The Courage Tree
Grade : B-

I've read a lot of Diane Chamberlain and I've found it to be a hit or miss affair. I loved Keeper Of The Light and Fire and Rain, but not Summer's Child or Breaking The Silence . The Courage Tree falls somewhere in the middle; it's good escapist reading, but not completely satisfying.

What you can always count on with Chamberlain is an unusual plot. The one in The Courage Tree is interesting, but somewhat convoluted. The main character is Janine, a divorced mom who flew a helicopter in Desert Storm. Currently her life revolves around her eight year old daughter Sophie, who has a kidney condition. When the book opens Sophie is thriving thanks to a experimental treatment and Janine feels confident enough to send her on an overnight trip with her Girl Scout Troop. When the car Sophie is in disappears, Janine is not only in a panic, she faces disapproval from her ex-husband Joe, who is still in love with her. He's also not pleased that she's taken up with Lucas Trowell, a mysterious landscaper.

In the woods, Sophie meets the aging actress Zoe, who disappeared from the scene years before in order to help her own daughter, Marti, whom she believes was falsely accused of murder, escape from prison. Her elaborate plan cumulates with Marti coming to the cabin in the woods. Zoe isn't sure what to do with Sophie; on the one hand she wants to help the little girl on the other hand she doesn't want to jeopardize Marti's freedom even though she herself becomes more suspicious of Marti as time goes on.

Often stories that focus on a tragedy fall short in characterization, because you are shown a very narrow side of the people involved. Flashbacks can help, but in this case, many of those are of unhappy circumstances as well. We do get to Janine, who is a devoted mother, a strong woman and a free spirit. it's clear she's better matched with tolerant, nature-loving Lucas than she is with conservative Joe.

The Courage Tree is more women's fiction than romance. Janine and Lucas are already established as a couple when the book begins. There are flashbacks, but it is a minor storyline, and it feels like they and the other characters are shortchanged in order to accommodate the demanding storylines. I felt the Zoe/Marti sections were far less compelling and the story would not have suffered - and indeed may have been stronger - if that element had been trimmed down.. The story is written in more of a "telling" than "showing," but it seems appropriate for the fast pace. The story does not drag at all; there is much suspense, and some genuine surprises all wrapped up in a sudsy package.

Had this been the only Diane Chamberlain book I'd read, I may have graded it higher. But I just couldn't help comparing it to the books I liked more. Still, I would recommend it on its own merits as a good afternoon's entertainment.

Reviewed by Christine Peterson
Grade : B-
Book Type: Women's Fiction

Sensuality: N/A

Review Date : March 6, 2001

Publication Date: 2002

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Christine Peterson

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