Scarlet Carnation

A Novel (Yellow Crocus, Book 4)

By: Laila Ibrahim

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

In an early twentieth-century America roiling with racial injustice, class divides, and WWI, two women fight for their dreams in a galvanizing novel by the bestselling author of Golden Poppies.

1915. May and Naomi are extended family, their grandmothers’ lives inseparably entwined on a Virginia plantation in the volatile time leading up to the Civil War. For both women, the twentieth century promises social transformation and equal opportunity.

May, a young white woman, is on the brink of achieving the independent life she’s dreamed of since childhood. Naomi, a nurse, mother, and leader of the NAACP, has fulfilled her own dearest desire: buying a home for her family. But they both are about to learn that dreams can be destroyed in an instant. May’s future is upended, and she is forced to rely once again on her mother. Meanwhile, the white-majority neighborhood into which Naomi has moved is organizing against her while her sons are away fighting for their country.

In the tumult of a changing nation, these two women—whose grandmothers survived the Civil War—support each other’s quest for liberation and dignity. Both find the strength to confront injustice and the faith to thrive on their chosen paths.

©2022 Laila Ibrahim (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Set in an early twentieth-century America roiling with racial injustice, class divides, and WWI, two women fight for their dreams.… Impressively performed by the truly exceptional and award-winning story telling skills of narrator Bahni Turpin.” —Midwest Book Review

Good addition to the series

I Love how the story is picked up but not awkwardly forced together. The families are intertwined but now in an unrealistic way. A great job has been done highlighting the difference in circumstances but also that they are two completely different families with a little overlap. I would be interested to see how this continues to evolve now that Lisabeth has left us.

Thoroughly Enjoyed

I have loved each book in the series and this was no exception. Well written story of the intertwined next generations of these families. I hope there is another book to come! Excellent!

you must listen to every single one of these. .

... starting with yellow crocus. Laila and Bahni are incredible. I saw comments that were less than favorable and I cannot disagree more strongly with every single one of them. each of these books is a treasure and you will not want to miss any word of them or of the compelling and heartwishing narrative performances. and I have it on good authority there's another book in the works so do yourself a favor and start right away! I promise you based on 400 plus books I've listened to that you will not regret it ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

Wonderful storytelling as always

Laila is one of my favorite storytellers. Bahni is absolute favorite narrator. The story is great as always. Weaving history and fiction effortlessly, methodically and with the utmost sensitivity. I cried more during this book than any of the three before, with the delivery scenes. As a mother of two, listening to the moment happen is just as precious as experiencing it. The only thing I wish is that we got more of the story of Mae and Lenny.

Family

The story of this beautiful family continues. I can’t wait for the next in the series

Story and narration great - editing is lacking

I have listened to the other books in this series and loved them! I loved the story line of this one, but there is something wrong with the editing. When they trimmed and pieced together the recording, they left gaps just a smidge too long - maybe and extra second or two. This results in odd pauses in conversations or narratives, leading me to pull out my phone and figure out if it paused accidentally (it did not).

Please clean up these odd pauses for future listeners and it will be wonderful!

Scarlet Carnation

This was a good book. I adored Yellow crocus & Mustard seeds, but I also like this book, too. I believe reading all four of the series makes it all worth it. I loved the excellent writing, the storyline, the history, the fight & grit it took - I appreciated this book series.
In addition, I enjoyed the narration. Absolutely excellently performance. Nobody like Bahni Turpin to bring a great story to life. Great job.
Bravo 👏🏾👏🏾 to Lisbeth & Mattie. True heroism that I will forever appreciate.
For those who may not have enjoyed the book as much, perhaps a better understanding of the history during those times is needed.

Next!

I have enjoyed listening to the main characters lives unfold and those of their descendants. Please tell me there will be more to continue.

Good ending to the series

I don't feel that this book was as good as the first two. I do like the way that the story story as a whole started and ended with Elizabeth. I feel that the first two novels had more to say and did it in a more clear way. I did enjoy this book and feel more enlightened after reading this series.

Lone Star of Texas

I read them all and each book is connected and a uniquely symbolic flower. Characters are craftly scented. Great read.