Gardenia Duty

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Pub Date 06 Jun 2019 | Archive Date 06 Apr 2020

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Description

In 1957 jobs are scarce in rural Ashland, Alabama. Bobby Higgins is facing life decisions; his family’s farm struggles and threat of the draft hangs over 18-year-old males as the Cold War rumbles in the distance. Bobby heads off to boot camp, vowing to provide for his family from his pay. Between shore and sea duty, Bobby leaves broken hearts in every port. When his own heart is stolen by Rose, he’s shocked to learn that she comes with four daughters, a package deal he’s unsure he wants. But when Rose disappears, Bobby finds her and persuades her to marry him. Somehow they navigate their way through the trials of marriage and parenting as he fulfills his patriotic career and his promise to raise four willful daughters. In the spring of 2004, his daughters are brought together by grief. They forge new bonds, sharing their joys, losses, regrets, and ultimately family secrets that will seal all their fates…if they can summon the courage to report for duty.

In 1957 jobs are scarce in rural Ashland, Alabama. Bobby Higgins is facing life decisions; his family’s farm struggles and threat of the draft hangs over 18-year-old males as the Cold War rumbles in...


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ISBN 9781642370485
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Featured Reviews

Gardenia Duty by Kathleen Varn is the story of a Navy family. Rose marries a Naval officer and they have four girls. She cannot deal with his total absorption in his job and the long months of being a single mom. They divorce. Later she meets Bobby, also a Navy man who has so far managed to stay single. But Rose and her four girls find a place in Bobby's heart. He marries Rose and loves her daughters as though they were his own. Then Bobby dies and the four girls come home for his funeral. What follows are memories of their childhood along with current lives. It is a sweet story of how a step-dad loves and molds his step-daughters, and the sacrifices all of them make living as a naval family.

There is drinking and some foul language (stereotypical of Navy men and women). If you can skip over those parts, there is a beautiful story of family -- the good, bad, and sometimes ugly -- who love each other. A story of four sisters who grow up thankful for a step-dad like Bobby. There is a surprise thread running through the book that will be revealed at the end.

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This is a lovely book full of joy and heartache. It's told from different times and points of view with seamless transitions. Bobby is introduced as he is preparing to join the navy. Rose and her four daughters join the story as a family unit. I quickly grew fond of these characters and I cared about them as I discovered what was in store for them. This is a satisfying story that portrays family life at its best while life carries them forward in good and sometimes awful circumstances.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Gatekeeper Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
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This books flips back and forth from the 1950 to present day. It is a love story about an entire family. A rural boy with little choices upon graduation joins the Navy and sends some of his pay back to support his family. He mets and falls in love with a widowed Navy wife with 4 little girls and the story begins.

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