"Charming and luminous . . . . A perfect summer indulgence that'll
have you peeking out your window on a muggy night in search of the Moon
Lady, who'll wrap her nurturing arms around you from afar." -- Austin
American-Statesman
A tale of family and friendship, tragedy and triumph, loss and love,
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder features the warmth, humor,
soul, and wonder that have made Rebecca Wells one of today's most
cherished writers, and gives us an unforgettable new heroine to
treasure.
In the small river town of La Luna, Calla Lily bursts into being, a
force of nature as luminous as the flower she is named for. Under the
loving light of the Moon Lady, the feminine force that will guide and
protect her throughout her life, Calla Lily enjoys a blissful
childhood--until it is cut short by forces beyond her control. On the
banks of the La Luna River, her mother, M'Dear, a woman of rapture and
love, teaches Calla compassion, and passes on to her the art of healing
through the humble womanly art of "fixing hair." At her mother's side,
Calla further learns that this same touch of hands on the human body can
quiet her own soul. It is also on the banks of the La Luna River that
Calla encounters sweet, innocent first love, with a boy named Tuck.
But when Tuck leaves Calla with a broken heart, she transforms hurt into
inspiration and heads for the wild and colorful city of New Orleans to
study cosmetology at L'Académie de Beauté de Crescent. In that big river
city, Calla finds her destiny--and comes to understand fully the power
of her "healing hands" to change lives and soothe pain, including her
own. Years later, when Tuck reappears, he presents her with an offer
that is colored by the memories of lost love. But who knows how Calla
Lily, a "daughter of the Moon Lady," will respond?
For longtime Ya-Ya fans, as well as the lucky ones discovering Wells for
the first time, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder will capture
your heart.
