Author Jennifer Chiaverini brings to life two characters who have floated around the perimeter of her previous Elm Creek Quilts novels in her latest offering, SONOMA ROSE.

Fans of this charming quilt-oriented series are introduced to Elizabeth Bergstrom Nelson, Sylvia's cousin, and her friend, Rosa Diaz in a story set as the country is coping with all the restrictions of Prohibition.

Mother to eight children, Rosa mourns the loss of four who succumbed to the mysterious wasting disease currently afflicting young Ana and Miguel, while her other two children are perfectly fine. John, Rosa's abusive husband refuses to take them into the city so the children can see a doctor. His mind is clearly on other things, like his fancy car and keeping secrets about his bootleg business dealings from his wife.

When a final act of violence shatters Rosa's resolve to maintain her increasingly dangerous existence, she flees with the children and her precious heirloom quilts to the mesa where she last saw her beloved mother alive. On the brink of being caught in a flash flood, her neighbor and first love Lars Jorgensen rescues the small family and helps them leave their town in search of safety, medical attention for the kids, and possibly a new life for them all.

After finding a doctor who finally understands what is happening to Rosa's two ill children, Lars and Rosa find themselves in the beautiful Sonoma valley outside of San Francisco, where the family finds work at the Cacchiones' family vineyard. The entire valley is suffering from the restrictions placed upon the wine industry due to the Prohibition Act. Yet, in spite of the hardships, Rosa and Lars find the valley to be a place of healing, not only for the children, but for their relationship as well.

It is always a pleasure to read Jennifer Chiaverini's work, and "SONOMA ROSE" is no exception. Rosa is yet another strong female heroine among those created by Chiaverini through her creative storytelling that has the reader engaged from the moment they step into her life. The reader can feel a wide range of emotions during Rosa's story - anger, fear, hope and joy. The bonds of friendship are as strong as all the other books in this series. The power of love from a mother's love for her children to the enduring love between a man and a woman are woven beautifully through the pages of SONOMA ROSE.