November 1, 2023
DEBUT Taking the biblical character Ruth and setting her at the helm of a 21st-century multinational company is the main premise of Lee's debut novel. Ruth Gardin loves her mother-in-law, but her nieces are causing drama with the family peanut business and may even block her move to become CEO. Mary and Martha love being part of the esteemed Gardin family, but they are also trying to leave their own mark on the world. That mark may come at the cost of their physical and mental health, though, as the stress of family dysfunction comes to a head at the annual company Christmas party. Set in Edin, GA, the company was founded by the Gardins decades earlier as a refuge for formerly enslaved people and budding Black entrepreneurs, and the weight of the past both inspires and hinders the characters. VERDICT Intergenerational women's relationships, self-care, and setting healthy boundaries are only a few of the themes explored through this quirky and complicated yet lovable family. Fans of contemporary Christian fiction authors Pat Simmons and Robin W. Pearson will cheer at this new voice in the genre.
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November 1, 2023
The Gardins are a well-respected family in Edin, Georgia, known for their successful peanut business, a legacy from their enslaved ancestors. But private troubles lie behind the posh facade. Ruth, who married into the family, struggles to maintain control of the company while grieving the death of her husband, Beau. Niece Martha is determined to see Ruth pushed out, while Martha's sister, Mary, wants the two to reconcile, and Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, is just trying to keep the family together. The annual Christmas party brings both a win and a loss, especially for Mary, who catered the event with her heart-healthy versions of soul food, but who suffers a health scare there. Then Nicholas Dorsey, a business consultant hired by Ruth to determine the future of the company, comes to town, unwittingly bearing a secret of his own. Though debut novelist Lee loosely based her characters on the women of the Bible, every fan of relationship fiction will enjoy this family drama about four strong Black women who butt heads, follow their dreams, and, eventually, come together.
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