The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

This is a really enchanting and inspiring novel. Jennifer Donnelly creates fabulous characters in her novels. I read The Winter Rose years ago and was swept away by it. I wish I had read The Tea Rose first but thankfully I remember enough of The Winter Rose to be able to mentally place its plot line after The Tea Rose so when the third installment is finally available I will be able to finish up this beautiful trilogy without missing anything.

If you're looking for a great historical fiction this just may be the book for you. It takes place in the late 1800's-early 1900's. During this time labor unions were beginning to form up, Jack-the-Ripper had his reign of terror, and names like J.P. Morgan and Vanderbilt carved their place in American industrial and financial history. Fiona, the main female character, is inspiring and lovable.  You spend most of the time cheering for her but there are a couple of times when you would like to reach out and choke her- just to balance it out :0). Parts of the novel reach over into the trite a little bit when things fall into place just a a smidgen too perfectly but it's all in fiction, right?

I would recommend reading this one before you read The Winter Rose but it's not a must if you've already enjoyed it like I had.

You will find an official plot line description at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/261331.The_Tea_Rose