Roses for Mama (Women of the West)

This is a amazing story that will pull at your heart and will have you fall in love with the whole family!

Did you lose parents at a young age? Or do you know of someone who has? In Janette Oke's book "Roses for Mama", Angela Peterson lost both her parents at the age of 14 and, along with her older brother, Thomas, became her three younger siblings caretaker. As Angela tries to keep the family together spiritually as well as physically, she also has to deal with Derek's shyness and helps him overcome his grief, Louise's mood swings and Sara's constant questions. Angela, now seventeen, feels as though she is not doing all she should and wishes more and more that her mother was there. On top of all this, she receives a marriage proposal from a wealthy neighbor. When he suggests a housekeeper for the children, Angela must decide whether she should keep the family together or allow someone else to care for her younger siblings. This is a touching story that I recommend for teenage girls.

Roses for Mama is the story of five siblings left on their own after their parents die a short time apart. The older siblings Thomas and Angela take on the roles as parents to their younger brother and sisters. Thomas tends to the fields while Angela does the running of the house. Times aren't always easy though as Angela realizes Thomas might soon take a wife and she'll be left on her own to deal with the children. Angela finds herself in a bit of a situation herself when she attracts the attention of a neighbor.This story was very touching and moving. The characters were so real that the reader can't help but feel sorry for them and want so badly for them to succeed. Angela tries so hard to teach her younger siblings the lessons their mom taught her before her death. Readers without a doubt can identify with this young girl who is forced into adulthood and has the challenge of being a mother to three growing children. This book is so well written, as are all Janette Oke books, that is is easy to understand the ups and downs of daily life for these characters. This book was so easy to read that I was able to read it in a day.It is great to know there are authors who write books about everyday people doing everyday things. This would be a great book for anyone from grandmother to granddaughter. It has likable characters, values, and great settings. A great book to read and share.

The touching story "Roses for Mama," could not have been written better. Jannete Oke used her warm, comforting style of writing to make her readers laugh with the characters and cry with the characters. Oke described the character's feelings and surrounding so well, it seemed as if you were actually in the story!! None of the story was missing...except the sequel! I can't wait for that to come out (hopefully, she will write one). I mean, she described beautifully every point in the story. In some of her other books, it seems as though she didn't exactly know how to give the details of what she was talking about. Therefore; she would just tell us what happened, not necessarily show us what happened. However, that was most definitely not the case with this book. In other words, I didn't find myself wanting to know more about certain scenes, she described them all. Furthermore, on top of having beautiful, let me emphasize beautiful, writing techniques, the plot was well thought out, charming, and very enjoyable. This story is about a 17-year-old girl Angela and her struggle to survive. When Angela was 14, her mother and father both died, much to the sadness of her and her siblings. She and Thomas, her 19-year-old brother, were left to fend for themselves, while trying to care for their younger siblings. Although Angela is only 17, it seems as though all of the fun from life has been sucked away. For, she solely, well...with the little bit of help her siblings, has to take over the duties has to take over the duties a grown woman would do,such as washing, ironing, cleaning, and meal preparing, but at age 17. The struggle, however, is not keeping her sibling's bodies healthy, Angela feels she is quite prepared for that job because of the long talks she had with her mother before she died. The struggle is finding the wisdom, courage, and knowledge, to go about giving the children what their souls need. She, to the best of her ability and knowledge, tries teaching the children the truths and lessons she felt her mother would have been teaching the children if she were still living. Even as she struggles with raising her family, she trusts God, believing truly that He will provide for and take care of her little family. As the days go by, Angela meets and falls in love with the young, attractive, and VERY wealthy Carter Stratton, much to the disappointment of Thane, who has had his Angela for some time now. How Angela wishes her mother was still there to guide and help her thourgh the tough times of courtship. (Thane has been a friend of the family ever since Thomas and Angela were little, bringing the younger one's lemon drops, ribbons, and other little gifts.) Will she marry Carter or will Thane woo her away? Will she find the much needed and much wanted joy in her life? Will the Derek, Louise, and Sarah (her 3 younger siblings) grow up to be the man and women her parents had so wanted them to be? And lastly, where does the t

This book was so good! It takes place in the old West, as you probably expect. Angela and her brothers and sisters were left orphans when both of their parents died 3 years ago. Now, Angela and her brother Thomas have to take care of the farm, household, and bring up their younger siblings. Angela keeps up her strength (and sanity!) by trusting that God will always be there for them. A very touching, seemingly 'real' story about a young woman's struggles with growing up, death, and love.

This was such a good book. I couldn't put it down. It is full of God and life situations that are easy to relate to. This is one of the best books ever written.