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marinda91's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookshy's review against another edition
2.0
I think it's safe to say that after 6 months I won't be finishing this one. The plot was cringeworthy and a bit too on the melodramatic side for me.
klherring's review against another edition
4.0
I love Jennifer Donnelly. I love her unique style and undefinable genre. I loved this series in particular. The covers and titles seemed like they might be a tacky romance, but this series is anything but that!
Of the three books in the series, this was my favorite. It seemed to lack some of the silliness and ridiculous coincidences that worried me in the first book. Sure, it was still pretty far fetched, but somehow Donnelly sold this one a little better. I love how she brings new cultures, issues and adventures to light. I feel as if I'm getting an education as I'm enjoying her tales. The characters are all wonderful and I forgive them for being a little too all-or-nothing.
Though this review is very generic, I do highly recommend this book and the series as a whole. I will be reading all of Donnelly's work!
Of the three books in the series, this was my favorite. It seemed to lack some of the silliness and ridiculous coincidences that worried me in the first book. Sure, it was still pretty far fetched, but somehow Donnelly sold this one a little better. I love how she brings new cultures, issues and adventures to light. I feel as if I'm getting an education as I'm enjoying her tales. The characters are all wonderful and I forgive them for being a little too all-or-nothing.
Though this review is very generic, I do highly recommend this book and the series as a whole. I will be reading all of Donnelly's work!
joytok's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhh! Such a painfully tedious read, wanting to scream and cry at the characters one moment and wanting to love and hug them the next. Great read!!
schill27's review against another edition
5.0
Loved everything about this book! Except for Freddie Lytton of course. Can't wait to get into the 3rd one.
indydriven's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book in the Tea Rose trilogy. The first book, The Tea Rose, I rated four out of five stars on Goodreads. Normally I find that the second book in a trilogy is my least favorite, however, I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed it even more than The Tea Rose.
This book begins in 1900 London England with India Jones, a woman doctor working with the vulnerable poor in a grim part of London. It is there she encounters Sid Malone, a gangster who rules the tough parts of London. They fall in love and of course, that is when all their troubles begin. What I really enjoyed about this book is that the author incorporated the main characters from The Tea Rose as secondary characters in this book so the reader continued to follow along with their story. The author also does a good job with describing how difficult it was for women during this time period. For example, India was a doctor who was responsible for saving patients’ lives but did not have the right to vote because she was a woman. Women (especially poor women) did not have access to birth control and therefore, had no power or control over their bodies or their lives. On one hand it is amazing how much things have changed for women in the last 100 years but at the same time it is maddening that their lives were that difficult just because of their gender.
I rated this book five stars out of five and look forward to reading the last book in the trilogy, The Wild Rose.
This book begins in 1900 London England with India Jones, a woman doctor working with the vulnerable poor in a grim part of London. It is there she encounters Sid Malone, a gangster who rules the tough parts of London. They fall in love and of course, that is when all their troubles begin. What I really enjoyed about this book is that the author incorporated the main characters from The Tea Rose as secondary characters in this book so the reader continued to follow along with their story. The author also does a good job with describing how difficult it was for women during this time period. For example, India was a doctor who was responsible for saving patients’ lives but did not have the right to vote because she was a woman. Women (especially poor women) did not have access to birth control and therefore, had no power or control over their bodies or their lives. On one hand it is amazing how much things have changed for women in the last 100 years but at the same time it is maddening that their lives were that difficult just because of their gender.
I rated this book five stars out of five and look forward to reading the last book in the trilogy, The Wild Rose.
amandamae12's review against another edition
5.0
Jennifer Donnelly's second book of the rose series is a delight to read. It chronicles the events of the Finnegan family and makes you feel like you are a part of their family. Loved it!
jaxgirl007's review against another edition
3.0
"The Winter Rose", by Jennifer Donnelly, starts out promising. The scene of late 19th century London is set well with the book's heroine trying to make a difference as one of the first female Doctors in the City. Donnelly makes it easy to become interested in India Selwyn Jones' development as she learns how to treat her patients in the notoriously poor Whitechapel District. The conditions of the City, the struggles of those trying to scrape by with dignity...it's easy to become engaged and root for the clinic that is India's dream.
And then the book leaves this story hanging with no resolution in sight.
India meets Sid Malone, a London mobster, and things become complicated in more ways than one. While a love story doesn't hurt the appeal of the novel, this one brings with it so many additional characters and plotlines, it ends up relegating the interesting part of the novel to a small chapter in the last fourth of the book.
At over 700 pages, "The Winter Rose" seemed to be a few different stories that Donnelly tried to bring together but she doesn't quite succeed. The stories end up competing with each other and none are flushed out satisfyingly. There are several good parts, but as a whole, "The Winter Rose" comes up slightly short.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
And then the book leaves this story hanging with no resolution in sight.
India meets Sid Malone, a London mobster, and things become complicated in more ways than one. While a love story doesn't hurt the appeal of the novel, this one brings with it so many additional characters and plotlines, it ends up relegating the interesting part of the novel to a small chapter in the last fourth of the book.
At over 700 pages, "The Winter Rose" seemed to be a few different stories that Donnelly tried to bring together but she doesn't quite succeed. The stories end up competing with each other and none are flushed out satisfyingly. There are several good parts, but as a whole, "The Winter Rose" comes up slightly short.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
dana_in_denver's review against another edition
4.0
I read The Tea Rose many years ago and loved it. The Denver Public Library did not carry The Winter Rose until recently. This is a long book that kept me very entertained on the 5 hour flight home from Boston. I was SO happy to have a good book with me!!!
jessthebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge fan of Jennifer Donnelly. She writes page turners that (although cliché ridden) are fun to read, and that take you on a great journey.
I loved the Tea Rose, and this was a good sequel. It deviated slightly from following the main characters from the Tea Rose, turning them into secondary characters, but still part of the story. It allowed new blood to enter into the mix, with new stories and obstacles to overcome.
I enjoy how Jennifer Donnelly manages to mix history in with her fictional story, without it turning into historical fiction.
I look forward to reading the Wild Rose next to conclude the story.
I loved the Tea Rose, and this was a good sequel. It deviated slightly from following the main characters from the Tea Rose, turning them into secondary characters, but still part of the story. It allowed new blood to enter into the mix, with new stories and obstacles to overcome.
I enjoy how Jennifer Donnelly manages to mix history in with her fictional story, without it turning into historical fiction.
I look forward to reading the Wild Rose next to conclude the story.