Mrs. H here again. That sweet Sophie asked me to tell you about the happenings here in Cottonwood. A few weeks ago a new person arrived in town. I don’t know whether he’ll stay and plant himself here for good, but if he does he’s gonna have to learn a few things about living in Iowa. He’s from England. He’s brought his fancy, stuck up ways with him. Lord St. John Lytton is his name. People around here don’t much take to calling anyone but God by the title lord. He’s living with Theo and Gladys Ralston. He owns the livery stable. Remember what happened to Sterling and Lydia there? Seems the Ralston’s were employees of the Marquess de Monteforte, fancy name isn’t it, back in England before they immigrated here. Well, Mr. Lytton, as he is now accepting to being called, has certainly come down in the world. He’s mucking out horse stalls for his work. I hope that humbles him some. The other big news is that Maggie Taylor has moved out of her parent’s home and into the apartment about the newspaper office where she works. Wouldn’t I have liked to been a fly on the wall when she told her mother. Beulah has always dominated her daughters. The rest have all married and moved away. I know I would if I was one and got the chance. Poor Maggie’s been the focus of her mother’s manipulations since the last one left. Leon Dahlrimple, the newspaper owner, used to live there. He and Ida Smith got married so he offered it to Maggie. I haven’t been up to visit. The stairs are a might too much for my heart. I hear she’s working on curtains and cushions to brighten up the place. Seems Leon wasn’t much for decorating. The most recent development is that Leon wants Maggie to learn to drive a buggy so she can do the news route gathering it and delivering print orders. He goes around to the neighboring towns but is getting too busy to do it himself. So Maggie learning to drive would help him quite a bit. Anyway, Mr. St. John Lytton, whose friends are allowed to call him Sinjon, is the one teaching Maggie to drive. We’ll have to wait to see what happens. I know Beulah would be just delighted if something more developed from the lessons. Something of a more permanent measure. We’ll just have to wait and see. That sweet Sophie asked me to tell you to click that button if you want to read the first three chapters of Maggie and Sinjon’s story. You be blessed now, Mrs. H.
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Rosewood, by Melanie Carter Winkler, is unique in that it is set in Australia. A contemporary novel in which, because of debts, Jessica and her sisters must sell Rosewood, the country home of their grandparents. Jess is determined to hate the person who purchases the property. Patrick has fallen in love with the relaxed country home and wonders who would sell such a wonderful home. He requires that the seller come to the house to sign the papers completing the deal. Attracted to each other from the start they begin a courtship learning about each other trying to keep from moving too fast for Jess's comfort. Patrick, a successful man, head of his own company, has a close family, faithful business partner and a past he doesn't want Jess to know about. Jess, the youngest of the three sisters, wants them to see her as the capable interior decorator that she is. She's been hurt in the past and uncertain she's ready for a new relationship. Add a past affair and corporate mole which threaten Pat's new romance and company and Jess 's lukewarm feelings toward God and you have the makings of an interesting story. Ms. Winkler doesn't disappoint. Her writing is interesting and the characters well thought out and developed. The story is sweet and the choices each make which threaten to break the budding romance are believable. It's Australian setting is fresh and slightly foreign to an American reader. Spellings are different and some phrases unfamiliar. To have a nurse is to hold a baby. This one threw me for a few moments when Pat said he would like to. Once I finished the paragraph I realized what the wording meant. The author worships on Saturday and so the characters do also. The theology presented was sound. It shows a positive view of two supportive families which is often lacking in contemporary writing. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the coming works of Ms. Winkler. I hope you noticed that I didn't blog last week. I've been working hard to get Lord's Love, second book in the Cottonwood series finished. When you live in a rural area and many of the people you know have purchased the book and liked it, you run the risk of being tackled in the street by those wanting the next installment. Good news! The first draft is finished and I'm going over it now. It looks like the projected September release will be fulfilled. That is if I get the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ... drafts done and to the editor. |
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April 2018
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