Synopsis: 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, TX back to her hometown of Fruiton,...
Quick Take: Recommend - This is my favorite book written by Joshilyn Jackson, it might be due to our discussion, learning details behind the story and the authors research/writing process. Confession: I always like books more after talking with the author (they are so insightful!) :)
Rose May Lolley's life has been surrounded by people to mistreat each other - setting a terrible example for how wonderful life can be. This book starts with a bang and will keep you on your toes.
Rose May appears in Jackson's first novel Gods in Alabama, it's the only book that I haven't read and since we have to wait until 2012 for a new release... I'm happy to have a book to read later this year/early 2011, I'm intrigued!
You can listen to our discussion by clicking on the green arrow below or by downloading the discussion (click on the recording on the right side of the MMBC page). The call has been edited to 40 minutes:
We are discussing the book online, click here to join the discussion and read an interview with Joshilyn Jackson.
Source: Review Copy