As her marriage disintegrates, librarian Syd Murphy retreats to Jericho, an Appalachian town so small that it—gasp!—doesn't have a McDonald's. She meets-cute country doctor Maddie Stevenson, who left behind a rising career in Philadelphia to take over her father's practice/recover from secret pain. Maddie is almost painfully perfect, but her ability to do everything save cook becomes less annoying once you realize this story started life as a Xena uber, and thus Maddie merely has many skills.
I appreciate how McMan takes the time to develop not only Syd and Maddie but also their friends, families, and neighbors. Along that dimension, this is a stronger novel than Dust. However, part of Jericho's length can be attributed to the (frankly unrealistic) eons that pass before Syd learns that Maddie is gay. But once Syd is on board, she and Maddie become insta-married and then, my least favorite trope, insta-parents. If that last doesn't irritate you as much as it does me, this novel is in the 3.5-stars range, but from me, it gets three out of five nigh-kidnapped children. Still, I would read a sequel, if only because a revelation made late in the novel is not developed satisfactorily.
Do they make fun of Appalachian people, and/or their accent? Cause this will determine if I read this one or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they make fun of Appalachian people and/or their accent. They're way too focused on Team Xena for that.
ReplyDeleteIn that case, I want to borrow!
ReplyDelete