Roses

By: Leila Meacham

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 18 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Two East Texas families must deal with the aftermath of a marriage that never happened leading to deceit, secrets, and tragedies in a sweeping multigenerational Southern saga "with echoes of Gone with the Wind". (Publishers Weekly)

Spanning the 20th century, the story of Roses takes place in a small East Texas town against the backdrop of the powerful timber and cotton industries, controlled by the scions of the town's founding families. Cotton tycoon Mary Toliver and timber magnate Percy Warwick should have married but unwisely did not, and now must deal with consequences of their momentous choice and the loss of what might have been - not just for themselves but for their children, and their children's children.

With expert, unabashed, big-canvas storytelling, Roses covers a hundred years, three generations of Texans, and the explosive combination of passion for work and longing for love.

LOOK FOR LEILA MEACHAM'S HISTORICAL WWII EPIC, DRAGONFLY, COMING JULY 2019.

©2009 Leila Meacham (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Favorite book!

Somerset and Roses remain two of my favorite novels! A splendid drama, as are all her books!

Stupendous work

I learned of this author not long ago from a friend and and I’m so glad I did. Leila Meachum captivated not only the history of the era, but the story line, the characters, etc. Every description, every character came to life in both this book and Somerset. I read Somerset first. You laugh, you cry and you are happy right along with the people in this book. Life was harsh during those times. Coleen Marlo narrated like she felt every word and every chapter. When the book ends, you feel like you are turning loose old friends.

Capturing the healing of generational trauma

Reading Somerset before Roses is one of the best experiences of my literary lifetime. I’ve returned to both books several times over the last 10 years and have never regretted rereading the stories of these East Texas families. I recommend reading Somerset prior to Roses, and personally think Somerset is the better story. Roses holds its own and is a fine finale.

Hated it

Couldn’t finish it. Want 2 hrs of my life back. Adding more words to submit this review

audible book chpts vs book chpts not in order

audible book chapters and reading of book, are not in the same order as paperback chapters. reading is all over the book. I like to follow along with my paperback and this makes it hard when the book and audible dont match at all

I wish I knew this was Book 2 in the series...

I love stories about England's history. Anything post 1500 is my kind of fiction. I was excited to read Roses because it was recommended to me from a friend. It was supposed to be about the foraging of Lanisters and Warwicks, the ancestors of those who were involved in Britain's 16th century War of the Roses. I was expecting a sweeping saga filled with family drama and rich historical facts. Instead, I got the second book in the series.

Maybe the first book dealt more with the foraging and the historical input. Unfortunately, Roses was a simple very long and depressing romance. It's like Romeo and Juliette but the romance is dead before the story even starts. It was much too long, and full of characters dying tragically. I mean, I am shocked at how much I didn't like this book. I wanted to like it, but I really didn't.

Maybe if I read the first book it would have been more satisfying, but because of my distaste for this one, I am not going to bother.

3 stars. Meh.

-Wendi