The vicar's daughter is reduced to working as a maid at Ravenwood, yet one other is considered even lower by the community the Earl himself, gypsy bastard Dominic St. Bride, in One Moonlit Night by Samantha James.
Olivia Sherwood's family loyalties to the memory of her father, murdered by a gypsy, and her sister, Emily, devastated by the tragedy are tested by her growing bond with Dominic.
The villagers' intolerance toward gypsies translates into contempt for Dominic, adding to Olivia's dilemma. Bigotry and intolerance may transcend cultures as James and Isaacs demonstrate this month, but both authors prove that through individual relationships, hate can be overcome by love. A profound message in any season.
Sandy Huseby reviews and writes from her homes in Fargo, North Dakota, and near Nevis, Minnesota. She is online at Shuseby@aol.com.