"A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and who will stop at nothing to defend their future."

Acquired via PaperBackSwap. (Unabridged on 10 CDs; read by the author)

The Slocum women -- three generations of them -- have had their share of drama in their Mississippi upbringing. Ginny ("Big") had a baby at age 15. That baby, Liza, also had a baby at age 15. That baby, Mosey, is now nearly 15 and her family is determined that she will not fall victim to the same mistakes that they made in their young teenage years. When some small infant bones are accidentally uprooted in their backyard, the older Slocum women attempt to hide past secrets, while the youngest, Mosey, desperately tries to discover what those secrets may be.

I've been a fan of Joshilyn Jackson since her earlier novels, though it's been quite a few years since I've read one. She's truly gifted at writing about southern women and their dysfunctional families. The thing I like about her is that she can take that dysfunction and overall craziness and concoct a really good story, usually with a bit of mysteriousness and a good multi-layered plot. This book was no exception. She always narrates her own audio books, and though sometimes that strong southern twang can borderline get on my nerves, I don't think it could be read any other way and still be as effective. While some of her books are stronger than others, I thought this one was a pretty good one and I look forward to continuing to make my way through the rest of her novels.

Off to rebekkila, who chose it from the VBB!

Caught as part of the audio VBB.

This is going in the audio book box.

Making choices along the way,

you close doors you don't mean to
and sometimes find a window.

There was someone that really wanted to read this book! :)

So off it goes to make new friends! ;)


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