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by Vickie McDonough
Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: A Will of Her Own
Author: Patricia DeGroot
Publisher: Avalon Books
ISBN 0-8034-9526-9
Genre: Inspirational/Historical/Romance
After the death of her mother, and her father's abandonment,
twelve-year-old April Wilde struggles to provide for her two younger
sisters and to hang onto their land. Seven years later, April is a young
woman who has survived against the odds in spite of being looked down on
by the nearby townsfolk. All she has in the world is her farm, her
sisters, and her pride.
Will Caulder grew up the son of a wealthy plantation owner, but his family
lost all during the Civil War. Desperate to provide a home for his aging
parents and sister, he seizes the chance to win a farm during a poker
game. Just maybe his luck is finally changing. With deed in hand, Will
confronts the current residents of the farm. The last thing he expects to
face is a beautiful and fiery young woman and her two rifle-wielding
teenage sisters.
April is stunned to discover her father gambled away their home. But she
won't give up without a fight, even if the handsome Will Caulder stirs up
more than just her temper. April bucks Will every time he opens his mouth.
Will can't afford to lose this fight, even if it means April and her
sisters must leave their home. But the more Will and April butt heads, the
more attraction sizzles and flames to life. Can there be any hope of
compromise when neither side is willing to budge?
I have to say A Will of Her Own is one of the best books I've read
this year. The conflict between April and Will is outstanding. I can see
why this book is an award winner. April has stood against every formidable
foe to hang on to her farm - rough Colorado winters, wild animals, hostile
Indians, and less than friendly neighbors. Then comes Will with his deed
of ownership. Rather than caving in to this final pressure, April stands
firm, giving Will the fight of his life.
The plot of this book is enthralling. The only thing I found hard to
swallow was that three girls, not even teenagers, could survive seven
years on their own in the Rockies. Other than that, A Will of Her Own
kept me up until the wee hours, because I wasn't about to go to sleep
until I'd finished it. Cirrus Claymore is the nasty kind of villain
readers love to hate. May and June, April's sisters, provide excellent
depth and sometimes humor as secondary characters. With a surprise twist
at the end, A Will of Her Own is a definite addition to my keeper
shelf, and one that I am certain to read again.
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