Somebody’s Business, book three in the “Nickel Hill Series” by Irene Bennett Brown continues to follow energetic Jocelyn Pladson as she buys a livery stable in Skiddy, Kansas. Although some say motorcars will soon take the place of horses and mules, Jocelyn, her husband Pete, and most of the townspeople and local farmers know better. It’s 1906 and they are years away from replacing horses and mules for transportation and heavy farm work.
The Pladsons, their little son Andy, 3, and two older children they’ve taken in over the years, run a farm in addition to the livery in town. It takes a lot of energy to handle both, but they are an ambitious family, people who have known hard times and have persevered.
But not all are happy about the livery changing hands. The lady across the street complains of its smell. A newcomer in town, blustery, vain J. L. Cochran wants the building site to sell motorcars. He tries every dirty trick possible to convince the townspeople that the livery should be torn down and replaced with a new building, his building.
Author Irene Bennett Brown does a superb job of placing the reader in the time, place, and mind-set of the early 1900s. We hear J.L. Cochran’s shiny new Oldsmobile chugging and lurching down the street, the hee-haw of mules, see the clothing of the period, the hairstyles, farm scenes and the handling of horses and mules.
I’ve had the pleasure of reading the first two books of the “Nickel Hill Series,” Miss Royal’s Mules and Tangled Times. Somebody’s Business is the perfect sequel. Although it’s nice to read books of a series in order, each book stands alone. It’s always fun to catch up with a lively, heartwarming character like Jocelyn Pladson. I recommend this book for teens and adults who enjoy reading about the struggles and triumphs of the early 1900s.
Nice review of Irene’s latest, Mary. It’s on my TBR List!
It’s a fun book, Alice. You’ll like it!
I couldn’t be happier for this review. You do an excellent job, Mary.
Thank you, Irene. I’m glad you like the review.
So grateful for Mary Trimble’s review of my book. Many, many thanks, Mary.
It was my pleasure, Irene.