Review: Small Town Nurse

Small Town Nurse by Harriet Kathryn Myers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harry Whittington wrote nurse romance novels using this pseudonym. The novel starts out following the conventions of the genre, but eventually goes off the romance novel rails and turns into a murder and courtroom drama. No complaints from me. Young nurse Ann Wellington, burned out from the stress of a big city hospital is encouraged to transfer to a small beach community. Once there she meets and falls in love with Bruce Grayson, a medical intern with a Batman inspired name who recruits her to care for his crippled, depressive, and beautiful cousin Emily who lives in a secluded and shuttered beach house that seems out of a Bruno Fischer novel. Emily lives with Cousin Hester, a damaged and hateful woman who says something nasty every time she speaks. Hester becomes increasing domineering and violent as she resents the young lovers and the unwelcome changes that they bring to try to make Emily happy. From there a death, murder investigation and courtroom trial with a nice twist that I didn't see coming. Small Town Nurse is a odd book that tries to be both a nurse romance and a crime novel, but succeeds better as a crime novel. Exceeded my expectations.

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Review: Morgan

Morgan by Frank Roderus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The novel tells the story of Morgan, an old man who reminisces about his life in the post Civil War American West. The story is told chronologically starting when Morgan was orphaned at 15 years old as he begins a journey west to find gold, but finds that life gets in the way. The novel is a well told coming-of-age tale that then proceeds to tell Morgan's story as he grows old and the Old West, once wild and untamed becomes more advanced and civilized before his eyes. Morgan is not infallible and makes some egregious and unsavory mistakes during his long life. This is probably true of most of us. Frank Roderus, an old man himself, passed away in 2015 not long after this book was published making it even more poignant in my opinion. This was the Group Read of the American Westerns community this month and a fine selection.

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