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A review by reading_ladies_blog
Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton
4.0
3.5 Romantic Stars
Thanks to #NetGalley #ThomasNelsonPublishers for my free copy of #GloryRoad by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fans of romance, southern settings, mother/daughter themes, gardening, and women's fiction will want to snatch up a copy of this endearing and quaint small town story.
Glory Road focuses on three generations of women from the same family during one summer of their lives on Glory Road as they build trusting and loving relationships with each other and also forge the path of their individual lives and future. Although some characters are stereotypical, the main characters are well developed and seem real. We are able to empathize with the grandmother's fears and feelings of distress as she experiences episodes of dementia; we understand the pressure Jessie feels as a single, working, entrepreneurial mom; and we remember how it felt to be a teenager through the experiences of fourteen-year-old Evan.
Especially captivating in this story is the atmospheric, southern, rural setting. We imagine swinging in the creaky porch swing, walking down the dusty country road (Glory Road), and we can hear the buzz of insects. Adding to the setting, the author inserts lovely, inspirational, and advice laden gardening quotes at the beginning of each chapter (reminding me of what we learned about the meaning of flowers in The Language of Flowers). For example, "Zinnias are traditionally a happy flower, and you can't go wrong offering a loved one a bouquet of brightly colored zinnias. In particular, the scarlet zinnia signifies constancy or steadfastness. Blue Hyacinths have a similar meaning, and the two flowers together would make a striking pair." (Warren Elliott, The Secret Life of Flowers) These thoughtful quotes set the mood for the chapter and enhance the southern setting and are completely congruent with Jessie's garden shop, The Twig. I appreciate the author's effort in finding unique and thematic quotes.
Poignant themes include facing difficult transitions, being true to yourself, supporting family, coming home, and reconciliation.
Recommended for readers who appreciate romantic and inspirational family stories, for fans of southern settings, rural lifestyle and gardening, and for those looking for a gentle read (no violence, offensive language, or steamy romance). It would be a good book club selection and a great choice for spring/summer porch reading. If you read and enjoyed Hurricane Season by Denton, I predict that you will also enjoy Glory Road.
Pub Date: March 19, 2019
For more reviews visit my blog readingladies.com
Thanks to #NetGalley #ThomasNelsonPublishers for my free copy of #GloryRoad by Lauren K. Denton in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fans of romance, southern settings, mother/daughter themes, gardening, and women's fiction will want to snatch up a copy of this endearing and quaint small town story.
Glory Road focuses on three generations of women from the same family during one summer of their lives on Glory Road as they build trusting and loving relationships with each other and also forge the path of their individual lives and future. Although some characters are stereotypical, the main characters are well developed and seem real. We are able to empathize with the grandmother's fears and feelings of distress as she experiences episodes of dementia; we understand the pressure Jessie feels as a single, working, entrepreneurial mom; and we remember how it felt to be a teenager through the experiences of fourteen-year-old Evan.
Especially captivating in this story is the atmospheric, southern, rural setting. We imagine swinging in the creaky porch swing, walking down the dusty country road (Glory Road), and we can hear the buzz of insects. Adding to the setting, the author inserts lovely, inspirational, and advice laden gardening quotes at the beginning of each chapter (reminding me of what we learned about the meaning of flowers in The Language of Flowers). For example, "Zinnias are traditionally a happy flower, and you can't go wrong offering a loved one a bouquet of brightly colored zinnias. In particular, the scarlet zinnia signifies constancy or steadfastness. Blue Hyacinths have a similar meaning, and the two flowers together would make a striking pair." (Warren Elliott, The Secret Life of Flowers) These thoughtful quotes set the mood for the chapter and enhance the southern setting and are completely congruent with Jessie's garden shop, The Twig. I appreciate the author's effort in finding unique and thematic quotes.
Poignant themes include facing difficult transitions, being true to yourself, supporting family, coming home, and reconciliation.
Recommended for readers who appreciate romantic and inspirational family stories, for fans of southern settings, rural lifestyle and gardening, and for those looking for a gentle read (no violence, offensive language, or steamy romance). It would be a good book club selection and a great choice for spring/summer porch reading. If you read and enjoyed Hurricane Season by Denton, I predict that you will also enjoy Glory Road.
Pub Date: March 19, 2019
For more reviews visit my blog readingladies.com