"When Jason handed Sunny the cold bottle, still dripping water from the cooler, she felt like pinching herself."
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Journey Proud by Carolyn Fleming Russell House Publishers
book review by Michael Radon
Small town Georgia comes to life in this story of a community making ends meet in the wake of the Great Depression. David and Allyson Leigh, as well as their daughter Sunny, have been cutting corners and doing well enough, despite David's insurance policyholders dropping more and more every month. When David's rival and cousin Jason Randolph returns to tiny Baxton after travelling the globe, it becomes the talk of the town. Jason brings with him big plans to revitalize the town's economy by converting the cotton mill to a plastics plant, but with Jason comes a mysterious woman with a connection to his past and the possibility of danger. As times change, so inevitably must Baxton and its residents, whether or not everyone is ready.
The author grew up in Georgia herself, and so aspects of life there at that time have pure authenticity that take the reader to the setting in a heartbeat. Methodical descriptions of delicious food at social events or friendly gatherings are mouth-watering with their temptations. Above everything else, the manner of speaking is captured so perfectly that not only is it easy to read and understand, but individual characters are clearly separated by the way they talk. By focusing on the lives of different members of the Leigh family at different times, it can be difficult for readers to predict where the story might be headed, but that makes it all the more exciting and irresistible once the story hits its stride. Older readers will enjoy the authenticity of the period, while younger ones will be swept away by the characters and the intrigue that they engage in.