Rural Living

摘要

Florence, Elinor. Wildwood. Dundurn. Mar. 2018.328p. ISBN 9781459740204. pap. $19.99; ebk. ISBN 9781459740228. f In Florence's (Bird's Eye View) second novel, Molly Bannister, broke and unemployed after the crash of 2008, discovers she has been left a remote Canadian farmstead by her estranged great-aunt Mary. The catch is she must live there full time for one year in order to inherit it legally. Leaving Phoenix for the beautiful Peace River region of Northern Alberta is quite a shock. Molly is helped along when she finds Mary's 1924 home-steading journal in the farmhouse; selections are shared, adding warmth and interest. The heart of the story, though, lies in Molly's relationship with her young daughter Bridget; the reason Molly decided to claim the inheritance is to sell it to pay for Bridget's needed medical treatments. Their new neighbors are mostly salt-of-the-earth types, but not everyone is reliable: some mystery and intrigue surround Molly's legacy. There is also a chance at love, in a slightly clunky romantic subplot. VERDICT A heartwarming story about the power of family, this novel of modern pioneering will appeal to many readers. Fans of Debbie Macomber or even Janette Oke will likely find the gentle tone and the focus on wholesome themes a familiar and engaging type of read.