Overview

Award winning author Jamie Lisa Forbes brings us the story of Rowen Hart, raised as the pampered son and only child of a prominent family in the small community of White Rock, North Carolina. It's the 1950's and he's drifting through the days, following the life path his parents have planned for him when his world is upturned by his father's suicide. Now he finds himself as the sole support of his mother and dependent on his pitiless uncle who had been his father's business partner. Ill-prepared to assume responsibility, Rowen struggles for a foothold in a world unsympathetic to his plight. More disruption ensues when a neighbor's ten year old daughter comes to live with Rowen and his family, baffling him with her wild behavior and insistent attempts to win his approval. Though she makes his responsibilities even more overwhelming, her blunt honesty sticks with him, casting doubt on the assumptions he has held. As Rowen tries to find the way forward, he begins to question everything about his upbringing, his community, his circumstances and his plans for the future as they turn to dust in his hands.

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Reviews

""Jamie Lisa Forbes details 1950s small-town North Carolina in a way that makes readers feel like they're sweltering in the heat of the courtroom and shivering amidst the coldness of racial and class prejudices. To be able to communicate to the audience different relationship dynamics, whether it's intimate relationships, friendships that break racial barriers, family ties, or the relationship an individual has with themselves, in such a heartbreaking and realistic way shows her dedication to understanding diverse backgrounds and what it meant to have grown up in the south during such emotionally charged times. This book is the perfect reminder for readers that life would be much less colorful if not for the people we meet along the way."" Feathered Quill Book Reviews ""The novel boasts themes of friendship, family, romance, racism, injustice, and betrayal, among others. . . . Although families are supposed to have each other's backs, there are often betrayals. Eden by Jamie Lisa Forbes is an amazing novel..."" Maria Yinks for Portland Book Review ""Overall, this is an interesting, well-written southern story that starts out in 1950s North Carolina. Given the time period and place, it does incorporate a theme of racial prejudice. Essentially, it is an excellent historical fiction piece with appropriate details, names, and lingo. It's one of those rare books that sinks into your head for days as you continue to contemplate the characters' choices long after you've turned the last page."" Michaela Gordoni for City Book Reviews ""A powerful absorbing book right from the first page. I felt as though I was part of the story right along with the characters.""- Erin Stetler, Netgalley ""Woven throughout this book are themes of racial and economic prejudice, identity and family value systems. Although parts of it were emotionally draining, Eden was an enjoyable read"" -Janet Ashcraft, Netgalley Rating 5 out of 5 stars: ""Forbes has a deft hand at crafting space, time and character."" -Deborah Cleaves, NetGalley ""Eden is a compelling read with unforgettable characters and an insightful look at our culture in a time and place where the color of one's skin tainted every aspect of life."" -Virginia Campbell, Amazon

Author Information

Jamie Lisa Forbes was raised on a ranch in the Little Laramie Valley near Laramie, Wyoming. She attended the University of Colorado where she obtained degrees in English and philosophy. After fourteen months living in Israel, she returned to her family's ranch where she lived for another fifteen years.In 1994, she moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2001, she graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and began her North Carolina law practice. Forbes' first novel, Unbroken, won the WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction in 2011. Her collection of short stories, The Widow Smalls and Other Stories, won the High Plains Book Awards for a short story collection in 2015.Forbes' novel of rural North Carolina in the segregation era, entitled Eden, was published in 2020. Her law practice gave her the opportunity to travel many of the back roads of North Carolina and meet the unique and diverse individuals who inspired Eden.Her historical novel about women bronc riders in the early days of rodeo, entitled Sunny Gale--A Novel, was published in May 2024 by Pronghorn Press. Sunny Gale has received numerous accolades including the 2025 Will Rogers Silver Medallion for historical fiction and it was listed in Best Indie Books of 2024 by Kirkus Reviews. Ms. Forbes continues to live-and write-in North Carolina.

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