LEGACY ROAD

I received a copy of LEGACY ROAD by Graham Garrison, from Kregel.  Normally, I love Kregel books.  This one, not so much.  It was good, but not a favorite.   The story centers on three main characters – Wes, his girlfriend Emmy, and his dad, Ron. 

Wes’s parents divorced when he was young, and he’s never been close with his dad.  His dad has been in and out of jail for various reasons, and Wes sees him as a horrible person.  Ron knows he’s done wretched things, but he still cares about his son.  He recognizes his mistakes, but has trouble righting them, and he also struggles to stay on the correct side of the law.  In the past, Ron sent his son letters, and some are shown in the story as Wes analyzes his feelings for his father. 

Wes needs to work on an assignment for a history graduate course and Ron decides to help them, so they grow closer, while Wes struggles to deal with his mother’s declining health.  In the meantime, Wes hopes to propose to his girlfriend, Emmy.  She works in the medical field and is being sent to Afghanistan soon.  Although she cares for Wes, a secret in her past keeps her from saying yes. 

I never got a strong sense of the characters.  I couldn’t tell ages, and no one was strongly described.  Most of the secrets were revealed suddenly at the end, making it feel rushed.  I would have liked to see them come out a little at a time through the entire novel. 

I did like how history tried in with today, and I enjoyed reading the different perspectives of the main characters.  I love it when chapters explore varying point of views.  The end brought tears and a smile.  Overall, the book is an interesting family drama.