In 1935, two months after her husband's death, a poor pregnant Mary Lee Clawson rides the bus on Route 66 to Cross Roads, New Mexico where her late father owned the Cross Roads Motor Court. When she finally arrives at the motor court she sees her alcoholic mother having a jolly good time with people that are mooching off her. Mary Lee is delighted to discover that her father left her the business with the provision that she looks after her mother.
Two cabins are rented to people she would like to get rid of especially Frank Pierce who her mother says paid her for one year's rent; Mary Lee has no way to disprove it. The other long term renter is Jake Romero, an ex-con who was in prison for two years for cattle rustling. He came back to town to clear his name. He falls in love with her but he doesn't think she could ever love an ex-con. She loves Jake but doesn't think he would ever want to father another man's child. A dire situation makes them realize what is in the other's heart.
SONG OF THE ROAD is a poignant angst laden romance. Hearts will go out to the heroine who has to worry about operating the business, paying off the mortgage, caring for her mother and worrying if her father-in-law will try to take custody of her unborn. Someone wants Jake and Mary Lee dead so they can gain the property, but though danger lurks this lead couple has doubts about the desires of their beloved other. Dorothy Garlock has written a memorable and serious book that will grab and keep reader interested.
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- 1930's-1950's
Forbidden/mismatched love?
Yes
How mismatched?
- loving criminal
Action/suspense subplot?
Yes
Action:
- chased by/chasing kidnapper/killer
Who is...
- physically ill
Matchbreaker
Yes
Matchbreaker is
- Mom
Ill person is...
- mother
Main Male Character
Profession/status:
- small businessman
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
How romantic is this person?
- somewhat romantic
How sensitive is this character?
- soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Female Character
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- small businessman
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
How romantic is this person?
- somewhat romantic
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related?
- 80%
Focus of story
- equally on him and her
How much dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
