Book Blurb:
Can Julie, an only child raised with privilege and groomed for high society, and Robby, a coal miner’s son, escape the binds of their socioeconomic backgrounds? Set in a coal mining community in West Virginia in the 1950s, can their love survive their cultural boundaries?
This is a tragically beautiful love story of a simple yet deep love between two soul mates, Robby and Julie. The American South’s rigid caste system and her mother demand that Julie chooses to marry an ambitious young man from a prominent and suitable family. Julie counters her mother’s stringent social rules with deception and secrets in order to keep Robby in her life. Can the couple break the shackles of polite society and spend their lives together? Will Julie’s mother ever accept Robby?
My Thoughts:
The setting was a change of pace for me, but I enjoyed the references, sayings, and 1950s flair that the author used in the story. While mostly light-hearted, this book isn’t afraid to deal with darker situations as well, including suicide, dementia, and poverty. Themes from the story include trusting God, loving one another, and honesty (eventually).
While there were some minor issues that pulled me out of the story sometimes (some repetitive dialogue, a few typos, point of view changes that were hard to follow), all in all, I enjoyed it.
(Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)