BOOK BY: Angela K. Couch
A beautiful telling of the tragic story of Frank, Alberta.
I’m always looking for stories set in Canada (as I don’t think there are enough of them!), but especially ones written for the CBA market. This book did not disappoint.
School teacher Samantha Ingles isn’t a likeable character at the start. She’s cold, strict, and people in her story world would say she’s unfeeling. It isn’t until the rock slide that buries a good section of town that readers are exposed to the softening of Samantha’s heart. Hers is a tragic backstory which only endears her to readers as the story unfolds.
David Harty has his own set of issues which causes a lot of friction between him and several characters. It almost seems impossible that David and Samantha would get along at any point in the story. But with David’s recently orphaned nieces, the two have to figure things out.
The narrative pulls readers in from the start, giving just enough detail for readers to imagine the setting. The story moves along well, keeping readers engaged with every page.
A slew of characters – both real and fictional – help readers connect to the intensity of the situation. The author provides a fascinating historical review of what happened in Frank when Turtle Mountain collapsed and killed nearly 100 people.
A great retelling of a piece of Canadian history.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.