The Rose of Winslow Street

Title: THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Publisher: Bethany House
January 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0895-9
Genre: Inspirational/historical fiction

Michail Dobrescu has migrated from Romania to America in search for safety for his family. He has the deed to a house on Winslow Street, in Colden, Massachusetts, but someone else has been living in the house. Michail doesn’t know who, except the person had odd tastes. He expects a fight will break out over the ownership of the house—but the battle begins sooner than he expects when the neighbors notice him move in and call the sheriff to investigate.

Libby Sawyer leads a quiet life, but she is stunned when she learns that a stranger has a shocking claim to her father’s house. This immediately alienates him from the community, and Libby is outraged! She’s lived there all her life and isn’t afraid to fight for ownership of the house.

Michail changes his name to Michael to better fit in with the Americans and he won’t be thwarted by an illiterate woman’s claim to the house on Winslow Street. But as the court’s decision is pending, the mysteries surrounding Michael’s past are unveiled and Libby’s loyalties are tested in ways she never imagined.

I read and enjoyed Ms. Camden’s first book The Lady of Bolton Hill and loved it. THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET was entirely different as this book seemed to be more of an epic instead of Victorian Romance.

Michael starts THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET as a jerk, not caring too much who he stomps on so long as he gets his way. But he had gallant reasons. But my opinion of him changed as I continued reading the book. I felt for Libby. She is ashamed of things about her past and tries to hide them, but of course they all come to light in the story.

I did enjoy reading THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET, but in a very different way than I loved The Lady of Bolton Hill. If you enjoy epic historicals then you won’t want to miss THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 342 pages.