For the Roses

A long and involved story about a group of boys who find a girl child thrown on a rubbish heap. They decided that they should become a family and bring her up. They're held together by loyalty and love and the girl that they've called Mary Rose has just returned from school.

Lord Harrison Stanford MacDonald has arrived at their town and Mary Rose has taken pity on him as it looks like he's lost in their town. However he has a secret that could break the family apart.

I liked the story and enjoyed the characters, I would like to read more in this series and meet more of them again.

Time and again when I read For the Roses my favourite part remains the bond between the Claybornes. The Claybornes have made a family bonded not by blood but love. Neither Douglas, Cole, Travis or Mary Rose have any problems of thinking of Adam's Mama Rose as their own mother. And they soon make Harrison and Elliot a part of their family. A family where one brother shoots the imaginary monsters under his sister's bed so she can sleep without worries at night while another learns how to play the piano with his sister in order to give her a well-rounded education. There is nothing special in the love story itself. Instead it is the story of the Claybornes' past glimpsed through letters communicated between the siblings to Mama Rose and show more Harrison's experiences when he first joins them which provides both the humor and warmth. It is this which continually makes this story a keeper and makes me wish to read on in order to learn more of the Claybornes. show less

For the Roses by Julie Garwood is a paperback that is well-worn in my personal library. Garwood’s talent for making her heroines spunky, daring, and innocent, while allowing them to be strong, is a plus for her books. Mary Rose is no exception.
Mary Rose interacts with her family and friends with caring. She allows her interactions to be realistic and fun. It is easy to visualize this spunky heroine. She is allowed a temper, even at times that women are angry for no reason, but has that temper in such a fun way that one cannot be angry back at her. Garwood’s pen allows endearment, not anger. Mary Rose realizes her complaining makes her brothers uncomfortable, so she complains when she wants them to quit bothering her because they show more change the subject or find another place to go. She gives caring to Corrie, a woman living away from civilization because she was treated horribly by indigents and is disfigured. She protects Corrie from trouble-makers in town when they attempt to burn Corrie out.
Although this is an older book, it is worth a read, even if you are not a lover of historical romance. Her characters are individual, not dull, and bring a good time to the reader. This is the kind of book that is enjoyable, relaxing, and fun.

NOTE: I purchased this book with my own funds. show less

I have read this book atleast 2 times maybe more. I really liked the style of the writing and almost every single character was interesting

I really enjoyed this story, though it may have had a bit too much description at times. I did find in the first half of the book at least that I could skip a couple of chapters and not miss too much.

The Clayborne's were a family drawn together when 4 urchin boys who were living roughly on the streets of New York City in 1860 found a baby girl (Mary Rose) in a dumpster. At the time Adam was 14, Cole and Douglas were 12 and Travis was 10 - a bit young to do what they did (in these days anyway) but I guess in 1860 children of that age were more adult. Because Adam was on run they decided to move to the country to bring up the baby, they chose Montana. The boys wanted Mary Rose to be a lady so they sent her to boarding school in St Louis show more to finish her education.

When she returned home in 1879 after, she had finished schoo ,a stranger came to town and started working on their ranch, his name was Harrison Stanford MacDonald and he was going to change their lives forever.

I did love the closeness of this misfit family, they certainly looked after each other. You get to know each person very well. Adam is the scholar and the quiet one, Douglas in the healer, Cole is mean (most of the time) and Travis is the thinker. Mary Rose thinks everyone deserves a chance. show less

This was the first book I read from Garwood and put me in a frenzy to read the rest of her books. The story in FOR THE ROSES is driven by love and loyalty. While a bit hoaky, the twists and turns, and the reality of slavery (and how it tore families apart) was heartwrenching. Garwood captured the essence of love and family. A truly magical book.

This is the first in a series of books by Julie Garwood about the Claybourne family, and I think the most thorough. Sadly, I read it last, but each book holds its own as a novel. This one simply explains the characters and their background a bit more. One character, after reading all the other four books, I'd never realized was African American until I'd read this book! But it's an amazing book, a wonderful read, and a definite page turner!