Another great book by Lisa Wingate! I really couldn't put this book down. My grandmother is getting to the end of her life and this book really struck home with me.
Kate moves with her husband and son to her grandmother's farm. Kate's family wants her to convince her grandmother to move into a nursing home. As Kate starts spending time with her grandmother she finds a journal that helps her see who her grandmother used to be. Determined to keep her grandmother at home, Kate and her husband decide to stay on the farm for an indeterminate time. Grandma Rose becomes more frail and Kate is assured that she made the right decision. Grandma Rose passes away in her home and with the people that she loved. ( )

So much can be said about this book. I wasn't always fond of Kate, but I feel she learned her lesson in the end. I particularly found the writings her grandma left for her to read very beautiful. The book as a whole has some mentions of God, but not as much as some Christian Fiction, so I didn't label it as such. I have read some more recent books of Lisa Wingate, but now I think I need to read more of her older books. ( )

Very touching story. It will stay with me for a long time. ( )

"Tending Roses" was a gentle, touching read filled with so much wisdom about families, priorities, motherhood and appreciating the little things in life. I adored Grandma Rose! She could be stubborn and opinionated, often hurting people with her words, but deep down she had a heart of gold. She reminded me of my own grandmother and her relationship with Kate was similar to the one my grandma and I shared.

I just wish there had been more stories in Grandma Rose's wildflower book, they were definitely my favourite parts of the novel. I wasn't a big fan of "Before We Were Yours", but I loved "Tending Roses". It was poignant and deeply moving, and it touched my heart. ( )

Tending Roses depicts the realistic falling away of families—becoming busy in our own lives, or holding on to past hurts, that puts a wedge between those we’d preferably cling to. And Christmastime is the premier occasion to join together, even if the circumstances aren’t ideal.

After Grandma Rose has a stroke, the splintered family comes together to come up with a game plan for her future. Clearly, this isn’t an easy decision.

This is such a beautiful story, showcasing the importance of family bonds and spiritual faith.

FROM BARNES & NOBEL: 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.... ( )