A Perfect Romance
By Anne Robins

     A Perfect Romance is the second book in Anne Robins’ Titanic trilogy. The book begins with the tragedy occurs aboard the famous ship. There are a wide cast of characters in the book, but to me the most delightful was Marjorie MacTavish, who is rescued by well-intentioned heiress Loretta Linden, who scurries about the ship seeking the people she knew were on there to make their way to safety, even at the risk of her own life. One of the others she seeks out are Isabel Golightly and her Einstein-ish 6-year-old daughter, Eunice.

    The story soon jumps ahead to a life long after the tragedy. All of the above characters have survived. Marjorie has become Loretta’s personal secretary, but it is Loretta who seems to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. She is so “homespun” that she refuses to don a corset, insists on wearing “comfortable walking shoes” and spends many an hour volunteering at the Ladies Benevolence League’s Soup Kitchen. It is at the kitchen that she stumbles (almost literally) over Mr. Peavey, a sailor on the ship of the frustrating Captain Malachi Quarles. Capt. Quarles and Loretta find themselves immediately at odds on almost every issue of the day. Mr. Peavey, however, is a strange man indeed. He keeps insisting that the odd gold coins he has in his possession belonged to the Moors. Coincidentally, Capt. Quarles’ ship is “Moor’s Revenge.” Loretta instantly jumps to the conclusion that there is something strange about the whole thing.

    Before long, Loretta has convinced Capt. Quarles to go on an excursion with her to the estate of William Frederich Tillinghast, who she is sure contains the key to the strange coins, and perhaps a lot of other things, too.

   While A Perfect Romance is technically a “romance,” there is certainly enough mystery in the story to satisfy a true mystery lover.

    The only disappointment I found in the book at all is that the author is my long-loved and respected Alice Duncan, only under a new pen name, I fear that many of her other devoted fans might miss this wonderful read because they won’t recognize this wonderfully talented author. A rose by any name is still a rose, and an Alice Duncan book is still a delight, even if it is called by a different name. Highly recommended. I can hardly wait for the final book in the trilogy.