K. L. Cook

Set in Texas in the late '50s and early '60s. Laura's sister elopes and moves to Europe, her mother abandons the family without even a note, thus leaving Laura to take care of her father and 3 brothers, the cooking, the cleaning, everything. This is Laura's coming-of-age story and her coming-to-grips-with-her-mother's-abandment story. An older, married man with children kisses her at a town New Year's Eve party, and that begins an affair that ends up having very tragic consequences. Great writing; but, again, we have the tired story of older man initiates teen-age girl into sex and, voila, she turns into a nymphomaniac, Could this be a male author? Turn to the back cover and.....yes. Too bad he had to use that male-fantasy cliche in what otherwise was a wonderful book.… (mere)