So this woman is stuck in hard times indeed: husband left her, bills piling up, pregnant, trying to take care of four other kids, etc. She has always played life in her small town by the rules, never upsetting anybody or standing out. Now she has to find a way to earn money fast, and her family can?t live on the pity of the community. Reluctantly, Aletta Honor plays the only card she has left and opens for business as a psychic reader. But wouldn?t you know it, the whole town seems to have something to say about this development and pretty soon the right-wing religious folk are picketing. Despite persecution from her husband, her church and even her mother, Aletta is determined to help everybody who comes to her door in need because she truly believes that her gift is from God. What a likeable heroine.
Author Danya Dunbar writes the lives of Aletta, her family and friends with heart and sympathy; even despicable, cheating husband Jimmy and the stereotypically intolerant and self-righteous religious folk that protest Aletta?s business are handled with some softer moments. Though insightful flashbacks and Aletta?s psychic visions we learn many secrets of Okay County?s residents that explain how they came to be the people they are today, good but full of hurts. The overriding theme appears to be that everybody is just looking for a little love however they can. (get out those sap buckets!). I do wish Dunbar hadn?t written Aletta as so much of a dashboard saint herself, however; her only flaw appears to be loving people too much. Syrup, anyone?
Personally, I found the book?s title to be a little too prophetic of its lukewarm plotting. I have no real objection to it Read The Saints and Sinners of Okay county if you want a nice, quick read for the summer and a smidgen of feel-good New Age style spirituality. I?m just not a sentimentalist myself, so this type of novel reads as over-the-top to me. But hey, different strokes and all that, so you might enjoy it.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle
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A. Ryan
Aletta is just okay with me.
Reviewed in the United States on 22 July 2004Verified Purchase
Kelly Morgan
I couldn't put it down.
Reviewed in the United States on 31 July 2020Verified Purchase
Me
Great read
Reviewed in the United States on 20 March 2019Verified Purchase
Miriam Weiss
Sinners reform through one woman's special gifts.
Reviewed in the United States on 28 June 2015Verified Purchase
Jami Lula
Saints and Sinners
Reviewed in the United States on 24 November 2017Verified Purchase
