Hope's Highway

Route 66 #2

by Dorothy Garlock

In Depression-era America, U.S. Route 66 beckoned to those who yearned for a better life. Now beloved author Dorothy Garlock celebrates the dreamers who rode westward on...
HOPE'S HIGHWAY

Margie Kinnard is thrilled when the father she barely knows agrees to take her to California. For years, she's yearned to try her luck in Hollywood. But her troubles start the moment she steps into his truck.

Ornery and embittered, Elmer Kinnard couldn't care less about his daughter or the families driving with them: the parents whose blind son longs for a radio career; the husband whose wife will flirt with anything in pants; the brother and sister united by fierce loyalty and hope. But Margie is intensely interested in everyone-especially the rough-hewn rancher who later joins their little caravan with his niece. Brady Hoyt, who knows all about heartbreak, has no intention of getting within ten feet of Margie, just as Margie has no intention of sacrificing her movie star dreams for a man with a ready-made family.

Until tragedy strikes, someone turns traitor, and a dangerous piece of Brady's past threatens them all on the highway they call Route 66.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Drama

417 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Dorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.

Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.


Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn

Reviews

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Dorothy Garlock book and I hope all her books are as good as this one. These characters and story line while give you day dreams well after you are finished reading the book. I would love to see someone's interpretation of this on the big screen.

[❤ArtfullySinful❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting adult romance novel that took place in the Great Depression era, leaving one girl's dreams of seeing Hollywood further and further away. Traveling with the father she barely knows, Elmer, she battles against the feelings she's beginning to obtain from Brady Hoyt, a fellow companion they come across one night at a campground, believing it was safest to travel in groups. And they were right. On his way to California to give his brother's four year old daughter, Anne-Marie to his deceased twin brother's wife Becky's aunt, he sets out on a lonely journey, as his heart mourns the lost of his brother. A affair gone wrong, Becky got caught in bed with another man, turning his brother into a murderer, before taking her body to the barn and ending his own life. Scarred by the haunting memories, Anna-Marie grew up with a cold mother who claimed to never love her, making her feel more insecure when they come across Margie, who was traveling with Elmer, The Putnams and The Foleys on their ways to California for an Ice Business. As love rings high throughout the land, Mona, Foley's daughter and under constant verbal abuse from Sugar, his second wofe, slowly falls more and more in love with Rusty, a taltented singer with a curse of no sight since he was twelve. As Margie continues to push Brady away, confused by his advances, they finally make out their feelings, when Brady asks for her hand in marriage. But their wedding bliss turned sour as the night of their wedding, Margie's sexually assaulted by a robber who Brady stopped one of the first nights they met. Bent on revenge, Sugar was his accomplice as all went bad. After Harry Willis joined the party at the camp several days earlier, his police time led him to notice them being followed, later coming to the rescue before the man could do any more harm. As Sugar takes his bullet, he is charged with robbery and the murder of his Uncle Chester, whose body was left abandoned in a ditch back in Albuquerque. Now, as Anna-Marie finally gets a real mother, Brady discovers his mother's saying has been right all along; God makes a perfect woman for every man. Several months into the marriage, they receive news of Rusty's success on the Radio as a singer and Mona's expecting their first born. Margie also has surprises as she's near the birth of her first as well.

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Garlock's era style and either solid citizens or evil thug characters are dependable. This is not my favorite by her, since Margie was too hysterical for my taste, and i am not quite sure what got her and Brady over the hurtful things they said to each other in the beginning (which were pretty bad) and into love, since nothing in their situation has changed. The secondary characters, as usual, were awesome, love Anna Marie and Grace, Rusty and his dad, Jody and Deke

[Christel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is it about Dorothy Garlock's books that I cannot put them down until I finish them?? I stayed up all night to finish this book. Love it!!! Just something about her writing where you actually feel what you are reading. I can not wait till I can read the other books that I have recently gotten.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most Garlock novels...good story for when you want "down time." Not too much thought envolved, just enjoyment.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it's the 2nd in a trilogy of Route 66 historical fiction. Each can be read as a stand alone book, I had read the 3rd book first not realizing it was a trilogy. This one was my favorite. A group of ice sellers from Missouri travel together to California, where they plan to go into business together. Route 66 had just been constructed, and was unpaved for long stretches. In addition to thousands of people fleeing the dust bowl and heading for the promise of California there were also bootleggers and robbers travelling the road, making it safest to travel in small caravans. The good characters are each very likeable and the bad characters are really bad and easy to hate. I think this would make a great black and white movie. I wish there was a sequel so we could follow the characters throughout their lives but since the author died recently at age 98 that's not going to happen.

[Bigpushyyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, it was a good read I admit but Brady is kind of a douche, I mean he believes Elmer's words, lies, man-handles her, continuously drags this one memory up as though that's all Margie thinks about and suddenly we're getting married? Secondly no matter his flaws Elmer was kind of relatable.....strangely. The synopsis at the back was a totally different vibe to what occurred in this book. Anna-Marie deserves the world and back and I really thought she might have stayed with the Putman's by the end of the book but I was wrong. Rusty parents shared a special type of love also, Deke was a very nice friend and what he did for Margie boosted my standards of friendship. Rusty and Mona are forever goals and sugar...I wish you peace...in hell!!!!! burn you nasty wrenched bleep!!!!!! I take back one star because of sugar, because of Brady's arrogant ways, because of that 2 second long smut and for the clown foley was in the beginning of this book.

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy Garlock brought back two characters from "Mother Road" and continued telling their stories. Margie Kinnard and Deke Bales reunite as Margie travels to California with a small caravan of people hoping to find jobs and happiness in a new place. Deke has taken over the gas station, garage and campground his friend Andy used to run. You get a feeling of what it was like to make the trip down Route 66 with descriptions of rough travels along bad roads, meeting up with folks both good and bad, stopping to find a privvy and grab some food from the back of your truck - you had to be strong and have good instincts in order to stay safe. I have already started reading the third book in this great series.

[Laura Aase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margie Kinnard is heading to California to see Hollywood with her estranged father. He is a mean and sullen man. They are traveling Route 66 in a caravan with other men who plan to go into the ice business with her father. As they travel together Brady and his little niece join the group. A crazy thief, crazy wife and love and music follow their group on their journey. As always, exciting, satisfying, and historically significant!

[Debra Medina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dear Hope's Highway,
Ugh, just ugh. Saccharin sweet, utterly misogynist, predictable and devoid of substance. I am not sure how you even ended up on my book shelf, and yea I did read you all the way through, but it was 100% a hate read. I cannot even tell you how many times my eyes rolled while reading you. I don't know if you are going to stay on my shelf. You may end up being donated to the closest LFL, because I cannot see myself ever reading you, or anything by Garlock again.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape into the 1930's. Felt transported at times, gave insight to some of the ways of life in that era. Enjoyed the multitude of characters. I always enjoy interactions between groups of people. Although parts of the story felt exaggerated (romance/crime especially).

[Icarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorothy Garlock wants you to know how much research she put into this book. Errs more on the romantic side than the sexual side, but don't worry, there's more fucking and gore in this book than you'd expect. Charming characters and a sort of anticlimactic love plotline.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical romance.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

1930 young woman w/ obnoxious father goes on rt.66 to CA & finds family & love w/ her campanions

[Mindy Cossins · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed these characters and the suspense of what the rotten ones would do

[Laura Jackson-Bixler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good back. Usually I do not like books set in olden days, but this had a great story line. I love the love story of Margie and Brady!

[Bec Braswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heartbreaking and worthwhile read in the Route 66 series! Talk about a rollercoaster, you will adore this one too!

[jimtown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the mid 1930's, Hope's Highway follows a group of travelers along Route 66 as they make their way to California. Immediately gripping, this book was hard to put down. I finished it in four days. The cover art is pretty good if you look close, but the color and garish author name make the book look like a sappy romance novel, which it really isn't. It's a painless history lesson wrapped in romantic suspense. I always thought history was boring but if it had been told it this way, in a story, instead of facts and dates, it would have been much easier to remember.

Dorothy Garlock is a formula writer and she has the perfect formula. You can tell she must have lived a very well rounded and fulfilling life from the way she writes. She's not afraid to say what she wants to say, and uses words quite appropriately when needed, more so in this story perhaps, after her previous book in this series, Mother Road, was so well received.

I was a little worried after reading the description of this book that it wouldn't hold my interest because they said the main character Margie was going to Hollywood. I think I can safely tell you here that Margie never makes it to Hollywood! There was turmoil from the start. Margie was riding with the father she barely knew who for some unknown reason disliked her. He barely spoke a word to Margie and when he did speak, his words were not pleasant, but she really wanted to go to Hollywood and this was her only means of getting there.

Luckily each of the other people in the group, aside from Foley Luker's young new wife, Sugar, were all good people and they worked together well. When Brady Hoyt joins up with the group, they're unsure of him at first. Why was a single man traveling alone with a little girl? Brady soon proves himself to be indispensable to all. Margie is attracted to Brady but a complicated line of thought makes her keep her distance. She doesn't want to trust and be made fool of again. Then, worse her father brands her as a thief in front of Brady.

Brady also has his reasons not to get involved but something keeps drawing him back to Margie. Sugar is as sweet as pie when Foley is around but is an instigator of trouble and has the Luker kids all upset. Along the road, Brady becomes a target for revenge, threatening the groups safety. Margie meets up with an old friend. Sugar's true personality comes out. Will Margie ever find out why her father dislikes her so? Can't miss with Dorothy Garlock.

[Carla JFCL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine "fluff" read. I enjoyed the characters and the time period (Depression-era travelers on Route 66 to California). There were times when I had trouble figuring out who was "speaking" due to the way the book is written, and that was a bit distracting. Also, at times the dialogue was simplistic and focused on ho-hum details ... but, it's not supposed to be a literary masterpiece, and it is a great book to read just to escape for awhile. I will read more of her books.

[Fay Risner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this look at route 66 travel during the depression. I was born nine years after my parents and older brother rode with my mother's parents and seven brothers and sisters in a truck with a canvas cover just like the one in the story. So much of what is in the book was similar to the stories told to me by my parents and older brother. As I read Hope's Highway, I'd think yes this is just like the way it was for my family.

[Barbi Huhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book that I have read of this author and I loved it as much as the first one.

I enjoyed reading the journey of these families on their way to California. I loved the characters of Rusty, Mona, Deke, Jody, Alvin, Grace, Anna Marie, Brady and Margie. I didn't like Sugar, Elmer, or Homer. I kept hoping the best for Brady and Margie and Rusty and Mona.

I love happy endings but I still wondered how Deke was doing.

I look forward to reading another book by this author.

[Emily P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had good dynamic in the storyline. I've reread it lots of times! There was a good variety of foreshadowing for good transitions in the story, that made me want to keep reading. Some of the main events, and supporting events could be longer to enhance the story. This is a book that keeps you on your toes because it includes a little bit of everything

[Cherry-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garlock at one of her best. Reasonable love story along Route 66 to California. Some wavering between the periods, e.g., at the end when reference to the sheriff switched to contemporary terminology of police. Would loved to have heard how Homer got his just desserts and Sugar got off too easy. Nice escapism into fiction...a good read.

[Delia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foul-language WARNING!!!
I absolutely LOVE D. Garlock, but I was a bit surprised to read such bad language in this book.....
the story, as always, is wonderful.....full of heartache and overcoming life's little hiccups....
but be warned.....not the usual WHOLESOME D. Garlock....

[Sarah]

I hope theres a part two to this wonderful novel. I didn't want it to end. Dorothy takes you on a fabulous adventure that you really feel apart of. You can see the landscape and weather as you read along.

[Bobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my usual pick of books. However, I'm glad I took a step outside the norm and read this. Great characters, good story, with a little bit of everything: romance, adventure, comedy, family crap, and edge of the seat action.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these Dorothy Garlock books I recommended! I read some of her older ones, and I did not like them. That is why I included all of my favorite Garlock books, but not all of other authors.

[Ray or Deanna Hicklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone having lived near U.S. Route 66, this is very interesting reading. This is one of the series of these books.

[Cws]

F Gar

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great