Someplace to Call Home

By: Sandra Dallas
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: August 2019
ISBN: 978-1-58536-414-5
Reviewed by Diane Lunsford
Review Date: December 2019

Sandra Dallas delivers yet another solid read in her latest novel, Someplace to Call Home.

The year is 1933 and the Turner family, what’s left of it, has fallen on hard times. Hallie and her two brothers are orphaned. As they navigate their dearly, departed daddy’s rickety truck down the remote roads of the heartbeat of America in search of a new life, it’s hard to see a beacon of hope on their horizon. Their hardships are compounded by having to endure not only the Great Depression, but also the Dust Bowl of the 30s. Moving from town to town, all the young Turner siblings want is to find a place they can call home.

Sadly, the old Model T Ford stalled out...again. Tom Turner coasts to the side of the road. Barely sixteen, Tom Turner has a strong mechanical sense and his heart skips a beat when he discovers the transmission has given out on the old Ford. These were hard times indeed. The Turner’s aren’t the only ones experiencing little hope, but when they see the lush grove of trees just off the road, a trickle of hope is renewed. The youngest Turner, Bennie, was a handful. He was challenged and it took a lot of patience and a watchful eye from both Hattie and Tom to be sure Bennie didn’t find himself in harm’s way. Food was scarce and shelter was a necessity. As they set up camp and start a fire, Hattie focuses on making the last of the tomatoes (and food for that matter), into a weak soup. Not knowing how long this recent set back will have the Turner’s stranded, Tom needs to find work. When the strange man shows up toting a gun, Tom defends his family’s situation. Insisting they aren’t squatters may not be enough to get them out of the situation at hand.

Sandra Dallas consistently delivers an engaging tale. I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of Ms. Dallas’ previous works and I praise her for sticking to her roots of solid writing. She knows her subject matter and it resonates from beginning to end in each of her novels. She has an innate ability to add color to all her characters and the dialogue further complements their credibility. Ms. Dallas is a master at showing her storyline versus telling it. This story has great flow and solid voice and I can say with certainty, I look forward to her next novel. Well done Ms. Dallas!

Quill says: Someplace to Call Home is a delightful read of heartfelt hope and new beginnings.