Rose's Garden — Carrie Brown

Conrad and Rose met as children, fell in love as teenagers, and married young. Conrad earned a living as a gilder, raised homing pigeons, and worshipped Rose. Rose gardened. They lived together for more than fifty years, and then Rose died. At seventy-five, Conrad found himself alone, staring at the walls of his house and neglecting Rose's garden. Then an angel came to the garden, the last person he ever thought to see wearing wings. Startled, he felt compelled to spread the news throughout his town, and to his surprise, people he'd known all his life began to reveal their deepest selves to him. ROSE'S GARDEN tells an unforgettable story of a woman whose garden extended far beyond the boundaries of property and time, and the man who came into full blossom in its bower. "A sweet, gentle first novel."--Publishers Weekly; "This is a finely crafted, deeply touching love story."--Booklist; "A wise, surprisingly deft, fablelike first novel celebrating the rejuvenating effects of love. . . . A warm, remarkably surefooted debut."--Kirkus Reviews; "Beautiful, bittersweet, and always moving, it is highly recommended. ROSE'S GARDEN is a joy to visit."--Library Journal.