Pamela Morsi proves that a romance does not have to be about princes, dukes, and other high-born nobs to hold a reader’s interest. Her books, set in small towns, are full of wonderful characters who just happen to be ordinary people.

It’s 1895 in Chavistown Texas, and Miss Prudence Belmont has just been elected to the highest position in that town that a woman can hold – President of The Ladies Rose and Garden Club. It should be the happiest day of her life, and it would have been if Guidry Chavis hadn’t picked that day to come back into town. Guidry and Prudence had been childhood friends and sweethearts and the whole town expected them to marry. When Guidry got cold feet and left, Prudence held her head up, weathered the gossip, and kept her dignity.

Guidry has repented his youthful wildness and returned to take over the family cotton gin after his father has had a stroke. Guidry soon proves himself to be a good businessman and he and his father mend their differences. Guidry can’t help but run into Prudence around town and realizes what a fool he was to have left a fine woman like her. Prudence is cool and aloof toward Guidry, not wanting to risk having her heart broken again. She is also dreadfully afraid of being the target of gossip again.

There is a comical series of misunderstandings involving a young orphan boy named Sharpy Kiroy, whom Prudence and Guidry have both befriended. Sharpy has been staying in Prudence’s toolshed and working for Guidry at the cotton gin. When Guidry sees Prudence going out to the shed every night, he thinks she has a lover. When Prudence finds the pack of Victorian pin-up cards that Guidry has confiscated from Sharpy, she thinks Guidry is still a rounder. Despite their wounded hearts, Guidry and Prudence still have large reservoirs of affection for each other, but are too full of pride, stubborness, and fear of gossip to admit they still love each other.

Prudence and Guidry’s dilemma parallels that of Guidry’s father, Peer and Prudence’s Aunt Henrietta, who were in a similar situation years ago and let their pride and their fear of gossip keep them apart. Peer and Henrietta do not want their son and niece to make the same mistake they did. All the misunderstandings are resolved at a town dance in a scene that is full of Ms. Morsi’s small town humor.

Sealed With a Kiss just barely misses getting an A. For me, the romance between Guidry’s father Peer and Prudence’s aunt Henrietta was so poignant and touching it all but overshadowed the romance between Prudence and Guidry. Also, Sharpy Kilroy has a habit of mispronouncing any word over three syllables. It was cute at first, but got annoying after a while. But those are just minor quibbles. Sealed With a Kiss offers wit and charm, and lots of colorful small town characters. When it comes to Americana, Pamela Morsi is still tops.