The Wedding Tree

November 15, 2015

Wells (Still the One) moves from contemporary romance to a multigenerational epic that begins in contemporary Louisiana and flows back and forth in time with a second story line set in World War II-era New Orleans. At 91, Adelaide McCauley is dying in the hospital, but her mother tells her she can't "cross over" until she reveals family secrets to her granddaughter. Hope, who lost everything when her short-lived marriage fell apart, offers to move to Wedding Tree, LA, to help her grandmother clean out her house. There, Hope discovers she isn't the only one with a broken heart. Adelaide reveals stories of a woman who longed for passion and adventure, only to yield to family pressure and contemporary standards. Her story is mixed with Hope's narration and that of Matt Lyons, the widower next door who is raising two young daughters. The narrators tell a moving story that becomes heart-wrenching when examining Adelaide's history. VERDICT Women's fiction fans will appreciate this character-driven story of two generations of women. The spirited protagonists will appeal to readers looking for women who overcome obstacles to find success and love.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

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