Review: Ripples Along The Shore
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 9, 2013
The story is set in post-Civil War St. Louis, MO. Caroline (the main character) got the news that her husband, Phillip, was killed in the war and she has returned from Memphis where she was taking care of a sick aunt. Caroline is staying with her sister and very cantankerous brother-in-law (Jack) who makes it very clear that he considers her a burden to the family.Garrett Cowlishaw , who had fought on the Confederate side of the war, delivered the news of  Caroline's husband Phillip's death, and helped her carry a trunk of items from her Aunt Inez's home inside when Jack begins behaving rather rudely to his wife and to Caroline. Garrett , understandably, is angered by Jack's behavior and stands up to him, though Caroline intervenes, which lends Garrett a certain air of gentility .Because Caroline feels unwanted and hates the unpleasant environment of her sister's home, she finds a job at the local mercantile until she can return to her previous profession, which was teaching. Though she does not like Garrett at first, as she spends more time around him, she begins to feel much more kindly towards him although she tells him that she is " not seeking a replacement for my husband" .As the book comes to a close, Caroline has decided to go West with Garrett's wagon train, and the book leaves off with a gathering of the quilting circle.Overall, I felt the characters were well developed, as I could see Caroline's compassion come through as she thought about her sister having to deal with Jack's behavior. I could also see her determination and even a bit of a fiery side to her. Garrett came through as a true Southern gentleman who had a difficult childhood.I was pleased to see the return of Mrs. Brantenburg, Maren, Rutherford, and little Gabi, as well as a few other characters from "Dandelions on the Wind" by the same author.Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.