"A delightful romance"

Dr. Josie Allen feels good about returning to her hometown of Angel Ridge to serve as the head librarian. As she adjusts to her duties, Josie struggles to make her on-line catalogue system that she developed for her thesis work. Josie has other problems as Mrs. McKay, her benefactor who paid for her graduate work in exchange for her coming home to replace the retiring librarian, places behavioral demands on her. Worse, Mrs. McKay's son banker Martin wants to court Josie as his only social equal.

General handyman Cole Craig has liked Josie since he first saw her attending the local schools. He did nothing then, but hopes to date her because he still desires Josie. To his surprise, Josie agrees to go out with him. As they date and begin falling in love, Mrs. McKay warns Josie that she stay away from the Craig blue collar losers as they are beneath their social strata if she wants to keep her job. Perhaps the legendary angel that allegedly protected the Craigs when Indians attacked in the mid eighteenth century will reappear to help this couple make it. Josie will not wait as she has backbone to take care of herself though Cole tries to intercede.

This is a strong small-town romance starring two terrific protagonists, a host of wonderfully eccentric locals, and a fire exhaling town matriarch. The fun story line focuses on whether two individuals seemingly from different educational backgrounds can make it. Though a late twist involving Cole takes somewhat away from the plot, fans will treasure this deep character study.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 15, 2004

Book One of the Angel Ridge Series Homespun Hearts: Hometown girl made good, Josie Allen, has returned to Angel Ridge after years away at school. All too soon, the new Dr. Allen finds that being the director of the town's prestigious library won't be easy. With the debt of her education hanging over her head in the form of her benefactor breathing down her neck, Josie barely has time to concentrate on the new computer system giving her almost as many problems. She definitely has no time for the distractions of a man from the wrong side of the Ridge-no matter how handsome he is. Cole Craig, the town handyman, is a blue collar constant in the small town. For as long as anyone remembers, he and his family have worked hard and kept to their own kind, but things aren't always as they appear. Cole has a secret! When Josie comes back to town, Cole can't keep his mind on business or his eyes off the girl of his youthful dreams. Determined to win Josie over, Cole sets a course for romance-the old fashioned way. Even with years of history and attraction forcing them together, social pressures and politics threaten to keep Josie and Cole apart. Can the guiding hands of the town's legendary angels and quirky residents keep love on track or will two hearts pay the price of prejudice?