WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW

Author: Dana George ISBN: 0843956178 10/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: DORCHESTER
Time Period: 1889 Johnstown

Isabel Millington has fled her home without money or social connections-shattered by the discovery that her uncle and guardian was responsible for her parents' deaths. Until she can contact a distant relative currently overseas, she will simply have to get by somehow—even if it means taking on a false identity and accepting employment from a man she isn't sure she can trust. Fox Tremayne, a disgraced former officer, lives on an estate surrounded by swamps and accessible only boat. He is keenly aware that this beauty in slightly shabby clothing has not been honest about her past. But he hires her nonetheless—simply to keep her close in his isolated mansion. Not close enough, though, for her to learn the truth about the disreputable way he made his fortune ... His handsome face hides a scheming heart. Her proper demeanor disguises her passion. Their bond is based on secrets and lies. But some things cannot remain hidden for long....

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW is the story of five friends during the three years prior to the Johnstown Flood of 1889. It is a fast paced story, full of twists, turns and a surprise or two, to boot. It's fairly lengthy at 300+ pages of smaller print and I expected to read it over a few days. I read it in a little more than a day.

It's one of those books that you could easily see being made into a mini-series or movie made for cable. The author is able to portray each character's personality through their actions rather than explanations, much as an actor would. I couldn't help but cast the roles while I read.

Probably the hardest thing for me about reading this book is writing the review. It is simple yet complicated, not unlike the story itself. This story focuses on Charlotte and Braedon, but, at the same time, makes the story of the others just as important. The relationships between them mesh together in such a way that it is difficult to separate. Even the secondary characters to the five are woven into the story with equal importance. Perhaps that is the true-to-life feeling of the story. It is full of interactions that happen everyday to all of us, just set during a different time.

WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW is the second novel written by Dana George. A fellow reviewer commented her debut novel was, while well-written, overly graphic for her taste saying,"...I believe I would like to go back to having blinders on and simply have an author gloss over the most graphic parts of those times.". Whether intentional or not, Ms. George has done just that without detracting from the severity of the event.

The story is not bogged down with lengthy historical facts, but is true to the period. It wouldn't be one of those movies with the voiceover relaying pertinent information needed to understand the story. It is all given to you through the characters. I'm not going to go into detail, but it is not hard to find similarities between the events leading up to the dam breaking in Johnstown and the levees giving way in New Orleans.

It will also have scenes from last year's tsunami popping into your head. I can't help but wonder if the story would have had the impact it did with me had these events not happened in my own time. Because I did have real-time exposure through 21st century technology, it was hardly difficult to picture the event of the Johnstown flood and the aftermath.

To sum it up: If you want an easy to read, but fast paced book, that is true to the times but timelessly realistic, inoffensively graphic with a surprise or two, WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW should fit the bill.

Sue Cloud