Winterburn's Rose
Grade : C

Winterburn's Rose is much like a delicate flower growing in a garden. It is different in color, texture, and tone than most other flowers. But it isn't going to fully bloom, although the author uses a fairly unique green thumb to help it along.

Winterburn is Leigh Nash, the Earl of Winterburn, a supposedly jaded, war-weary gentleman who can't bring himself to do what his wicked mother needs him to do - marry money to restore the family's fortune. Instead, Nash, who had "visions" while recovering from war wounds, wants to live an altogether different kind of life - as a parson for one of his family's holdings.

The Rose is Rosalind Merrifield, whose wastral brother is gambling away their heritage and house. Believed to be the "Rose of Rowdene," she is beautiful and self-righteous, appalled that an obviously unfit Earl should be parson.

As you can tell, this is not a typical premise for an historical set in the Regency period. One might expect this could work as a traditional Regency, but an historical? Well, it almost works as an historical, but the author doesn't quite pull it off.

There are some great characters in this book. Leigh's mother is so very decadent and wicked! Rosalind's brother is such a slimy weasel! And the real villain is very complex, not the one-note villain written in so many romances.

The lead characters are less vivid. There is such an air of melancholy around each of them that it is difficult to muster up much excitement on their behalf. The self-righteous Rosalind slowly comes to learn that the aristocratic Leigh might be a good man after all. The jaded gentleman slowly comes to learn that he's not so jaded after all.

If only his wicked mother would stop her evil machinations. If only Rosalind's brother didn't gamble away their home. If only Leigh could trust himself and Rosalind could trust him.

In order to save Rosalind from a half-cocked plan, Leigh marries her. In order to save her "self," she refuses to give into the sensual feelings Leigh awakens in her. There is violence, there is redemption. And there is acceptance. And love.

By the end of the story, the reader cares mightily about Leigh. The reader will care about Rosalind too, but mostly because Leigh has worked so hard to convince them both he is worthy. Rosalind by herself is just too self-righteous.

The air of sadness surrounding these characters creates a problem in tone. Not bleak in the traditional sense, but foggy, this story takes on a rather gray mist that is difficult to shake off. Had the author enlivened her lead characters a bit, so that they were as vivid as her secondary characters, this story could have been far more powerful.

I think this is an author to watch in the future. It is very refreshing to read a story-line that is as unique as this. If Kate Moore can energize her leads, she could write a magnificent romance.

Reviewed by Laurie Likes Books
Grade : C

Sensuality: Subtle

Review Date : September 1, 1996

Publication Date: 1996

Review Tags: 

Recent Comments …

Laurie Likes Books

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
What's your opinion?x
()
x