Title: Skip Rock Shallows
Author: Jan Watson
Pages: 370
Year: 2012
Publisher: Tyndale
Note: I received a
complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Follow my other reviews at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ and on twitter @lcjohnson1988
The
year is 1908, and the setting is in the coal mining mountains of Kentucky. At this time in history and in this area,
there weren’t a lot of modern conveniences and the people weren’t “up with the
times” according to the society at that time.
Will the character adapt or run for home?
Lilly
Corbett has just graduated from medical school in Boston and has agreed to a
short 3-4 month stay in Skip Rock as the coal company’s physician. The old doctor has passed away so she is just
filling in until a permanent replacement can be found. She has her fiancé waiting for her in Boston. He is a surgeon and from a wealthy
family. Lilly grew up in the mountains
not far from Skip Rock. She has her life
all planned out and can’t wait to get back to Boston. At first, she is unwelcome by the town’s
people because she is a female physician and no man is going to be treated by a
woman! Then, it is discovered that the
man who has been working as her assistant is in fact her cousin. He lets everyone know she is his kin, and
Lilly becomes much more welcome. She
begins to treat more and more people and develops a love for this town and its’
people.
Tern
Still or is it Joe Repp? Whatever his real
name is, he is a coal mine worker who reminds Lilly of someone familiar. Who does he remind her of? Where could she have met him? Why has he shown up here in this small
town? Is he following her? Tern has eyes only for Lilly and begins to
spend time with her in hopes that he can reveal to her the truth about
himself. He has strayed from being a
practicing Christian and he has no prayer life.
In the midst of tragedy, does he remember what his mother taught him
about God?
Lilly
receives a letter from her boss asking her to commit to five years as physician
at Skip Rock. The town desperately needs
a physician and she is already there and begun to be accepted by the
people. What should she do? Should she stay? If she stays, will her fiancé support her
decision? Will they still have a
relationship? How does she really feel
about Tern/Joe? Will Lilly obey what she
knows the Lord has put on her heart or will she follow her head and continue
with her well-laid plans?
Jan
Watson does a nice job showing the interactions between the characters and
gives them a depth so they are not just surface characters. There is a great supporting cast of
characters. I loved the character of
Armina! She is sassy, but also a hard
worker, and caretaker. So come and
spend some time with the characters of Skip Rock.
My rating for this work of fiction
is three stars.