"Roses for Mama" is a historical romance set in western Canada during it's pioneer period. It's a part of a series, but each book stands alone and is about a totally new group of people.This novel was a fun, short read. There was enough setting and historical detail to create a somewhat vague background for the events. The story was mainly about Angela struggling to deal with the pressures and doubts of raising her siblings while fearing her older brother will leave her to handle this alone...yet wanting him to have a chance at his dreams. Angela was a sweet, caring girl with complex feelings about her situation.I liked how Angela remembered the lessons her mother taught her and tried to remind her younger siblings of those lessons. The mother was a very real force in the story even though she's dead when the story started. Angela and her family were Christians and trusted God to see them through this. The Christian element was woven in as a natural part of the story--the outworking of the godly influence of her parents.There was no sex. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.
This was a fast read! I was left wanting much much more from the story. I thought the characters were fun to watch throughout. I would recommend this book to any of my friends but I think a better generation of reader would be a much younger group. I think I would be perfectly comfortable reading this to my 5 year old. I loved Carter, then hated him and in the end thought nothing of him. I thought Thane a bit weenieish but then he steps up in the end. Good book for young readers. Possibly not one I would have as part of my collection.
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 household.This story was very touching. Angela tries so hard to teach her younger siblings the lessons their mom taught her before her mother died.The book has likable characters, values, and great settings. A great book to read and share.
—Larisha
A sweet, poignant, story of a family of siblings who's parent's die and leave the two oldest to finish caring for and raising the three younger when they aren't very old themselves.It goes through the doubts, fears and struggles of siblings vs parents, and hit me in a very real way because like the Mother (though not dyeing) I have been bedridden for four years now and my children starting at ages 13,9 & 8 had to step up to the plate and take over my cooking and chores. And now at 18, almost 13 and 11 1/2 they are still having to carry the load with no end in site. So yes this book made me cry. I didn't give it a 5 star rating because it would take a saint from Heaven to be as perfect and sweet ALL the time the way the Mother was portrayed.Other than that a great read.
—Audrey Grant
