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Calvin, Indiana, in the year 1915, was like many small towns of that time -- dealing with drought, poverty, and the onset of World War I. Hank Braddock grew up in Calvin, and like any young man, had dreams of moving on from his small town and accomplishing something big. So far his biggest accomplishment had been as a reporter for the school newspaper. His dream was to move to Chicago and be a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Unfortunately, his girlfriend, Becky, had recently moved from Chicago and didn’t want to move back. So Hank chose to stay in Calvin and accepted a job selling advertising with the local paper, The Bee. Despite his disappointment, he had high hopes of still becoming a reporter for The Bee.
When the owner of The Bee, Mr. Smith goes on an extended vacation, Hank finally gets the opportunity to do some reporting. His first real chance comes when a train crashes in a nearby town. Hank’s first glimpse into reporting brings him a new high but is also tinged with death and heartache. It seems from that point on, his knack for finding a story threatens to send his small town into upheaval as well as his life. A selfish business owner and a labor dispute pit Hank and his need for the story against the town, forever changing not only Hank’s life, but those of the townsfolk as well.
BEGUILING DREAMS is rife with history. From the dress of the times to the way of thinking, Fred Stemme has used his historical knowledge with the utmost care. It is, however, these descriptions that slow down the flow of the book. Much of the storyline is buried under detailed descriptions of Hank’s clothes, and conversations that stall the story. Mr. Stemme’s extensive historical knowledge might be better suited for a non-fiction book of the times.
Reviewed by Tina Burns
for The Road to Romance
Julya 6, 2004
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