In Name Only by Ellen Gable

reviewed by Tannia Ortiz-Lopès

In her book, In Name Only, author Ellen Gable brings to her readers a romantic Cinderella story staged in Philadelphia in 1876.

The book’s front cover shows two of Gable’s distinct symbols: a ledger book and a photograph of a woman looking out a window. The back cover shows two men, Liam and David. The interaction of these men with Caroline, the main character, will change and shape her quiet and secure life.

The book begins with Caroline traveling from Boston to Philadelphia in a train, accompanied by her chaperone, Mrs. Shepherd. After the death of her father, Caroline finds herself alone in Boston. The only other living relatives she has are her wealthy uncle Edward and her cousin, Elizabeth, both of whom live in Philadelphia.

Tragedy and death seem to be Caroline’s companion lately. Sadly, her chaperone dies on the train ride on their way to Philadelphia. Caroline is devastated and not thinking clearly. Luckily for her, Liam O’Donovan, a neighbor and business associate of her uncle Edward, is riding on the same train. Liam assists her during the remainder of the train trip and up to her arrival at Philadelphia’s train station, where she is picked up by Kip, one of her uncle’s servants.

Upon her arrival at her uncle Edward’s mansion, Caroline immediately realizes the class difference between them. Caroline’s father was disinherited by her grandfather due to his marriage to a lower class woman, her mother. Caroline’s mannerisms, the callouses on her hands, and her attitudes toward the treatment of the servants hint at her lower class background.

As the story unfolds, Caroline will find love and despair in a marriage that appears to offer a way out of her past and lower class status. However, appearances can be deceiving, as her husband has a couple of secrets of his own that threaten to end her newly found happiness. Just when Caroline is starting to enjoy peace and the love of her beloved husband, death strikes once again and throws her into an earthly Purgatory with only one way out — an “In Name Only” marriage. Will Caroline accept and follow through with the marriage proposal to give her child a father and financial security, or will she refuse it and have to deal with the consequences of her decision? Caroline’s dilemma and decision will lead to an unforeseen end.

One of the things I enjoy most about reading Gable’s novels is her ability to create female characters with high moral standards and convictions.

The only weakness that I found in this novel, in contrast with her first book, Emily’s Hope, was that I felt the family dynamics were not true to the knowledge we have about that time period.

I recommend this book to readers looking for a clean romance novel.