The Winter Rose

By: Jennifer Donnelly

Narrated by: Jill Tanner

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 wounded souls. Their love is impossible and they know it, yet they cling to it 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.

©2008 Jennifer Donnelly (P)2013 Recorded Books

Absolutely wonderful!

The plot just never stops having interesting things happening. I was never bored. The characters were all real. The narrated did a very good job with as many characters as there were.

Fabulous, as always

Jennifer Donnelly does another fantastic job weaving the many characters of London and now Africa to bring together another novel full of love, tragedy, humor, and pure human strength. Jill Tanner brings it to life in an amazing way. I highly recommend this series thus far. Now I'm off to listen to "Wild Rose".

Excellent

If it is possible, I must say this one is better than the first, I was hooked from the first chapter!

Great Narrator and Story Line

Unlike other stories where the authors constantly repeats themselves, this story has complex characters and a storyline that keeps your interest. The narrator is wonderful. She makes the characters believable.

wonderful

I have enjoyed the first book, this one, and am looking forward to the next book!

Amazing Story Telling

I first read The Tea Rose over 10 years ago and it's always been one of my favorites. Ms Donnelly is a superb storyteller. I recently added that one to my audible collection and when I purchased The Winter Rose, I thought there's no way this could be better than The Tea Rose. Boy was I wrong, The Winter Rose is as good as it gets when it comes to a gripping story. The Winter Rose has beloved familiar characters, and interesting exciting new ones. I can not wait to start The Wild Rose, which continues the story of Seamus and Willa. If you are in to historical fiction, they don't come much better than this 3 part saga. I could not stop listening.

excellent

entertaining. Didn’t want to
turn it off so listened for hours. loved it and can’t wait for next Rose book

Wonderful!

So many layers woven together perfectly. Loved how all the characters from the first book mingled together.

Torturous and amazing

Loved it! So hard to wait for the good to happen it I couldn’t put it down

A Heartfelt Journey

Get ready to cry! First, let me emphasize that to truly understand the story of “The Winter Rose,” you must read the first book, “The Tea Rose.” Without that foundation, much of this sequel’s emotional depth will be lost. While “The Tea Rose” focuses more on Fiona’s heartbreaking journey, this book shifts the spotlight to Sid and Dr. Jones. To fully grasp Sid’s story in this sequel, it’s essential to have the context from the first book. For those who have already read “The Tea Rose,” prepare yourselves to relive the heart-wrenching emotions. We know how much anger we felt for everything Fiona endured, and now we must brace ourselves again—because this book will make you cry and, at times, hate one particular character who is responsible for much of the turmoil. Did I cry? Oh boy, did I cry! Did I feel an overwhelming surge of anger? Absolutely. Yet, amidst the pain, this story also offers a beautiful narrative of hope, reminding us that things can get better. This is definitely my new favorite book. Despite its length, you’ll find it incredibly hard to put down. Now, I know I didn’t mention a lot about the story or its details because you truly need to read the book to understand it. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed; you’ll be hooked from the very first page. The love story between Sid and Dr. Jones is beautifully crafted. Both characters come from different worlds: Dr. Jones grew up in wealth but felt profound unhappiness until she met Sid, who faced a difficult upbringing marked by poverty and loss. If you read “The Tea Rose,” you’ll understand Sid’s life choices and the struggles he grapples with in this book. Donnelly does an excellent job of portraying the harsh realities of life. When things go horribly wrong, she doesn’t rush to a quick resolution or suggest that everything turns around immediately. In real life, it often takes years for circumstances to improve. Just like in “The Tea Rose,” there’s one character whose actions are the catalyst for much of the suffering experienced by Dr. Jones and Sid. However, the ending is truly beautiful. Yes, there is a happy conclusion, but you’ll have to wait until the very last page to see it. I highly recommend “The Winter Rose,” but remember, you must read “The Tea Rose” first to fully appreciate this story. After that, dive into this book and then look forward to the third installment of the series! It’s a beautiful continuation of a remarkable saga, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!