Isabel Lyon is in a bad place financially. Her family, once well-to-do and socially respected, is now destitute. She and her mother have gone through all the money they had left after the death of her father and need to make some difficult decisions. More accepting of what needs to be done to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, Isabel buries any pride she has left and gets a job --- as a governess to a well-respected family.

Her employment situation is bearable, and she takes a liking to the family, especially the children. One evening, when another player is needed for a card game, her employer’s husband takes her to the game at the home of Samuel Clemens. This one evening changes her life forever, starting quickly with a change in her work life, and she soon finds herself the personal secretary to Mrs. Clemens.

"I’d like to say that Isabel is a sad, infuriating character, but truly she's not. You want her to be happy; she knows how that can happen, but something always stops her. When she finally makes her choice, you want to cheer her on."

Not ever having met her new employer, Isabel does her best to keep up with bills and correspondence for the elusive Mrs. Clemens while trying not to fall in love with her employer’s husband. She turns her focus to the daughters, but that doesn’t change the way she feels; it just means less interaction with the man she’s in love with. She tries to keep her feelings hidden, telling herself that she will not and cannot act upon anything her heart tells her. Unfortunately, those feelings are very visible to others. Resentment follows numerous denials, but it’s not until the moment she meets Mrs. Clemens that she fully understands the situation and her feelings. When Mrs. Clemens finally succumbs to death, the relationship between Isabel and Samuel changes dramatically.

Isabel waits for the man she loves. She comes to the understanding that she may be loved but will be nothing more than a mere secretary to the man she has fallen in love with. Finally coming to this realization forces a choice upon her, and she makes a decision that changes everything --- she marries a longtime friend who is also connected to the Clemens family. Isabel may look forward to a new life, but it’s not as easy to walk away as she thought it would be.

Isabel is an interesting character in that she’s incredibly strong, almost willing things to be done for a man who is more concerned with everyone loving him rather than taking a stand that might challenge anyone’s impression of him. She takes on caring for the daughters, including one that tries to blackmail her into keeping secrets, and keeps life running with as few disruptions and distractions as possible for the man she loves. She gives up any chance at a normal life to be with a man with whom she knows nothing will happen. I’d like to say that Isabel is a sad, infuriating character, but truly she's not. You want her to be happy; she knows how that can happen, but something always stops her. When she finally makes her choice, you want to cheer her on.

This is what makes Lynn Cullen such a wonderful writer. She takes this woman, who clearly has been lost in the lore of Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain, and makes you feel for her, even though circumstances are against all things having to do with a happy ending. Don’t worry, that isn’t giving anything away. What this all comes down to is that TWAIN’S END should be on your reading list.