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Art teacher Trudy Ploog decides, after much soul-searching, to leave the hustle and bustle of St. Paul, Minnesota, and move to the sleepy town of Lake Emily—just to be near her farmer boyfriend, Bert Biddle, and her sister, Mae Morgan. When the local school board hires Trudy as their art teacher, it’s just the icing on the cake.
But budget cuts start threatening Trudy’s future soon after she arrives—and Bert starts spending more time away from her when he accepts a job as assistant hockey coach. When Trudy’s job lands on the chopping block, she reacts badly, by lashing out at the foundation of small town life--sports. This throws the town into a tizzy and threatens her relationship with Bert. Will Lake Emily overlook Trudy’s flamboyant, take control attitude? Or will she be run back to St. Paul with nothing left except her pride?
DANDELIONS IN A JELLY JAR is a cute, well told story with plenty of spunk. The reader instantly relates to Trudy, and falls in love with quiet, shy, unassuming Bert. The only thing I didn’t like about DANDELIONS IN A JELLY JAR is that I was constantly drawn out of the story to read backstory of any new character introduced, which was tossed in every few chapters. It would have flowed better, I think, without the constant flashbacks.
All in all, DANDELIONS IN A JELLY JAR is an adorable story and will hold the reader’s interest. Even though this is Book Two in the Lake Emily Series, DANDELIONS IN A JELLY JAR easily stands alone. Readers might want to read the first book in the series, A CAN OF PEAS, to be introduced to Trudy’s sister, Mae.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
for The Road to Romance
July 11, 2004
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