It has been 12 years since a dark, murderous figure stalked the alleys and courts of Whitechapel. And yet, in the summer of 1900, East London is still poor, still brutal, still a shadow city to its western twin. Among the reformers is an idealistic young woman named India Selwyn-Jones, recently graduated from medical school. With the help of her influential fiance - Freddie Lytton, an up-and-coming Liberal MP - she works to shut down the area's opium dens that destroy both body and soul. Her selfless activities better her patients' lives and bring her immense gratification, but unfortunately, they also bring her into direct conflict with East London's ruling crime lord - Sid Malone. India is not good for business and at first, Malone wants her out. But against all odds, India and Sid fall in love. Different in nearly every way, they share one thing in common - they're both desperately. Lytton, India's fiance, will stop at nothing to marry India and gain her family's fortune. Fractious criminal underlings and rivals conspire against Sid. When Sid is finally betrayed by one of his own, he must flee London to save his life. Mistakenly thinking him dead, India, pregnant and desperate, marries Freddie to provide a father for hers and Sid's child. India and Sid must each make a terrible sacrifice - a sacrifice that will change them both forever. One that will lead them to other lives, and other places... and perhaps - one distant, bittersweet day - back to each other.

The "Winter Rose," a sequel to "The Tea Rose," is a simply stunning tale of family drama, politics, and medicine at the turn of the last century. This is a fabulous book with larger than life characters.
From London to the undeveloped territory of British East Africa and the exquisite Pacific coast of California, the reader is led on a memorable journey of the heart and spirit as lives are put in jeopardy, bonds are formed, and hearts are broken. A multi-layered story of searing romance and unforgettable adventure unfolds with all the tragedy and triumph a reader can hope for. It is satisfying to bring the reader into the story and care deeply for every person and situation. I admit to having very high expectations of this novel, but they were met in spades. "The Winter Rose" did not disappoint. Just like its predecessor, "The Winter Rose" is exciting, romantic, atmospheric, and packed full of little historical details that make the words spring to life off the page.
I read the Greek translation of this book, and it was fantastic, can't wait to read the third part of the trilogy, "Wild Rose," to see what happens with those fantastic characters. ( )

India Selwyn Jones is a young aristocratic lady, disowned by her family for pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor and opening a clinic for poor women and children in London’s Whitechapel slums. Jones treats “mob boss” Sid Malone one night and sets up a series of events that will challenge any number of people in many of London’s early 20th century neighborhoods. Very well-written, many interesting characters. Historical, romance, suspense . . . A good read-alike for Sara Donati fans? Sequel to The Tea Rose? ( )

London, 1900: Die junge India Selwyn-Jones bewegt sich in den feinsten Kreisen. Bis sie als Ärztin im berüchtigten Viertel Whitechapel zu arbeiten beginnt – und dort in leidenschaftlicher Liebe zu dem gefürchteten Gangsterboss Sid Malone entbrennt … Voller Dramatik und Sinnlichkeit erzählt Jennifer Donnelly, die Autorin der international erfolgreichen »Teerose«, von ihrer unbeugsamen Heldin India.

I am... going to say that I read this. Because I did. Most of it.

The thing is I started this months ago and at the time had to put it down with about 200 pages left because of life and I just started reading other books. Not that I wasn't enjoying this one, because I absolutely was, but almost six months later, I feel like I'm doing the book injustice trying to just skim the end to be done with it and say I've read it.

I've had plans to reread this trilogy, so I'm hoping that I can rereading this soon and actually read the whole thing. I guess I've kind of figured that it would be pointless for me to start from the begin because I'm a good 500 pages into it and don't have tine for that or skim the ending...because then when I come back to it, I won't fully enjoy it or be surprised by it.

So with that, perhaps I'll read this over my summer. We'll see.

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