Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles

This book is AMAZING! It made me cry, laugh, hope, and believe.  I read it in one sitting, and even after I closed the book, the main character, Lori Jean stayed with me.  Jackie Lee Miles is a gifted writer. 

From the first lines, I was captivated. 

"The morning I died it rained. Poured down so hard it washed the blood off my face."

Roseflower Creek is told from the perspective of Lori Jean. The only thing she remembers of her dad is the dust his truck raises as he's driving away.  She is raised by her grandma and her mom, and she's just devastated when her grandma passes away.  But when she does, her mom wastes no time is marrying Ray.  Grandma told Lori Jean that Ray was no good, but her mom doesn't listen.  Ray makes her happy, except when he's beating on her.

Lori Jean is poor, but she doesn't let it bother her much.  She and her best friend Carolee spend their time making mud cookies down at Roseflower creek and talking to their invisible friend.  Carolee's dad wants to help out Lori Jean's family when Ray loses his job at the mill, so he and other's from town give him odd jobs so he can put food on the table.  But when Ray keeps the money instead of putting new parts in a tractor he was supposed to fix, all goes downhill from there.  That tractor ran over and killed Carolee, and Lori Jean is just heartbroken.

Then, Ray decides to steal the payroll from the mill, but Lori Jean finds it, and she is bound and determined to return that money so she hides it away from Ray.  But when he finds out about it, it's a real tradegy for Lori Jean.  All she wanted was a real family, maybe one of those chevrolet cars like she saw on TV, and a birthday party.   But what transpires is heartbreaking.

Lori Jean hardly ever complains, she see's life in a simple way.  And it makes no sense to her when folks do what they shouldn't.  She's very forgiving and always wants to do what is right.  Roseflower Creek is haunting, memorable, inspirational, and uplifting.  God has a reason for everything, and Lori Jean does her darndest to figure out why some things that are bad happen.  Definitely a keeper for me!

Jackie Lee Miles is going to be here on Thursday, July 8th for an interview and a giveaway opportunity. Make sure to stop in and chat!