Dorothy Garlock has been called “The Voice of America’s Heartland”

I picked up this book at the Petawawa Library several months ago. At that time I wanted to read something that was uncomplicated, a feel-good story that was short. I was attracted by the cover: a dark background with lots of bright lights, and a yellow candle in a jar in the front. It implied depth of feeling. The front inside cover has a precise of the story which is set in Sunset, Missouri, 1954. As hope flourishes in postwar America, a young widow dares to dream of a second chance a forever love…

The prologue gives a bit of background as it describes the day that Clara Sinclair found out her husband Private Joseph Lawrence Sinclair died while serving his country. Now in 1954 we learn that her son, Tom, a wayward 16 year old does not take his mother seriously. Clara is also looking after her mother who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. So she has a lot to deal with plus having a very low income.. Her knight in shining armour is a race car driver who goes from town to town drag racing the local hot shots. He travels with his own mechanic: Amos who has his own demons: he is a drug addict. As the two are constantly moving from place to place to make quick money Amos is able to keep one step ahead of a mafia type: Sweet Woods, who wants him dead. The drama plays out as Drake wants to stay in Sunset as he has been smitten by the comely war widow.

While doing some research about the author: Dorothy Garlock I found out that this book that was published in 2015 was one of her last. She was born June 22, 1919 and passed away April 6, 2018. Many of her 62 books have been best sellers.