Velma Still Cooks In Leeway by Vinita Hampton Wright


What Happens:
Velma, in the form of a journal, reflects on the events of the last year. Velma runs a little diner in the small town on Leeway, KS, which has become the hub of her tight kit community. During the course of the book Velma has to deal with a dying relative to comes to stay with her while he waits for the inevitable.  She also shares in the burden of her next door neighbor's daughter, who ends up pregnant after a date rape situation. Velma is like the rock that her neighbors and relatives turn to for help, but she herself falls apart sometimes. She has her faith and church to turn to for support, but even that has its problems, as some of the people in the church are far from perfect.


Style:
Velma of course is the sole narrator. The story moves along at a fast enough pace, and towards the end there are some twists and turns that really build drama and suspense. Velma's musings are what makes this story stand out though, some of her reflections made me pause as a reader and even copy down some quotes for my own journal.  Through the midst of painful situations and disappointing people, Velma somehow manages to stay mostly sane and find something to hope for and believe in.


How Good Was It?
Excellent! I always am impressed when an author manages to write a compelling story that is also thought provoking.  I would heartily recommend it to fans of faith filled fiction that entertains while giving the reader plenty to ponder long after they turn the last page.