Rating: 
Summary: I'll read another...
Review: The Edge of Town is the first book by Dorothy Garlock that I've read, but it will not be the last. Set in the 1920's in Fertile, Missouri young Julie Jones cares for her five siblings after her mothers passing four years previous from a flu epidemic. Julie is feeling her life passing her by, caring for her siblings. Meanwhile, Evan Johnson, son of the lewd drunkard, Walter, returns home after the war to take care of the family farm. He was away many years, having lived with his grandparents, then going to war. Evan is nothing like his horrific father, and when he rescues Julie from his fathers assault you know its true love.Too bad there is something (or rather, someone) evil in Fertile. There have been brutal (and graphic) series of rapes that coincide with Evan's return. The townspeople can only assume that it is he, and the only person who stands by his side is Julie. What I liked...and disliked.... The descriptive writing in this book brings the time frame and the characters to life. You feel yourself slipping in the past, of a youthful sweet love story and all the represents America. Except for the rape, who wants to think of that? I know it's a part of the story, but the graphic nature of it, dragged the story down. But, any other writer couldn't have pulled off two ends of the spectrum, love and brutal hate, so perfectly. In Short... I will definitely pick up another Dorothy Garlock book, but next time I'll make sure the villain isn't involved with sexually deviant activities, it was a bit much for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Different title same basic theme
Review: The Roaring 20s bring the introduction of the automobile and the aeroplane to the small farming town of Fertile, Mo. - as well as a few newcomers. At the Jones family farm on the edge of town, six siblings work with their widowed father and life is a usually joyous struggle of hard work and school interrupted by an occasional baseball game and a weekly trip to town and church. Slowly it becomes obvious to the recently hired policeman and doctor that there is also a serial rapist in the vicinity. The storyline of this book is fresh and captivating and quite believable. The writing is definitely above par as Ms. Garlock exactly gets right the palpitations of young love, the joys, comfort and trials of family life - as well as the darkness that does intrude. Almost a fictional treastise on rape in the early 1900s, this is also a very readable book that is hard to put down once started, with a couple real surprises thrown in.
Rating:
Summary: Not Always a Kinder & Gentler Time
Review: The Roaring 20s bring the introduction of the automobile and the aeroplane to the small farming town of Fertile, Mo. - as well as a few newcomers. At the Jones family farm on the edge of town, six siblings work with their widowed father and life is a usually joyous struggle of hard work and school interrupted by an occasional baseball game and a weekly trip to town and church. Slowly it becomes obvious to the recently hired policeman and doctor that there is also a serial rapist in the vicinity. The storyline of this book is fresh and captivating and quite believable. The writing is definitely above par as Ms. Garlock exactly gets right the palpitations of young love, the joys, comfort and trials of family life - as well as the darkness that does intrude. Almost a fictional treastise on rape in the early 1900s, this is also a very readable book that is hard to put down once started, with a couple real surprises thrown in.
Rating:
Summary: Breath-taking, romantic, and sweetly enjoyable - a real gem!
Review: This highly enjoyable story stars Julie Jones, the quiet country girl living on her father's farm and caring for her siblings, since her mother's death. The nearby farm houses the town bully, that leaves many of the residents of Fertile, Missouri in fear. What happens when his son, Evan Johnson, returns from the war to care for the family farm so his father doesn't drive it into the ground, and then finds himself falling in love with Julie, and desperately trying to prove he is not like his father. Julie, believing she is nothing more than an old spinster, permanently tied to the care of her siblings, that doesn't have the heart to ever marry and leave them - feels confident that her place will never be as a mother or wife. When that dream actually seems like a possibility to Julie, she must face her deepest and darkest secret to the love of her life, and await his reaction. There are many more twists, including a new police chief in town with his own secret agenda - who also has his eyes set on Julie, a spoiled widow set on finding a new husband that sets her eyes on Evan Johnson and then on Julie's father. When she manages to become a guest of Julie's father in the Jones family farm - she creates tons of chaos, fears in the hearts of Julie and her siblings, and stress deep enough to break ties of the strong and loving Jones family forever. Among other problems, the town must face there is a rapist among them, and all eyes are pointing at Evan Johnson and his father. This is an explosive and loving family story, with dark secrets and deep passions that are threatened to go without relief. Dorothy Garlock is a genius in character development, and this book is no different. Within the entire story, you'll also experience the effects the family must endure, due to the sign of the times of the 1920's. I'm sure you will love this historical romance, and if so... check out other Dorothy Garlock historical romance books - this is one of my favorite... but not her best!!! This book will WOW you, that's for sure, and leave you wanting more! Enjoy!!!
Rating:
Summary: Breath-taking, romantic, and sweetly enjoyable - a real gem!
Review: This highly enjoyable story stars Julie Jones, the quiet country girl living on her father's farm and caring for her siblings, since her mother's death. The nearby farm houses the town bully, that leaves many of the residents of Fertile, Missouri in fear. What happens when his son, Evan Johnson, returns from the war to care for the family farm so his father doesn't drive it into the ground, and then finds himself falling in love with Julie, and desperately trying to prove he is not like his father. Julie, believing she is nothing more than an old spinster, permanently tied to the care of her siblings, that doesn't have the heart to ever marry and leave them - feels confident that her place will never be as a mother or wife. When that dream actually seems like a possibility to Julie, she must face her deepest and darkest secret to the love of her life, and await his reaction. There are many more twists, including a new police chief in town with his own secret agenda - who also has his eyes set on Julie, a spoiled widow set on finding a new husband that sets her eyes on Evan Johnson and then on Julie's father. When she manages to become a guest of Julie's father in the Jones family farm - she creates tons of chaos, fears in the hearts of Julie and her siblings, and stress deep enough to break ties of the strong and loving Jones family forever. Among other problems, the town must face there is a rapist among them, and all eyes are pointing at Evan Johnson and his father. This is an explosive and loving family story, with dark secrets and deep passions that are threatened to go without relief. Dorothy Garlock is a genius in character development, and this book is no different. Within the entire story, you'll also experience the effects the family must endure, due to the sign of the times of the 1920's. I'm sure you will love this historical romance, and if so... check out other Dorothy Garlock historical romance books - this is one of my favorite... but not her best!!! This book will WOW you, that's for sure, and leave you wanting more! Enjoy!!!
Rating:
Summary: Another winner.
Review: This is a super good book. Dorothy Garlock has a special way with words and writing about family life. The story starts out exciting,catches your interest so you do not want to put the book down. The Jones family is another special family you will come to know and love. I certainly hope there is going to be a follow up. This will be another book to add to my Garlock collection!!
Rating: 
Summary: good story with a good plot
Review: This is my first Dorothy Garlock book and I have to say that it did satisfy the romantic being in me. Although it was not really heart-wrenching, I did find the love between Evan and Julie extremely sweet. The plot in this story is also good and I think that this book will be enjoyed by most people who like a good, light romance read with a bit of suspense in it. I know I did and I don't think I will hesitate to pick up another of Ms Garlock's books.
Rating:
Summary: Different title same basic theme
Review: This is the eighth novel that I have read by this author. I had never read a romance set in the early part of the 1900's before I read Tenderness. I really thought that the book was very well written and gave a good historical overview of life in the early 1900's. The Edge of Town is very well written and once again she give a great glimse in to the everyday lives of people living in the 1920's. The big proplem have this book is that it lacks orginality!!!! It repeats the same basic plot that was in Tenderness, With Hope, and Yesteryear. These books all have a strong older sister willing to give up her own happiness to care for her younger siblings and father. In Yesteryear instead of silbings there were foster children. In most of the books that I have read if there is a dad he is good if somewhat weak charcter easliy lead by the nose by some women intent on driving off his eldest daughter. The younger kids love and at the same time drain thier older sister. Julie Jones is like so many of Ms. Garlocks women. She goes through without complaining about giving up her own life to care for her siblings. Then some man shows up and like the female main chacters the men are all pretty much the same. They may or may not have tainted family backgrounds like in Evans case his dad is the hated town bully. In Tenderness his people were hillbillies. Some how without much real time alone Julie and Evan manger to fall in love and over come the usual challenges found in Ms. Garlocks books. These repetitive challanges include the main character being accused of some crime which is always solved very quickly. Did I mention that just like Tenderness the town had a problem with a sexual pervert?? So if you have read Tenderness, With Hope, With Heart, Yesteryear or A Gentle Giving you don't need to read The Edge of Town. Ms. Garlock just took a little from each of these books to create this one. Also since she is a romance writer I expect a little more romance than three kisses and deep loving looks. I recomend Restless Wind or even Midnight Blue or Nightrose. Atleast thse books are somewhat more original. Or maybe not considering Nightrose and Restless Wind deal with racial hatred because the male main character is of mixed blood. Johanna Lindsey in my opinion is not as good a writer as Ms. Garlock but atleast her charcters are different and orignial in each book.
|
