Customer Reviews

Beginnings

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Here is another oldie but goodie - an old Judith Duncan title that exemplifies her work.

First of all, it's set in rural Alberta, a small prairie town populated by ordinary, working class, decent people living out quiet lives in this rural backwater.

Holly Simpson's late husband was a rodeo rider who drifted from job to job and never amounted to much. Holly married him young and in desperation to get away from home; soon the kids began to arrive. Life was hard, living in trailer parks, doing odd jobs and trying to keep her little family fed and clothed.

A house is left to her by her late grandmother and it seems the answer to her prayers. It's not much as it's run-down, neglected and on the edge of a small town where jobs are hard to come by. Holly has grown a bit defensive towards men and is not too inclined to accept help from anyone but she does make some friends and soon picks up cleaning, sewing and bar work. Life continues to be hard, difficult but at least she has some money coming in as the meagre life insurance money from her husband's death is about gone.

One neighbour is Grady O'Neil. He's a nice guy, attractive and has a trucking business. It's not making him rich but he has a close and warm extended family and is making a good enough living. What's more, he likes kids and takes hers under his wing. (The children in this book are totally believeable and add much to the story.)

These two gradually grow close, push each other apart and grow close again. Really, nothing much exciting happens in this book. Its great attraction is the way in which the author portrays normal, everyday life - the life that 99.9% of us live. The difficulties Holly must overcome are those we have all experienced. So, her triumphs, despite her romantic contretemps ring true for the reader.

As ever, my continuing criticism of this writer applies: she portrays emotions in an overwrought and sometimes amusing way. Everything is exaggerated. But, as always, her great characters and the environment in which she places them triumphs.

This is an old book but worth seeking out if you like Judith Duncan. I'd also like to offer a review of another of her old books, "Better Than Ever" which I enjoyed even more than this title. Unfortunately, it's not listed on amazon.com so can't do it. But, if you like hidden baby stories, seek that one out too. It's a brilliant portrayal of what happens when the guy who made the girl pregnant returns after 20 years to confront her and the boy who married her and took full responsibility.

I'm giving this one five stars mainly because it was refreshing to read a well written story of normal people doing ordinary things yet within the framework of a story that holds your attention and makes you wish you lived next door the the heroine.