Backseat Saints

By: Joshilyn Jackson

Narrated by: Joshilyn Jackson

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As "Mrs. Ro Grandee", she's trapped in a marriage that's thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting "Ro" make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy - one who shares her past and knows her future. The tarot cards foretell that Rose's beautiful, abusive husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.

Hot-blooded Rose Mae escapes from under Ro's perky compliance and emerges with a gun and a plan to beat the hand she's been dealt. Following messages that her long-missing mother has left hidden for her in graffiti and behind paintings, Rose and her dog Gretel set out from Amarillo, Texas, back to her hometown of Fruiton, Alabama, and then on to California, unearthing a host of family secrets as she goes. Running for her life, she realizes that she must face her past in order to overcome her fate---death by marriage---and become a girl who is strong enough to save herself from the one who loves her best.

Backseat Saints will dazzle listeners with a fresh and heartwrenching portrayal of the lengths a mother will go to right the wrongs she's created, and how far a daughter will go to escape the demands of forgiveness. With the seed of a minor character from her popular best-seller Gods in Alabama, Jackson has built a whole new story full of her trademark sly wit, endearingly off-kilter characters, and utterly riveting plot twists.

©2010 Joshilyn Jackson (P)2010 Hachette

Jackson needs to stay in the south.

Any additional comments?

Perhaps because of the very dark subject matter, this was not quite as enjoyable as previous Jackson books. In the first half there was the familiar edgy southern sass that I so love from this author, but as Rose Mae hits the road and reaches California, the charm is quickly diminished. Jackson's narration suffers as she tries to voice Rose Mae's mother's affected non-southern accent. The mother's character is less well developed, and is not very sympathetic, which is problematic considering the pivotal role she plays in Rose Mae's own development. The violence she has experienced makes this somewhat understandable, but difficult to warm up to. Still, the story is compelling and has a ring of authenticity regarding the family violence. Just not as strong a recommendation as her other books in my opinion.

So VERY good !!!!

I highly recommend this audio. I've listened to almost all her other books and loved them all she also does a great job narrating, she had Rose May, Ro Grandy and Ivy Wheeler's voices perfect. I absolutely love Joshilyn Jacksons books. .

Another winner!

My 2nd book with this Author. It's like living in someone else's shoes! Loved it!

gorgeous

It is such a treat to have the author narrate her own book. This is another fabulous read/listen from Ms Jackson.

Wow! What a great book!

At first I was hesitant to select this book because of its subject matter--domestic violence. However, the story is beautifully written and exquisitely well read by the author. Several times, I wanted to pick up the phone to quote a particularly brilliant line or two to my daughters. Joshilyn Jackson surprises me with every new book. I loved the characters and hated to come to the end.

loved it

a fantastic story with believable (if not always likable) characters. amazing narration by the author. completely absorbing from beginning to end!

love Joshilyn Jackson

I really enjoyed this book. kept me quessing. i can't wait for the new book!

Started Good

Immediately pulled into the story, unfortunately the second half was very boring and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Many of the events seemed unnecessary and frankly irritating.

Unfortunately I have already purchased other books by Joshilyn Jackson, and I am dreading listening to them.

Very good Southern listen...

I love listening to books by Southern authors, with Southern voices. The soft lilt of their voices make the story ride on a soft, clear wave. Even when the story has a lot of violence, the sound of their voices make you know, that in the end, everything will be okay. This was a good story full of the right amount of fear, hope, and humor. Rose Mae is a very believable character that is easy to relate to, even if the listener can't even imagine the life that she has lived. There's lots of mystery and anticipation that keeps you wanting to hear what happens next.

Riveting!

I have to say that I love Audible.com! And listening to the actual author read her words brings such a depth and breadth to the story that you just don't find anywhere else. This was one of the first stories that I could not put down. I listened to this from start to finish, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The author holds you spellbound from one chapter to the next, weaving you seamlessly through the lives of her characters, so you forget where one ends and another begins. Very richly told. Would recommend to all as a cautionary tale of the perils of the "perfect romance".