Tending Roses: Volume 1

Lisa Wingate is one of my favorite authors. She delivers heartwarming, soul edifying stories. Every. Single. Time. Her stories have an abundance of heart and her characters own the perfect balance of strengths and limitations. Tending Roses depicts the realistic falling away of families—becoming busy in our own lives, or holding on to past hurts, that puts a wedge between those we’d preferably cling to. And Christmastime is the premier occasion to join together, even if the circumstances aren’t ideal. After Grandma Rose has a stroke, the splintered family comes together to come up with a game plan for her future. Clearly, this isn’t an easy decision, and one I can relate to in my own life. As with all of Ms. Wingate’s characters, Kate Bowman is easy to connect with. I connected with her from the very beginning and understood her motivations and heart. This is such a beautiful story, showcasing the importance of family bonds and spiritual faith. I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy of this book.

Kate temporarily moves in with her grandmother as a caregiver. Her husband is trying to telecommute, and her young son is just a baby. As she cares for her son and grandmother, she learns a lot about her grandmother's past through a series of entries left in a journal. These stories serve as life lessons and lead Kate to a new place in her life with her marriage, job, motherhood, and future. One last family gathering at Christmas helps the rest of the family to understand Kate's choices for her grandmother's future as well as her own. The symbolism of tending roses is not just about flowers, it's the lesson for how to care for family, faith, and friendship as we journey through life. I highly recommend this book!

In the midst of multiple family crises, including a beloved grandmother in declining health, Kate finds herself reexamining her priorities. It'll make you do the same.