India Jones...her name, an echo, intentional or not, of the Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford film character, is spirited, richer than God, smart, high-toned, (in her case another word for smutty), tough and diligent. She lacks only the ability to “smell a set-up a mile away,” a skill that would help her fit right in with her patients in Whitechapel, described as London’s dingiest, grimiest, district, where she has set up her medical practice. The story features a heroine who appears to be an upstanding member of society, but who is "less than complete", without a man...and not just any man...preferably a dangerous one. India fills the bill with Sid Malone, a cruel-hearted and cruelly handsome gangster who is definitely not for the faint of heart. Both naturally resist the temptations of the other.... though not for long enough. Eventually, hormones out rules good common sense that God gave green apples; as the author explains, “He stood, as if to go, then instead he bent to her, took her face in his hands, parted her lips with his tongue, and kissed her deeply.” Once those lips were parted they remained that way for the remainder of the book...and though it wasn't said in so many words, I suspect other body parts as well. To no one's surprise, Sid eventually gets himself in trouble with the police. When he’s released on his own recognizance and arms himself with a false name, he goes in search of India, who has transferred herself to Kenya to do try and "do good in the country". But it seems she has something that Sid says is his. Meanwhile, India is looking for something that she says is hers, but she is stymied by the evil politician...just what this story needed...another evil" anything. Freddie Lytton is the evil politician. who come to think of it, does have several "Jack the Ripper" qualities. Two questions that will sum this up for most readers...Can love take precedence over money? and can love, or the readers patience, out last this way too long, too average narrative? It took a while, but I believe I have come up with the perfect description of this one. This is the love child of Horatio Alger who meets a bodice-ripper who meets a Hemingway, with Dickensian dashes for good measure. I didn't think they wrote "bodice-rippers" anymore...Guess I was wrong. Oh, well...some good came from it... I can cross of another challenge category:) ( )

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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