Nicholas spends several bleak, soul wrenching years spurning all help and learning that New Zealand is a rugged place to eke out a living for a man accustom to hard labor but nearly impossible for one of his genteel breeding. Finding himself the brunt of many a joke, he drowns his remorse and deadens his memories in a tavern. On a bet, Jamie Mac Farland, Captain of the Merchant Vessel the Tasmanian Devil plays a cruel trick on him by convincing Nick to sign papers for a mail order bride from England. Many a young woman has booked passage on Jamie's ship to escape a dull existence in England for the promise of a husband and a new life in New Zealand. In his inebriated state Nicholas signs the paper with a bit of cajoling.

Summer. Her name describes her. Young, spirited, beautiful and in the first flush of womanhood at eighteen. Left by her mother since young childhood in the paid guardianship of Martha Haggard a mid-wife by profession until Summer's mother died and the money ended. Martha quickly shattered Summer's allusion of her mother by making it plain she had been the mistress of the wealthy English lord Pimbersham until he had ended their affair and her mother had killed herself leaving Summer penniless. With revenge in her heart, Summer left Martha's and secured a position in lord Pimbersham's household. Not realizing he recognizes her, Summer works as a maid intent on killing the man who drove her mother to suicide. Befriended by Sophie Fairburn who she laughingly called the lord "a randy old man" who would take advantage of his female staff, Sophie being his favorite.

With hope for a better life Sophie had signed papers to marry, by proxy, a man in New Zealand and prepared to sail to a new life until she discovered she is already two months pregnant. Confronting lord Pimbersham with his deed, he then ran her through with a fire poker when Sophie threatened to expose him. Summer, witnessing the crime challenged him. Lord Pimbersham laughingly revealed he knew whose daughter she was and tires to take advantage of her with Sophie's blood fresh on his shirt. Summer, defended herself, inadvertently pushed the old lord down the stairs. Fearing him dead, she goes to comfort a dying Sophie, who bids Summer take the marriage paper and sale for New Zealand fearing Summer will be hung for killing lord Pimbersham. Summer seizes the chance.

Upon arrival at Christchurch, New Zealand Summer, carries the paper that declares her the bride of Mr. Nicholas Winston Sabre, Esquire. She waits for her mail order husband to collect her but he doesn't show. A neighbor of Mr. Sabre's, Ben O'Connell gives Summer a ride to the Sabre sheep station warning Summer of Nick Sabre's terrible attitude and temper. Summer, however is built of sturdy Irish stock and prepares herself to meet her husband.

Nick Sabre's is hostile, he tells Summer to leave making it clear she is not welcome claiming the paper is a forgery. In no uncertain terms Summer makes it clear the paper is not a forgery and she is his wife. Nicholas claiming it is Sean O'Connell's way of stealing his land, he forces Summer to leave. Nick, however begins to remember signing the paper in a drunken stupor. Days later Nicholas learns Summer is working as a maid for his worst enemy, Ben O'Connell and he goes to fetch her, declaring no wife of his will work for that man. Nick knows if he doesn't consummate their marriage, it can be annulled and Summer can be sent back to England.

Summer and Nick now begin a battle of wills and pride. Summer does everything she can to be a good wife and with the assistance of Frank and gnarled farm hand learns how to cook, passably. Summer makes friends with the other Sheep Ranchers called Cockatoos, people like Nick and herself. People Nick had avoided making friends with fearing their ridicule because of his aristocratic past.

Nick is sorely pressed. At every turn of his hand, Summer is there, smelling sweetly, her sweet nature but fiery temper always present. Until he can no longer deny the desire he feels for her and in the heat of passion takes her. Frank misreading Summer's appearance thinks Nick has raped her and knocks Nick off his feet managing to deliver several blows with his strop warning Nick that he may be her husband but he isn't to mistreat her. Summer stops Frank and explains Nick didn't hurt her, the blood on her clothing was because of her innocence. Now they were truly married and Nick's wife in all respects. Nick's pride and denial of his love for Summer, driving him crazy.

Despite the problems of their marriage, Summer's natural sunny nature has helped Nicholas become more accepted and a part of the Cockatoos. They have begun to band together to fight the Clan, a band of Farmers and Cattle Ranchers who hate the Cockatoos because of the destruction the sheep do to the land. Wearing black robes and hoods, the Clan has burned their school, beaten the Sheep Ranchers, killed their sheep and burned their homes.

Summer finds she is carrying Nicholas' child and now he sees hope for the future and expectance among his peers. The Cockatoos rebuild the school and peace seems to have been achieved. Unable to pickup Summer at school one afternoon because his horse has gone lame. She was still there waiting when the Clan showed up to burn the school again. After they ruffed her up Summer looses her baby. Nicholas is uncontrollable and blames Ben, knowing him to be a member of the Clan. Nicholas goes after Ben. Somehow, Ben convinces Nicholas he wasn't to blame and is no longer a member of the Clan, telling Nick who is to blame. Now the Clan is controlled by Roy Tennison a Cattle Rancher and a bunch of hired thugs. Farmers and Sheep Rancher set aside their differences and join together to plan an end to the Clan. Confrontations peak on a beautiful Sunday when the Pastor and Church members gather at Nicholas and Summer's house to attend church services and share a pot luck dinner. At the top of the hill a band of the Clan is sighted. Nicholas takes down his rifle but Summer convinces him to leave it in the house. Going outside as the raiders swoop down causing pandemonium, Summer is abducted and carried away, she had been their real target. Roy Tennison and the Clan take Summer to Roy's house where his wife is having a difficult labor. The irony hits them all. Roy caused Summer to loose her baby but now must depend on her to save his wife and unborn child. Summer is the only woman who has mid-wifery skills having assisted Martha. Nicholas and the others have followed and fighting is only prevented by Summer' explanation of the situation. Though Roy's wife has a horribly difficult labor, Summer saves both mother and son. By morning's light another life is brought into the world in New Zealand. With the child's birth, the Cockatoos, Farmers and Cattle Ranchers discover life is precious and they have more in common, differences are set aside.

Another day arrives that Nicholas is tardy to pick Summer up from her duties at the school. Sean O'Connell, driving by in his dray gives her a lift home. Much to her surprise and confusion her past has caught up with her. Sitting in her small parlor are Sophie Fairburn and Jamie MacFarlind. Sophie explains lord Pimbershan had not died in the fall and she had recovered. She and Jamie had met again and fallen in love. They had traveled to New Zealand to have Sophie's marriage paper annulled so she and Jamie could marry. Nicholas is furious. He had trusted Summer. He had told her his worst sins and he felt she had been dishonest with him. He told her to get out, that they were not really married and they weren't. With her heart breaking, Summer leaves and goes to Christchurch to find employment until she can book passage to England. Nicholas soon realizes his mistake and goes after Summer only to find she isn't in Christchurch any longer but is leaving from Lyttleton. Riding hard he goes to Lyttleton. Arriving after the ship has already sailed but is only yards from the dock. Nicholas, desperate, begins taking off his shoes planning on swimming for the boat. The friends who stand around the sound of a familiar voice and the flash of red hair stop him. Summer had not boarded the ship. On the spot Summer formally introduces herself as Summer Sean O'Neile. In kind Nicholas, introduces himself as Nicholas Winston Sabre, Esquire and asks Summer to marry him. A year later many things have changed at the Sabre Sheep Station. As Summer struggles to give life to their first child a letter arrives from London addressed to Nicholas W. Sabre, Esquire in Nicholas father's handwriting. Summer had come into Nicholas' life like a summer whirlwind, dizzying him until he was sane again and reaching back into his life to set straight even his past. Summer had written to Nicholas' father telling him what a fine man Nicholas had become. New Zealand is a wild wonderful New World and had become a Castle for the Sabres.

Katherine Sutcliffe has written a tremendous, compelling masterpiece of love tried and true. Impressing the reader with the scope, beauty and dangers of New Zealand in the 1800's, and the struggle, strength and overwhelming ability to love of the people who settled that rugged country. Her main characters are real in every manner, from the arrogance of Nicholas to the Irish accent and spirit of Summer. This book had me in tears on several occasions from laughter to anger to sorrow and happiness.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly Sensual

Reviewer: Orange Blossom
April 11, 2003