South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

This was an interesting debut novel by Ellen Airgood.  It is set in the area she resides in, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the town of McAllaster.  Madeline Stone, running away from her old life, takes a job as a live in helper for Arbutus, a shut in friend of her grandfather.  She comes to a small village where the new people and the old timers are in a feud.  The old timers want things the way that they have always been, although they see that time marches on, and that things can't stay the same.  Madeline gets involved in the community's on going disagreement with the owners of the grocery, who have done away with credit accounts for the eldery folks.  She also meets Paul, who owned the local pizza joint, Randi, an unwed mother with a dear little boy, and may of the town's inhabitiants.

With Madeline's help, the town comes together, joins forces and tries to revitalize the ecomony.  Madeline is able to reopen the hotel, the grocers give in, she goes on to marry Paul and all the inhabitants get a better way of life.  This was not too bad of a 1st novel , although it was a little jumpy in spots.