{"product_id":"2940151392310","title":"Essie's Roses","description":"\u003cb\u003eReaders' Favorite Silver Medal Winner Best Southern Fiction. From award-winning, bestselling author Michelle Muriel, a sweeping, moving historical novel set before the Civil War about secrets, freedom, and the power of love.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Impressively well written from beginning to end, Essie's Roses is an inherently absorbing and skillfully presented read, establishing author Michelle Muriel as an exceptionally talented novelist.\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e-Midwest Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"...tremendously impressive debut novel ... A richly moving reading experience.\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e-Historical Novel Society\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Miss Muriel's novel is a thing of beauty. \u003cb\u003e5 Stars!\u003c\/b\u003e\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e-Readers' Favorite\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"...all I can say is - wow, what an amazing read. ...I fully expect to see Essie's Roses on the silver screen someday, but until then I will simply look forward to reading future works by this author. \u003cb\u003e5 Stars\u003c\/b\u003e (and then add some more)!\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e-Feathered Quill Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"...Ms. Muriel writes in four such distinct voices I felt like I was in the space with each one. ... exceptionally well written and it was very hard to put down. \u003cb\u003e5 Stars!\u003c\/b\u003e\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e-Patty Woodland, Broken Teepee\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrowing up in the Deep South during the years leading to the Civil War, two young girls find freedom on a hillside overlooking Westland, an Alabama plantation. Essie Mae, an intuitive, intelligent slave girl, and Evie Winthrop, the sheltered, imaginative dreamer and planter's daughter, strike up a secret friendship that thrives amidst the shadows of abuse. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTold from the viewpoint of four women: Katherine Winthrop, kind mistress and unexpected heiress to her father's small, cotton plantation; Delly, her sassy and beloved house slave; Essie Mae, her slave girl; and Evie Winthrop, Katherine's only child, Essie's Roses tells of forbidden relationships flourishing in secret behind Westland's protective trees and treasured roses. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter scandal befalls Westland, Evie and Essie, aged nineteen, travel to Richmond, Virginia, to escape their abusive pasts. There, they face the gross indecencies and divisions leading to the War Between the States. Though the horrors of slavery and discrimination prompt action, Evie and Essie's struggles lie within. The secrets they hold and the pain of the past lead them away from one another and back home again. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA story about a black slave who frees a white woman, Essie's Roses reveals the innocence of children's friendships, the diverse meanings of freedom, the significance of a dream, and the power of love. In their efforts to save each other, will the women of Westland find the true freedom they desire?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEssie's Roses is an inspiring story that focuses on the power of love and those childhood friendships that stay in our memory forever. But it also takes a look at history in a unique way, and will remind us all to treasure the precious gift of freedom and the power and hope that comes in doing a dream. I'm excited to share it with you. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe journey of writing for me is more than filling that blank computer screen. It's more than spending years of research coming up with a unique story you pray will engage and entertain a reader. It's about learning, sharing, illuminating history in a unique way and inspiring others.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, I truly hope you are entertained. After all, that is why we read fiction... to escape... to be transported somewhere else. And when that happens, even for a moment, it's magical. It's wonderful! But I also hope you're encouraged and inspired.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStories and history have a way of coming together to inspire us, perhaps make us look at things differently. Look at ourselves. I chose to explore the diverse meanings of freedom in my first novel because ironically,living in the freest country in the world, freedom can be so allusive for many.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy desire is that the message of Essie's Roses will inspire you to be everything you've ever dreamed to be. To revisit dreams. Dust them off. Pay attention to them. Do them.To step out of fear. Silence critical, harsh, maybe even abusive voices. Stand up tall and be free.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEssie's Roses has taught me not only about history, but about myself. I'm changed forever writing this book. Many writers say it's a long, hard journey writing a book: it's a long hard journey knowing yourself. Discovering and knowing your worth. What is it tied to? When things are tied down they can't fly. Writing a book is easy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo matter who is screaming, you are not. You are. \u003cb\u003eYou matter.\u003c\/b\u003e Your dreams are not over. And if anything in your life is holding you back, you can face it, knock it down,banish it, release it, and never look back. So my dear friend and reader, thank you.Thank you for saying yes to Essie's Roses.Enjoy!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpread the word...spread the message... Be free!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichelle Muriel","brand":"Little Cabin Books LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47073748254960,"sku":"2940151392310","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940151392310_p0.jpg?v=1764010002","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940151392310","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}