Vibrant, opinionated, and independent—that's Galveston widow Rose 
Parrish. Seventy-six years old and in failing health, Rose is coming to 
grips with her life. She lives alone in a stately home once full of life; 
her only companions are her housekeeper, Pearl, her financial advisor,
Captain J. J. Broussard, and a young medical student, Jesse Martin.

    Mary Powell weaves the separate stories of these people into a 
poignant and often humorous tale of "the good life" and "the good 
death."

    Preparing for the inevitable, Rose sells all her stock to fund her 
last adventure; she changes her will to leave Jesse money to finish 
medical school and to give her house and its valuable antiques to the 
captain. Understanding Rose's need to feel useful, the captain 
persuades Rose that they can build the most exciting nightclub and 
restaurant that Galveston has seen in decades.

    For the theme of her new club, Maison Rouge, Rose researches 
the history of Galveston and the life of Jean Lafitte, the pirate who first 
established Galveston as a center for smuggling.

     Powell's rich descriptions of island life, the sometimes-raging 
weather, and the island's uniquely spirited past vividly bring Galveston 
to life as a character all its own.

_________________________________________________________

MARY POWELL received her MFA from Texas State University–San 
Marcos, where she now serves as adjunct in the Department of 
English. She is the author of Auslander, a novel, and lives at Canyon 
Lake with her husband, John, and a cat named Zora.



What people are saying about this book

"Rose Parrish, a rich, elderly widow in poor health, spends her last 
years making a difference in a variety of people's lives. . . . readers 
will be captivated by her personality and the effects she has on 
people who surround her. If you're looking for a summer 'beach novel,' 
how can you beat one set on Galveston Island?"—The Bryan Eagle