Another Eden is the story of an unhappily married woman and the architect her husband hires to build their summer home. The hero is immediately charming but not particularly admirable at first. The heroine is admirable and long suffering to begin with but later shown to have her own flaws. As their friendship and eventual romance develops these very human failings endear them to the reader. Here is no card-board cut out of a posturing testosterone pumped male and no simpering ninny of a heroine. They are mutli-faceted and the obstacles they face are very real.
Nouveau riche Ben Cochrane married his British wife, Sara, eight years ago as an attempt to slip into high society in New York in the late 1890's. When his plan did not work, mostly because of Ben's brash egomania, he blames it on Sara. They have a seven-year-old child that Ben seems indifferent to, but he uses Michael to keep Sara by his side.
One of Ben's new plots to enter society is to build himself a monument to his power and influence in Newport. He hires an up-and-coming architect named Alex McKie to create the monstrosity. It is interesting to watch Alex change from a womanizing hotshot to someone who cares for Sara and Michael.
I thought the 'solution' to Alex and Sara's problem was too pat and convenient. I also questioned Sara's agreement to allow Michael to become so close to Alex; it just didn't ring true. Otherwise, this is a fine novel.
One of Ben's new plots to enter society is to build himself a monument to his power and influence in Newport. He hires an up-and-coming architect named Alex McKie to create the monstrosity. It is interesting to watch Alex change from a womanizing hotshot to someone who cares for Sara and Michael.
I thought the 'solution' to Alex and Sara's problem was too pat and convenient. I also questioned Sara's agreement to allow Michael to become so close to Alex; it just didn't ring true. Otherwise, this is a fine novel.
