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Book Review: Salvation Jane 8/6/2013 3:24:53 PM
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun & Engaging, A Romp with a Serious Side August 6, 2013
By E. Griffin VINE VOICE
Format:Kindle Edition
Salvation Jane refers to Jane Patterson, a naive and immature young woman who runs away from a love affair gone bad to a hotel she's inherited from an uncle in Perth, Australia. However, it isn't really a hotel, it is an overnight hostel for the homeless, a group of people Jane feels vaguely sorry for, but thinks they should just get a job. Jane is thrown into a situation she completely didn't anticipate, including the oddly intelligent manager and an elderly woman who was the love of her uncle's life. Located in the midst of an urban renewal area, the hotel is considered a blight on the neighborhood and is a target of the local politicians ire. Quite happy with the idea of turning the hotel into an upscale tourist destination, Jane finds out things are not exactly what she thought, and she needs to make her own way in Perth.
There is a positive side to Jane's naivety, and she rather recklessly campaigns for public office which she wins by a default vote count. Insulted in person, pilloried in the press, and betrayed by some of her closest confidants, Jane soldiers on, fighting for the rights of the homeless population. As she makes new friends, she also begins to understand the plight of the homeless population and to her shame, learns that this includes families and small children. A sudden tragedy finds Jane a different person, with new values and beliefs, while retaining just enough of her former artful cheeriness.
Salvation Jane is an unexpectedly engaging book that I read straight through while recovering from a cold. Jane's character is befuddled enough to be both charming and frustrating, her reactions to various political maneuverings is believable, and the stories of homelessness and poverty in one of the richest countries is portrayed in a realistic sensitive way. I recommend Salvation Jane for readers who enjoy books about growth and redemption with a splash of romance, and stories about young women finding their way in the world.
Disclosure: I received a free electronic copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinion expressed in this review is my own.
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