Tending Roses (Tending Roses Series, Book 1)
First-time author Lisa Wingate drew upon her relationship with her  grandmother for inspiration in writingTending Roses. Her sensitive and  able crafting of language, character, and situation pierces through the turmoil  and stress of everyday life, illuminating its message with almost painful  intensity: "Maybe you should start wanting less." Wingate's words resonate as  readers are introduced to Kate Bowman, her architect husband Ben, and their  infant son. Kate, on maternity leave from her high-profile Chicago job, has been  given the unenviable task of convincing her increasingly frail and forgetful  grandmother that she can no longer live alone on the Missouri farm that has been  her home for almost half a century. Kate and Ben are struggling to deal with  mounting debts and medical bills as they strive to build a lifestyle, rather  than a life. Frustrated by dealing with her stubborn, if well-meaning,  grandmother, Kate finds solace and clarity in Grandma Rose's handwritten  journal. The simple stories of earlier, less complicated times renew Kate's  understanding of the truly important things in life. Through the journal, Kate  discovers the essence of the remarkable Grandma Rose and is forced to reevaluate  her priorities and those of her family.Simply put, Wingate's aim is to exhort readers to "stop and smell the roses."  The daily race to achieve and have more, more, more is clearly and  all-too-accurately portrayed in these pages. I guarantee readers will stop to  think of their own lives and where they are spending their energies. Let's hope  Lisa Wingate has other relatives as inspiring as Grandma Rose for future novels.--Alison Trinkle