Milla's Villa

by Shirley Patterson-Wallace

At age 16, a na¯ve Kate Brody meets handsome Frank Connor at a local dance. He is from a fairly wealthy family; she is a poor factory girl from a nearby village. Soon, love entwines their hearts. When Frank's domineering mother discovers her favorite son is smitten with a girl she deems beneath his class, she begins to contrive a devious plan. As the lover's relationship deepens, Frank is secretly drugged against his will and put on a ship to Canada, leaving Kate without any explanations as to his whereabouts. Sadly, Kate's decision to tell Frank of her pregnancy is denied. Heartbroken and feeling abandoned, she vows never to allow another man to pierce her soul. After a lengthy convalescence, Frank regains his memory and rushes home to England only to find Kate has married a man she does not love. The story encompasses love, passion, laughter, tragedy, betrayal, and even a heartwarming segment involving Bing Crosby. Above all else, however, it is a love story that endures for over half a century.

236 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2004

Reviews

[Sandrine Genier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bittersweet story that begins prior to WW II in a small English village, captured in authentic details via the expressions and mores of a different era. A young couple's relationship is at the heart of this story. I loved the writer's engaging style and use of language. The story explores what happens when the destiny of two people is thwarted by circumstances both within and outside of their control. The self sacrifices made to propriety of the times seem to underscore the unhappiness shared by the main characters. But beyond that is an exploration of how other's lives are affected as a result of the circumstances of this couple, in ways that no one could have predicted. I think this made the story that much more poignant and unforgettable.