More Than You Know
Grade : B

Lately, I've had trouble finishing books. I get in, get interested, then the middle sags or the story becomes predictable, I lose interest, and end up flipping through the rest of the book just to get it over with. Not so in the case of Jo Goodman's More Than You Know. The book isn't perfect, but the plot layers are complex and well thought out; the story held my interest and made me want to finish it. If you're having the same problem, give More Than You Know a try.

Claire Bancroft, a lovely young English heiress, has returned from the South Seas with an affliction that has changed her life. Haunted by what happened to her father and half-brother, and informed by a specialist that she may be cured if she returns, she appeals to her god-father, Evan Markham, the 8th Duke of Strickland, to find someone to take her back to Polynesia.

Rand Hamilton has vowed to recover his family home, Henley Plantation, by the only means left to him - finding the Hamilton-Waterstone treasure. Of Spanish origin, the gems and jewels went down with the ship three hundred years earlier, the only clue to its whereabouts, a set of obscure riddles that must be deciphered in order to locate the hidden treasure. When he finally pieces together the Polynesian location of the treasure, Rand seeks funding for his venture from Strickland, who agrees, with one caveat: Rand must take Claire with him.

When Rand balks at this, Claire visits him and personally sways him to take her along on the voyage. However, due to her affliction, her god-father insists she be accompanied by a specialist, so Dr. Stuart Macauley is hired to see to her well-being.

The voyage takes Rand and Claire to Charleston to visit his ailing mother and recluse sister, Bria, after which they continue on to the island where Claire hopes to find out what really happened to her father and the whereabouts of her young brother, and Rand hopes to locate the treasure.

You won't have any trouble spotting the villain in this tale, but his reasons are a bit more obscure. Jo Goodman has written a fine mystery/adventure complete with romance, personal agendas, hesitant hearts, and glittering lost treasure - all complete with red herrings. It's an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to Bria's story, which will be out next year.

Claire is a wonderful heroine, just the right blend of feisty and feminine. I liked her all the way through the book. Rand was a hero I had to warm up to. He's so guilt-stricken at first that he had trouble treating Claire well, but as the story progressed, he fell for Claire so completely that he did a total turn-around and became the loving, protective, nurturing man she deserved.

The only complaint I have is that the story is so complex, that I got off-track a couple of times and felt a bit confused. There are some loose-ends left dangling relating to Claire's family background, but these are minor things and only bothered me because I'm a tie-off-those-loose-ends-please kind of reader.

I've read all of Jo Goodman's books and have enjoyed them, but I think More Than You Know is the best written of all her books so far. She has a very easy style, generally writes strong heroes and worthy heroines, and her loves scenes are, well, lovely. This is a book I enjoyed reading, and can definitely recommend.

Reviewed by Marianne Stillings
Grade : B

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : July 4, 2000

Publication Date: 2000

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Marianne Stillings

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