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Jackson's Pond, Texas Series #4
Marva Cope
Marva Cope, the fourth novel in the Jackson’s Pond, Texas Series, brings new elements to the story of the small town in the Texas Panhandle. Marva arrives as the new postmaster in 2017. She brings with her a lifetime of hesitancy to open herself to others. It is here, while living with her elder Aunt Violet, that she comes to appreciate the value of true friendships. With new relationships, long walks, and conversations with herself, she comes to terms with her difficult past . . .the loss of a beloved teenaged brother in a tragic farm accident, her father’s death from a broken heart, and a distant mother who had no love for the young teenager. Troubled teenage years followed as a flawed young man lures her to New Mexico, then leaves her alone with their newborn daughter. With her newfound courage of trusting others as friends, she reconnects with her daughter, and a college dorm-mate she had deserted in years past. In Jackson’s Pond, she finds the ability to consider what to do with the rest of her life.
281 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2023
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 7, 2023
A One-Time Decision Changed Her Life
This is the fourth book in the Jackson’s Pond Texas Series, and this installment follows the life of Marva Cope. Her traumatic teen years are followed by a series of decisions that find her on her own with big plans for her future. One decision to follow the trail to adventure drastically changes her life. Whether those decisions were for the better or worse is not something she can change. Strongly independent, Marva has a tough time asking for help. Establishing friendships is difficult when she has shut her heart off from the world. What will it take for her to allow someone else into her heart?
Diving into the middle of a series can be challenging, but the way Teddy Jones writes allows the reader to jump in and follow along with characters you can relate to and who’s perspective you understand. Jones creatively reveals details of missing years by Marva sharing stories and catching up with old friends to fill in some of the blanks of the thirty-year jump. Once you start, you may not want to put it down until the end!
I hope to go back and read the other books in the series, and that there is another coming along soon! I wasn’t ready for Marva Cope to end.
This is the fourth book in the Jackson’s Pond Texas Series, and this installment follows the life of Marva Cope. Her traumatic teen years are followed by a series of decisions that find her on her own with big plans for her future. One decision to follow the trail to adventure drastically changes her life. Whether those decisions were for the better or worse is not something she can change. Strongly independent, Marva has a tough time asking for help. Establishing friendships is difficult when she has shut her heart off from the world. What will it take for her to allow someone else into her heart?
Diving into the middle of a series can be challenging, but the way Teddy Jones writes allows the reader to jump in and follow along with characters you can relate to and who’s perspective you understand. Jones creatively reveals details of missing years by Marva sharing stories and catching up with old friends to fill in some of the blanks of the thirty-year jump. Once you start, you may not want to put it down until the end!
I hope to go back and read the other books in the series, and that there is another coming along soon! I wasn’t ready for Marva Cope to end.
March 10, 2023
Marva Cope is a story unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s a wonderful example of contemporary literary fiction. It’s a coming of age story, but much later in life, which makes it unusual, at least to me. It’s a story that places the sanctity of true friendship front and center.
The story namesake—Marva Cope—is naturally the protagonist. She was raised on a small Texas farm, but left right after high school and never looked back. The story follows her adventures during the years just after high school, and then picks up again with her later in life. The reader is given her many thoughts as she contemplates her own meaning of life, as well as where she belongs in the world.
I found the structure of the book to be somewhat unusual. It starts with an older Marva moving in with her Aunt Violet in Jackson’s Pond, Texas. They hadn’t seen each other in decades. Shortly after arriving, they sit down and Marva begins to tell Violet her story. This backstory literally takes up the first half of the book, and even then it stops when Marva was around twenty or so and jumps back to present. However, those first few years after high school defined Marva’s mindset for all the missing years. The remainder of the book is dedicated to Marva settling down in Jackson’s Pond, still wrestling with her place in the world.
I’ve never seen “friendship” discussed and defined as much as in this story. In a sense, their views of friendship make Marva and Violet kindred spirits. However, Violet had already learned the secret of friendship, while Marva was still learning.
Characters typically draw a reader deeper into a story. This book is no exception to that. Marva and Violet are wonderful characters to spend time with. However, there is another character—Chick—that I want to highlight. Chick is a Jackson’s Pond character, probably a little older than Marva. I distinguish him because he’s a character that I really disliked when first introduced, but by the end of the story I was a huge fan. That doesn’t happen often in my reading, so props to the author on that.
The author does not go overboard with description in this story, but the description included is very good. For example, I think her description of a sunset is among the best I’ve ever read: “The sun edged down over the distant mountains and the few clouds scattered in the Technicolor blue sky echoed the late rays’ coral, then gold, then faded as behind them on the east, the twilight rose.” Beautiful!
Another thing I like about this particular author’s writing is her attention to the little details. I think little details add a huge amount of realism to any story. One such little detail in this story was when Marva and Violet are having a discussion while having a glass of wine. While contemplating a response, Marva stared at the ring the wine glass had made on the table. That’s the kind of “little detail” that I was talking about. I think it really helps to immerse the reader in the story.
The character arcs in this story are a bit different. The main arc—Marva’s—is particularly odd because of the way the story ends. The author sort of leaves it up to the reader to complete that arc.
Something else I liked was the little snippet from the local paper that the author included at the beginning of each chapter set in Jackson’s Pond. In all but one case they were not related to the storyline, but they did help to solidify the small town setting.
Overall, this story has a sad resonance about it. But I liked it. A lot. The story has an ending that is both sad and uplifting, yet it left me very satisfied. I’ve read two of the other three books in the Jackson’s Pond series, and I can say this is a wonderful addition. I highly recommend it!
The story namesake—Marva Cope—is naturally the protagonist. She was raised on a small Texas farm, but left right after high school and never looked back. The story follows her adventures during the years just after high school, and then picks up again with her later in life. The reader is given her many thoughts as she contemplates her own meaning of life, as well as where she belongs in the world.
I found the structure of the book to be somewhat unusual. It starts with an older Marva moving in with her Aunt Violet in Jackson’s Pond, Texas. They hadn’t seen each other in decades. Shortly after arriving, they sit down and Marva begins to tell Violet her story. This backstory literally takes up the first half of the book, and even then it stops when Marva was around twenty or so and jumps back to present. However, those first few years after high school defined Marva’s mindset for all the missing years. The remainder of the book is dedicated to Marva settling down in Jackson’s Pond, still wrestling with her place in the world.
I’ve never seen “friendship” discussed and defined as much as in this story. In a sense, their views of friendship make Marva and Violet kindred spirits. However, Violet had already learned the secret of friendship, while Marva was still learning.
Characters typically draw a reader deeper into a story. This book is no exception to that. Marva and Violet are wonderful characters to spend time with. However, there is another character—Chick—that I want to highlight. Chick is a Jackson’s Pond character, probably a little older than Marva. I distinguish him because he’s a character that I really disliked when first introduced, but by the end of the story I was a huge fan. That doesn’t happen often in my reading, so props to the author on that.
The author does not go overboard with description in this story, but the description included is very good. For example, I think her description of a sunset is among the best I’ve ever read: “The sun edged down over the distant mountains and the few clouds scattered in the Technicolor blue sky echoed the late rays’ coral, then gold, then faded as behind them on the east, the twilight rose.” Beautiful!
Another thing I like about this particular author’s writing is her attention to the little details. I think little details add a huge amount of realism to any story. One such little detail in this story was when Marva and Violet are having a discussion while having a glass of wine. While contemplating a response, Marva stared at the ring the wine glass had made on the table. That’s the kind of “little detail” that I was talking about. I think it really helps to immerse the reader in the story.
The character arcs in this story are a bit different. The main arc—Marva’s—is particularly odd because of the way the story ends. The author sort of leaves it up to the reader to complete that arc.
Something else I liked was the little snippet from the local paper that the author included at the beginning of each chapter set in Jackson’s Pond. In all but one case they were not related to the storyline, but they did help to solidify the small town setting.
Overall, this story has a sad resonance about it. But I liked it. A lot. The story has an ending that is both sad and uplifting, yet it left me very satisfied. I’ve read two of the other three books in the Jackson’s Pond series, and I can say this is a wonderful addition. I highly recommend it!
June 7, 2025
I felt like I was in the Texas panhandle while reading this book. I love the way Teddy Jones can create a full description of place and people without flowery language. What a great coming-of-age story.
March 20, 2023
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.7.
April 11, 2023
I'm not much of a contemporary drama/contemporary fiction sort of person. I tend to lean more toward mysteries, fantasy, and science fiction, but I found Marva Cope to be very refreshing from my norm. It was a fun change of pace that let me take a few moments to visit New Mexico and parts of Texas for a little while. I haven't read previous books in the Jackson's Pond, Texas series, so this is my introduction to the town.
I enjoyed Marva Cope and I'd definitely be interested in trying one of the other Jackson's Pond, Texas series books to learn more about the town and its inhabitants. It's a relaxing read full of relatable human drama and family relationship turmoil that I recommend to readers who like small towns and women's life journeys.
I enjoyed Marva Cope and I'd definitely be interested in trying one of the other Jackson's Pond, Texas series books to learn more about the town and its inhabitants. It's a relaxing read full of relatable human drama and family relationship turmoil that I recommend to readers who like small towns and women's life journeys.
March 14, 2023
Marva Cope is the fourth in Teddy Jones’s Jackson’s Pond series. As I’m prone to do, I’m jumping into the series in the middle!
The book starts with Marva moving in with her Aunt Violet in the small town of Jackson’s Pond, Texas. We get Marva’s story in flashbacks and conversations, over games of Scrabble with Aunt Violet, in Marva’s internal thoughts as she takes her walks around town.
Growing up, Marva Cope is a pretty average teenager. Trying to make it through school. Getting her older brother Chance to take her for a drive. But when Chance is killed in a freak accident on their farm, life changes. Marva struggles with his death and with feeling like it was somehow her fault. Her father sinks deeper into depression. Her mother is bitter, and nothing Marva does ever measures up. She heads off to college when she graduates high school and never looks back, and she leaves home a bit of a loner, reliant on herself and not one to ask for or expect help. Life has taught her not to expect much from other people.
Against the advice of her dorm-mate (and the closest thing to a friend Marva has), Marva leaves school and follows a cowboy out on the open road, going where life takes them. When she finds herself a single mother, left high and dry by that cowboy to manage a ranch on her own, she knows something has to change. She is slowly beginning to realize that perhaps other people can have her best interests at heart, and she hopes Violet will take her in, at least until she gets back on her feet.
This is a wonderful story! It seems weird to call it a “coming of age” story, since Marva is in her fifties, but it really is. Life and time formed Marva’s perspective, and it took more life and more time to shift that viewpoint. Age is no indicator of maturity or wisdom, and it takes Marva a little extra time to learn some important lessons.
Teddy Jones writes some delightful characters. There are a handful of lesser characters that aren’t real likable (and I include Marva’s mother in this bunch, because she isn’t terribly involved in the story once Marva leaves home), but almost all of the ones I think of as main characters, even with their flaws, have something about them to like. Other than Marva, I think Aunt Violet is my favorite. She’s a lot like Marva, very independent and a little unconventional. I love that she’s a Scrabble fiend! I would totally sit down and play with her, and I think it would be a heck of a game.
I found it interesting that Marva felt like she didn’t remember a lot of things in her life that maybe she should have. I’ve felt that way before. There are big swaths of life where I know things happened, life went on day to day, but I couldn’t give you any details. I like the way Jones has Stacey, Marva’s former dorm-mate who she gets reacquainted with, explain that feeling: “I think it’s because we don’t remember the chronology of our lives, we remember events. I don’t only mean events in the typical sense, like a big party, a graduation, a birth, but also interpersonal things that were BIG to us for a reason.” She goes on to say, “Maybe we’re all that way. The day-to-day disappears pretty quickly, the things that hurt us last a long time.” That makes sense to me, although I hope the things that help us and heal us make a lasting impression, too.
The ending of the story isn’t all tied up neatly with a bow. It’s a little bit of an open ending, and it’s left to the reader to imagine what may come next for Marva. I’m curious to see what unfolds next in Jackson’s Pond! I’m also curious to read the first three books in the series to see whether we learn more about Marva’s family or whether the focus is on other residents of the town.
I highly recommend Marva Cope for anyone who loves a good story about a wanderer finding her way home.
The book starts with Marva moving in with her Aunt Violet in the small town of Jackson’s Pond, Texas. We get Marva’s story in flashbacks and conversations, over games of Scrabble with Aunt Violet, in Marva’s internal thoughts as she takes her walks around town.
Growing up, Marva Cope is a pretty average teenager. Trying to make it through school. Getting her older brother Chance to take her for a drive. But when Chance is killed in a freak accident on their farm, life changes. Marva struggles with his death and with feeling like it was somehow her fault. Her father sinks deeper into depression. Her mother is bitter, and nothing Marva does ever measures up. She heads off to college when she graduates high school and never looks back, and she leaves home a bit of a loner, reliant on herself and not one to ask for or expect help. Life has taught her not to expect much from other people.
Against the advice of her dorm-mate (and the closest thing to a friend Marva has), Marva leaves school and follows a cowboy out on the open road, going where life takes them. When she finds herself a single mother, left high and dry by that cowboy to manage a ranch on her own, she knows something has to change. She is slowly beginning to realize that perhaps other people can have her best interests at heart, and she hopes Violet will take her in, at least until she gets back on her feet.
This is a wonderful story! It seems weird to call it a “coming of age” story, since Marva is in her fifties, but it really is. Life and time formed Marva’s perspective, and it took more life and more time to shift that viewpoint. Age is no indicator of maturity or wisdom, and it takes Marva a little extra time to learn some important lessons.
Teddy Jones writes some delightful characters. There are a handful of lesser characters that aren’t real likable (and I include Marva’s mother in this bunch, because she isn’t terribly involved in the story once Marva leaves home), but almost all of the ones I think of as main characters, even with their flaws, have something about them to like. Other than Marva, I think Aunt Violet is my favorite. She’s a lot like Marva, very independent and a little unconventional. I love that she’s a Scrabble fiend! I would totally sit down and play with her, and I think it would be a heck of a game.
I found it interesting that Marva felt like she didn’t remember a lot of things in her life that maybe she should have. I’ve felt that way before. There are big swaths of life where I know things happened, life went on day to day, but I couldn’t give you any details. I like the way Jones has Stacey, Marva’s former dorm-mate who she gets reacquainted with, explain that feeling: “I think it’s because we don’t remember the chronology of our lives, we remember events. I don’t only mean events in the typical sense, like a big party, a graduation, a birth, but also interpersonal things that were BIG to us for a reason.” She goes on to say, “Maybe we’re all that way. The day-to-day disappears pretty quickly, the things that hurt us last a long time.” That makes sense to me, although I hope the things that help us and heal us make a lasting impression, too.
The ending of the story isn’t all tied up neatly with a bow. It’s a little bit of an open ending, and it’s left to the reader to imagine what may come next for Marva. I’m curious to see what unfolds next in Jackson’s Pond! I’m also curious to read the first three books in the series to see whether we learn more about Marva’s family or whether the focus is on other residents of the town.
I highly recommend Marva Cope for anyone who loves a good story about a wanderer finding her way home.
March 16, 2023
Oh, how I love literary fiction. Stories that break from the confines of genre fiction and bring me characters in unique situations with lots of layers of plot are quickly becoming favorites of mine, and Marva Cope is a wonderful book. At the core, it's a story about friendships and trust and how hard it is for someone who has been so sorely disappointed by the people who meant the most to her - her brother, her parents, and the man she loved - to embrace new friends and trust that they will not let her down.
We first meet the young Marva not long after the death of her brother, a moment in time that tore the family apart and left Marva emotionally adrift. Her Aunt Violet seems to be the only one in the family who understands Marva and counsels the teenage girl to go on to college in Lubbock and find a new life.
So that's what Marva does, but she's like a wounded bird, really afraid to take off and try to fly. That is until she meets Cutter, a rodeo cowboy who steals her heart and convinces her to go off on an adventure. And what an adventure it is for almost two years, until the day Cutter leaves just weeks after their baby is born and doesn't come back.
They were hired as managers of a ranch and hunting lodge in New Mexico, and with Cutter gone, Marva realizes she can't continue that work by herself with a baby to take care of. So she makes her way back to Lubbock and begins life as a single mother.
The reader is not privy to those years between New Mexico and Marva's move to Jackson Pond, Texas after her daughter has grown and set off on a life of her own, and it isn't necessary that they be detailed. One can only imagine how difficult it was to raise a child alone, and what the reader really needs to know is whether this wounded bird will ever recover.
Jumping ahead to 2017, Marva is the Postmistress in the little town of Jackson Pond, Texas; living with her Aunt Violet and trying to decide who she is now that she's in her late fifties and what the rest of her life will entail. Slowly, Marva sorts this all out when she makes the decision to open herself to new friendships, and reconnect with those of her past.
At one point in her contemplation about where she is going in her remaining years, literally and figuratively, Marva recalls what she once told her daughter about how she preferred to work jigsaw puzzles; first putting the borders together and then figuring out where everything else belonged in the center. Marva realizes that is what's happening as "she and Stacy were fitting together the borders of their lives, the more difficult parts would come later with more of the pieces fitting together."
It's hard to say much more without giving away plot points, but this is a book to be read slowly and carefully thought about for a long time after it's finished. Even the most flawed characters have their endearing moments, and the narrative is rich in vivid descriptions. I highly recommend the read.
We first meet the young Marva not long after the death of her brother, a moment in time that tore the family apart and left Marva emotionally adrift. Her Aunt Violet seems to be the only one in the family who understands Marva and counsels the teenage girl to go on to college in Lubbock and find a new life.
So that's what Marva does, but she's like a wounded bird, really afraid to take off and try to fly. That is until she meets Cutter, a rodeo cowboy who steals her heart and convinces her to go off on an adventure. And what an adventure it is for almost two years, until the day Cutter leaves just weeks after their baby is born and doesn't come back.
They were hired as managers of a ranch and hunting lodge in New Mexico, and with Cutter gone, Marva realizes she can't continue that work by herself with a baby to take care of. So she makes her way back to Lubbock and begins life as a single mother.
The reader is not privy to those years between New Mexico and Marva's move to Jackson Pond, Texas after her daughter has grown and set off on a life of her own, and it isn't necessary that they be detailed. One can only imagine how difficult it was to raise a child alone, and what the reader really needs to know is whether this wounded bird will ever recover.
Jumping ahead to 2017, Marva is the Postmistress in the little town of Jackson Pond, Texas; living with her Aunt Violet and trying to decide who she is now that she's in her late fifties and what the rest of her life will entail. Slowly, Marva sorts this all out when she makes the decision to open herself to new friendships, and reconnect with those of her past.
At one point in her contemplation about where she is going in her remaining years, literally and figuratively, Marva recalls what she once told her daughter about how she preferred to work jigsaw puzzles; first putting the borders together and then figuring out where everything else belonged in the center. Marva realizes that is what's happening as "she and Stacy were fitting together the borders of their lives, the more difficult parts would come later with more of the pieces fitting together."
It's hard to say much more without giving away plot points, but this is a book to be read slowly and carefully thought about for a long time after it's finished. Even the most flawed characters have their endearing moments, and the narrative is rich in vivid descriptions. I highly recommend the read.
April 24, 2023
This is a coming-of-age novel where middle-aged Marva Cope discovers the meaning of forgiveness, friendship, love, the importance of resilience, and being able to develop an acceptance of where she is in life. Author Teddy Jones's superb story-writing skills shine as she invites readers along on Marva's journey of self-discovery. It's a story of transformation, learning how to trust others, and being able to accept help when offered. It's a storyline written with such realism that it will tug at your heartstrings, drawing you into Marva's life spanning several decades. Characters are well-developed and realistically portrayed. Marva Cope is the 4th novel in the Jackson Pond series and can also be read as a stand-alone novel.
The structure arc of the story is a little unusual but Jones makes the transition seamlessly. The story unfolds in 2017 as Marva reconnects with her Aunt Violet in Jackson Pond, a small town in the Texas Panhandle. She is taking on the job of postmistress and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. She and her Aunt Violet discover they are kindred spirits as both are independent and live an unconventional life not playing by everyone else's rules. Together they share many sweet moments as they adjust to living together. Then the story backtracks to the 70s and 80s giving the reader the backstory of Marva's difficult teenage years. How losing her brother to a tragic farm accident, her father's unexpected death, an undemonstrative mother, a New Mexico adventure leaving home with rodeo cowboy Cutter to work on a ranch, and an unexpected pregnancy all impact Marva's growing up years into adulthood. When the story shifts back to 2017 and 2018 Marva is learning to appreciate the value of true friends, coming to terms with her difficult past, and is eager to reconnect with her estranged adult daughter and her high school/college dorm friend Stacy.
Jones's no-nonsense style of writing shows compassion and wisdom with moments of gentle humor. Visual imagery with realistic depictions of the Texas and New Mexico rural small towns and farming/ranching communities immerses the reader in the story as well as attention to landscape details and way of life. Developing relationships keep the reader engaged throughout the story. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Marva's endearing relationship with her dog Bullet. He's a companion like no other. The ending is open-ended as the author does not give all the answers. It is up to the readers to contemplate where Marva's life might go next. I have some thoughts and hope there's a sequel.
The structure arc of the story is a little unusual but Jones makes the transition seamlessly. The story unfolds in 2017 as Marva reconnects with her Aunt Violet in Jackson Pond, a small town in the Texas Panhandle. She is taking on the job of postmistress and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. She and her Aunt Violet discover they are kindred spirits as both are independent and live an unconventional life not playing by everyone else's rules. Together they share many sweet moments as they adjust to living together. Then the story backtracks to the 70s and 80s giving the reader the backstory of Marva's difficult teenage years. How losing her brother to a tragic farm accident, her father's unexpected death, an undemonstrative mother, a New Mexico adventure leaving home with rodeo cowboy Cutter to work on a ranch, and an unexpected pregnancy all impact Marva's growing up years into adulthood. When the story shifts back to 2017 and 2018 Marva is learning to appreciate the value of true friends, coming to terms with her difficult past, and is eager to reconnect with her estranged adult daughter and her high school/college dorm friend Stacy.
Jones's no-nonsense style of writing shows compassion and wisdom with moments of gentle humor. Visual imagery with realistic depictions of the Texas and New Mexico rural small towns and farming/ranching communities immerses the reader in the story as well as attention to landscape details and way of life. Developing relationships keep the reader engaged throughout the story. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Marva's endearing relationship with her dog Bullet. He's a companion like no other. The ending is open-ended as the author does not give all the answers. It is up to the readers to contemplate where Marva's life might go next. I have some thoughts and hope there's a sequel.
March 12, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from Lone Star Literary.
Marva Cope is the fourth novel in the Jackson's Pond, Texas series. This book follows the remarkable life of Marva Cope, a newly employed Postmaster. Marva just moved in with her Aunt Violet after taking on her new role. Her Aunt Violet is an excellent SCRABBLE player and a breath of fresh air. During her time with her aunt, Marva truly learns the meaning of friendship and building lasting connections. She can recall the memories of her past and share a piece of herself with her aunt. Her aunt acts as a place of comfort and solace during a time in her life when she is finally able to give herself the space to heal. In this compelling novel, we get a chance to get to know the important people in Marva’s life. However, will she finally be able to cope with the secrets of her past?
What an amazing book to read. The author did a wonderful job with the storyline and the character development. I loved the caring, yet witty, no-nonsense Aunt Violet. I think she was an important part of the story and made the story feel warmer and more welcoming to read. I enjoyed the thoughtfulness put into Marva’s story and the mention of her friends. Marva had such a challenging past and it reminded me of my younger self when I chased after a boy and his dreams. I loved the relatability of the book and how there were many moments I could connect with the characters, especially Marva’s healing journey. The author provides many life lessons that are both relatable and practical. In the end, we learn that friendship has no timeline and that healing isn’t linear. Marva must learn to forgive herself for the choices she’s made in her past and learn to build trust with new friends.
This is the first book I have read in this series and the author did a great job with the beginning chapters. I felt great starting at book four in the series and was still able to understand the story. Overall, this was a wonderful read. I was a bit confused by the newspaper articles positioned at the end of each chapter, but I thought that may have been a connection I missed. I did enjoy the writing style and diary-style chapters with corresponding dates so I can keep up with the timeline of the story.
I recommend this book to any adult looking for a small-town fiction read.
Marva Cope is the fourth novel in the Jackson's Pond, Texas series. This book follows the remarkable life of Marva Cope, a newly employed Postmaster. Marva just moved in with her Aunt Violet after taking on her new role. Her Aunt Violet is an excellent SCRABBLE player and a breath of fresh air. During her time with her aunt, Marva truly learns the meaning of friendship and building lasting connections. She can recall the memories of her past and share a piece of herself with her aunt. Her aunt acts as a place of comfort and solace during a time in her life when she is finally able to give herself the space to heal. In this compelling novel, we get a chance to get to know the important people in Marva’s life. However, will she finally be able to cope with the secrets of her past?
What an amazing book to read. The author did a wonderful job with the storyline and the character development. I loved the caring, yet witty, no-nonsense Aunt Violet. I think she was an important part of the story and made the story feel warmer and more welcoming to read. I enjoyed the thoughtfulness put into Marva’s story and the mention of her friends. Marva had such a challenging past and it reminded me of my younger self when I chased after a boy and his dreams. I loved the relatability of the book and how there were many moments I could connect with the characters, especially Marva’s healing journey. The author provides many life lessons that are both relatable and practical. In the end, we learn that friendship has no timeline and that healing isn’t linear. Marva must learn to forgive herself for the choices she’s made in her past and learn to build trust with new friends.
This is the first book I have read in this series and the author did a great job with the beginning chapters. I felt great starting at book four in the series and was still able to understand the story. Overall, this was a wonderful read. I was a bit confused by the newspaper articles positioned at the end of each chapter, but I thought that may have been a connection I missed. I did enjoy the writing style and diary-style chapters with corresponding dates so I can keep up with the timeline of the story.
I recommend this book to any adult looking for a small-town fiction read.
March 16, 2023
“Remember this. Now is what you have, all you have.”
Marva Cope by Teddy Jones is the fourth book in the Jackson’s Pond, Texas, series, but it can easily stand alone or be read out of sequence. All the books in this series shine a sweet literary spotlight on the rugged Texas Panhandle landscape and the various people who have always or will eventually call Jackson’s Pond, Texas, home sweet home.
When tragedy strikes in 1975 in Dimmitt, Texas, Marva Cope’s young life shifts drastically, setting her on an epic journey of heartbreak and healing. While grievous events affected Marva’s life as a teenager, her subsequent choices and stunted social abilities formed a lifelong murky path of emotional defense and survival. Ultimately, fate leads Marva to Jackson’s Pond in 2017, right into the unconditional and restorative arms of her Aunt Violet. While the plot is simple yet poignant, the characterization drives this literary fiction. Marva, as the protagonist, takes center stage, of course, but other characters shine just as brightly (for me, at least), such as Aunt Violet; Chick Talley; Carol McQueen; and sweet, protective Bullet.
Teddy Jones delivers yet another literary Texas jewel with Marva Cope, drawing readers in on page one and inviting them to sit a spell with Aunt Violet and a glass of wine and listen to Marva Cope tell her story. As Marva slowly lays bare her past, something extraordinary happens in her present. By speaking her truth, Marva creates room in her heart for love, companionship, and a closer relationship with her daughter, finally unfurling her long-dormant smile.
Yes, Marva Cope is melancholy and bittersweet from start to finish, but it is also a brilliant portrayal of a life worth living, even one filled with hard choices, a closed heart, and regrets. It is never too late to break down those barriers and allow yourself to give and receive hope, love, and friendship.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Marva Cope by Teddy Jones is the fourth book in the Jackson’s Pond, Texas, series, but it can easily stand alone or be read out of sequence. All the books in this series shine a sweet literary spotlight on the rugged Texas Panhandle landscape and the various people who have always or will eventually call Jackson’s Pond, Texas, home sweet home.
When tragedy strikes in 1975 in Dimmitt, Texas, Marva Cope’s young life shifts drastically, setting her on an epic journey of heartbreak and healing. While grievous events affected Marva’s life as a teenager, her subsequent choices and stunted social abilities formed a lifelong murky path of emotional defense and survival. Ultimately, fate leads Marva to Jackson’s Pond in 2017, right into the unconditional and restorative arms of her Aunt Violet. While the plot is simple yet poignant, the characterization drives this literary fiction. Marva, as the protagonist, takes center stage, of course, but other characters shine just as brightly (for me, at least), such as Aunt Violet; Chick Talley; Carol McQueen; and sweet, protective Bullet.
Teddy Jones delivers yet another literary Texas jewel with Marva Cope, drawing readers in on page one and inviting them to sit a spell with Aunt Violet and a glass of wine and listen to Marva Cope tell her story. As Marva slowly lays bare her past, something extraordinary happens in her present. By speaking her truth, Marva creates room in her heart for love, companionship, and a closer relationship with her daughter, finally unfurling her long-dormant smile.
Yes, Marva Cope is melancholy and bittersweet from start to finish, but it is also a brilliant portrayal of a life worth living, even one filled with hard choices, a closed heart, and regrets. It is never too late to break down those barriers and allow yourself to give and receive hope, love, and friendship.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
March 16, 2023
Marva Cope by Teddy Jones is a story that hit close to my heart. Personally, my main family was not the best and thankfully, I had aunts that were there for me over the years, as well as a grandmother. But overall, it has been friendships that have helped me grow and sustained me. Set in the Texas Panhandle with part of the story being in New Mexico, Marva Cope is a story about a woman who discovers her strengths and weaknesses by living her life as best as she can. Plus, it is a story that truly shows how friendships transcend years and can rebuild instantly with one phone call.
Teddy is a fantabulous storyteller. That storytelling gift flies off the pages with Marva Cope. While the setting descriptions are placid in Marva Cope this time around, the story in this book deeply envelops you into the characters where the settings are thrown into the background.
Marva can be any one of us women – we try something new, make mistakes along the way, and learn from those missteps. The best part of Marva as a character is that she is highly relatable, yet so down to earth.
Seriously, the only flaw in this story was that Marva left behind Bullet who had saved her life. Then yet again she needed to save her own and her daughter’s. Plus, I wished for a few more details about one of the accidents regarding one of the character’s and his later life.
Teddy’s storytelling writing shines in Marva Cope. This story radiates as a reason why women need friends at all stages of their lives. If you are a seeker of fantabulous storytelling set around women, then Marva Cope should be on your TBR. Even though this book is part of the Jackson Pond series, this story can be a completely stand-alone book.
At the end of the book, what this story made me long for even more is having more wine and beer with friends and raiding fridges for unprepared meals. Friendships make us all stronger. Marva Cope shows us that…
Teddy is a fantabulous storyteller. That storytelling gift flies off the pages with Marva Cope. While the setting descriptions are placid in Marva Cope this time around, the story in this book deeply envelops you into the characters where the settings are thrown into the background.
Marva can be any one of us women – we try something new, make mistakes along the way, and learn from those missteps. The best part of Marva as a character is that she is highly relatable, yet so down to earth.
Seriously, the only flaw in this story was that Marva left behind Bullet who had saved her life. Then yet again she needed to save her own and her daughter’s. Plus, I wished for a few more details about one of the accidents regarding one of the character’s and his later life.
Teddy’s storytelling writing shines in Marva Cope. This story radiates as a reason why women need friends at all stages of their lives. If you are a seeker of fantabulous storytelling set around women, then Marva Cope should be on your TBR. Even though this book is part of the Jackson Pond series, this story can be a completely stand-alone book.
At the end of the book, what this story made me long for even more is having more wine and beer with friends and raiding fridges for unprepared meals. Friendships make us all stronger. Marva Cope shows us that…
March 15, 2023
Marva Cope is a dual time story, set in the 1970s -1980s and 2017.
When Marva Cope, single with a grown daughter, takes the job of post master in Jackson’s Pond, she moves in with her elderly Aunt Violet. Without prodding, wise Violet coaxes her niece’s life story from her, causing Marva to rethink her life.
As a teenager, Marva Cope’s life was altered by the tragic deaths of her brother and later her father and her mother’s inability to see past her own pain to the traumatic effects on her daughter. In high-school, Marva pours herself into her studies with the one aim of getting into college and away from her mom. Head down, Marva concentrates on her courses until befriended by a group of girls and she realizes she’s cut herself off from any type of relationship. When she meets an attractive young man her life changes course once again, leaving school for a tough life on a New Mexico ranch.
As Marva settles into her new home in Jackson’s Pond, she makes an effort to make friendships and reaches out to people in her past life to reestablish links. Then she meets Chick Talley, a man with his own share of heartache. Understanding and patient, he is willing to wait for Marva to find room for him in her life..
I really, really enjoyed this well-written book. From the first page, I fell in love with Marva and Aunt Violet. My heart ached for her troubled life and cheered as she fought to make a decent life for herself and her daughter. I felt like the author dropped me into Marva’s world with her poignant storytelling. It’s a quiet story of inner-strength, testing your limits, and learning to open your heart to others, no matter your age.
When Marva Cope, single with a grown daughter, takes the job of post master in Jackson’s Pond, she moves in with her elderly Aunt Violet. Without prodding, wise Violet coaxes her niece’s life story from her, causing Marva to rethink her life.
As a teenager, Marva Cope’s life was altered by the tragic deaths of her brother and later her father and her mother’s inability to see past her own pain to the traumatic effects on her daughter. In high-school, Marva pours herself into her studies with the one aim of getting into college and away from her mom. Head down, Marva concentrates on her courses until befriended by a group of girls and she realizes she’s cut herself off from any type of relationship. When she meets an attractive young man her life changes course once again, leaving school for a tough life on a New Mexico ranch.
As Marva settles into her new home in Jackson’s Pond, she makes an effort to make friendships and reaches out to people in her past life to reestablish links. Then she meets Chick Talley, a man with his own share of heartache. Understanding and patient, he is willing to wait for Marva to find room for him in her life..
I really, really enjoyed this well-written book. From the first page, I fell in love with Marva and Aunt Violet. My heart ached for her troubled life and cheered as she fought to make a decent life for herself and her daughter. I felt like the author dropped me into Marva’s world with her poignant storytelling. It’s a quiet story of inner-strength, testing your limits, and learning to open your heart to others, no matter your age.
March 2, 2023
In her trademark no-nonsense writing style, WILLA Literary Award Finalist Teddy Jones is back with a deeply reflective and rewarding new novel, Marva Cope. After two hard losses back-to- back during her youth growing up on a farm near a small town in Texas during the mid 1970s, Marva propels herself forward despite objections from friends and family who think they know what’s best for a young woman determined to make her own way in the world. The story whips seamlessly back and forth between the past in the seventies and eighties to the present time ––2017 and 2018.
At its heart, Marva Cope is a story about one woman’s evolution as she faces one challenge after another, from learning how to manage a working ranch on her own as a single mother, to dealing with abandonment from those she trusted the most, to reconnecting with people from her past and forging new friendships. I enjoyed all the references to small towns in south and west Texas and eastern and northeast New Mexico. Teddy Jones captured the spirit of the plains and the caprock, but this story could be set anywhere because it’s about the human struggle to create a good life despite the obstacles set before us. I’m counting on Marva to teach me how to be brave.
And if you’ve ever loved a dog, a dog as loyal as Bullet, you’ll want to read this novel just for the chance to meet him. I highly recommend it.
At its heart, Marva Cope is a story about one woman’s evolution as she faces one challenge after another, from learning how to manage a working ranch on her own as a single mother, to dealing with abandonment from those she trusted the most, to reconnecting with people from her past and forging new friendships. I enjoyed all the references to small towns in south and west Texas and eastern and northeast New Mexico. Teddy Jones captured the spirit of the plains and the caprock, but this story could be set anywhere because it’s about the human struggle to create a good life despite the obstacles set before us. I’m counting on Marva to teach me how to be brave.
And if you’ve ever loved a dog, a dog as loyal as Bullet, you’ll want to read this novel just for the chance to meet him. I highly recommend it.
March 4, 2023
4.5 Stars -Marva has had a rough life, some of which even she is not sure she remembers. She knows what’s it like to lose people, unfortunately, as it has happened multiple times in her life. Because of these losses, she has learned to function without becoming attached or relying on others. However, after a move to Jackson Pond and moving in with her spinster Aunt Violet, the blinders start to fall away and Marva blossoms. I’d almost say this is a coming of age story – it’s just that the character’s age is mid-fifties – but better late than never.
While this is the fourth book in the Jackson Pond series, each book concentrates on a specific character and at no time did I feel like I was missing part of the story by not having read the other books. However the author’s style and the characters in this book make me very likely to go and discover who else lives in Jackson Pond.
Marva, at her core, is a strong and intelligent woman, but everyone can use a good talking to once in a while, even if you do it to yourself during a walk.
This story does have a bit of skipping around in the timeline of Marva’s life, but the transitions are expertly handled, and I never lost track of where I was in the story. This is a book where I became attached to Marva and would love to live next door to her in Jackson Pond.
While this is the fourth book in the Jackson Pond series, each book concentrates on a specific character and at no time did I feel like I was missing part of the story by not having read the other books. However the author’s style and the characters in this book make me very likely to go and discover who else lives in Jackson Pond.
Marva, at her core, is a strong and intelligent woman, but everyone can use a good talking to once in a while, even if you do it to yourself during a walk.
This story does have a bit of skipping around in the timeline of Marva’s life, but the transitions are expertly handled, and I never lost track of where I was in the story. This is a book where I became attached to Marva and would love to live next door to her in Jackson Pond.
April 1, 2023
MARVA COPE is an extraordinarily compelling novel that captivates the human spirit in many dimensions. Teddy Jones’s brilliant writing style is direct and penetrating in a way that made me care deeply about characters and events about which I had little comprehension, but much in common. Marva Cope’s journey through the challenges and triumphs of life seemed so universally realistic that moved me to tears. This is simply one of the best books I’ve read (and I read extensively). I couldn’t put it down as I wondered what would happen next. I strongly recommend Teddy Jones’s Marva Cope to readers of all ages.
June 4, 2023
This is a thoughtful, beautifully written, and inspiring novel. The book tells a warm and relatable story from the author's infinitely wise point of view. She does a fantastic job of creating characters that feel like real people, the ones you want to know, and the themes of love, loss, and redemption are woven throughout the story in a way that feels authentic and heartfelt. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a touching and thought-provoking read.
June 30, 2024
Awesome story
I loved this story I adored both Marva and Violet. I would have liked knowing Cutters life after he left Marva, he was such a lo life to leave them like that but he apparently did have some relationship with his daughter.
I loved this story I adored both Marva and Violet. I would have liked knowing Cutters life after he left Marva, he was such a lo life to leave them like that but he apparently did have some relationship with his daughter.
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