Aunt Jane's Nieces

3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews

Summary
Jane Merrick, made suddenly wealthy on the death of her fiance, is old and dying after a long life in which she's denied help to her impoverished brothers and sisters. Near death, she invites her three nieces to visit, planning to choose one to inherit her fortune.

Review
Sometimes, you just want something simple and light to read. Having just started a new and promising Martha Wells book that also looks to be complex, I wanted something quick to lighten the tone. Baum (here writing as Edith van Dyne) seemed made to order, and didn't disappoint.

There's nothing much surprising about the plot; even its twists are well within expectation. The good people win, no one really suffers. It's fully of plucky girls, genial old men, and a sullen boy who straightens right up when taken in hand. To be fair, Baum does give his characters a reasonable amount of depth, but it's all optimism and the benefit of hard work and empathy here.

That said, it was exactly what I was looking for – a quick, light, happy read.