope Stillwater was
murdered at the young age of 25 in the year 1906 and he sets out to
try and reach and save the woman who has become his erotic
obsession. Through careful analysis and luck, he ascertains what
the catalyst is to propel him 100 years into the past to find and
hopefully rescue her.
The dynamic between these two lovers is sensual and powerful, the
erotic tension sizzles between them initially across the mirror,
time's barrier. They can see each other but despite intense longing
cannot actually touch; I felt goose bumps running up my arms as
they attempted to reach and touch one another.
I really wasn't sure how their erotic encounters would evolve
because of this being an early 20th century female heroine raised
with all the social mores and restrictions of that time, and a 21st
century sexually dominant male hero. However, Ms. Kery penned the
love scenes beautifully. Ryan sexually initiates Hope in a highly
unusual manner, given their situation, but he also nurtures her
trust and passion.
Despite ingrained perceptions with respect to a woman's "station"
in her time, Hope isn't a pushover; she is an intellectual and
extremely well spoken. She challenges Ryan and her independent
nature does put her in danger. As a reader, I loved this heroine
because she is a woman with ideals, strength and beliefs well
beyond her time. Ryan is forced to make some difficult decisions in
order to save her life more than once. Further, he questions his
own actions for fear of being the source of Hope's demise in her
time.
There is a parallel fast moving suspense sub-plot in the two time
periods involving female white slavery. Hope and her father are
involved in thwarting Diamond Jack Fletcher in 1906. In 2008 Ryan
and Ramiro have been working for a year to bring "Jim Donahue", to
justice for similar crimes in present day. The plot twists and
turns are thrilling and the parallels are surprising.
By the way the picture of Ryan on the book's front cover?
Perfect.....