Gardenia Lane is a fictional novel that tells of the Lister family's day-to-day life when they move back to a small military town in eastern North Carolina. It is the fourth book in a series about the Lister family. Gardenia Lane continues the story where Gemmy's Dreams ends.
The Lister family must make a life in a new neighborhood among unconventional neighbors. Most of them are poor. What they lack in money they make up for with rich personalities. They do not wrap themselves in layers of pretense and deceit.
The Lister girls work hard and seek lives different than the one they were born into. They develop good friendships with their neighbors. They learn that their neighbors mostly have good hearts and, like themselves, want to get through life the best way possible.
The story unfolds in 1956 and follows the family's life through 1967. To make ends meet Leo has to take on a second job to supplement his wages at the local furniture mill. With two full time jobs, Leo is seldom home. Conflicts often occur when the family members are faced with the challenges that arise when dealing with the mental illness of the oldest Lister offspring.
This story is about how the Lister family interacts with each other, their friends, and the neighbors as they navigate their way through life trying to find the place where they fit best. The Lister girls have different goals and dreams for their lives than their parents have for them. Leo does not realize that he is raising strong, independent daughters that have been exposed to new age thinking for women. Dissensions are common when the daughters' principles clash with those of their parents.
The fifties and sixties were turbulent times in our country. The Lister family see dreams and lives shattered. They see dreams restored and lives mended. They maintain a close relationship with God to give them strength and guidance through whatever life has in store for them. They maintain hope for peace and faith for better lives.
