Orrie Hitt was a prolific writer of “gritty” romances in the 1950s and '60s. He wrote over 150 novels and, unlike many hack writers of the time, he was very good at what he did, and still has a large following today. The website Criminal Element called him “The Shakespeare of Shabby Street". Here’s a bit more of what they had to say about him:

“With Hitt, the artistry has to do with his uncanny ability to capture a certain corner of the human experience, and to write novels that flowed seamlessly, while being effective on different levels simultaneously. Outside of all the hanky panky, Hitt’s books are simply ultra-realistic, gritty, often moving human dramas. His characters are so believable that you hate some of them, care about others, and pity many. His portrayals of these peoples’ life experiences are engaging. His tales reel you in on page one and keep you interested throughout.”

Literary critic Dr. Raymond J. O'Brien said this: Orrie Hitt “beautifully portrayed the lives of the working class here. People who lived in the low-rent districts. The poverty of the hill shacks scattered among the hunting and drinking camps. The trailer parks out among the abandoned junkyards and used car lots, and the mom and pop motels with the flashing neon signs and vibrating beds that took quarters to keep vibrating.”

Hitt’s books take place in a time that was s lot simpler than today…. No Internet, no craziness in politics, no global warming, no cell phones and, of course, no Covid-19. Today, his down to earth novels may serve as a great escape from all of that, at least for a few hours.

Here’s the somewhat “over the top” description of this book from the back cover.

“They worshipped nature in the raw! Dela knew what it was to worship nature. After all, where she came from it was considered quite proper to swim or sunbathe unclad. She decided to welcome this strange sect that wanted to camp on her property, thought she might even join in the fun and games.

It was all so lovely, so innocent, until voluptuous Ada Holden, a girl completely without scruples, began to love nature a little too passionately. Under such circumstances, few men could withstand deliberate temptation. Certainly not Ricky, Dela’s husband. It was then Dela realized a she-devil had entered paradise. She fought back with the only weapon she had - her own glorious body!