The Rose of Winslow Street

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

CAMDEN, ELIZABETH

THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET

In the small town of Colden, Massachusetts, Libby Sawyer leads a quiet, predictable life. Yet beneath the surface, she is haunted by a secret.

Newly arrived on American shores, Michael Dobrescu is far from predictable, and his arrival in Colden is anything but quiet. Michael's shocking claim to be the rightful owner of Libby's father's house immediately alienates him from the appalled citizens of Colden.

Despite her own outrage, Libby is unwittingly fascinated by this enigmatic man who seems equally intrigued by her. As the court's decision about the house looms, and the layers of mystery surrounding Michael's past are unveiled, Libby's loyalties are tested in ways she never imagined.

Torn between family obligation and the stirrings of her heart, dare she trust a man whose intentions and affections are so uncertain?

 My Review:
 

published in 2012

Not only is this a Retro-Read, it's a Retro-Re-Read for me. :-) Same old story: sorting shelves, greeting old friends and then I came upon this beauty and was flooded with nostalgic bibliophile warm fuzzies. I remember loving this book and I couldn't resist sneaking a peek which led to a reading frenzy and my shelves still need sorting. :-( But yes, it's actually as good as I remembered!

The Rose of Winslow Street is steeped in intrigue that begins on the very first page. The more I read, the more questions stuttered through my mind. Wh-wh-at....h-how...wh-why....huh? I was clamouring for answers that Camden cleverly held at bay, keeping me turning pages late into the night.  What an artfully crafted plot! And each piece of the puzzle is revealed at just the right time in order to make the most dramatic impact.

But, oh my, there's laughter in unexpected places -- even in the midst of some dead-serious, dramatic scenes. Camden has laced humour all through the book. And that includes during the most volatile encounters between Michael and Libby. I'm grinning just thinking about some scenes that have left a lasting impression.

Michael leaps off the page in full warrior mode. Taciturn, protective, larger than life, like some misplaced medieval knight plunged into 19th century New England. I can't remember when I've had so much fun getting to know a character. Adorably boorish -- how's that for an oxymoron? -- he's driven by loyalty and an incredible sense of honour and steals every scene he is in, putting a capital S in the word Swoonworthy. Be still my heart! I dare any reader NOT to fall in love at first sight!

This book is pure enjoyment from beginning to end. No review can do it justice. You'll just have to read The Rose of Winslow Street for yourself to see what I mean!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Rose of Winslow Street, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 3 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!