This book was outstanding in terms of history, family, and just love. :)

This is the sequel to The Tea Rose. ( )

A jolly good long time after I recieved this as my first LibraryThing Early Reviewer's book, I got around to reading it. Although I don't like reading series out of order, I found myself strangely drawn in here. And truthfully, I stayed up late to finish this book and enjoyed it rather much - I'll probably go back at read The Tea Rose (particularly as a tea drinker) when I've the chance.

That said, I do have a few qualms. While I happen to like my historical fiction unadulterated, and there's only a handful of romance novel scenes here, but, eh, I could have done without them. However, I've a bit of concern about some of the historical vs. modern attitudes. Contraceptives dispensed from a state-funded clinic in 1900? To do the author much credit, however, this issue is very well integrated into the plotline of the novel and feels more like a natural part of it rather than a soapbox. ( )

It’s very rare in Hollywood where the sequel is as good or better than the original…but not so in the literary world! Jennifer Donnelly hits one out of the park with her follow-up to The Tea Rose. In The Winter Rose we are taken back to London at the turn of the 20th Century and meet back up with Fiona and Joe and now, their children. Fiona still has her Tea business and Joe has decided to take up politics in order to help the working class from whence he came from.

The other heroine of the book is India Jones, an independent young woman who has just graduated from Medical School and has dreams of opening a hospital for the poor women and children of Whitechaple. She soon crosses paths with Sid Malone and thus begins their relationship.

Fiona’s brother, Seamie has returned to London after leaving school – he has hopes of being an adventurer. I really liked reading about Seamie and his adventures – I hope there is more of him in the next novel.

In The Winter Rose, we travel to London, Africa, Kilimanjaro and eventually California where the novel ends in the best, most romantic way ever! Get your tissues ladies!

Donnelly is working on the third novel titled The Wild Rose, but there is not yet a release date. I’m not a very patient person, but I am sure this will be well worth the wait.

Thanks for the beautiful story Jennifer! ( )

While not a sequel, this book is a continuation of The Tea Rose. It follows the Finnigan family. The story features India Jones, who falls in love with Feona's brother, but the road to their happiness is rocky and at times you wonder just how everything is going to work out. It does and the same time, not for everything, therefore leaving the possibility of a third book. If I was the author the title would be 'The Wild English Rose'. ( )

* Well-developed character motivations - very believable
* Obviously well researched material - I feel a solid sense of place and that I'm actually learning something as I read
* Great job of presenting several different 3rd person limited POV's - each narrative feels and sounds distinct from each other

Yaaaaay it was awesome! Like The Thorn Birds but in 1906 London. I couldn't put it down once I started. Now I'm sad that I'm finished! It's not a trashy romance novel, it's actually very educational as far as conditions of East London at the turn of the 20th Century. I love when I'm being entertained by something and then realize I'm learning something. It's fun. A lot of what the characters are doing is predictable but that could also be because she's developed their individual motivations so well. She's a really good writer (even if there are TONS of GRUESOME typos and some annoying continuity redundancy).

If you like tortured love stories, read this book! Oh get your mind outta the gutter. I mean tortured like unrequited! ( )