Scarlet Carnation

A Novel (Yellow Crocus, Book 4)

By: Laila Ibrahim

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

In an early twentieth-century America roiling with racial injustice, class divides, and WWI, two women fight for their dreams in a galvanizing novel by the bestselling author of Golden Poppies.

1915. May and Naomi are extended family, their grandmothers’ lives inseparably entwined on a Virginia plantation in the volatile time leading up to the Civil War. For both women, the twentieth century promises social transformation and equal opportunity.

May, a young white woman, is on the brink of achieving the independent life she’s dreamed of since childhood. Naomi, a nurse, mother, and leader of the NAACP, has fulfilled her own dearest desire: buying a home for her family. But they both are about to learn that dreams can be destroyed in an instant. May’s future is upended, and she is forced to rely once again on her mother. Meanwhile, the white-majority neighborhood into which Naomi has moved is organizing against her while her sons are away fighting for their country.

In the tumult of a changing nation, these two women—whose grandmothers survived the Civil War—support each other’s quest for liberation and dignity. Both find the strength to confront injustice and the faith to thrive on their chosen paths.

©2022 Laila Ibrahim (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Set in an early twentieth-century America roiling with racial injustice, class divides, and WWI, two women fight for their dreams.… Impressively performed by the truly exceptional and award-winning story telling skills of narrator Bahni Turpin.” —Midwest Book Review

Prayer Love Hope Family

I listened to the entire series twice, I felt every sadness, every triumph, Right now I have a lump in my throat. I’m going to miss them all even after finishing the series again. I’m waiting on another release in the series August 20th. What a strong group of ladies. What a deep sense of Love.

The whole series is wonderful

The complicated relationships and social issues are so poignant. I'm devouring this series quickly and recommending it to everyone.

you must listen to every single one of these. .

... starting with yellow crocus. Laila and Bahni are incredible. I saw comments that were less than favorable and I cannot disagree more strongly with every single one of them. each of these books is a treasure and you will not want to miss any word of them or of the compelling and heartwishing narrative performances. and I have it on good authority there's another book in the works so do yourself a favor and start right away! I promise you based on 400 plus books I've listened to that you will not regret it ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

Wonderful storytelling as always

Laila is one of my favorite storytellers. Bahni is absolute favorite narrator. The story is great as always. Weaving history and fiction effortlessly, methodically and with the utmost sensitivity. I cried more during this book than any of the three before, with the delivery scenes. As a mother of two, listening to the moment happen is just as precious as experiencing it. The only thing I wish is that we got more of the story of Mae and Lenny.

Good addition to the series

I Love how the story is picked up but not awkwardly forced together. The families are intertwined but now in an unrealistic way. A great job has been done highlighting the difference in circumstances but also that they are two completely different families with a little overlap. I would be interested to see how this continues to evolve now that Lisabeth has left us.