The secondary characters were more likable I didn't buy the instant love between the main characters Henry Ann and Tom Dolan. They had no restraint, didn' even try hard at all to do the right thing, which was to keep their hands and mouths off each other. Afterall, he was a married man with a very mentally ill wife. They really didn't care what was right, they selfishly went along with their desires. I was very disappointed in them. I did like the secondary characters, Henry Ann's half brother Johnny, Grant (the bum who turns out to be a Harvard educated lawyer), and the best friend Karen. In fact, I would much rather have read about Grant and Karen's lives and their romance.
A great new author (for me anyway)! I have been looking for new romance authors to explore and I came across Dorothy Garlock. What caught my attention was the fact that many of her novels are set during the 1930s. The only things that spring to mind about the 1930s to me are the Depression, the author Margaret Mitchell, pilot Amelia Earhart and gangster Al Capone. According to my findings, Garlock began her career by writing nineteenth century Westerns and later moved on to early twentieth century Americana. With Hope is part of a series centered on the Dolan siblings and I was very impressed and deeply touched with this charming love story. The year is 1932 in Oklahoma. Henry Ann Henry (yes, that's her name) lives in a farm with her father. When her wayward, ill-reputed mother who had abandoned her dies, she and her father have to look after her mother's bastard children, Johnny and Isabel. And when her father dies one week later, she has to bear full responsibility for the farm and her half-siblings. But with the help of her "Aunt" Dozie, her friend Karen, a mysterious bum named Grant, and Tom Dolan, her gorgeous, albeit married next-door-neighbor, she may be all right. But when a town bully insists on making her life hell and feelings emerge between Henry Ann and Tom, which costs her her reputation, she may need the support of her close friends even more, especially when Tom becomes a murder suspect. There are various twists throughout the novel.
This novel is such a delightful read. The small town feel of the setting with its gossipers and close friends alike is the most endearing part here. I like how Garlock creates a vivid picture of the time period and the small-town inhabitants. The issues regarding double standards against women and racial segregation are quite insightful. I also love the colorful characters. There are many characters in this novel and they are all very well developed. I loved Aunt Dozie, Johnny, Grant, Karen, Chris and Jay. I even liked Pete and the other Perrys, the ill-reputed town trash. Pete is annoying and he is such a petty, immature bully, but I liked the many depths and nuances in this character. I also liked his little brother Jude. And the protagonists are wonderful and their love story is romantic, funny and also poignant. For those of you who are turned off with the idea that the hero is married, he is an honorable, kind man who endures a life of hell with a woman who is obviously bipolar. His story is truly heartwrenching. Henry Ann is a great heroine, but a little too kindhearted and generous to be believable at times. In addition to Henry Ann and Tom, there are two more romantic subplots that I enjoyed very much. Grant and Karen and Chris and Opal will touch your hearts as well. The small bit of mystery plot toward the end is quite well done. I was surprised with the way the author wrapped that up. Eep! I am so going to read more stuff by this author and I will definitely read the other parts of this series. I especially look forward to reading Johnny's story. Based on this wonderful novel, I am sure that Dorothy Garlock will find a place on my must-read list of authors.
A Story to Remember "With Hope" is the best book I have read in a long time. The newest best sellers have been somewhat of a disappointment to me lately with several of my favorite writers. I decided to try reading a book written a few years back and was glad I did.
First, but certainly not last! This was my first Garlick book, but believe me, it will not be my last. I would have to put her up there with Nora Roberts! A beautiful story in a time when it would be very difficult to find anything beautiful. Yes, the story of the wife is very sad, but I really could not find fault with the husband, Tom. Very good summer reading!
Best collection of characters I've ever read!!! Dorothy Garlock created a wonderful collection of characters in this novel based in the 1930s. The only bad thing about this book, was closing it and letting go of these characters. I've fallen in love with the main characters - Henry Ann Henry and Tom Dolan... but most of all, for her step-brother, Johnny. I so hope, as I believe the other readers will too, that Ms. Garlock will write a novel with Johnny as the main character someday. He's simply charming and easy to fall in love with.
The main characters provided a spectacular chemistry of emotion, while the world around them suffered with the hardships of the time. However, they were not completely unaffected, they did suffer as well, along with witnessing the suffering of those around them they cared about.
The one thing that Ms. Garlock did create was characters that were obviously bad... when sometimes actually there is a fine line between bad and good within a person. The story would have been even more emotional if those characters showed more of their good, along with some of their evil.
Overall, a very good book with wonderful characters, that you are sure to enjoy!
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