Hammock Bound is a historical fiction novel written by Barbara D. Gaylor. The story is based upon the life of her grandmother, Marjorie, and the letters she and her fiance, later husband, Robert wrote to each other. In 1912, Marjorie was living in Minneapolis with her mother and brother Archie. Archie was going to college to become a dentist. Marjorie had also wanted to attend college, but her mother said that respectable girls didn't do that. Marjorie was a parlor girl. It was bad enough that the thirty-year-old young woman was working as an accountant for Dayton's Department Store, which was really considered a man's job at the time. Still, Marjorie dreamed of adventure and something more than living at home and working above the store. When her grandmother invited her to be her companion on a trip to the Tampa area of Florida, Marjorie jumped at the chance to have her own adventure. It would change her life.

Barbara D. Gaylor's historical fiction novel, Hammock Bound, is a fascinating look at life and culture in the US before World War I. I was especially fascinated with the author's stories about Marjorie and Robert's life in the Florida wilderness and how they built their farm bit by bit. The author's archival pictures are marvelous and give the story a real air of authenticity. I think my favorite part of the story is that first summer Marjorie and her grandmother spent in Florida, particularly the camping trip Marjorie went on with Robert, Tom and their friends. Sharing Marjorie's first impressions and experiences on seeing the ocean and feeling the cold water on her bare feet was a memorable experience indeed, and Gaylor's descriptions of the event are lyrical and compelling. Hammock Bound is highly recommended.

In Hammock Bound by Barbara D. Gaylor, to many Marjorie was living a good life, and to a certain extent this was true. She, however, longed to defy fate and do something more exciting with her life outside the path already carved out for her. Her predetermined path was to lead to an expected marriage to a good man, but she felt there was more out there for her. So it was in that spirit that she escorted her grandma to Florida; a trip that would be more life changing than she could ever have imagined. While in Tampa, she met and fell in love with Robert, but soon the visit was over and she had to return home, - with every intention of returning to Tampa as Robert's wife. But how would her mama take the news of her intention to marry a man from the south and move so far away from home? Follow Marjorie's amazing adventure as she defies the rules, learns about life in the south, falls in love and evolves into a farmer's wife.

Hammock Bound by Barbara D. Gaylor is a beautiful life adventure that portrays what life was like for an enthusiastic young woman growing up at a time when all women were expected to do was live by society's rules and become dutiful wives. The story, though fictional, tells a real life journey of an extraordinary woman who was determined to live her life outside the box. Her longing to beat the odds and break the rules, to seek something more fulfilling and put more excitement into her life is touching and her determination inspiring. Hammock Bound is a story about a dream fulfilled and a life well lived; and what an extraordinary life it turned out to be. This is a tale about an amazing life as seen through beautiful letters written many decades ago; and those dear old photos added so much flavour to the story. It is a very serene, exciting and inspiring story and, although told decades later, it remains true to the time and place.