Heather’s Bookshelf: Jalopy
Author: Wes Verde
Released: 05/09/21
Genre: Historical Romance
“The Wozniak’s home was perched at the top of a hill, looking across a shallow valley. At twenty years old, Etta had seen this view in every season and manner of weather since she was old enough to remember. It never ceased to be beautiful.”
“Jalopy” is told from two different points of view. Etta Wozniak is a young woman living on a small farm with her father, the last of her surviving family. Art Adams is a young man returning from college to visit his family and to come to terms with an arranged marriage with a woman he’s never even met before.
For Etta, a series of terrible events finds her in a desperate situation- wanting something more for her life but fearing what will happen if she leaves. Art feels stuck in a life that seems to already be written for him. He yearns to make his own way and to do what he wants.
When a reluctant night out with his brothers turns into a drunken mess, Art gets left behind. He passes out on a nearby farm — which happens to belong to Etta and her family. A rocky start blossoms into a friendship and then much more, but many things stand in their way. Tragedies and secrets threaten them both. Will Etta and Art be able to overcome and find happiness?
Trigger Warning: death, violence
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. There was something very sweet and honest about the tale and the two main characters. Etta was driven, headstrong, and hardworking. Art is a secretive dreamer determined to allow others to decide his future. She goes days without food while working physically all day long. He’s a college graduate trying to find his own voice. Etta’s proximity to tragedy is also a common thread throughout the story and provides a counterpoint to the sweeter side of the story. Many of the ancillary characters were also well developed and vivid including ***. I enjoyed following both Etta and Art on their journeys, friendships, and challenges. The ending was a little predictable, but enjoyable. The epilogue also did a really nice job of wrapping everything up and felt complete (although if the author decided to write a story about twenty years after this story, I wouldn’t be mad at him).
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A sweet story about two people on very different paths who find themselves and each other amidst the tragedies and turmoil of their lives.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Wes Verde
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here or on Kindle Unlimited
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