At the turn of the century, like so many other courageous men and women of the time, the level-headed Romeo and his quick-tempered brother trek into the Yukon during the gold rush. The brutal climate combined with rapid population increase leads to extreme challenges for the incoming migrants. When in need, Romeo and his brother befriend a skilled Tlingit man that provides them with much-needed sustenance and experience. Years pass before Romeo visits the man again, this time meeting his niece, an alluring young woman named Becca. Courting this beautiful woman, however, will prove far more difficult than Romeo expects. Cultural expectations, a hazardous shipwreck, a repugnant kidnapper, and many other impediments stand in his way. Although falling head over heels for the Tlingit woman, Romeo’s honorable nature urges him to proceed with caution. Will this hesitancy help him to reach Becca’s heart, or could it become his greatest regret?
For those that have only a limited knowledge of the Klondike Gold Rush, Becca’s Kiss proves to be as much a history lesson as it is an exciting narrative. Derenas has taken great care to accurately depict this period fraught with dangers and desperation. Each chapter, whether it centers around hunting and skinning a moose or a public hanging, fully immerses readers in a time that is completely foreign to those living in our modern world. Covering a period of over a decade, the story moves quickly, focusing on pivotal moments in Romeo’s life. As the plot unfolds, so many extraordinary and intense events occur that it is astonishing to consider that Becca’s Kiss is inspired by a true story! Joyce Derenas is an author that will appeal to anyone interested in historical fiction, fascinated by compelling true accounts, or curious about the culture of indigenous peoples. A frigid-climate adventure that you won’t want to miss, Becca’s Kiss: Murder and a Broken Heart in Alaska is a dramatic tale about love, murder, and anguish that undeniably deserves to be told.
