Eden by Jamie Lisa Forbes

Eden by Jamie Lisa Forbes
 Publisher: Pronghorn Press, (May 25, 2020)
Category: Literary Fiction, Southern Fiction, Family Fiction

Description 

Rowen Hart has been raised as the pampered son and only child of a prominent family in the small community of White Rock, North Carolina. It’s the 1950s and he’s drifting through the days, following the life path his parents have planned for him and preparing to go away to college. When his father’s suicide turns his world upside down, he finds himself responsible for his mother in their suddenly reduced circumstances that leave them dependent on his uncle, his father’s business partner. Ill prepared to take over as head of the family, Rowen doesn’t know which way to turn. Then a neighbor’s ten year old daughter comes to live with them, baffling him with her wild behavior and never ending attempts to win his approval and making his new responsibilities even more overwhelming. As Rowen tries to find his way, he begins to question everything about his upbringing, his current circumstances and his plans for the future as they turn to dust in his hands.

Praise

“Throughout this beautifully written story (Unbroken), I pictured the scenes, the characters, and visualized it all as if I walked among them. Five stars.”-Laurel Rain-Snow, Rainy Days and Mondays “Unbroken is a powerful, absorbing book from the first page to the last. Forbes’ Wyoming ranch background adds rich flavors to the story. The author draws realistic, complex characters. Unbroken is an unvarnished testimonial to a way of life that few of us know.”– Mary E. Trimble, author of ‘ TUBOB: Two Years in West Africa with the Peace Corps’ “The Widow Smalls, is a collection of wonderful stories that will elicit a range of emotions, following a number of different themes, like loss, jealousy, regret and acceptance. Each of the stories was as well written as the last, and I enjoyed each one immensely. Wonderful diverse plots, linked with the similar thread of ranch life, and defined characters, made for a truly great read. Author Jamie Forbes, has really created something special here, a must read for all short story lovers.”- Michelle Geist, Verified Amazon Review

Review

Rowan Hart has had his share of woes at a very young age when his world is shattered by the death of his father. With not much to hope for or cling on to, little Eden comes into the lives of Rowan and his mom Rita, as a whiff of fresh air. Eden is a wonder child, who has borne the brunt of life’s cruelty, which usually other ten-year-olds would have crumbled from. While Rowan gets a grip on life, makes a career, thanks to the kind Claude, marries Jewel, and finds his footing in the world, memories of little Eden never leave him.

This was a beautifully written heart-warming tale. The characterisation of Eden was mesmerising, so full of life and hopes. I loved reading this tale.

Many thanks to the author Jamie Lisa Forbes, the publishers Pronghorn Press, and Teddy Rose from VABT, for gifting me with a copy of this book for an honest review.

About Jamie Lisa Forbes

Jamie Lisa Forbes was raised on a ranch along the Little Laramie River near Laramie, Wyoming. She attended the University of Colorado where she obtained degrees in English and philosophy. After fourteen months living in Israel, she returned to her family’s ranch where she lived for another fifteen years. In 1994, she moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2001, she graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and began her North Carolina law practice. Her first novel, Unbroken, won the WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction in 2011. Her collection of short stories, The Widow Smalls and Other Stories, won the High Plains Book Awards for a short story collection in 2015. Her law practice gave her the opportunity to travel many of the back roads of North Carolina and meet the unique and diverse individuals who inspired Eden. Website: https://www.jamielisaforbes.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jamielisaforbes Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieLisaForbes Buy Eden by Jamie Lisa Forbes To be announced closer to publication.