I'm not exactly sure how she did it (other than raw, unadulterated talent!), but Carrie Fancett Pagels managed to infuse a deep, rich, full-novel feel into her latest novella as few others have been able to do.
I am an author and reader who thrives on a well-woven story, especially one interlaced with a wealth of a colorful cast. You know, those quirky and lovable subordinate characters who surround the hero and heroine -- and the reader -- with a magical feeling of family? This is one of the things I liked best about this remarkable novella, along with the heart-tugging romance, the hint of mystery, and the vivid setting of life and lumber in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, especially Mackinac Island. Not only did I feel like I was there, surrounded by the scent of inland seas, sawdust, and fresh pine, but I missed both the setting and the characters for days on end after turning the last page.
All of Miss Pagels' books are wonderful, but I must say that The Lumberjack's Ball is now my favorite, which tells me not only is Carrie Fancett Pagels a fresh new voice in sweet romance, but an author who simply gets better and better with every single book she pens.
