When the Grey Rose Blooms

When the Grey Rose Blooms: A Novel of Healing, Hope, & Love

Paris has a desire to grow but she must traverse traumas past and present to get there. After she connects with caring friends and a gifted counselor, she finds hope that exploring her mind will lead to the healing she desires. But the problems run deeper than she is willing to admit, and the wounds demand more penance than she wants to surrender.

A childhood soulmate holds intrigue. Her college roommates bring fun and color to her life. Social sight and sound stimulate her mind in mysterious ways. Of course, romance helps make life feel better.

But can even these help her resolve painful dynamics from the most meaningful relationships in her life?

As her growth journey nears its climax, will Paris allow her most significant rediscovery -- trust -- to work with love to result in the greatest treasure she has sought since she was a little girl?

When the Grey Rose Booms: A Novel

The story

A young woman of diverse abilities engages in a journey of self-discovery through college and into her early married life. In parallel, her mother grows toward self-acceptance and triumph. It is a tale of repaired relationships and introspective healing through supportive friendships, self-exploration, and reflective therapy. Embracing forgiveness, both mother and daughter overcome trauma and painful loss, rediscovering joy and the freedom to love.

Paris graces the cover

The cover of When the Grey Rose Blooms reflects several elements of the protagonist's experience, especially how she is perceived by the story's end.

Key Characters of the story

Paris

Kati, Zia, & Chantelle

Paris

We meet Paris as a college freshman and journey with her into her early married life. Paris is a complex woman of diverse gifts and abilities. She is also learning how to love and recover.

Diane

Kati, Zia, & Chantelle

Paris

Paris's mother. Diane is also in recovery, but isn't sure what that means, and she certainly doesn't know her way on the journey. She's had to be strong all of Paris' life. Beneath that strength is alienation, pain, and abandonment. Could we say that Diane's strength lies in her response to alienation, pain, and abandonment? Sure. But what does her heart now long for?

Kati, Zia, & Chantelle

Paris's roommates during college. They provide inspiration and emotional support during her journey. Another friend helps Paris learn about the power of recovery from trauma.

Dante

The psychotherapist

Kati, Zia, & Chantelle

Dante met Paris in grade school, although they were in different social circles. Dante has admired Paris' qualities ever since. He wonders what their relationship could mean for their future lives. Does Paris have the answer?

Tyson

The psychotherapist

Tyson is Paris's younger brother and a frequent competitor. He shares her pain but deals with it differently. He also has a gift that may alter the course of Paris' life.

The psychotherapist

Because of a campus trauma, Paris begins a process of emotional recovery in counseling. She develops her tools with him, finds her truth with him, and is introduced to the hope for healing through him.

When the Grey Rose Blooms: A Novel by Darryl Arrington, PhD

A young woman is haunted by mysterious abilities and awkward deficiencies in this moving tale of psychological and familial healing.