Review: The Rose of Winslow Street

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.

Oh my! The push and pull of emotions in this book just about drove me crazy...lol. The audacity of a man to break into a house that is obviously occupied, even if you have what you consider is legal ownership of the house, just blew me away. Talk about single mindedness! Although I admire his determination to provide a place for his family I didn't care for his thoughtlessness for the Sawyer's. It took me awhile to care for his character because of this hardheadedness and stubbornness. But eventually his fierce love and protection of his family and later on Libby herself changed my opinion of him. :D

The complexities of the characters are skillfully woven into the story. Mirela and Libby both have secrets that have changed their lives. Mirela's secret has practically destroyed her. Over the course of the book the strong love of her brother, Michael, allows her to heal and move on. Libby's secret has caused many difficulties in her life and yet she has learned to deal with it and has become a stronger person because of it. That strength allows her to see more of who Michael really is in spite of his brusqueness.

This book took several unexpected turns and although it dealt with some heavy issues (illiteracy, discrimination, war crimes, suicide, betrayal), you are skillfully pulled along while they learn to forgive, forget, fall in love, find their way and make a new start.



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