Turner Caldwell works at a local motel as a handyman while attending college full-time. On his way to class one day, he is shocked to see Cassandra Todd and her young son in town. The sight of her brings back powerful memories of being bullied in high school-she was the popular head cheerleader and he the target of her friends’ mean-spirited pranks.
When Cassandra and her son check into the motel where he works and she asks for his help in eluding her abusive husband, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous drama that will require him to forgive and draw on every skill he has if they are to survive.
Darrel Nelson recently retired after thirty-seven years as a schoolteacher so he could devote himself to writing full-time. He now spends his time writing novels, articles, plays, and music and soaking up time with his ten grandchildren. Nelson has bachelor’s degrees in English and education from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada where he lives with his wife Marsha.
The Return of Cassandra Todd follows Nelson’s highly praised debut novel The Anniversary Waltz.
My Impressions:
Darrel Nelson impressed me with his debut novel, The Anniversary Waltz. Curious to see what he would do next, I looked forward to his second novel. The Return of Cassandra Todd did not disappoint. And while it is a very different novel from his first — in setting, time period and subject matter — it has the same strengths. Nelson has a gift in creating characters the reader can love and relationships that are realistic and plausible. Here is a romance that is sweet because it is so real.
Turner Caldwell was the high schooler everyone made fun of. He was the target for all the cruel jokes and pranks of the in crowd. Cassandra Todd, homecoming queen and cheerleader never bullied him, but her pity was evident. This was almost as bad as the bullying itself. But times change and Turner is no longer the loser he was in high school. He has skills and a determined character that makes him face his problems head on. Cassandra, on the other hand, is married to an abusive husband and is on the run with her young son. Their paths cross again and Cassandra finds herself relying on Turner for survival.
There were several things I especially liked about this novel. First and foremost is what I see as a bit of a twist to normal plots. Cassandra’s character is in danger, yet she is trusting God to make a way for her. Turner, the savior in the story, is the one with big doubts. Often in novels it is the other way around. I like that the more desperate the situation, Cassandra’s faith does not waver. I also like the way the author had Turner use his wilderness knowledge and survival skills. My daughter’s boyfriend is majoring in Outdoor Education and is learning all these same things. I could really believe the things Taylor uses to escape the situations he and Cassandra find themselves in. The final thing I really liked was the ending. I won’t spoil it for you, but it was much more realistic than most romance novels.
All in all, The Return of Cassandra Todd is a suspense-filled story with characters you will love. Another hit from Darrel Nelson.
Recommended.
(I received The Return of Cassandra Todd from Glass Road Public Relations in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review my novel. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your kind, encouraging words. I hope you’ll enjoy my future novel, Following Rain, too.
Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to it! And I am sorry about the problem with Turner’s name. I have no idea why I called him by the wrong name. Fixed it though!