River Rising

Dorothy Garlock weaves a thrilling tale of life in Depression-era Missouri, as the folks of Fertile-including the beloved Jones clan-brace for disaster... one that could expose this quaint midwestern town to a flood of shameful truths and shattering secrets. When pretty April Asbury arrives in Fertile, Missouri, to take her place as Dr. Forbes's new nurse, she's looking forward to life in this picturesque town. And it doesn't disappoint. Even the driving rain can't dim its charm. But while Fertile might seem as pristine as April's starched white uniforms, it's anything but. Soon the spunky blonde will need all the strength she can muster to fight her powerful attraction to Joe Jones, a man who has "heartbreaker" written all over him; stare down a bunch of malicious gossips; and fend off a would-be suitor who's up to no good. And there's worse to come, as a bitter widow plots revenge and her husband's twisted legacy comes home to roost. Now, in a town where so many have something to hide, tensions are rising faster than the river. When all hell breaks loose, April must hang on tight to the man she loves if they're both to survive.

Set in Depression-era Missouri, Garlock's latest novel picks up where The Edge of Town left off, once again presenting the down-home charm and familiar characters that have made her books so popular. April Asbury, a lovely young nurse, has just arrived in town when her car breaks down and she meets Joe Jones, a "natural-born flirt" who offers to help her. April is plucky, pretty and smart, and Joe soon finds himself falling for her, though he struggles to shed his playboy image. Meanwhile, the town doctor, Todd Forbes, wades into troublesome romantic territory when he falls for a woman of color, and Shirley, the wife of the late rapist Ron Poole, goes off the deep end after discovering her husband's sordid history. When a flood wreaks havoc on the town, things come to a head, and many get their comeuppance. Garlock weaves together the various tales with the down home folksiness she's known for, which includes plenty of corny similes ("He's about as reliable as snow on the Fourth of July") and exclamations such as "Shucks!" and "Bullfoot!" Of course, everything works out in the end, and there's a fair amount of sweaty sex thrown in along the way. But it's Garlock's characters that keep bringing readers back, and this book will not disappoint her many existing fans.
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Garlock returns to Fertile, Missouri, 10 years after The Edge of Town (2001), when April Asbury arrives to work as Dr. Forbes' new nurse. Taking a room at Mrs. Poole's house, she feels uneasy, which is only right since the widowed Mrs. Poole and her brother are involved in creepy, secret activities. The attractive young nurse is besieged by admirers and viewed askance by the numerous ladies who have set their hats for the doctor. Garlock does a terrific job of showing the wholesome surface of life in the 1930s, while also depicting the ugly underbelly of the times, particularly in regard to racial issues and sexual mores. Setting the story against the rising of the river into a flood seems contrived, as does an overuse of period slang, but this doesn't detract from the focus on relationships among the many characters. And fans will be delighted to catch up with the growing Jones family, who were also seen in A Place Called Rainwater (2003) and High on a Hill (2002). Diana Tixier Herald
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