by P. Elizabeth Collins
Review by: J. T. Spencer
Gardenia Press
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| Wild Gardenias by P. Elizabeth Collins Review by: J. T. Spencer Gardenia Press |
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| Lt. Ted Thatcher, III is more than just a handsome navy pilot flying missions over Vietnam near the end of its conflict. A decorated officer with a silver spoon that dangled from his mouth tucked away in his back pocket, Ted Thatcher would give up his inheritance and his family for the sake of love and a family. Seeing the atrocities in Vietnam and the degradation of women in the P.I. (Philippine Islands), Ted searches for respite on liberty and finds love on the beachfront of a friend's residence. | ||||||||
| China Mist was more than just a courtesan for sailors. She had a heart and a soul that survived more pain and suffering that anyone could imagine. At he hands of her pimp she almost loses her life and watches others disappear from the silken fabric of their brothel as they cross him. When she meets a sailor at her secret hideaway, Heaven Sent, a private beach not far from the establishment where she lived and entertained men to survive, China finds in him her heart's desire for only a moment before tragedy befalls her. Loving this courtesan, Ted Thatcher refused to believe that his jet-set family in California wouldn't forgive him for ditching his fiancee, a movie actress with a name and reputation, not to mention the family ties that bound them closer through the years. | ||||||||
| Wild Gardenias incorporates the suspense and drama of a classic, the unforgettable characters whose plights take on a new life. Hard to put down, the underlining issues of the degradation of Asian women by the military and the men who sold them for profit, Wild Gardenias makes poignant statements on the treatment of women and the children begotten by those on leave. The gritty reality of this book is not for the faint-hearted, whether it's set in the Philippine Islands or in Los Angeles, P. Elizabeth Collins dishes out reality checks to the reader on racism, society, and the power of love to overcome all obstacles. A powerful novel that should definitely be added to your reading list, Wild Gardenias is worth every cent as its resolve keeps the reader begging for more! | ||||||||