In Griffey's sweet but uneven historical romance series launch, two friends seek their fortunes and mates by shipping off to the New World. At 17, Gwenneth Hume and Patience O'Connor enjoy a happy life near Grenfels Corners in the British Isles. Patience is learning midwifery and preparing to leave a convent orphanage, while Gwenneth, an excellent cook, enjoys helping out at her father's inn. Despite their contentment, when a friend tells them about opportunities in the New World, they book passage on a ship that will provide eye-opening adventures and the opportunity for romance with the captain and crew. Griffey (Dead on Arrival) details their experiences in a simplistic fashion that fails to thoroughly portray the drama of their crossing, and a lack of friction and detail keeps this epic from finding its sea legs. (Jan.)
