Roseborough

Loving, tender hopeful, and deeply spiritual. It's beyond words. Soothing, wise, this novel talks about the sounds of God, the miracles of life, the divinity of nature and destiny. It talks about letting your life unfold. Letting go. Moving forward. Jane Roberts Wood is an artist, a dynamic and unique storyteller who depicts people with brilliance. Her characters are stunningly alive, vulnerable, believable, and authentic. This book has made me ponder on my own life, my own dreams, my own future, my eternally "new beginnings". I enjoyed every sentence and re read those that shook me to the core, those that made my heart skip a beat. God is in these pages and the wonders of love and forgiveness are with him. This is a work of art and of love and I strongly recommend it. A splendid and enriching read.

Mary Lou's Burgandy's life has taken a dreadful turn. Her husband, Gundren was killed accidentally by a horse, and her 14 year-old daughter, Echo ran away from home after the funeral. Grasping at straws for ways to get her daughter back, she signs up for a single parenting class at the local community college. The members of the class become like a family to one another, sharing not only Mary Lou's problems, but also their own, including abuse, estranged children, cancer and AIDS. Anne Hamilton, the teacher and creator of the class, finds she too is taken by this odd assortment of people, and is drawn into their lives.Gundren's family are gypsies, and they float in and out of the story like butterflies on the wind. Aunt Labelle, who keeps a bright green and blue parrot, is especially adept at offering accurate visions of where Echo might be found. True to her name though, no one can catch the ethereal Echo. And there's no bringing her home before she is ready.Roseborough is about the bonds of friendship and family; it's about finding inner strength and taking control of one's life. It's the story of what can happen when people open their hearts. Sit back and enjoy!

Ms. Woods has again captured the essence of small town life. While this takes place in Texas, it could be any small town throughout the southern US. The interaction of Mary Lou, her teacher Anne and the members of the singles continuing education class will leave you with the feeling that friends can help you overcome almost anything. And, when you learn where the title of the book comes from, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Everything from life behind the counter at Dairy Queen to a gypsy gathering are in this book. If you like Jan Karon's Mitford books or Billie Letts' Where the Heart Is, I think you'll also enjoy spending time with Roseborough.