Gina Rae Mitchell

Roses in December (Hamilton Place Book 2) by Mark A. Gibson | #BookReview #FamilySaga #Fiction #Thriller #HistoricalFiction #Giveaway | @iReadBookTours @MGibsonAuthor23

A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour.

Quick Summary

Roses in December concludes the Hamilton Place series, an epic family saga extending from the Great Depression to today. Through war and peace, love and loss, triumph and tragedy, follow the Hamilton family on their journey from a run-down farm in South Carolina, through the jungles of Vietnam, to the top of the world in New York City, and through the gardens of stone at Arlington.

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Book Details

Roses in December by Mark A. Gibson
Series: Hamilton Place Book II
Published by Hamilton Press on April 2, 2024
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+, Family, Saga
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 358

Jimmy Hamilton overcame childhood tragedy to become a hero in Vietnam, only to die there in 1967. All but forgotten, Jimmy leaves behind a young wife, an infant son, and a man wracked by guilt.

Circumstances allow Becca, his young widow, to be manipulated into an abusive, loveless union with Jimmy’s brother and into raising her son ignorant of his father’s true identity—a wrong she knows must be set right…but how? When?

Like Jimmy before him, James, Jr. is an intellectually gifted, albeit troubled man. Hamstrung by the false narrative of his life and then tormented by an unspeakable loss, his days are spent treading the knife’s edge between present day reality and a past he’s incapable of forgetting.

With his final act of bravery, Jimmy unknowingly saved the scion of a powerful Washington family. In so doing, he set in place circumstances that just might draw his son back from the abyss…but only if he can somehow make it home from Vietnam.

Roses in December concludes the Hamilton Place series, an epic family saga extending from the Great Depression to present day. Through war and peace, love and loss, triumph and tragedy, follow the Hamilton family on their journey from a run-down farm in South Carolina, through the jungles of Vietnam, to the top of the world in New York City, and through the gardens of stone at Arlington.

Source: iRead Book Tours

Content Rating: A soft R for the following: Language, although appropriate for the situation, does have a smattering (perhaps 5 uses over 350 pages) of the F-word. Sexual situations are more so implied than graphic, although there is one soft description of fellatio. There is no use of derogatory descriptions for persons, sexes, or races. No graphic violence is described.

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Purchase Links for Roses in December

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My Thoughts on Roses in December

“Roses in December” by Mark A. Gibson, Hamilton Place, Book 2, is a poignant narrative that delves into the complexities of family, love, and loss.

Set against the backdrop of Vietnam and spanning generations, the story revolves around Jimmy Hamilton, a hero whose untimely death leaves behind a shattered family. Becca, his young widow, finds herself ensnared in an abusive marriage to Jimmy’s brother, perpetuating a cycle of pain and deception. Determined to right the wrongs of the past, Becca grapples with the challenge of revealing Jimmy’s true legacy to their son, James Jr., who is haunted by the ghosts of his father’s memory.

Gibson skillfully weaves together themes of resilience, redemption, and the enduring bonds of family throughout the narrative. Through alternating perspectives, readers are drawn into each character’s inner turmoil as they confront their past traumas and strive for a brighter future.

“Roses in December” is a captivating conclusion to the Hamilton Place series, offering a panoramic view of the family’s journey from the depths of despair to the heights of hope. From the rural landscapes of South Carolina to the bustling streets of New York City, the novel paints a vivid portrait of American life across decades.

While the book can be enjoyed as a standalone read, I recommend experiencing the duology in chronological order to fully appreciate the depth of the characters and their interconnected stories. Fans of family sagas and historical fiction will find much to love in this emotionally resonant tale.

“Roses in December” is a compelling testament to the enduring power of love and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

You might also be interested in my review of A Song that Never Ends, Hamilton Place, Book 1.

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I love to read books through my  Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

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Guest Post from the Author of Roses in December

Why Select an Epic Family Saga for Your Next Reading Adventure?

by Mark A. Gibson

Please allow me to present you, dear reader, with the following list:

Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude

Irwin Allen’s Rich Man, Poor Man and Beggar Man, Thief

John Steinbeck’s East of Eden

John Jakes’s The North and the South

The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett

What do these titles have in common?

First, they are all phenomenal reads crafted by authors at the top of their storytelling games. They feature strong lists of characters, fabulous locations, and epic story lines that cross genres.

Second, each of these books are fictional family sagas, meaning they focus on one or more generations of a family (or a few interconnected families), and closely follows their fates, fortunes, and passions over years or even decades.

Finally, and most unfortunately in my opinion, with the exception of Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy titles (Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, and Edge of Eternity), all were published well before 1990. Although the genre ruled the best-seller lists from the late 60s until the early 80s, those days seem to have passed us by. More shelf space today is dedicated to romance novels, thrillers, horror, sci-fi, and books “written” by celebrities than to the venerable family saga. Even anime garners more acreage at my local Barnes & Noble.

Why then have I created and positioned the Hamilton Place Series, featuring A Song that Never Ends and Roses in December, within this dying genre?

It’s simple, really.

As a kid, I used to sit on my grandfather’s knee listening to tales from The Great Depression and World War II. Sometimes he told me stories that his grandfather had told him about the Civil and Revolutionary Wars. I loved it! I’d sit there totally mesmerized until my mom or dad dragged me from his side.

Who here among us doesn’t have a dotty old aunt, a great-uncle of dubious integrity, a grandparent, or elderly family friend who likes to regale listeners with tales, both real and imagined, of derring-do or life “back when?” Thus, family sagas are relatable.

Rather than a blockbuster thriller filled with explosions, terror, and suspense, the family saga provides a slow burn, a build to a climax that will leave the reader still engrossed in the characters’ lives long after the final page has been turned. Instead of an exciting, supersonic flight to Paris on the Concord, the family saga is a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic…and the cruise ship just might turn out to be the Titanic.

Fans of historical fiction, international intrigue/thrillers, and even romance novels can all find something to love within the pages of a family epic—they’ll just get there a little slower, enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

That, dear readers, is why I choose to write in the genre of epic family saga. Who knows? Maybe my little stories will someday help to trigger a resurgence in popularity.

 

Mark A. Gibson also wrote a wonderful guest post that I included in my review of Book 1, A Song that Never Ends. I hope you enjoy it.

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Easy Amazon Links

Please let me know if the above Amazon button does not route you to your country’s Amazon page. I will gladly send you a link. Every click and/or purchase helps to support my blogging efforts.

Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share. 

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Giveaway!

Win author-signed copies of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS and ROSES IN DECEMBER (Hamilton Place) (USA only) (ends Mar 1)

Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!

Official Tour Page for Roses in December

A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS (Hamilton Place) by Mark Gibson Book Tour Giveaway

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Book Title: Roses in December (Hamilton Place Book 2) by Mark A. Gibson
Category: Adult Fiction 18 yrs +, 358 pages
Genre: Family Saga Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Hamilton Press (Self)
Release date: April 2024
Tour dates: Feb 5 to Feb 23, 2024
Content Rating: A soft R for the following: Language, although appropriate for situation, does have a smattering (perhaps 5 uses over 350 pages) of the F-word. Sexual situations are more so implied than graphic, although there is one soft description of fellatio. There is no use of derogatory descriptions for persons, sexes or races. No graphic violence is described.

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