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A review by turophile
Already Home by Vicki Lewis Thompson
4.0
If you read my other reviews of romance short stories/novella, you’d see that I often take issue with how most authors treat the format. It’s tricky for authors who’re used to writing full length novels to adjust to the shorter format. You run into too much telling, not showing; plots that are too ambitious for the format, underdeveloped stories, etc. So even though I’m not a huge fan of Western-set romance, big thumbs up to an author who understands the limitations of the short-story format and works within the limitations.
The storyline is simple and familiar – our hero Langford Hutchinson is back home helping out his recently widowed dad run the family feed store. He’d been hoping for a short trip so that he can get back to his life as a high-flying videographer. Tending the store front, in walks Katrina Bledsoe who’s in town for a few days and that lust he’d felt as a teenager rears it head. He couldn’t act on it then because she was the younger sister of his best friend. But now . . .
She too had felt the heat way back when, but also knew the impossibility of dating her brother’s friends way back when. (As a younger sister, I’ll attest that dating an older brother’s friend when in high school is a hard barrier to overcome). But older brother’s no longer in town, while the two of them are here.
So some flirting over dinner at the bar, and then the awkward question of where to retreat since they’re both staying with their parents. And that decision leads to more awkwardness, and a story resolution that was really refreshing – so I won’t give it away until the end of this review.
One reason I’m not crazy about Westerns is the heroes tend to be of the annoying old-school “I’m the guy so I’ll protect you even though you don’t need it” type. The stereotypical gender roles drive me up a while.
The author recognizes that expectation of the genre, but plays with it. Katrina asks Langford out for a beer but as they’re heading over, he insists that he’s the one buying.
“You’ve been back East too long, little lady. You’re in the West, now, and in these parts, the men do the buying.”
I love Katrina’s reaction. She doesn’t overreact, but makes it’s clear he’s being ridiculous. Free beer after all. Staying true to herself, without causing a scene.
The story proceeds forward with brisk pacing and good humor. The best may be Katrina and Langford’s discovery when she tries to sneak out the next morning.
{spoiler alert} The author’s skill with this short format shines through best in the story’s resolution. Falling in love in 50 pages can be challenging, and relationship development usually feels truncated. Ms. Thompson seems to get that and resolves the story in an unexpected way. They’re really attracted to each other, but they know that their families would look down on a casual fling which could create problems for both even though they’re adults. And they both have careers and lives they love located on opposite coasts. Finally, they recognize there’s some strong attraction between them, but neither is willing to ask the other to give up everything to be with each other esp. for a new-found relationship. But, oh the attraction – so they decide to give it a go in a non-traditional way. They’ll try a long distance relationship on terms to be determined to see if they truly belong together before making any life altering decisions. Wow! Who saw that coming. Seems like a mature way of addressing crazy attraction.
Good job Ms. Thompson.
The storyline is simple and familiar – our hero Langford Hutchinson is back home helping out his recently widowed dad run the family feed store. He’d been hoping for a short trip so that he can get back to his life as a high-flying videographer. Tending the store front, in walks Katrina Bledsoe who’s in town for a few days and that lust he’d felt as a teenager rears it head. He couldn’t act on it then because she was the younger sister of his best friend. But now . . .
She too had felt the heat way back when, but also knew the impossibility of dating her brother’s friends way back when. (As a younger sister, I’ll attest that dating an older brother’s friend when in high school is a hard barrier to overcome). But older brother’s no longer in town, while the two of them are here.
So some flirting over dinner at the bar, and then the awkward question of where to retreat since they’re both staying with their parents. And that decision leads to more awkwardness, and a story resolution that was really refreshing – so I won’t give it away until the end of this review.
One reason I’m not crazy about Westerns is the heroes tend to be of the annoying old-school “I’m the guy so I’ll protect you even though you don’t need it” type. The stereotypical gender roles drive me up a while.
The author recognizes that expectation of the genre, but plays with it. Katrina asks Langford out for a beer but as they’re heading over, he insists that he’s the one buying.
“You’ve been back East too long, little lady. You’re in the West, now, and in these parts, the men do the buying.”
I love Katrina’s reaction. She doesn’t overreact, but makes it’s clear he’s being ridiculous. Free beer after all. Staying true to herself, without causing a scene.
The story proceeds forward with brisk pacing and good humor. The best may be Katrina and Langford’s discovery when she tries to sneak out the next morning.
{spoiler alert} The author’s skill with this short format shines through best in the story’s resolution. Falling in love in 50 pages can be challenging, and relationship development usually feels truncated. Ms. Thompson seems to get that and resolves the story in an unexpected way. They’re really attracted to each other, but they know that their families would look down on a casual fling which could create problems for both even though they’re adults. And they both have careers and lives they love located on opposite coasts. Finally, they recognize there’s some strong attraction between them, but neither is willing to ask the other to give up everything to be with each other esp. for a new-found relationship. But, oh the attraction – so they decide to give it a go in a non-traditional way. They’ll try a long distance relationship on terms to be determined to see if they truly belong together before making any life altering decisions. Wow! Who saw that coming. Seems like a mature way of addressing crazy attraction.
Good job Ms. Thompson.