Title:
Canaan

Author:
Barri Bryan

Published By:
New Concepts Publishing

ISBN #:
1-58608-490-9

Release Date:
July 2004

Format:
Electronic

Out of the frying pan and into the fire… A young innocent thinks she is fortunate when she escapes a man who would force her to become a whore. Ironically, she assumes the identity of a girl who has agreed to sacrifice her innocence and spend her life with an old man.

As Coral Morgan’s mother had died during her birth in a whorehouse, the Madam, Minnie Morgan lovingly cared for her as a daughter. Coral had not been exposed to the sordid ways of the whores and their clients. She had lived with her wet nurse, then Minnie’s slaves and later attended a boarding school. When Coral blossomed into a beautiful young woman with an undeniably luscious figure, Minnie kept her far away from the business. It was only because Sidney Layton, a corrupt police commissioner, forced Minnie to pay for “protection” that Coral began living in the back of the whorehouse, to cut costs. Layton is determined to takeover Minnie’s business. He chooses some of her high-class whores and kidnaps Coral to sell as a virgin to the highest bidder. All of Layton’s new whores, including Coral, are given a tattoo on their buttocks as proof of ownership. Minnie dies protecting her ward, but Coral is able to escape in the turmoil. Coral finds the body of a young woman and takes her clothing and shoes. The garments from the whorehouse had barely covered her ample assets. A note in the girl’s pocket directs Coral to the Cult of the True Believers. The deceased girl was to be a handmaiden to a religious Elder’s wife. The handmaiden would, of course, be expected to sleep with the Elder, but Coral is unaware of this fact. She is desperate to escape New Orleans and knows that the police commissioner will come after her. Coral naively assumes the girl’s identity, not realising what she would be agreeing to do.

Luke McDade is in control of the wagons, assisting the Sect as they travel to Canaan, where Coral will meet her new family. He is a drifter and hell-raiser by nature. Travelling with the Sect keeps him away from the towns and the hotels where he is bound to find trouble. He feels outraged that the stunning young innocent he is to travel with has promised herself as a handmaiden. When he talks with “Lilly Malone” (Coral) it becomes obvious to him that she is not a member of this Sect. She is unaware of the practises of the Elders and the true nature of the Sect. Lilly is secretive about her past and Luke thinks she may be running from someone. Coral is slightly scared of Luke. He is an imposing man, often honest to the point of rudeness. She feels undeniably attracted to her new protector, but is unprepared for his “overpowering aura of masculinity.” At times Coral is sure that the life she has assumed is no better than the life she escaped from.

This reader was kept on edge, wondering whether Coral’s life could get worse. When riders follow the wagons, Coral is certain that Layton has found her. Some of the Sect men leer at her body, which frightens the young woman. Barri Bryan portrays a quite realistic view of the treatment of women during this time. Sidney Layton’s disregard of Minnie Morgan and her right to keep the profits of her labours also make it clear to the reader that women had few rights. It is fortunate for Coral that the author introduces a strong-minded male figure, Luke McDade. Although he is young, he has lived hard and is willing to fight for the woman of his dreams. Luke is far from perfect, but has higher moral standards than the followers of the Cult of the True Believers.

The story finished a little too quickly and neatly for this reader. I was left slightly curious of Luke’s background. Canaan is well written; there are no distractions in the language to pull the reader out of the story. The background happenings of the religious sect are unusual in a Western Romance and also held my interest.

Reviewed by: Naomi