Review: Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton

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The only thing certain is change—even in a place as steady as Perry, Alabama, on a street as old as Glory Road.

Nearly a decade after her husband’s affair drove her back home to South Alabama, Jessie McBride has the stable life she wants—operating her garden shop, Twig, next door to her house on Glory Road, and keeping up with her teenage daughter and spunky mother. But the unexpected arrival of two men makes Jessie question whether she’s really happy with the status quo. When handsome, wealthy businessman Sumner Tate asks her to arrange flowers for his daughter’s lavish wedding, Jessie finds herself drawn to his continued attention. Then Ben Bradley, her lingering what-could-have-been from high school, moves back to the red dirt road, and she feels her heart pulled in directions she never expected.

Meanwhile, Jessie’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Evan, is approaching the start of high school and navigating a new world of emotions—particularly as they relate to the cute new guy who’s moved in just down the road. At the same time, Jessie’s mother, Gus, is suffering increasingly frequent memory lapses and faces a frightening, uncertain future. Once again, Jessie feels her protected and predictable life shifting.

In one summer, everything will change. But for these three strong Southern women, the roots they’ve planted on Glory Road will give life to the adventures waiting just around the curve.

Review

You couldn’t help but feel at home with Lauren Denton’s latest, Glory Road. This had a backwoods Southern charm that you feel part of the family, right at home. I love reading stories through characters from the generational perspective within a family.

Glory Road, is told through three exceptional gals who embrace strength, love and tradition. We are introduced to Gus, the matriarch. She’s got some fire to her personality that is so charming. She is witty, loving and makes you just want to pull up a chair and eat a slice of pie with her. She was lucky to have experience great love and when he died, she was like so many of her generation, they lived for their children.

Then we have her daughter Jessie. She could’ve crawled under a rock and just gave up but she didn’t. After experiencing infidelity on her husband’s part and going through a divorce, there is no place like home to pick you up and embrace you to mend again. She came back “home” to rebuild and start a new life with her daughter and in the process had her past revisit her to show her love and life can start again.

And finally we have her daughter, Evan. She is so adorable heading into that awkward phase of life where she is being challenged by new experiences and testing the waters of staying on the right path. Peer pressure has a way of drawing you in but she is definitely responsible despite of. She is very thoughtful and considerate of her mom’s perception of her and despite of view temptations explored, she has a gentle innocence to her that makes her so nice to read.

During this one summer, they all are put on a path that bring uncertainty but open life lessons that are memorable. The joy they experience, the up and downs, bring them closer together for a journey that will warm the reader and appreciate the time you have with your family. I really enjoyed the experience and journey with these gals and found this read to be consistent with how lovely Lauren creates memorable characters. I’d recommend adding this to your tbr.