THE OASIS
WILSON CRAWFORD
ISBN# 978-1-60530-632-2
December 2007
Two Creek Press
728 Melrose Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103
Paperback
$15.00
332 Pages
Southern Regional Fiction
Rating: 3 cups

Rick Evans married into a wealthy family, but with a cheating wife, his life is far from enriched. Raised in a close-knit community on the family owned tobacco farm, Rick loves the outdoors. With no intentions of following in his father’s footsteps running the tobacco farm, Rick opens the much needed store specialising in selling equipment to hikers and campers. Naming the store Teddy’s Outdoors, Rick is enjoying his own success running the store with a close friend.

Jill Evans is unaware that her husband Rick witnesses her infidelity, spotting her entering a hotel with his former boss. The only daughter of the rich and powerful family, Jill is a Daddy’s Girl, spoilt, rich and accustomed to having her own way. Rick confronts Jill about her infidelity. Jill views her adultery as a simple mistake and showing no true remorse, tries to talk Rick into letting her off lightly.

Rick is no stranger to pain, loss or betrayal. During his childhood, his mother runs off with the preacher, leaving Rick and his father to fend for themselves in a small town full of idle gossipers. Receiving news about the sudden death of his father whilst his wife was cheating on him, left Rick having to cope alone with more grief, hurt and loss in his life. Old friends he thought he would never see again, resurface, friends who would have a life- changing impact on his life.

Crawford applies interesting insights into some of the traditional aspects and attitudes, opinions and chosen lifestyles of close-knit, small town communities. Gossiping, spying, and die-hard habits all feature in the novel. The hypocritically elite families displayed their snobbery, as well as their favour, among themselves and the lower classes when it suited them. I particularly liked the ruthlessness portrayed by the figurehead of the notoriously rich family Rick had married into, giving a thriller type edge to the story. A pleasant read.

Delores
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books