"Wonderful Americana romance"
In 1887, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody hires Rose Ellen
Gilhooey as a trick rider in his Wild West show. Though
not as famous as her pal Annie Oakley, six years later Rose
still performs at Mr. Cody's show as The Wild West troupe
works the Colombian Exposition of the Chicago World's
Fair. Covering the World's Fair to include Buffalo Bill's
Wild West show are local reporters Horatio Lambert "H.L."
May and Sam Trimble. The two journalists look forward to seeing the two female
stars of Buffalo Bill's extravaganza. After meeting Annie
and Rose, H.L. decides to do a story on the less famous
woman who rides as well as any Indian. As he follows her
for his story, Rose and H.L. fall in love. He rejects his
feelings so that the chances of sharing what Frank Butler
and Annie have seem remote. The first tale in Alice Duncan's "Meet Me at the Fair",
COMING UP ROSES, is a wonderful Americana romance that
though placed in a different city echoes the delight of the
movie Meet Me In St. Louis. The perspicacious story line
is fun enabling the audience to acquire an impression of
the American Gay Nineties while also providing a warm
romance. Rose is an engaging character refusing to bury
her country roots, but it is H.L. who steals the show by
fleeing his small town Twain-like heritage for a Windy City
persona. Ms. Duncan provides a delightful historical
romance that will provide this rising star with a horde of
new admirers. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 23, 2002
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