It's Never Too Late — Donna MacQuigg

After years of writing historical romance (including Honorable Intentions), MacQuigg's attempt at contemporary women's fiction makes for a mixed effort; unfortunately, well-rendered characters (especially fussy supporting player Norman) can't save it from a been-there-done-that plot: a jilted middle-aged woman, recently divorced after discovering her husband's infidelity, takes an extended break from her regular life to rediscover herself. The predictable story finds self-blaming Kathryne Sheldon visiting her estranged father's ranch in New Mexico, and there returning to life with the help of widowed Native American ranch hand John Hawkins. Financial complications throw John's plans for the future into jeopardy, but he manages to keep what's his through hard work, sacrifice and Kathryne's support; before long, the two are romantically entangled. Though it can get bogged down in detailed descriptions of big-rig driving and stall-mucking, the narrative's realistic, understated tone makes a nice fit for Kathryne and John's day-to-day, but a dissonant subplot involving Kathryne's dastardly ex-husband becomes increasingly preposterous over the course of the novel. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.