Ruth-Miriam Garnett

Tired of the men in their lives, three long-suffering, African American sisters - Rebecca, Claudia, and Gracelyn Cates, set out to find a way for them to enjoy their senior years without having to worry about drunken Timothy, confused Jake, or terminally ill Bernard, coming up with a plan that will turn their lives, their church, and their town upside down.

I love the cover and appreciate the premise behind the lovely church hat adorned with a Laelia orchid whom I assumed was Rebecca Cate, that is refined, and the hometown church inset to the background to which is the centerpiece of the storyline. I chose to read the novel in June in honor of Mother’s Day.

Rebecca’s husband, Jake, is suffering from brain damage, Infidelity, sterile from syphilis. Rebecca raises prize winning orchids. Claudia’s intemperate husband, Timothy, stopped work on a modest pension, was awake for half days only, and when not drinking. Claudia is the glamorous sister. Gracelyn’s Bernard was bedridden with a sinister bone cancer and moaning constantly.
Gracelyn is the writer, artistic one.

The book became more interesting to me in chapter four, when Rebecca was compelled to solve a mystery. Some parts of the story appeared to be rambling and a heavy emphasis on what the Cate sisters were wearing and affluent lifestyle. It took me halfway through the book to realize the premise behind Rebecca’s goal. She would do everything in her power to ensure they remained the esteemed Cates women in the eyes of their small community. The family’s good name was now and forever her priority (page 142). Rebecca had a beautiful home, her orchid business, her sisters, and enough wealth and influence to pursue a variety of interests.

This novel is well written, and the author uses words that are poetic and descriptive throughout the story. There were points in the novel that made me laugh out loud. The story has an element of mystery, romance, community, and family life that moves through the pages. However, I was just a little underwhelmed with how the story moved and was anticipating more “umph”, but overall, it was a good well-read novel.… (más)