Delta BellesThe author of Circle of Grace hits all the right notes in this uplifting novel about the reunion of the Delta Belles, a music group that takes the country by storm in the 1960s. The year is 1965 and the Spring Fling Talent Show is in the works at the Mississippi College for Women, a proper Southern institution. As a joke, Delta Ballou puts the names of her three best friends on the list of performers. Rising to the challenge, they agree to sing and even convince Delta to join them. Rae Dawn DuChamp plays the piano and weaves harmonies in a smoky contralto. Lacy Cantrell masters the basic guitar chords, and her twin sister, Lauren, contributes a pleasing voice. They call themselves the Delta Belles and win the talent show hands-down. What started as a lark turns into an exciting adventure. The Delta Belles perform at protests and voter registration rallies across the country. As graduation draws near, all the Delta Belles seem poised for bright futures. Twenty-five years later, Delta, recently widowed and angry at God, is asked to get the Belles together to perform at their college reunion. Lacy and Lauren haven’t spoken to each other in years, and Rae Dawn has been beset by overwhelming losses. Their reunion turns out to be much more than an opportunity to relive the past. As the old friends reconnect, they come to a new understanding of the meaning and value of their lives. |
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Alison Arista Records arms asked baby Ballou began Ben Rutledge Billie Holiday Bowen breath called Cassie chair Christmas coffee Daddy dance of passion Dawn's Delta Belles Delta looked Delta thought dinner door dream DuChamp everything eyes face feel felt friends front gazed ginkgo girl Gottlieb Grandma Mitchell grinned hair hand Hart heard heart Hobo Creek Hollowell kissed knew Lacy Lacy's laugh Lauren and Trip leaned living Maison Dauphine Mama married Matilda mind mother never night nodded Noel Noel's opened Orleans piano Picayune Rae Dawn Rae's Rankin shrugged sighed sing sister smiled someone songs soul spring break stared Stone Mountain stood T. S. Eliot Tabby Tabitha Austin talk tell thing told took Trip Jenkins Trip's truth turned twin Vinca voice What's window woman words