Ron Gambrell is a native Kentucky author. In his novel GRAYSON SPRINGS, 17-year-old Brooke is the spoiled and volatile adopted daughter of Dr. George Green, a Manhattan, NY psychiatrist. Baffled and at wits end with his daughter's claim that her rage is brought on by dreams of someone else's past, Dr. Green decides to take drastic measures. Join Brooke on her life altering journey deep into the rural hills of Central Kentucky, to a long forgotten place called GRAYSON SPRINGS. High school students, parents, and grandparents will enjoy the action, romance, and lessons learned in this unusual historical adventure.
In this novel, Gambrell explores a young woman's confusion over her self-identity and how an experience working at an inn in rural Kentucky helped her discover more about herself.
Brooke is a troubled teen, and she is headed down a path that is not ideal. Her concerned father finds Grayson Springs as an alternative to juvenile detention and signs Brooke up. From there, Brooke is on a whirlwind of learning about rural life, 1800s technology, and her own past.
Interwoven throughout the novel is a second storyline of another young woman who worked at the inn--and who is mysteriously connected to Brooke.
I would particularly recommend this book for those who are interested in history or genealogy. It is a novel that is driven by character development and the (sometimes unlikely) relationships between characters. The reader finds him- or herself rooting for Brooke as she sorts her way through Grayson Springs life and layers of history.
It is a wonderful book. I wish it would just keep on going. It would be nice if all troubled teens could read this book or visit a place like GRAYSON SPRINGS.
I am retired and have a lot of time to read. Very rare for a book to surprise me. This one did. Very good from beginning to end. Several turn that were unexpected. I give it a hi recommendations for anyone wanting something to read that they won't want to put down. *****
Grayson Springs melds the worlds of historic parts of Grayson Kentucky with a present day storyline. The author successfully uses the past of the setting to help explain the troubles of a young girl struggling to let go of her own present day demons. The colorful characters and locations are ones that Elmore Leonard would approve of while taking the focus in a different direction that reflects some of the current issues in today's society. I enjoyed reading the novel and highly recommend it.
