"Magic and Roses"

Winter Rose by Nora Roberts Prince Kylar is badly wounded and lost in a magic land of ice and snow. Queen Deirdre finds and heals him with her magic. The land is bleak where nothing grows. Deirdre longs to see a blue sky and the roses in bloom.

The Rose And The Sword by Jill Gregory Princess Britta has been protected from the evil wizard, Darius. Now on her twentieth birthday, Darius will try to destroy her. She has to marry the disillusioned Prince Lucius, recover the rose of scepter and destroy the evil wizard to regain her kingdom. She has goodness, love, magic and power on her side.

The Roses of Glenross by Ruth Ryan Langan The Scottish warrior, Jamie, is a hero for saving Alexa and defeating the barbarians. He and Alexa are recuperating at the convent. He sees the ghost of Lady Anne who has been waiting for her lover for many years. They meet and find love in the rose gardens.

The Fairest Rose by Marianne Willman Tor must go on a quest to find the Phoenix in order to marry the beautiful but spoiled daughter of the king. The king?s oldest daughter, Rosaleen, has been protected from her evil stepmother by enchantment but now that it is wearing off, she must save herself and her dearest friend, Elva. Rosaleen and Tor make a bargain ? she will help him find the Phoenix if he helps her go to a safe place.

Roses tie the four tales of magic and love together. As the roses bloom, so does love bloom for the heroes and heroines. Each story had a different element of magic but the rose was the saving grace. I especially enjoyed Winter Rose. I shiver just thinking about all the ice and snow. The stories remind me of many of the magical tales that I enjoyed so much as a child. If you enjoy fairy tales, you will enjoy ONCE UPON A ROSE.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted January 14, 2002