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Roost
Four urban refugees move west, haunted by echoes of a tangled conspiracy. Colorado’s Western Slope and the fertile beauty of the Grand Valley beckon with the promise of new beginnings.
As the women seek to find their place in this seeming paradise, partnership with gutsy local Anna Garcia opens their eyes to an unsettled region torn by natural resource and labor wars.
For the men, a mountain biking trip with Olympian Derek Draben transforms their plans into a much broader vision of glory.
Time passes … relationships grow … until a chance meeting in the desert reminds everyone that the past lives on ... and does not forget.
A story of struggle, intrigue and redemption, Roost is Jasmine Winterson’s second novel. It is a compelling journey through the landscapes of the human experience and the American West.
As the women seek to find their place in this seeming paradise, partnership with gutsy local Anna Garcia opens their eyes to an unsettled region torn by natural resource and labor wars.
For the men, a mountain biking trip with Olympian Derek Draben transforms their plans into a much broader vision of glory.
Time passes … relationships grow … until a chance meeting in the desert reminds everyone that the past lives on ... and does not forget.
A story of struggle, intrigue and redemption, Roost is Jasmine Winterson’s second novel. It is a compelling journey through the landscapes of the human experience and the American West.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2012
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine Winterson
4 books1 followerJasmine Winterson is the author of three novels. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Her Uncertain Ground series follows the lives of several characters as they struggle to make sense of criminal worlds, shifting alliances, and faceless bureaucracies, facing down long odds with courage, determination and passion.
Roost (2012) was reviewed by Publishers Weekly, which said that the novel "is swiftly paced and engaging thanks to the intriguing mystery at its core ... this is enjoyable fiction that offers a fascinating view into life in rural Colorado."
Power Play, the next installment of the series comes out this summer -- July 30,2014. Here's what to expect!
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We live our lives. We follow the rules. We die.
What if things could be different? Imagine a world without limits. A world with a brighter future for everyone. What price would you be willing to pay?
Power Play roams from Alaska’s North Slope to Brazil’s urban slums. Webs of murder, jealousy and revenge threaten to rip apart families and destroy entire communities. Secrets may offer the only path to salvation.
No one said change was easy.
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I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them. I would love to hear from readers – please email me at jasminewinterson@gmail.com.
Her Uncertain Ground series follows the lives of several characters as they struggle to make sense of criminal worlds, shifting alliances, and faceless bureaucracies, facing down long odds with courage, determination and passion.
Roost (2012) was reviewed by Publishers Weekly, which said that the novel "is swiftly paced and engaging thanks to the intriguing mystery at its core ... this is enjoyable fiction that offers a fascinating view into life in rural Colorado."
Power Play, the next installment of the series comes out this summer -- July 30,2014. Here's what to expect!
--------------
We live our lives. We follow the rules. We die.
What if things could be different? Imagine a world without limits. A world with a brighter future for everyone. What price would you be willing to pay?
Power Play roams from Alaska’s North Slope to Brazil’s urban slums. Webs of murder, jealousy and revenge threaten to rip apart families and destroy entire communities. Secrets may offer the only path to salvation.
No one said change was easy.
--------------
I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them. I would love to hear from readers – please email me at jasminewinterson@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 7, 2012
I've never been to Colorado-sadly I've never even been west of Kentucky. But because of the author's descriptions I felt like I was there experiencing the natural beauty of Grand Valley. She had interesting, well fleshed out characters and a plot that wasn't as simple as it seemed. You think the four friends moved for different scenery and a new line of work. But they are also running from their pasts. I found the touch of mystery to be a nice twist. I thought it was well written and plan to check out the other book in the series.
January 18, 2013
Kindle via Author for honest review
When four "out of towners" come to start up a business in a very small town they expected great things to happen and growth to come quick for the business. It doesn't quite go that way though because no one in a small town wishes to associate with or trust an "outsider". Realizing this they approach Anna, a local, for help with the company and the locals. Anna is one of kind here also, but is more connected than the new foursome trying to get in good with the locals. She is a single Mom with a heck of a past and decides to accept the job. All four of the outsiders along with Anna have quite the past. All have one thing in common...a wish to start new and over, wipe the slate clean, so to speak. As the story develops there is much more to the past than any of them think and it is hard to just leave the past completely behind without thinking of it again. Along with the four business owners there is another man wishing to start anew in the small town, an Olympic biker. He wants to start a bike shop and get out of biking for the Olympics. He too is in search of a new start and wants to leave the past behind. Can you really leave the past behind though? Will the past be okay with being cast aside or will it make sure you never forget...no matter what?
I must say that I rather liked the characters of this book and the concept of the plot of this book. However, personally I found it to drag out and on a bit. The greatness was there, but some of it was lost in the slow pace I felt. I did like discovering the characters through their actions and past though. I found it a good story of struggles we all can relate to in life and the persistence we all need to push on and make our lives what we want them to be. I also liked the point that no matter how much people want to forget their past, it just isn't possible to do that, not completely anyway. The past is the past, but it makes us all who we are and what we become in life. To forget it completely would be like forgetting part of ourselves. This book was a nice read to make the reader remember all this as they watched the characters go through their daily struggles and the triumphs also. It really was a good novel, just wasn't quite as fast paced as I, personally, prefer. I loved the concept and the story though! Also, the characters were fantastic!
3/5 Stars!
When four "out of towners" come to start up a business in a very small town they expected great things to happen and growth to come quick for the business. It doesn't quite go that way though because no one in a small town wishes to associate with or trust an "outsider". Realizing this they approach Anna, a local, for help with the company and the locals. Anna is one of kind here also, but is more connected than the new foursome trying to get in good with the locals. She is a single Mom with a heck of a past and decides to accept the job. All four of the outsiders along with Anna have quite the past. All have one thing in common...a wish to start new and over, wipe the slate clean, so to speak. As the story develops there is much more to the past than any of them think and it is hard to just leave the past completely behind without thinking of it again. Along with the four business owners there is another man wishing to start anew in the small town, an Olympic biker. He wants to start a bike shop and get out of biking for the Olympics. He too is in search of a new start and wants to leave the past behind. Can you really leave the past behind though? Will the past be okay with being cast aside or will it make sure you never forget...no matter what?
I must say that I rather liked the characters of this book and the concept of the plot of this book. However, personally I found it to drag out and on a bit. The greatness was there, but some of it was lost in the slow pace I felt. I did like discovering the characters through their actions and past though. I found it a good story of struggles we all can relate to in life and the persistence we all need to push on and make our lives what we want them to be. I also liked the point that no matter how much people want to forget their past, it just isn't possible to do that, not completely anyway. The past is the past, but it makes us all who we are and what we become in life. To forget it completely would be like forgetting part of ourselves. This book was a nice read to make the reader remember all this as they watched the characters go through their daily struggles and the triumphs also. It really was a good novel, just wasn't quite as fast paced as I, personally, prefer. I loved the concept and the story though! Also, the characters were fantastic!
3/5 Stars!
January 29, 2013
Roost by Jasmine Winterson is a book about running from your past and not being able to get away. Four people move out to Colorado to escape. They meet Anna, who wants to face up to her past, and Derek who wants to find a new future. In the midst of it all is intrigue and crime and danger, as well as mountain biking.
At first it seemed like the most boring topic, but I simply couldn’t stop reading. The idea of Colorado, this group of people with such different backgrounds coming together, and new ventures in a new place all intrigued me. Jasmine is just that good at dragging my attention in. The plot was really all over the place to begin with. There would be a hook that I thought would be fleshed out but then those got skipped over. By the time I finally figured out what the point was, I was already so in love with the characters that it just enhanced the story.
The characters had such depth and clarity, as well as diversity. Ordinary people with extraordinary circumstances. It all would have been even stronger with more solid hints and promises in the beginning that pointed toward the conclusion. But when we finally reached the conclusion, what an ending! Originally it felt like literary fiction and then it switched gears and became an action thriller, with I think one of my favorite endings ever. It was open ended in a way that lets your imagination play but also closes the story.
I received this book from the author for review.
At first it seemed like the most boring topic, but I simply couldn’t stop reading. The idea of Colorado, this group of people with such different backgrounds coming together, and new ventures in a new place all intrigued me. Jasmine is just that good at dragging my attention in. The plot was really all over the place to begin with. There would be a hook that I thought would be fleshed out but then those got skipped over. By the time I finally figured out what the point was, I was already so in love with the characters that it just enhanced the story.
The characters had such depth and clarity, as well as diversity. Ordinary people with extraordinary circumstances. It all would have been even stronger with more solid hints and promises in the beginning that pointed toward the conclusion. But when we finally reached the conclusion, what an ending! Originally it felt like literary fiction and then it switched gears and became an action thriller, with I think one of my favorite endings ever. It was open ended in a way that lets your imagination play but also closes the story.
I received this book from the author for review.
November 4, 2012
I received this book for review a month ago and I finally got the time to read it.
The storyline revolves around a group of friends that want new beginning and the concept of mountain biking.
I enjoyed this book, it was interesting and was an easy read. I really liked how the narrater shifts between friends and that they all had different but similar story lines which are all connected.
The love the cover. It really shows what the book is about, which is a plus point.
Roost was a good book; an easy, fun and slightly exciting read. It is a book that made my heart race towards the ending. The only thing that I found lacking is the details on the antagonists. I didin't know much about them and I would really be interested to know their backstory.
Other than that, Roost is a great book that I enjoyed and that I recommend to those who enjoy reading around races, romance and a bit of mystery.
The storyline revolves around a group of friends that want new beginning and the concept of mountain biking.
I enjoyed this book, it was interesting and was an easy read. I really liked how the narrater shifts between friends and that they all had different but similar story lines which are all connected.
The love the cover. It really shows what the book is about, which is a plus point.
Roost was a good book; an easy, fun and slightly exciting read. It is a book that made my heart race towards the ending. The only thing that I found lacking is the details on the antagonists. I didin't know much about them and I would really be interested to know their backstory.
Other than that, Roost is a great book that I enjoyed and that I recommend to those who enjoy reading around races, romance and a bit of mystery.
February 6, 2013
I am struggling with putting my thoughts into words here. I enjoyed the premise of this book. There were some really intriguing supporting characters, like Christa, that I wish would have gotten a little more attention. The main characters fell a bit flat for me though, as well as the whole story. I think the author would have done well to split this into 2 or 3 separate stories.
When I read a book, I enjoy guessing what will happen next. I felt Jasmine took this to an extreme though. Foreshadowing is a great tool authors can use, but I didn't get any of that from Roost. It felt almost like the author tried too hard to keep the reader in the dark, and by doing so missed a great opportunity. I did however enjoy the book, and was on toes waiting to see what was going to happen.
*This book does contain some adult content, including sex and violence; but for the most part was very clean*
When I read a book, I enjoy guessing what will happen next. I felt Jasmine took this to an extreme though. Foreshadowing is a great tool authors can use, but I didn't get any of that from Roost. It felt almost like the author tried too hard to keep the reader in the dark, and by doing so missed a great opportunity. I did however enjoy the book, and was on toes waiting to see what was going to happen.
*This book does contain some adult content, including sex and violence; but for the most part was very clean*
November 30, 2012
The past is never far behind as a group of friends who escaped to the west to forge a new path meet up again. Ms. Winterson’s novel, ‘Roost’, is fast paced as it focuses on life’s struggles and triumphs for four people and the place they now call home. ‘Roost’ is enjoyable and engaging novel which appealed to me, since I am a fan of mysteries. My knowledge of mountain biking (and of biking in general) is sparse, so I felt I learned some interesting aspects about biking and racing. I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters and I liked the setting also, as I’ve never been to Colorado (but now want to go!). Ms. Winterson was able to easily show how the past affected each person in the group of friends even into their present actions/behaviors. Definitely a strong second novel by Ms. Winterson!
Uncertain Ground Books: Climbing to Freedom, Roost
Uncertain Ground Books: Climbing to Freedom, Roost
January 9, 2014
Parts of it were interesting, but I had a really hard time getting into the story and keeping the characters straight. I never did finish the book.
I was sent a free copy to review.
I was sent a free copy to review.
February 6, 2014
There is a lot of action in the book, but it was hard to relate to the characters at times. *I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.* Full review to come.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews