I read this book in an afternoon. Could not put it down even though I needed to be doing some work. That says alot for this book. I highly recommend it. Ella Barron ran a boarding house during the depression years. Her doctor friend asked her to rent a room to his cousin, David Rainwater. David had terminal cancer and his time was short. Ella's son , Solly, was autistic. His mental condition was not named until the 40's. Little was known about reaching him. David was patient with Solly and discovered his strengths. David and Ella fell in love. David made a huge sacrifice to keep Solly from being institutionalized. Great book.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I was concerned about reading this book because from the beginning I could believe there was no way for this to have a happy ending. Wow, was I ever wrong. The plot was not based on there being a miracle but on the power of love when we give ourselves completely to help others.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This book is a little different from most of Sandra Brown’s novels. The idea for the book came from a true story told to Ms. Brown by her father. It is a sweet but sad story set in the Texas during the dust bowl in the 1930’s. David Rainwater is the new arrival at Ella Barron’s boarding house. He will change her life forever. Mr. Rainwater is terminally ill and needs a place to stay close to his doctor until his illness progresses. He only has weeks to live and wants to make the best of them. Ella is a single mother of a special needs child who runs the boarding house with the hired help of a black woman named Margaret. She works very hard to run a respectable boarding house and care for her unusual child. She risks it all when they become involved in a very unpopular cause. There is a government program that buys starving cattle from ranchers who cannot afford to feed them. The cattle are then shot to death and buried. The local law enforcement will not allow starving people from town to butcher and eat them. Mr. Rainwater organizes a group of men to stand up to law enforcement so the poor can have meat. It becomes a gruesome battle! People are killed and homes are burned to the ground. I love the old fashioned, down home flavor of the story. Eating berry cobbler with cream, putting a block of ice in the ice box, washing clothes in a hand cranked wringer washer, snapping string beans for supper, going out for ice cream at the local drug store - all reminiscent of a slower, simpler time period and contrasting to the violent events occurring at the same time. People were starving and prejudice was thriving against the lower classes and races. Law inforcement was dishonest and untrustworthy. The good people had to band together to protect themselves. This is a good, quick story to read with lots of contrasts. There are surprises, some unexpected romance, lots of action and violence, and also sweetness and continuity.Read full review
Every time an author deviates from their regular writing the books are the best, as is in this case. Loved it!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
One of her best stories. A truly excellent read.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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