I grew up in New York City, so while I was a child, local fiction included things like "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", "Catcher in the Rye" and "Goodbye Columbus". When I moved to Colorado, a friend of mine turned me onto Tony Hillerman by handing me "Skinwalkers" and telling me, "Here, you live in the Southwest now, it's time you read some of our local fiction." I really enjoyed the Jim Chee novels, and was grateful to my friend for turning me on to them.
Living in Colorado, I saw a different culture than that of my hometown, and so the locally written novels, which incorporated the native linguistic cadences and the local peculiarities of custom, seemed particularly appealing. Therefore, when I moved to Wichita Falls, I sought out the local Texas fiction, and for the same reason. At the time, people recommended the books by Larry McMurty. Now another local author has come out with her debut novel, and it's a winner.
"Come Hell or High Water" by Paula Bruno is set in 1958 on the Kirkland Ranch near Burkburnett. Open the pages of this novel and you will find yourself immersed in ranch life from that period. It's obvious Bruno has done her research, in addition to just being familiar with the rolling plains of Texas as an almost native. (Bruno moved to Texas when she was 4 years old).
Additionally, the book deals with the types of issues that many blended families have to deal with - what do you do with your spouse's child by another person? How do you fit that child into a pre-existing family situation? Do you nurture that child as your own, or take a more distant role? And how does that child deal with becoming part of a new family?
The main character of the book, Revis Kirkland, is an incredibly appealing alpha male who is deeply loyal to those he cares about, including the illegitimate son, Toby, who suddenly becomes a part of his life and who he vows to keep, come hell or high water. This vow is particularly meaningful because Revis' wife, Holly, is less than welcoming to the new addition to the family. In an age where men seem so ready to walk out on their obligations, Revis' deep love for his children is heart warming. At the same time, Holly's reaction to Toby is understandable.
I am sure many men and women can secretly relate to her feelings. While it is easy to say that of course one should welcome the child of one's spouse by a previous marriage or an out-of-wedlock child, at the same time, faced with this reality, I am sure many would be dismayed. It is a natural human reaction.
For Revis and Holly, this addition to their family is only one more point of conflict. Both are strong individuals, and the family drama that ensues will ring true to many modern marriages. While Holly is not portrayed as a sympathetic character, at the same time, we can understand her motivations. Like all of Bruno's characters, she is multi-dimensional.
Revis' foreman, Luke, is the level-headed and practical counter-weight to Revis' more hot-headed personality. He is, like Revis, totally devoted to family. His situation is that of a single father who has raised his daughter, Amanda, and is now helping her care for her daughter.
Meanwhile, Toby, the little boy who is suddenly thrust into his father's life, is an entirely sympathetic character. One aches for him as he longs for his mother or tries to protect his emotional vulnerability. Because Bruno helps us to really care for this little boy and for his father, it is wrenching when Toby disappears. As Revis searches for his son, the reader will find it hard to put the book down, because the characters are that real and that engaging.
That is the main strength of Bruno's work - her three-dimensional characters. You quickly come to care for them, flaws and all. Bruno also has her dialog down pat. You really feel that you are a fly on the wall listening to real people in real situations. There are also elements of drama, suspense, romance and action in the book, so that it will satisfy most readers.
The main weakness of Bruno's work is that there may not be enough in the way of action sequences for some readers and there are a few places where the language is stilted. However, those are minor quibbles. Overall, this is an excellent, enjoyable book and an easy read. Buy a copy for yourself, or for a newly transplanted friend to introduce them to some local Texas fiction.
If you'd like to buy the book, here is the link to the Amazon site: http://www.amazon.com/Come-Hell-High-Water-1/dp/1448683629/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265727228&sr=8-1
If you'd like to learn more about Bruno, here is a link to her blog: http://www.kirklandschoice.blogspot.com/
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