Viola Shipman Books In Order

Publication Order of Heirloom Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Viola Shipman
Viola Shipman is the pen name of Wade Rouse, who is a popular and award-winning memoirist. He picked his grandma’s name in order to honor the woman whose family stories and charm bracelet gave him the inspiration to pen his debut novel, which is a tribute to each of our elders.

Wade feels that his grandmother’s lessons, life, heirlooms, and love not only inspired his fiction but inspired his becoming a writer and, he hopes, the person he is today.

Wade resides in Michigan and contributes work to all kinds of publications like All Things Considered, Coastal Living, Publisher’s Weekly, Salon, Good Housekeeping, Time, Country Woman, Forbes, Taste of Home, and Writer’s Digest.

He got his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University and his BA from Drury University.

“The Charm Bracelet” was a Michigan Notable Book of the Year for 2017. He was named by Writer’s Digest as the number two writer, dead or alive, that they would like to have drinks with. He was one of the finalists for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor.

Wade’s work has been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, and has been featured on Chelsea Lately, in the Washington Post, and USA Today.

Wade’s debut novel, called “The Charm Bracelet”, was released in the year 2016. His work has been translated into almost twenty languages.

“The Charm Bracelet” is the first stand alone novel and was released in the year 2016. Three women, through an heirloom charm bracelet are going to relearn the importance of family and have their passion for living reinvigorated while each charm changes their lives.

Lolly’s mom gave her a charm each year on her birthday, with the advice that there is nothing more important than keeping the memories of family alive, and Lolly’s charm bracelet would be a constant reminder of this love.

Lolly, who is now beginning to forget things and seventy, knows that time is running out to reconnect with a granddaughter and daughter whose lives have gotten too busy for Lolly or her family tales.

Lolly’s daughter, Arden, gets an unexpected call about her mom, both she and granddaughter Lauren rush back home. During their visit, Lolly tells the story behind each of the charms on her bracelet, and each of these stories help Lolly, Arden, and Lauren connect once more in a way that brings them closer to finding love, faith, and joy.

Fans found this book to be a spunky, sweet, and lovable novel. Wade delivers a beautifully written novel that is rich in character, history, memories, and infused with a lot of love. The characters are engaging, and you learn more about the characters after the charms are explained and the memories unfold. It is a compelling read with a message that you will carry with you and cherish long after you have finished reading it.

“The Hope Chest” is the second stand alone novel and was released in the year 2017. Finding one woman’s heirloom hope chest reveals some precious memories and helps three people that have lost one part of themselves find some joy once again.

Fiercely independent Mattie hasn’t felt like herself ever since she was diagnosed with ALS. She is unable to go for a boat ride, she cannot navigate through her beloved home, and she is hardly able to feed herself. Don, her devoted husband, doesn’t even want to imagine life without his wife of close to fifty years, however she isn’t likely to make it too far past their anniversary.

Rose, who is Mattie’s new caretaker, and Jeri, her young daughter, enter this couple’s life, the possibility for new memories and happiness returns. Together, they make a family, and Mattie is able to finally pass on her memories from the hope chest that she got from her mom.

With each of these items, including family dishes, a favorite doll, an antique Christmas ornament, and an embroidered apron, the hope chest connects Rose, Mattie, and Don to one another. It helps them find some hope again in the face of some overwhelming challenges life has for them.

Fans of the novel found this was heartbreaking, breathtaking, and a beautiful read that made their heart sing and ache at different parts. Learning more about Don and Mattie’s lives was very moving and makes you fall in love with each one of them while reading. Wade does great job of making you invest emotionally in all of his characters in this one, and some had a tough time putting this one down until they had finished every bit of it.

“The Recipe Box” is the third stand alone novel and was released in the year 2018. Samantha “Sam Mullins felt like she was trapped on her family’s orchard and pie shop while growing up in northern Michigan, so she left with her dreams of making her own mark in the world. Her life as an undervalued and overworked sous chef at a reality star’s New York bakery is not at all what she had planned for herself.

The chef embarrasses Sam, she resigns and goes back home. Defeated, unemployed, and single, she spends the summer working on her family’s orchard baking and cooking with the women in her life. This includes her grandma, Willo, and her mom, Deana. One flour-flecked, beloved, and ink-smeared recipe at a time, she begins understanding and learning about the women in her life, the history of her family, and her passion for food through their highly treasured box of recipes.

While Sam learns what matters the most she opens up heart to a guy she left behind, but who now could be the key to her happiness.

This is a charming read that is filled with food, love, and family. Readers enjoyed all the recipes, and felt as though they could actually smell some of the delicious food just by reading this wonderful novel. It is a sweet and heartwarming read that reminded some of their youth. Readers enjoyed reading this one from the beginning until the very end. Wade also does a beautiful job of describing summers close to Lake Michigan.

6 Responses to “Viola Shipman”

1. Karin: 2 years ago

   Thank you for your quality reads. They are the first books I be been able to read after suffering a nervous breakdown five years ago. I also know how hard it is to author a book. The generational thread is huge … Especially in the farming life I come from. My book is Jump at the Chance on Amazon. Cheers

   Reply
2. Jeralyn Keeney: 2 years ago

   Good Morning “Viola,”

   The first book I read was The Secret of Snow, recommended by a friend. I have read them all but one now and not in sequence. I enjoyed each one and will now read the last one I have called, the Clover Girls. Thank you for all the touching stories. A Michigan person too.
   Jeralyn

   Reply
3. Carolyn L Leshinsky: 2 years ago

   I just got the book “The Secret of Snow” from the library today, it sounds like a great book

   Reply
   • SUE: 1 year ago

     IT IS A GREAT BOOK…….AND I HATE WINTER, IT REALLY HELPED ME TO SEE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

     Reply
4. Margaret: 2 years ago

   Dear Wade aka Viola,
   I have read all your books so far and I love how true to life and how compassionate they are. Also that there’s not one bit of smut in any of them. I just finished the Secret Of Snow and some of it I can really relate to in my life. I also live in Michigan on the other side from you right near the Blu Water bridge to Canada. I lost my son over 25 years ago in a very tragic work related accident, and as the characters in your Secret of Snow it has really affected all his sisters. Maybe some day you will write about this side of our beautiful state. I look forward to seeing more books from you.
   God bless you!

   Margaret Wolfe
   Clyde Michigan just north of Port Huron

   Reply
5. Rochelle: 3 years ago

   Hi “viola!”

   So nice meeting you on the beach. Cant wait to start the series. See you again!!!

   Reply