The last time Denver-based environmental lawyer Lauren Van Horn came to her hometown San Rafael, Utah, she caused a riot with her protectionism views on the local wilderness. Now her sister Rebecca Hewitt asks her to return to help her with her former husband Joe. He claims Becca is an unfit mother due to her affair with oil magnate Gabe Randolph. Becca denies any relationship beyond friendship with the man, but wants Laura to have a pretend affair with Gabe to fool Joe. Laura's employer, the not-for-profit Colorado Plateau Wilderness Association, also sends her to San Rafael to represent them in a local environmental dispute.
Laura feels attracted to Gabe, but he heads the oil company wanting to drill in the canyon, something that she objects to as being destructive. Becca's request that she and Gabe pretend to have a romance makes her feel uneasy, but soon she and Gabe fall in love while seeking a compromise to balance employment and saving the wilderness. However, their respective supporters escalate the argument placing innocent people in danger and their relationship at risk.
Though an exhilarating look at the complex environmental vs. industry issue, the story line offers simplified solutions. The plot also uses an illogical assumption to push the intelligent lead pair together. Laura and Gabe are a superb duet, who serves as the microcosm of the bigger issue. The well-written tale is exciting and brings a strong perspective to the prime debate. Mary Jane Meier has written an insightful novel, but HOMETOWN GIRL has several sidebars that take the reader away from the key theme. Breeze through them in order to read a superb novel.
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- Present (2000-2010)
Forbidden/mismatched love?
Yes
How mismatched?
- loving someone from historic enemy
Seduction/coercion/force
Yes
Who:
- sister
Hidden Identity/Secret Motive
Yes
Who seduces whom?
- mutual seduction
Family focus?
Yes
Family, loving
Yes
Main Male Character
Profession/status:
- business executive
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?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Female Character
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
How romantic is this person?
- very romantic
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
What % of story is romance related?
- 70%
Focus of story
- equally on him and her
How much dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
