Tending Roses

By: Lisa Wingate

Narrated by: Allyson Ryan

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Book of Lost Friends and Before We Were Yours comes a heartfelt novel about the bonds of family and the power of second chances.

When Kate Bowman temporarily moves to her grandmother’s Missouri farm with her husband and baby son, she learns that the lessons that most enrich our lives often come unexpectedly. The family has given Kate the job of convincing Grandma Rose, who’s become increasingly stubborn and forgetful, to move off her beloved land and into a nursing home. But Kate knows such a change would break her grandmother’s heart.

Just when Kate despairs of finding answers, she discovers her grandma’s journal. A beautiful handmade notebook, it is full of stories that celebrate the importance of family, friendship, and faith. Stories that make Kate see her life - and her grandmother - in a completely new way...

©2003 Lisa Wingate (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Richly emotional and spiritual, Tending Roses affected me from the first page. A story at once gentle and powerful about the very old and the very young, about the young woman who loves them all. In Kate, Lisa Wingate has created a wonderful character.” (New York Times best-selling author Luanne Rice)

“Wingate’s touching story of love and faith proves the old adage that we should take time to smell the roses and try to put our modern problems in perspective.” (Booklist)

“You can’t put it down without...taking a good look at your own life and how misplaced priorities might have led to missed opportunities. Tending Roses is an excellent read for any season, a celebration of the power of love.” (El Paso Times)

Family

I love this story so much thank you for sharing this! It has been healing for me to listen to this wonderful story of family.

Touching but a bit slow

The story is touching but it moves slowly with no big crescendo in the storyline. The narrator didn’t add anything to the story with her performance, sadly.

I end this book with the happiest of tears

Such beautiful writing and the lessons found within to make sure we cultivate what matters in life. To spend time with love ones and be present in the moments of life before they are gone. I highly recommend this book.

Family

Very touching .. typical family story —makes one reflect on what’s important in life. Lastly not to wait until the end of a family member’s life to come together. It was a bit too long in some places, otherwise enjoyable.

Reminders of life.

This book brought back so many memories of times with my mother,my mother-in-law, my aunt and my wonderful neighbor. It also reminded me of how much we try to hurry time so we can get to retirement and we forget to stop and enjoy each and every day that God has given us. I loved this book very much.

So lovely!

i absolutely loved this story about family, love, and what matters in life. The stories Grandma Rose told were so inspiring. Her quote: "life isnt about getting what you want, but wanting what you are given " is exactly what I needed to hear and has brought me peace.

Experiencing Calamity

The lives of family and friends after experiencing a natural disaster. I loved learning the personalities of each character as I pictured each in my mind, and quite a character some of them were! A good read, not too suspensful but a nice read.

Memories

This book made me think of my grandma so much ❤️. Love it! Wish I could discuss this with her and ask questions about the time she grew up.

wonderful

this is a tug at your heart book. how wonderful it is to bring us home.

Lovely story

It made you really think about family and generations before. Everyone has some dysfunction. but also so much love and need for one another.