Heart in the Right Place
Jan 23, 2011
Author: Carolyn Jourdan
Publisher: Algonquin
Publication Date 2007
ISBN: 978-1-56512-613-8
This book was originally published in 2007 but is on Algonquin’s Book Club suggestion list and now that I’ve had the opportunity to read it I can see why. A wonderful story of choice, love, friendship and finding yourself and what you truly want. This also happens to be a true story.
Carolyn was a very successful attorney on Capital Hill. Had a great income, independence, was well known and enjoyed the many perks that came with her position. Then her mother had a heart attack and Carolyn headed home to the Tennessee mountains to see her in the hospital.
The next thing she knows she’s helping her father as a receptionist in his little country office – where few people have money and payment is sometimes of an unusual nature.
The stories are wonderful as she describes the people that come to her father’s office. The townspeople all know and support each other and eccentricities are dealt with on a casual, friendly basis instead of shunned.
As Carolyn’s week turns into months and her sabbatical from the Senator’s office continues, she finds herself having to make some difficult life choices. Her mother is not well enough to come back into the office and her father simply can’t afford to hire help and continue treating people (and the occasional goat) for free. If her father closes up shop, people will not have a doctor to go to.
Where will Carolyn help the most – on Capital Hill getting bills passed, or at home, keeping a small town doctor’s office open?
A really a good book that I enjoyed all the way through. Definitely a good book club choice.
