Review: Not Hill's best
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but it isn't representative of Hill's best.Betty Stanhope, a privileged young woman, runs away from her wedding.  Her father is dead and her step-mother, hoping to secure control of Betty's fortune, is attempting to force Betty to marry one of her sons.  The step-mother, Mrs. Hutton, has the potential to be the delightfully and decadently evil type in which Hill excels.  But, as is the case with multiple components of the book, it just doesn't seem as if Hill put enough into it.  There's immaculate goodness (Betty), good country folks sharing the word of God (the Carters), and upright masculinity (Warren).  It's just that none of it is fully developed and the center romance is especially anemic.So, in the final analysis:  worth reading, but probably only if you're already worked your way through Hill's better works and are wanting more.Be aware that this book is a product of its time and treats race and class issues accordingly.  Nothing too blatant ("white man" is used as a way to say "good person," for instance), but something to be aware of if you think it will impact your enjoyment of the book.