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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Love of Family, August 25, 2002
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
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