"solid seventeenth century flowery romance"

In 1677 England, twenty-one year old Rose Ashcroft is considered by friends, family, and herself as a spinster especially with her younger sister getting married. Advice to her usually runs to hiding her intelligence and settling for someone less than Prince Charming as Rose is an aristocratic snob in terms of a potential spouse.

Architect Kit Martyn and Rose are very attracted to each other. However, neither welcomes the feelings as he is beneath her husband criteria as a commoner and he rejects love having seen his parents die young and poor. Her mother thinks they are perfect for one another and plans to push them into one another's arms even if her daughter says no and the selected groom wants an aristocrat for his sister not himself.

The latest seventeenth century flowery romance is a solid tale due to the attitudes of the lead protagonists. Neither one wants to fall in love with the other as each has an "acceptable" standard that their beloved fails to attain. The story line is fun to follow as ROSE learns love is the class equalizer and Kit finds out that though his parents were impoverished they were happy because they cherished one another.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 30, 2003

In Violet and Lily, Lauren Royal dazzled readers with tales of two of the delightfully eccentric Ashcroft sisters. Now, she brings us the story of Rose—a woman whose heart, body, and mind are in full bloom...

Summary

The last of the lovely Ashcroft sisters to find a husband, Rose is fast approaching spinsterhood at the age of twenty- one. But the intellectual beauty is determined to make her way down the aisle—with no less than a nobleman—even if it means hiding her brains, her hopes, and her dreams.

There is someone, however, to whom Rose can reveal everything. He is Christopher "Kit" Martyn, a handsome and determined man set on landing the post of official Royal Architect. Though a commoner, Kit is no stranger to female attention, and does not hesitate to pursue the out-of- reach Rose despite her seeming disinterest in him. Somehow, he must convince her that a title is worth nothing in the presence of a noble and passionate heart...