Mary Monroe, acclaimed bestselling author of God Dont Like Ugly and The Upper Room returns with the masterful story of a woman whos ready to take back her life-if she can figure out how... GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDENS In the sweltering little town of Belle Helene, Alabama, Carmen Taylor keeps her weaknesses, her frustrations, and her sorrows to herself. Shes too busy dealing with the dramas of troubled friends like Desiree Lucienne, the petite, pampered daughter of a doctor who tries to beat the wildness out of her. But that doesnt stop Desiree from trawling for men, and trying to drag Carmen along. Its not that Carmen hasnt had her share of boozy pick-ups-only that they cant compare to the one steamy night she spent with the man shes loved since they were both kids. Now a local cop, all-too-fine Chester Sheffield keeps showing up in Carmens life, wanting to do something about the feelings they obviously share. But that would mean abandoning her boyfriend Burl Tupper, and thats something Carmen just cant do. Ever since a foolish teenage prank of Carmens landed Burl in a wheelchair, shes been trying to make it up to him. When Carmen doesnt take her chance with Chester, Desiree does. And although the womens friendship stays solid, greater challenges await. On a sultry, reckless moonlit night, Carmen commits a desperate crime of passion, and, with Desiree, hits the road running. But she cant run from the truth. Now she has two choices-a life on the lam, or a return to Belle Helene, the place where it all began...and the only place Carmen can lay down her burdens and seize her one true chance at love and redemption.About the AuthorMary Monroe, the daughter of sharecroppers, is the author of the award-winning and New York Times bestselling God series that includes God Dont Like Ugly and God Dont Make No Mistakes, among other novels. Winner of the AAMBC Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award and the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, Mary Monroe currently lives in Oakland, California, and loves to hear from her readers via e-mail at [email protected]. Visit Marys website at MaryMonroe.org.