HOPE'S HIGHWAY by Dorothy Garlock
Dorothy Garlock continues her Route 66 series of stories with her latest novel, HOPE'S HIGHWAY. Once again the setting is the 1930's and the locale is the highway number sixty-six which leads west. Garlock assembles a mixed bag of characters and lets the story of their lives flow.
The central character of the story is Margie Kinnard. Readers of MOTHER ROAD will remember her in that story. She was on her way to California when her money was stolen. With no funds she had to head back to her hometown.
When this book opens Margie is once again on her way. Her hateful father Elmer grudgingly takes her along when he decides to go west. They make an unhappy team is they travel together. Still things get better for Margie as they meet up with other travelers and form a caravan.
The most interesting person Margie meets is Brady Hoyt, a single man traveling with his young niece. Margie helps take care of the little girl and a bond forms between them. Brady tries to get friendly with Margie too but she is afraid of his intentions and decides to keep her distant romantically from him.
The best part of Garlock's stories are always the characters and she has a variety of them in this book. In addition to Margie, Hoyt, his niece Anna Marie, and Elmer there are also some evil characters who are trailing the caravan. As the miles pass they are just waiting for a chance to bushwhack these good folks who are following their dreams.
The plot in this book is simplistic which may turn some people off from its entertainment value. You know from the start basically what is going to happen and there are no surprises. But for some readers this is what makes the book comforting and comfortable. You can rely on Garlock to let everything turn out all right.
If you are a fan of Dorothy Garlock's Americana stories, well this is more of the same. You get a feel for the era, and a taste of the times. You get a little excitement, a little romance, and a nice long visit with some very nice people. And since Garlock is traveling down this road for a while you might meet some of them again in her next book. Let's hope so.
HOPE'S HIGHWAY is published by Warner Books. It contains 400 pages and sells for $12.00.