Roses for Mama (Women of the West #3) [Paperback]

Janette Oke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

She's cared for her siblings as best she could . . . but is it enough? Instead of the new life she and her family expected to forge out west, seventeen-year-old Angela is thrust into the role of caring for her three younger siblings after the death of their parents. With the help of her older brother, and trust in God, Angela is determined to raise the children as her mother would have wanted. As the youngsters grow, the questions and challenges intensify. Angela feels trapped and overwhelmed. Surely no man will ever want a woman who comes with three children in tow. Is this the plan God has for her life? Will she ever find a way to balance her own dreams with the promises she made to her mama?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JANETTE OKE is the beloved, bestselling author of more than sixty books. Her writing has earned her the Christy Award for excellence in Christian Fiction, a number of Gold Medallion Awards, and two honorary awards for her significant contribution to the Christian book industry. Janette and her husband, Edward, live in Calgary, Alberta. For more information visit janetteoke.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; Repack edition (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764202464
• ISBN-13: 978-0764202469
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #852,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A heartwarming story of love and family., October 28, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roses for Mama (Women of the West #3) (Janette Oke Classics for Girls) (Hardcover)

Angela Peterson was just fourteen years old and her older brother Thomas sixteen when their parents died, leaving the two teenagers to care for their three younger siblings and keep the family farm running. Now three years have passed. Angela and Thomas have been able to provide the children's material needs, but Angela is still worried. She feels that she will not be able to raise them to be good people as well as her mother would have. And now that she is seventeen, she is thinking about her future, but how can she have a life of her own when she must care for her siblings? Angela becomes even more confused when her new neighbor, Carter Stratton, a wealthy young man from the city, begins to court her. She isn't sure if she loves Carter, and longs for her mother's guidance.

I enjoyed this sweet, heartwarming family story, set on the prairies in what appears to be the late 1800s. Angela was a bit perfect at times, but she was still a likable character, and her love for her siblings and her determination to raise them the way her mother would have was very sweet. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who enjoy stories of love and family set against a historical background. I look forward to trying more books from this author.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly Perfect, April 4, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Roses for Mama (Women of the West (Paperback Bethany House)) (Paperback)

The touching story "Roses for Mama," could not have been written better. Jannete Oke used her warm, comforting style of writing to make her readers laugh with the characters and cry with the characters. Oke described the character's feelings and surrounding so well, it seemed as if you were actually in the story!! None of the story was missing...except the sequel! I can't wait for that to come out (hopefully, she will write one). I mean, she described beautifully every point in the story. In some of her other books, it seems as though she didn't exactly know how to give the details of what she was talking about. Therefore; she would just tell us what happened, not necessarily show us what happened. However, that was most definitely not the case with this book. In other words, I didn't find myself wanting to know more about certain scenes, she described them all. Furthermore, on top of having beautiful, let me emphasize beautiful, writing techniques, the plot was well thought out, charming, and very enjoyable.

This story is about a 17-year-old girl Angela and her struggle to survive. When Angela was 14, her mother and father both died, much to the sadness of her and her siblings. She and Thomas, her 19-year-old brother, were left to fend for themselves, while trying to care for their younger siblings. Although Angela is only 17, it seems as though all of the fun from life has been sucked away. For, she solely, well...with the little bit of help her siblings, has to take over the duties has to take over the duties a grown woman would do,such as washing, ironing, cleaning, and meal preparing, but at age 17. The struggle, however, is not keeping her sibling's bodies healthy, Angela feels she is quite prepared for that job because of the long talks she had with her mother before she died. The struggle is finding the wisdom, courage, and knowledge, to go about giving the children what their souls need. She, to the best of her ability and knowledge, tries teaching the children the truths and lessons she felt her mother would have been teaching the children if she were still living. Even as she struggles with raising her family, she trusts God, believing truly that He will provide for and take care of her little family.

As the days go by, Angela meets and falls in love with the young, attractive, and VERY wealthy Carter Stratton, much to the disappointment of Thane, who has had his Angela for some time now. How Angela wishes her mother was still there to guide and help her thourgh the tough times of courtship. (Thane has been a friend of the family ever since Thomas and Angela were little, bringing the younger one's lemon drops, ribbons, and other little gifts.) Will she marry Carter or will Thane woo her away? Will she find the much needed and much wanted joy in her life? Will the Derek, Louise, and Sarah (her 3 younger siblings) grow up to be the man and women her parents had so wanted them to be? And lastly, where does the title, "Roses for Mama," come in? Read to find out.

p.s. this is my 3rd time reading it! and all three times, i read them in a matter of a few days!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tender, Moving Story, June 16, 2004

By 

K. Morgan (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roses for Mama (Women of the West (Paperback Bethany House)) (Paperback)

Roses for Mama is the story of five siblings left on their own after their parents die a short time apart. The older siblings Thomas and Angela take on the roles as parents to their younger brother and sisters. Thomas tends to the fields while Angela does the running of the house. Times aren't always easy though as Angela realizes Thomas might soon take a wife and she'll be left on her own to deal with the children. Angela finds herself in a bit of a situation herself when she attracts the attention of a neighbor.

This story was very touching and moving. The characters were so real that the reader can't help but feel sorry for them and want so badly for them to succeed. Angela tries so hard to teach her younger siblings the lessons their mom taught her before her death. Readers without a doubt can identify with this young girl who is forced into adulthood and has the challenge of being a mother to three growing children. This book is so well written, as are all Janette Oke books, that is is easy to understand the ups and downs of daily life for these characters. This book was so easy to read that I was able to read it in a day.

It is great to know there are authors who write books about everyday people doing everyday things. This would be a great book for anyone from grandmother to granddaughter. It has likable characters, values, and great settings. A great book to read and share.