Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful new voice creates a keeper of a novel
Review: Late in thirteenth France, sixteen year old Lady Solange and Damon Wolf, a landless aristocratic orphan, declare their undying love to each other. However, Solange's father, Henry, the Marquess of Ironstag, has political needs that supersede any thoughts of love. Henry expects his dutiful daughter to wed the Earl of Redmond. If she fails him, Henry promises to destroy Damon. For the sake of her love, Solange sacrifices her happiness and weds Redmond. The lead characters are wonderfully drawn and the support cast, especially the vile villain, adds flavoring to a moving story line. Shana Abe is a powerful new voice who will be heard and loved by readers of Medieval romance. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Storytelling
Review: Ms. Abe spins a wonderful world all her own, drawing the reader well into the romance. It's true that reading her stories are like visiting a place you've never been before. But it's a compelling place, like a dream, and I love to visit.Solange and Damon are rich and deep people caught in a medieval struggle for power, destined to be together. It is easy to identify with each of them, and cheer them on. This is one of the finer romances I have read. Read it if you love strong characters and happy endings.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Ms. Abe's A Rose in Winter is deep and dark and thoroughly enjoyable. A fabulous example of romance writing at its best.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing medieval written with love
Review: Set in medieval times it's about young lovers separated by a fate they cannot control who are reunited. The heroine is forced to marry a cruel man in order to spare the hero's life and the book is about them being reunited almost a decade later and rebuilding their love. I really liked the way the author avoided creating the stereotypical wronged and bitter hero. Damon was a dream hero, he was a lovely blend of contradictions; a powerful warrior and leader but also a tender healer, he was strong but not too strong and arrogant to admit to his love for Solange, even after all of the hell he'd been through. He didn't spend the book denying his feelings and striking out at the heroine. What a breath of fresh air!! And I emphasized with Solange who was courageous and never let her tortured past overwhelm her. She was abused and understandably scarred and scared but she didn't use her past as an excuse to keep Damon at arms length. Her gradual opening up to Damon's people was real and touching. In a nutshell I liked this book so much because the characters acted like adults who weren't afraid to admit what they felt in their hearts. It was refreshing and I definitely recommend this one.
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Summary: What a GREAT read!
Review: This book was completely engrossing! I felt drawn into a wonderful new world while I was reading it. I really felt for Solange and Damon, and what's more, I really liked them! The writing was lyrical and lovely, and the plot was interesting. I would absolutely recommend Abe's A Rose in Winter to anyone who loves historical romance! You should read this book!
Rating:
Summary: A Rose Indeed!
Review: This was my first book by Shana Abe, and after this introduction, it will NOT be my last. This was a wonderful story of Lady Solange and Damon her childhood hero and love. She was the daughter of the Marquess and he the ward of a neighboring estate. They were brought up together and were kindred spirits at best. It was unspoken between them but Lady Solange knew that someday they would be together. One day, at the age of 16, it came as a shock from her father the announcement that she would be wed the next day to the Earl Redmond. Knowing that Damon would fight for her, it was a test of her love for Damon to make him believe that she would wed the Earl of her own free will, otherwise Damon would be killed. What no one knew was the depravities which she would face once she left as the bride to the handsome and evil Earl of Redmond. This was a very well written book with just the right blend of mystery and romance to keep one interested. I had trouble putting it down... definitely a gauge to rate this a 5* read!
Rating:
Summary: A Rose Indeed!
Review: This was my first book by Shana Abe, and after this introduction, it will NOT be my last. This was a wonderful story of Lady Solange and Damon her childhood hero and love. She was the daughter of the Marquess and he the ward of a neighboring estate. They were brought up together and were kindred spirits at best. It was unspoken between them but Lady Solange knew that someday they would be together. One day, at the age of 16, it came as a shock from her father the announcement that she would be wed the next day to the Earl Redmond. Knowing that Damon would fight for her, it was a test of her love for Damon to make him believe that she would wed the Earl of her own free will, otherwise Damon would be killed. What no one knew was the depravities which she would face once she left as the bride to the handsome and evil Earl of Redmond. This was a very well written book with just the right blend of mystery and romance to keep one interested. I had trouble putting it down... definitely a gauge to rate this a 5* read!
Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: wonderful story. i could not put it down until i read the last line. this book was written with much more depth than her "Promise of Rain" book which I sold back to the book store. If she continues to write in the same fashion as in "Rose in Winter" I will buy every one of her books. Ms. Abe has the potential of becoming a great author (as great as deveraux and garwood). Good luck to her.
Rating:
Summary: Great debut
Review: Young, orphaned, Damon is taken in as a ward by the heroine's father and the two grow up together. They become as close as two souls can be and can't fathom the thought of life without the other. Unfortunately, this is medieval times and greedy men rule their daughters, so the two are torn apart and Solange is forced to marry a depraved man or else risk the life of her dear Damon. After almost a decade of abuse Solange finds the means to escape the hellish man who's kept her prisoner and is reunited with Damon. Because they've both been hurt their reconciliation isn't an easy one and it's a long road before they're able to find bliss because they've got to confront, admit to, and get past their misconceptions and heartache. I really liked the way the author avoided creating the stereotypical wronged and bitter hero. Damon was a dream hero, he was a lovely blend of contradictions; a powerful warrior and leader but also a tender healer, he was strong but not too strong and arrogant to admit to his love for Solange, even after all of the hell he'd been through. He didn't spend the book denying his feelings and striking out at the heroine. What a breath of fresh air! And I empathized with Solange who was courageous and never let her tortured past overwhelm her. She was abused and understandably scarred and scared but she didn't use her past as an excuse to keep Damon at arms length. Her gradual opening up to Damon's people was real and touching. In a nutshell I liked this book so much because the characters acted like adults who weren't afraid to admit what they felt in their hearts. It was refreshing and I definitely recommend this one, especially if you like strong relationship-based books and terrific character growth.
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