As the neighborly dispute degenerates into a full-blown feud, Laura begins to see an explosive, frighteningly irrational side to city-bred Thomas, who starts spending spend more and more time up on their 40 acres, even as a pregnancy complication leaves Laura bedridden in Denver, her career and marriage in jeopardy.
A rich cast of characters, including Laura’s new-age best-friend Serrine, her career-challenged brother Lester, their eccentric mother, an unusual mountain man, and a Native American high school teacher/deputy sheriff, all play warm and sometimes comic roles as the crises around Laura escalate toward an unexpected but wholly satisfying conclusion.
In ROAD SHOES, author Darla Worden addresses a large number of topics of current interest: the subdividing of the West into “vanity ranches”; the baby-boomer propelled gardening boom; survivalists; Native American rights and artifacts; and new-age ideas. Worden successfully integrates these diverse elements to create a fascinating, deep-textured—and often humorous—environment in which the story’s emotional events unfold.
“Worden has a gift for writing in general, a fresh and appealing voice, and a flair for ironic humor and social satire.”
“Road Shoes is a fun, modern, wild-western romp that also touches a need to connect. An insightful read.”
