I admired this book for it gave me a much clearer perspective about Black History in the US. The story started with Rose being a young lady facing marriage problems until it unfolds into much bigger picture - she has to live with her grief and continue to thrive through hatred and racism.

One of my major takeaways from reading historical novels is that no matter how small a big or story is, it is still should be written and told. I might be living miles away from Georgia and the story of Rose happened decades ago but stories of war and racism is still very much relatable in the 21st century.

This book was a reminder that while so many things change, they also stay the same.

We meet Rose faced with a crisis and a series of unfortunate events that prompt to her unexpected return home to Parsons, Georgia. In an attempt to “find herself” and heal, she temporarily moves to Atlanta where she immerses herself in her sister Elena’s world.

Elena, a student at Spelman College is actively seeking change in the form of racial equality. She introduces Rose to her friends at the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and everything in their world changes.

Rose experiences racism and police brutality while questioning her place in this world and challenging everything she’s been taught about going along to get along.

This was a great historical fiction and a reminder that we need activism to ensure that liberty and justice are truly for all.

Homeward the story of Rose Perkins Bourdon a story that was full of injustice and heartbreaks, she was admirable and strong, strong after all that she went through, I like the story, I only felt like there was something left out at the end I didn't felt a conclusion in my mind. overall it was a great book, I enjoyed the writing of the author so much.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the advanced copy of Homeward in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book!!! I was immediately pulled in after our MC stated, “I was pregnant with a baby that didn’t belong to my husband, Jasper.” I was like so that’s how we about to pop this off? That alone had me anxious to see what direction the book was headed. With an opening chapter like that I knew I was in store for something good.

After finding out she was pregnant Rose ran home to her parents. Jasper was even willing to care for the child as his own after knowing the truth. Soon Rose realized no matter where you go your problems will always follow. Everything that happened after she returned to Georgia sent her through a downward spiral of unfortunate events. But in the end Rose found herself, made history, and gave love another chance.

It was set during the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement so there’s a lot of history involved that added depth to the novel. The pacing was rather up and down but I loved all the characters especially Rose’s mother so it made up for it. She comforted Rose during her healing process but as a mother she still let her know that what got her in this situation was her fault. “If you old enough to make grown-up decisions, you old enough to deal with the aftermath.”

Overall, the writing was excellent and really kept me engaged. If you’re a fan of historical fiction this is definitely worth adding to your TBR. Special thanks to the author & @harpermusebooks for my gifted copy!!!

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

ths feedback comes very late but thank you to netgalley and harper muse for the copy of this book.

homeward by angela jackson-brown is a beautifully written story of family, heartbreak, and self-discovery set in the backdrop of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. the story captured me from the beginning but i thought it became a bit of a letdown to me from the middle toward the end

I listened to the narration on audio by Joneice Abbott-Pratt who does an outstanding job. I thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.

“My husband and child haven’t even been dead a year. I can’t think about any relationship beyond Jasper. He is my husband and I plan to remain true to him.” She was only twenty two years old, that she was still in her good graces with her grandmother in heaven, but more importantly, in the good graces of God. For the first time in a long time, Rose’s soul began to release some of the turmoil and heartbreak she had been carrying.

I adored the warmth of the family. A close knit family that hugged, kissed foreheads, linked arms, gave squeezes, and had laughter in the house. Opal (Mama) taught all of her children, the boys and the girls, how to make Great-Grandma Birdie’s peach jam as well as other food items. Rose liked helping her Dad at the store and he loved her being there with him.

The antisemitism so prevalent in this current day and time, it’s magnified by the Jewish faith, culture, and beliefs that the author presents in the novel. The characters in the novel for reference are a reflection of our current time and situations. The reference to the inequality of the black soldiers who served in the Vietnam War was touched on by the author.

The characters and the storylines were reminiscent to ‘Soul Food’ the movie, but set in a different era, and more religiously infused. During the civil rights movement era, blacks needed the help of whites to get through the fight. The civil unrest is in this country, has resurfaced in recent years all around America, back in the civil rights movement it was most prevalent in the south, places like Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama.The novel has drama, romance, second chances, historical significance, and courage, Living in small rural town of a martyre (Jimmie Lee Jackson) who died during a push for black Americans to register to vote, brought me instant relatability to this story. This is a great southern fiction sprinkled with raw and truthful accounts of our history that needs telling and retelling so that history does not repeat itself.

#NetGalley #Homeward

The setting is Georgia, 1962. Rose Perkins Bourdon returns home without her husband and pregnant with another man's baby. Tragedy strikes her husband in the war. Forced to figure out the rest of her life, Rose finds herself increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She meets Isaac, whose activism stirs her growth in becoming the woman she always dreamed of being.

Homeward is an emotional story about troubled times of the past. It is a tale of healing but unfortunately, the main character was annoying. She whined about any and everything. Bad things happen to good people; that doesn't mean whine whenever things don't go great. For this reason, it made reading difficult. I just wanted to shake Rose through the pages!

On the flip side, Homeward has a romantic side that helped save the novel. There's just something about a Southern historical novel that tickles my fancy. So I recommend it to Bookhearts.

Homeward is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

"Homeward" weaves a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in Georgia. The story follows Rose Perkins Bourdon's journey of self-discovery as she confronts personal hardships, family dynamics, and the societal changes of the era.

I found "Homeward" immediately engaging. The novel introduces Rose, a widowed and pregnant protagonist, who returns to Parsons, GA, grappling with grief and societal shifts. Jackson-Brown artfully captures the complexities of fidelity, family, and faith, intertwining them with the broader canvas of the Civil Rights Movement.

The intimate portrayal of Rose's emotional journey resonated with me. While some may find Rose impulsive or self-absorbed, I appreciated the authenticity of her character and her growth throughout the narrative. The intersectionality of race, religion, and activism is skillfully explored, providing depth to the story and highlighting the diverse perspectives within the Civil Rights Movement.

Acknowledging the book's slower pace in the latter half, I found myself resonating with the importance of the themes presented. The criticism didn't overshadow the overall impact of the novel, which beautifully delves into heartbreak, self-discovery, and the historical significance of the Civil Rights era.

In conclusion, "Homeward" stands as a beautifully written exploration of a woman's journey in a transformative period of American history. Angela Jackson-Brown's narrative captivates with its emotional depth, historical richness, and nuanced characters. In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Both heartwarming and heartbreaking this story captured me from the beginning. It is perfectly paced and super enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the part that dealt with the Civil Rights movement.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was a loan from the publisher and I appreciate the opportunity to read this novel. Thank you for sharing this book with me. I enjoyed the characters, so full of love and joy. The story was told from a painful time in history, one that I can’t fathom, but know was real. The pain and shame suffered by folks trying to get. Recognition as equals is unnecessary. I pray that we are on a better path but know there are still issues in our country as well as in the world. Starts a person at a time….

Raised in a loving and supportive African American family with a strong belief system, Rose Perkins has always dreamed of being a nurse. But this is Georgia in the early 1960s, and that dream is derailed by Rose herself when she falls in love and decides instead to marry Jasper, who is from Mississippi.

Unfortunately, despite being a good man, Jasper has not been honest with Rose about his financial situation, choosing instead to lie to her about the lavish lifestyle that awaits her in Mississippi.

Moving there is a terrible shock for Rose. And it is followed shortly thereafter by Jasper signing up for the Air Force and heading off to Vietnam. In the interim, Rose has an affair with the lodger and gets pregnant. Although Jasper forgives her and they reconcile, he is killed shortly afterwards in the war.

Cut adrift by this tragedy, Rose gradually returns to some semblance of normality, partly as a result of getting involved in voter registration through her sister's activities as part of the civil rights movement.

She also gets involved with a young, black, Jewish activist named Isaac, and it is really only after the book has hit its halfway point that the more interesting (to me) aspects of the times in which Rose is living start to become evident.

I did not find Rose a particularly relatable MC, partly because she seemed to be so impulsive and irresponsible, and also somewhat self-absorbed.

But other elements of the book were really interesting - and I enjoyed both the glimpse into the lives of the Perkins family members and the insight into the fight African Americans had to wage in order to access the vote, to which they were entitled. Also loved that cover! It gets 3.5 stars from me.

This author is amazing how she tied a story. About 2 girls named rose and her sister. Elle NA.. I like how she loves a story about these two girls growing up in the sixties when things were changing, and how she corporated historical facts into the book. Arose married man named J, Asp ER. This was not a really good fit for her. But she wanted to do it anyway.. Rose was very close to her family. Especially her dad and things happened to him, too.. Her sister e l l e n a was a student at spellman college She started to change as well. She got involved in the movement to sit at counters. And voting rates as well.. Her sister made some mistakes by getting pregnant by another man, and she came home. Because she could not face her husban They patched things up. But tragedy struck her again by losing her husband and her daughter.. She started to get involved in the movement with her sister, and she made a man named isaac. Family lived in a small town just outside atlanta georgia. Discuss a lot of different issues in this town. And however, but it treated everybody differently. The father was very concerned, too. Because things can happen to black women. And that time, and he tried to get Eleanor out of jail because he was really worried about her safety.. I like how she tied different things in the book. And this really helped clarify the book. It's a really good book to read.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Homeward by Angela Jackson-Brown thanks to NetGalley. This is a historical fiction piece circa the 1960s in the town of Parsons, GA during a time when racial tensions ran high. Rose Perkins was a young naive girl who had to overcome many tragic and difficult situations during the Civil Rights Movement to come to know who she would be as a woman. She overcame adultery, tragic loss, and fear of ones own life to come full circle again to find love. Also, she came to know herself better, and how to stand up to what matters most to her.
The author did a wonderful job building the story and connecting the characters to where you really felt close to what the main character was going through. I went through so many emotions reading this book. I felt rose went through so much unjust, unfairness, but persevered through it all.

The first half was great. I was engaged and glued to the pages. But after Rose meets Ellena's friends, the writing becomes stagnant. The urgency of the storytelling all but came to a halt. Name-dropping John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. within the story doesn't necessarily make it exciting.

I should have loved this book. This is my reading jam: a woman overcoming hardship, a marginalized group fighting for their rights as human beings. A key point in the history of our nation. All of these should have made this a great read. I was so excited to read this, so the fact that it had a significant buildup and then peaked halfway was incredibly disappointing.

Homeward by Angela Jackson-Brown tells the story of Rose a young woman coming of age in the South during the Civil Rights Movement. The stand-out parts of this book are that it allows Rose and her family to change and grow during the story AND that it takes you into the hearts and minds of those who were on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, I understood the fear that was present in upending the white supremacist society. So often characters are portrayed as fearless and heroic but in this case, it felt far more heroic to move ahead despite the fear; The author also gives the reader a strong sense of the abuses suffered by the Black Community over time before the Civil Rights movement.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Homeward in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now and I highly recommend it!

This touching narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the southern United States during the civil rights movement. As a Southerner, I resonated with its warmth, as the familiar diction evoked a sense of home. The tale skillfully navigates themes of grief, loss, and racism, yet remains a powerful testament to the enduring values of family and community.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the situation in which they find themselves, the entire story.
Grief is a hard lesson to swallow and to learn from, however, Rose must give into sorrow and build her way up from it.
In the meantime, the Civil Rights movement is happening.
Will she join?

This book is beautifully written and I did not want it to end.
It gave me a new perspective on the Civil Rights movement.

THe only criticism that I have, and its so small....is there was a point in the book where Mama said Rose would be rewarded ten fold for everything that she lost...yet that did not come to fruition.
I am HOPING that the author does a sequel and it will be revealed then.

OVerall a wonderfully written book that I screamed with outrage over some of the incidents therein.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the eARC.

This story was a heartache. There was so much sadness in this story but also somehow Jackson-Brown wove in hope to make you want to finish the story. It is certainly one that will stick with me.

This is a beautifully written story of heartbreak, trials, family, loss, courage, overcoming and self-discovery. Rose has done some things she's not proud of but she's trying to be better when tragedy strikes her life. Her family means everything to her and all she wants is to be in their loving care but that might not be the best thing for her. The country is changing in the 1960's and she doesn't know how to process it all. The Black people are fighting for their rights, and she needs to decide what role she's going to play in that because she's not like her sister who is all gung-ho about it! The changes that happen in Rose's family come about due to what happen in their town and to specific members. Will it pull them apart or bring them closer together? I liked this story of Rose's family and how they dealt with all the changes that were happening. Although I've known for years what happened with the Civil Rights Movement, I didn't always know about what happened to specific people and the horrors they lived through. It was truly humbling to learn about what average people lived through. No matter your race, gender or religion, we all need to know what happened in this country during those turbulent times. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because it dragged a little bit - couldn't have been trimmed down and told the same message - and I wish it wasn't just told in Rose's voice only. It would have been nice to hear other points of view as well. Different perspectives would have added to the story.

This book was a welcome respite from my normal romance and crime. Fiction reads. Well written, and riveting storyline… If a little little slow at the beginning. Well done.