Susie Hanks

Sacrificial Plenty Trilogy Susie Hanks

Politely fired from her last job for having an innocent role in the death of a stalking victim back in Ohio, former librarian Milbry Snodgrass, seeks refuge from the situation by running away to Jones Mill, Alabama. Upon returning home unexpectedly one afternoon, Milbry discovers her grandparents' farmhouse has been vandalized. Taken into custody are unlikely culprits- two little girls. One of the girls, Ruby Watkins, is immediately understood to be an ornery spitfire, armed with an overwhelmingly contentious, insolent bad attitude. However, swayed by Ruby's grandmother, someone dying from cancer, to let the children work off the damages by making repairs rather than being charged with a crime, Milbry quickly suspects she'll too soon regret agreeing to the arrangement. Despite Ruby's fervent and continuously sour attitude, Milbry's empathetic after learning what life's dealt the poor child. Motherless and fatherless, Ruby will soon lose her grandmother too and will fall into the care of an equally disrespectful, angry uncle. Even though Milbry's challenged at every turn by Ruby, there's something there, holding her back from giving up on the child. But what? It's only when Ruby falls to the ground after being startled by Milbry in the woods that she's presented with evidence of what's really going on inside the family's unlit home, and, based upon her own similar past experiences, Milbry knows only too well about what can occur in such dark places. However, does Milbry have enough strength for summoning up the courage to do what's right for someone else and- for once in her lifetime- not just what's easiest? Only time will tell, as this is only the beginning for these two similarly damaged, challenged souls...