I live in Oklahoma, which was one of the elements that attracted me to this book. However, once Ms. Askew's story began to unfold, I was captivated by the story of Grandpa's decision to break the law and harbor illegal immigrants in his barn in a small town in eastern Oklahoma. Confronting the issue of illegal immigration and its affect on an individual, a family and a town turned this into not just an Oklahoma story for me but an "any town" story.

The book delves into several issues around the illegal immigrant problem that this nation has dealt with for decades. Ms. Askew, examines in a most entertaining but realistic way the many facets of the issue. She includes the legal elements, the views of the supporters and detractors of open immigration, and how Sweet and her father decide to tackle the issue inside and outside of their family.

It was particularly interesting for me to read the names of towns, restaurants, OKC neighborhoods and street addresses that are part of my story as well. I would love a sequel to this first book. I find myself wondering how the author would bring us forward in the story of this ordinary but fascinating family.

I chose this book because I usually enjoy Danielle Steel\'s work for an interesting and quick read. I also hoped that I was going to read a great story about the specifics of renovating a grand house. I am an HGTV addict.
The book held my interest quite well for approximately the first half. I was caught up in some of the themes such as what is the purpose of life, what constitutes a productive life, and why do so many women let the man set the terms of the relationship.
In the second half, once the main character caught her boyfriend cheating and dumped him, the book was predictable and without any depth. I thought I wanted her to get a backbone and dump the emotionally unavailable boyfriend, but the book took a direction that was not only uninteresting but actually a little boring.
I am torn on how to rate the book. How do you rate a book that is interesting to you in the first half and not so much in the second half?