Though historical romance settings are (sadly) no longer as varied as they used to be, there are still some good Americana writers out there. Wendy Lindstrom’s Grayson Brothers series is definitely a pleasant one. The books stand alone well, so if you start the series in the middle as I did, it is not a problem. Her latest novel, the story of Fredonia (New York) Sheriff Duke Grayson and his encounter with a businesswoman harboring many secrets, is quite a heartwarming read.

Faith Wilkins moved to Fredonia with her brother, daughter, and several eccentric aunts in an attempt to create new lives for themselves by going into business as herbalists. Their new venture, particularly the treatment baths and massages they offer there, causes quite a stir in Fredonia. Though Faith goes out of her way to avoid scandal, the local sheriff ends up coming to call nevertheless.

From the moment Faith and Duke meet, they are attracted to each other. In addition, Duke is drawn to seek Faith’s healing services, even as he is moved to help her family. As the story progresses, Duke finds himself falling for Faith, but he is also worried that she seems to be hiding something from him. This tension between the two, mixed with Duke’s easy acceptance into Faith’s unusual family, makes for a charming read.

The book is helped greatly by Lindstrom’s characterizations. Children in romances can sometimes seem unrealistically angelic – not so in this case. Faith’s past life and struggles have had their effects, particularly on her brother, and the reader sees this throughout the story. Her brother and daughter are not perfect, but they are appealing characters who fit well into the story. Duke and Faith are also a likable couple. Both are human and both make mistakes, but each one grows as a person as they grow closer to each other throughout the story. This growth makes the characters seem more real and helps the reader truly care about their romance.

The major weakness for me lies with the secondary characters, particularly Faith’s aunts. While they do provide some comic relief, their behavior was a little too outrageous. Additionally, even though the storyline here is not entirely historically accurate, most of the characters and events are not anachronistic enough to jar the reader out of the story. Faith’s aunts, however, cross that line fairly often and make the second half of the book feel particularly choppy. Those who are more able to accept the injection of modern speech and social norms into a historical will probably be less bothered than I was, but for me, the behavior of the aunts made them seem like modern tourists romping through Faith and Duke’s 19th century New York.

Still, even with the choppiness caused by some of the anachronistic speech and actions, Kissing in the Dark is a pleasant read. Those looking for a heartwarming Americana tale will likely enjoy this one. Lindstrom’s characters are likable and her vision of New York a charming one indeed.