Rating: 
Summary: Predictable beach novel
Review: The beginning of the book leads off with "take you there" descriptions of the slums of Victorian London. But shortly after, the novel descends to typical soap opera stuff. The book is long, over 500 pages, but by page 200, I had predicted 90% of the remainder of the book.Most of the events just happen to coordinate so perfectly that I was rolling my eyes throughout a large part of the book. And some of the assumptions (such as the identity of the bad guy) had me groaning out load. Nevertheless, the descriptions of the New York and London are good escapist fun. If you want to challenge your brain, read something else. If you'd like to escape and you're a fan of Danielle Steel, you'll enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A breath-taking story of love, loss, and hope
Review: This book opened my eyes. I couldn't stop reading it; when in the car, I longed to go back intoi my house; when I was sailing, my only desire was to swim back to my little desk and READ! By the way, I would like to tell everyone that attemps to read this: THIS IS NOT A TRASHY BOOK (in the best sense of the word.) Our Story begins with two young and decent lovers, Fiona and Joe. It is so apparent that their love is ever-lasting a pure, giving the reader a heart-wrenching feeling that whatever harms them with be sorrowful. Each live poor--but hopeful--lives in the slums of London as Jack the Ripper trerrorizes the streets. There is another girl (as there always is) but that sad thing is that Millie (the girl) owns no love from him and everyone knows that. Fiona and Joe have a dream that thyey shall open a shop and donate bits of shillings every week to a tin. Such innocent love is beautiful. And Donnelly so vividly explains all. But Millie is set on marrying Joe. So her father hires him to work in his business with him. He does not fall in love with Millie, and in fact, the only thing that results is that Fiona's and Joe's dream of owning a shop becomes closer. And their marriage becomes closer with it after they make-love. Millie is so jealous that she decides to attempt the unfathomable and in doing so, the most horrific thing in this book (HORRIFIC meaning sad). But soon Millie's father gives Joe the company on drunken night--with Millie. And so spirals the lives of a shattered Fiona and Joe. The rest is where I cried and szobbed yet laughed and cheered. Fiona's intelligence and utter kindness sweep away the knife pointiung at her dream. Joe's sorroful mistake lead to his humblness and ever-lasting kindness ease the reader to swiftly forgive. Read this book. I have read many and forgotten some. When I finished this, I almost cried at the knowledge that I was done. Trust me. 5 stars...more like infinity.
Rating:
Summary: Has become my favorite book!!
Review: What a wonderful story. I couldn't put this book down... I loved it. It is a book that I know I'll read again and enjoy every last word.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: The words I have to describe this book are not ones that are usually associated with the same book. Heartbreaking, Tragic, Gruesome, Beautiful, Romantic and Uplifting are just a few words I can think of to describe this wonderful book. I cannot give enough praise to Jennifer Donnelly. I love this book. I was completely engrossed. I loved Fiona so much, I felt as if I personally knew her. The story of Jack the Ripper also added alot of interest for me. I wanted to just keep on reading, and reading and reading! Thanks Jennifer Donnelly!!!
Rating:
Summary: A must read story
Review: I will admit right from the start that The Tea Rose is a huge undertaking with 500+ pages, but don't let the size of the book turn you away. The Tea Rose is a gripping tale of love, loss, and the power of believing in yourself and the strength within you to go on. Way to go Miss Donnelly... keep them coming.
Rating:
Summary: THE TEA ROSE - par excellence
Review: " One of the great joys of life, is to be able to escape into a by-gone world, where life,it's characters and substance becomes surreal. THE TEA ROSE by writer extraordinaire Jennifer Donnelly is like visiting a museum and when no one is looking, stepping into a grand old painting. There you are, in the midst of it all, courtesy of a new and masterful storyteller. RX: Absolutely recommended for the soul.--John Thade
Rating: 
Summary: Readers are in for a rollicking good time!
Review: It's said that everything old is new again and this sentiment may ring especially true for those browsing the new fall fiction titles popping up in bookstores. The big juicy Victorian novel is back. So far we've had Victorian lesbian thieves in Sarah Waters' FINGERSMITH, well-read and cunning prostitutes in Michel Faber's THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE, and now, in the latest addition to this trend, we have a rags-to-riches tale of a gentle tea merchant with revenge in her heart in Jennifer Donnelly's epic THE TEA ROSE. Fiona Finnegan is the eldest daughter in a proud "respectable working class" family in 1888 East London. An overworked, underpaid employee at Burton Tea Factory, 18-year-old Fiona, dreams of one day opening her own tea shop with boyfriend Joe Bristow. Fiona and Joe have known each other since they were toddlers and have been combining and saving their shillings for their tea shop ever since they were old enough to earn them. According to their calculations, Fiona's dream will be realized in less than a year. There are, however, complications. When the rumblings of unionization and strikes begin stirring at Burton Tea, Fiona steers clear from the issue but her father, Paddy, also a Burton employee, becomes mixed up with the burgeoning dock workers union... THE TEA ROSE has already been compared to Barbara Taylor Bradford's A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE. While it can be predictable at times, Ms. Donnelly's work is in a class by itself. From the slums of Whitechapel to the glittering streets of New York in the Gay '90s, readers are in for a rollicking good time with an unforgettable cast of characters.
Rating:
Summary: A Heartwrenching page turner!!!
Review: This book! This book! This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It kept me up late every night and made a 5 hour flight seem like 5 minutes. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has a yearning for a good old fashioned love story with a great murder mystery thrown in for good measure!!
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable!
Review: Like all the reviewers on these pages, I found this book to be pure enjoyment! The characters, the settings, the story lines! The heartbreak, the joy...I could go on and on.
I won't go into the details as they have already been put down by other more talented reviewers, suffice it to say... This is one of the all time great STORIES, a real epic tale with a little bit of everything for everyone. Don't miss this one! Enjoy,
Debbi :)
Rating:
Summary: SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
Review: A delightful read....engrossing...a book to sink one's teeth into and escape with. While in the midst of this volume I found myself resenting all obligations which took me
away from the book. I look forward to future works by Jennifer Donnelly.
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