“Rebecca Wells has done it again….A new book full of Southern charm and unique characters…impossible to put down.”
—Houston Chronicle
“Wells weaves that magic spell again.”
—New Orleans Times-Picayune
For Ya-Ya fans everywhere, New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Wells returns with The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder. The creator of the literary sensations Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, and Ya-Yas in Bloom delivers an unforgettable new stand-alone novel about the pull of first love, the power of home, and everyday magic. No matter if you already adore the Ya-Yas or haven’t yet entered the miraculous world of Rebecca Wells, you are going to love—and never forget—Calla Lily Ponder.
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"What a delightful read! Calla Lily Ponder is one sure-fire pistol of a gal! The characters were deliciously three dimensional people that you just know you would love to sit down with and let the conversation take you where it will. It was a bit predictable in spots, but the story was just so good, that it didn't seem to matter. The reader actually was glad for the absence of "twists". Calla Lily grew up in a small town in central Louisiana, moves to the Big Easy to train as a beautician and then moves back home to LaLuna and in each of those settings, Ms wells draws a masterful portrait that gives one a firm sense of the place. The classic advice to writers is to write what you know, and with the way Ms Wells writes, one is convinced that she knows whereof she speaks. This one made me sad to finish it. I wanted it to go on, and on, and on!"
— Mark (5 out of 5 stars)
“Shamelessly sappy and eerily realistic…there’s something down-to-earth and comforting about this novel.”
— Washington Post“Calla Lily is a sweetie…This is a novel full of miracles, with characters more colorful than a Crayola 64-crayon box. It’s just the right dose of Southern charm for that afternoon on the veranda, accompanied by a tall glass of sweet iced tea.”
— Seattle Times“Wells weaves more of the magic that made her a bestseller…Chock-full of Southern charm and sassy wisdom…it benefits from a hearty dose of Well’s trademark charisma.”
— Publishers Weekly“Judith Ivey’s performance is a pure joy—sweet, hopeful, and tender. Her interpretations are completely winning…Ivey’s accents ring true, her characters have substance, her voice is lovely, and her timing is perfect. An audio gem.”
— AudioFile" I was a little wary at first, the dust jacket description was weird and off putting to say the least. But I've enjoyed Wells other novels so I plunged in. So far, so good. "
— berrybuzz, 2/16/2014" Wasn't sure I would end up liking this book when I started it, but I fell in love with Calla Lily Ponder and her magic hands. Loved the hints of Paganism throughout the book and I loved how Calla's life ended up working out! "
— Traci, 2/9/2014" I loved this book, as much as the Ya ya books! "
— Tara, 1/18/2014" I was a bit disappointed with this book. Rebecca Wells usually delivers stories that have me re-telling to all who will listen. The protagonist is typically a very strong, witty and callous female. Calla is just a little too sweet. To make this a successful book, she needed more edge. This was a little to "chicken soup for the soul" for me. "
— Katie, 1/16/2014" Needed a Southern infusion and this was it. Yea! "
— Mich, 1/16/2014" This is a good long Louisiana story. The characters are developed over decades and there is, of course, a long love story which is one of the plots which keep you going. Unfortunately, it is the same tale with a different group of characters. There was nothing to make me want read it again. Similar to a Nicholas Sparks book, without the N.C. locale. Worth reading if you need a novel to keep you entertained on vacation. "
— Lori, 1/13/2014" I enjoyed Rebecca Wells' book about Calla Lily Ponder. It was a sweet story about a girl growing up in a small, Louisiana town who experiences love, tragedy, and forgiveness. Calla is a very determined girl who knows what she wants and accepts nothing less than happiness. A refreshing story. "
— Pam, 1/7/2014" The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder reads like a slow hot Louisiana summer day. Beautiful, and although a little slow, the story is warm and cozy. I enjoyed this book and was glad to see another good book by Rebecca Wells. "
— Erika, 1/2/2014" "Lighter" than her other books, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and could hardly put it down. "
— Mary, 12/26/2013" What a pleasant, enjoyable read. "
— Judy, 12/23/2013" Loved it!! A tear jerker, but worth it. Calla's mother dies when she is 16 and she eventually becomes a hair dresser. A great love story. Lots of stories about hair dressers and their ability to "heal" people with massages, etc. "
— Toby, 12/22/2013Rebecca Wells, actress, playwright, and New York Times bestselling author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, Ya-Yas in Bloom, and The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, was born in Louisiana. While many fans assume her work is autobiographical, Wells maintains that her stories are just that—stories. Little Altars Everywhere, which won the Western States Book Award and was a New York Times bestseller, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, a #1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the 1999 Adult Trade ABBY Award, have given Wells a dominant place in American literature. She lives in Washington State with her husband and her King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Mercy.
Judith Ivey was born in 1951 in El Paso, Texas. She was not quite yet a Tony Award–winner, but already a prolific Broadway and stage actress when she made her film debut appearance as Steve Martin’s love interest in Arthur Hiller’s The Lonely Guy. She then went on to star as Jennifer Jason Leigh’s older sister in the southern gothic thriller Sister, Sister. She came to star (despite her impressive resume) as what would be her better remembered role, Texan B. J. Poteet in the last season of Designing Women. Other notable characters she has played in film include Keanu Reeves’ mother in Devil’s Advocate, one of three intrepid psychics investigating a haunted house in Stephen King’s three-part miniseries Rose Red, and the recurring role of Debra Messing’s mother-in-law Eleanor Markus on Will & Grace. Her audiobook narrations have won her five AudioFile Earphones Awards.