Wearing a grey cashmere jogging suit when she was admitted to the hospital, the nurses gave her the name Cash, and now eight weeks later, Maddy Ballantyne still has no recollection of her memory. She knows French and German, knows nothing about her past and the future only frightens her. Feeling scared, alone and unwanted, she wonders why no one has stepped up to identity her after her hit and run accident. Then enters Colin Franklyn, who informs her he has been sent there by her husband, Nevis Ballantyne and master of Mandorah, to take her home, to Australia. Nothing that Colin says jogs in her memory but she would rather leave then stay and perhaps be admitted to some psychiatric ward. Nevis is nothing like she imagined, and having no memory of him doesn’t help the situation. He eagerly informs her how she took off with eighty thousand dollars, only to be in some accident and conveniently fake amnesia. She is some remarkable piece of work to take him for his money, his property, his mother’s jewelry, which had tremendous sentimental value to him, he wishes nothing more in their relationship. Maddy needs answers; she can’t believe she was that vindictive. With each passing day, they are haunted by things that begin to happen in their life, as Maddy tries to remember hazy reminiscences that seem to haunt her. When an attraction forms between her and Nevis, Maddy wonders if it will be one of lasting love or ensue deeper heartache and grief.

Eden’s Child is one non-stop read that I couldn’t put down. Maddy is refreshing and so believable in all her actions and the way she is judged because she can’t remember things, only makes her stronger in her actions. The way she is transformed with trying to learn her identity is just remarkable. Even the personalities of Nevis were so real between he and Maddy as they struggle to try to understand the situation. They are both caring people that have to work out disturbing circumstances. Ms. Blake has written an astonishing page-turner, with just the right amount of suspicion, guilt and intrigue that had this reader guessing the outcome until the last page. Colin, and the other secondary characters, are well played out in the book, as well, and kept the reader’s interest. Thrilling, exhilarating and engaging, this reader was just as curious to learn Maddy’s identity as she was. One cannot help but feel Maddy’s agony of trying to learn her past. The dialogue is superb and the plot well crafted in this extraordinary story that is a recommended read!

Reviewed by: Linda L.