Roses & Daisies

by Anna Maria Junus

Have you ever wanted to get in your car, drive away, and leave everything behind? When a sudden tragedy changes the life of strong, dependable, Laurel Tanner, she does just that, traveling across the Trans-Canada Highway. She tells no one that she's leaving or where she's going. In fact, she's not entirely sure herself why she's doing it. Her bewildered husband Douglas, and her twin brother, Lin, set out on a journey to find her and hopefully bring her home. Told with both sorrow and humor through the eyes of seven different characters, this novel examines perceptions and relationships, and finds that often what we believe about ourselves, or another, may not be the the truth after all.

172 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2013

Reviews

[Ranee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took on very hard subjects of death of a child, depression, suicide, miscarriage, & temptation and how to help others and ourselves going through it all. While I do believe in life beyond the veil and that those there are closer than we know, I hope that people would recognize the angels among us too. Miracles really can happen - I know that from experience in very real situations partially mirrored in this book. The book was good at showing the different perspectives of those close to the sorrowing mom & herself.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amna Maria Junus is a toxic transphobe who spends her days spreading hatred to her followers on Twitter under the guise of "Letting Women Speak". Do not support books by such a close minded and hateful individual.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you deal with the death of a child--told from each person's perspective. I thought that was an interesting approach to tell the story.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a great book on learning to forgive. However, it was written kind of weird and it took me about three chapters into to figure out who was talking, and who they were talking about. I also did not like the main character - I know she was going through a hard time, but she was still very annoying about how she dealt with everything. Also, it was an LDS book, but I didn't even know it until I was several chapters into it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done. I felt like the multiple viewpoints in the story were basically all saying the same things; I would have liked to see more plot twists and varied points of view. But it felt good to read, and the characters all have a way about making you care about them. And I admit to getting weepy at the end. Deals sensitively with some tough subjects.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an LDS author. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just letting you know.

Now that I have finished this book I will say it has many of the reasons why I do not like to read LDS authors who write "doctrinal" novels. It wasn't as mushy as I expected but I really hope the next book the book group has lined up is not from an LDS author.

[Angie Braegger · Rating 4 out of 5]

maybe it's just because I am expecting, but I had tears rolling down my face as I read this book. I haven't had a lot of true grief, especially not the traumatic kind, but the author does a good job of using the points of view of many characters to create this story. I really liked it an thought it was well-written.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This writer definitely has potential. The story was good, just needed full editorial work. The typsetting was lacking as well. Boo to the publisher.

[E. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

mormon fiction story about forgiveness I really liked it

[Sarahjane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story about death of a child - LDS perspective - looked at how it affected multiple people. Not the best-written story, but it did get to me emotionally, too.