A Wild Sea

Rebecca Montague
Cape Winds Press

In 1999 Katherine Jenkins, a 34 year old, openly lesbian, financial investor living in Seattle, returns to Smith Island to empty the summer house her parents built there some twenty years ago. Located off the coast of North Carolina, Smith Island was the paradise of Katherine's adolescence. It was also the site of the accidental drowning of her first lover, Caroline, 15 years ago. Although Katherine has had her share of lovers since the loss of Caroline, she has never given her heart to anyone else.

A Wild Sea is the story of Katherine finally facing her survivor's guilt as well as her grief over Caroline and allowing herself to love again. Shortly after arriving on Smith, Katherine meets Jennifer, the "kid sister" of an old classmate and friend from high school. But the adult Jennifer, an attractive, athletic, artist and gallery owner from Raleigh, is nothing like the annoying 13 year old from Kat's last summer on the island. Indeed, Jenn is the first woman since Caroline for whom Katherine has felt more than lust. Katherine fears those feelings because to love opens her to the possibility of hurt. Yet loving Jenn seems to hold the potential for Katherine's happiness in life.

The vacation island setting is lovely, yet it allows glimpses of the stress living a closeted life in the more conservative parts of America can provide, even in a paradise. Montague's observations about being queer in the South are insightful. Her lead characters are interesting, intelligent and well rounded. The love scenes between Kat and Jenn are touching, arousing, and romantic. Even the extremely patient and enamored Jenn has enough self respect to limit what she will put up with from the stubbornly grief-ridden Katherine. Perhaps one of the more touching, and even mildly amusing, elements of this story is the role Caroline, or her ghost, plays in helping Katherine to heal. As Caroline says,"I'm dead, Katherine. It gives one an interesting perspective." (160)

A Wild Sea is a well written little romance. Montague resolves Katherine's struggle with herself and provides hope for the future. A Wild Sea is certainly worth the price of the ferry ride.

-MJ