Goodreads Reviews - Poldark: Demelza

Demelza by Winston Graham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The saga of Captain Ross Poldark continues, this time with a new woman by his side. However, this woman seems to turn heads and raise eyebrows wherever she goes. When 14 year old Demelza Cairne is rescued by Ross Poldark, she never imagined that she would go from his scullery maid to eventually his wife. However, their marriage is hardly based on love. Rather deception, regret and running from the past. For both of them.

Ross marries Demelza after he sleeps with her, knowing that's the only proper thing he can do. He also hopes that with Demelza to occupy his mind, he might forget his childhood love, Elizabeth. Now married to Ross' cousin, Francis, Elizabeth finds herself in a miserable marriage with a man who cannot get out from under Ross' shadow. Francis turns to drinking and philandering while leaving his wife at home with their new son, Geoffrey Charles.

Francis' despairing state makes him a prime target for the preying Warleggan family who hate the Poldark family, but especially the over-glorified war hero, Ross. Soon they begin to bring dissension between Francis and Ross, causing family turmoil in every direction.

Meanwhile, Demelza tries to integrate herself into the upperclass society of the Poldarks. She makes both victories and defeats, but always with the support of her new husband and the help of some family members as well. After the birth of their firstborn, Julia, genuine and affectionate love begins to blossom between Ross and Demelza. Happiness is never an assurance in Cornwall or in the Poldark family. And when threats of violence, betrayal, sickness and death begin to infiltrate Cornwall, Ross and Demelza's newfound love will be tested in every way imaginable.

Just as engaging as the premiere novel! Demelza Poldark is a lively young heroine that goes through extreme high and lows in her life. The once raggedy waif turned gentleman's wife begins to warm her way into the lives of the Poldarks' and Cornwall and overtime she begins to find herself. She falls with the mistakes she makes along the way, but her compassion wins out; even if it means sacrificing what she loves the most.