Customer Reviews

From This Day Forward (Arabesque)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cornelia Hatchet's plan was to leave Farmingdale, Illinois; a small
town on the outskirts of Chicago, and pursue her degree. But her
father's amputation forces her to lay aside those plans to care for
him and her two, much younger sisters.

Noted talk show host Skye Audsley is going to Farmingdale to do a
show; 'A Day In The Life', about the deplorable living conditions.
However, uppermost in his mind is finding a live-in care giver
for his Grandmother. Arriving in Farmigndale, Skye meets and
interviews the Hatchet family, and he is immediately impressed
with the love and care Cornelia has for them. The sudden death of
Henry Hatchet was a staggering blow, but it was the catalyst
Cornelia needed to finally leave Farmingdale. Skye, back in town
for a follow-up story, hears about the death or Mr. Hatchet and he
has the perfect solution for both parties. Cornelia and her sisters
can be thelive-in care givers for his Grandmother. Cornelia is
approaching her middle thirties, but she is a woman who has an
insatiable curiosity about the world beyond her hometown. She has
not forgotten her dreams; in fact, her dreams are what kept her
sane. She accepts Skye's offer and starts to envision herself with
her degree in her hand and Skye at her side. She has survived her
stagnant life by living vicariously, so fantasizing about Skye
comes easy.

The premise of the story is excellent, and though I could not really
embrace the characters, the real strength of this particular story
lives in Ms. Griffin's ability to tug at our family emotions, as well
as make us stop and ask ourselves if we are really able to give up our
personal goals for the sake of family? This is a real underdog story
but she did not allow the character to wallow in self-pity. As with
Ms. Griffith's other works, At Long Last Love and A Love of Her Own;
the stronger story line read like a Mainstream work to me.
(Really a 3.5)

~Reveiwed by aNN Brown

I really liked this book. I've read all Ms. Griffin's books, and this one was a nice change of venue. I liked the fact that Hatch wasn't well-to-do, but really had to struggle, like so many of us do. I've always liked the way this author leaves out all the senseless gushy-gush and didn't have Skye take one look at Hatch and fall in love with her. It was a love story, but a realistic one. Hatch's sister Chantal was real sassy and sometimes pushed limits, typical for teenagers. And I loved the ending.

This is a great story and a fine read. I enjoyed Hatch as a character and how she handled herself, in spite of her pitfalls. She was very loyal and accomodating to her family-sacrificing for them and putting herself last. To me, she's a class act. Then Skye Audsley comes along and turns Hatch's life upside down. Will Hatch finally find deserving love and happiness with Skye? Well, read the book and find out. Like I said, it's a book worthwhile reading. I simply loved this story!

After reading other books by this author, I was more than a little bit disappointed with this one. When I read romance I expect to find some romance in the book. The storyline was a cute little cinderella and Prince Charming type but it lacked one thing I look for in a love story: ROMANCE. It took 200 pages for the hero and the heroine to even kiss, and then only a friendly peck on the lips. In the meantime he is seen with two other women while she sits back like a wallflower and wait on him to notice her. I am not saying I was looking for hot and heavy [love] but there was absolutely no romantic feelings in this book. If it hadn't been for the two younger sisters and the grandmother i would have put the book down fifty pages in.
Try one of Ms. Griffin's earlier books for a better read, this one just did not make the grade.