I must admit that I began this book expecting to be disappointed in its quality of writing and content; several recent books by longtime favorite authors have been letdowns and I was prepared to be underwhelmed. How wrong I was! Colleen Hubbard has gifted her readers with a …more compelling, complex protagonist in Del and fully fleshed out secondary characters (both living and deceased). Her settings, particularly the small town where most of the story takes place, ring true to me as someone born in the early 1960s who grew up in the country outside a small town. Del is a complex, angry young woman who often surprised me in unexpected ways, as did many of the people surrounding her. This novel is a rewarding read and you may find it as hard to put down as I did. (less)