White Rose (War of the Roses)

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: I absolutely adored the first two books, reveling in the adventure of Edward of March and Lady Robyn. This, however, almost seemed like it was written by a different person altogether. It is overly crass, with sex scenes that seem more gratuitous than sensual--why on Earth was it necessary to have her assistant Heidi frequently "make out" with Robyn? Cheap, sophmoric attempts at adventure were merely interludes between long passages of irrelevant history (which has never been the case before) and perfunctory sex scenes. The ending was deeply unsatisfying and I am woefully disappointed in this book. It is certainly not a "heartwarming time-travel romance" and its a travesty to compare it to anything Diana Gabaldon writes. Don't waste your time reading this, even though it is hard not to want to with the way "Lady Robyn" ended.

Rating:
Summary: best book in this series
Review: In the present Lady Robyn Stafford visits England trying to find a way back to 1461 and her lover Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March and Ulster and Duke of York. Her friend Heidi, concerned about Robin, keeps her company. Desperate to get back to her love, Robyn and her friend travel to the backwoods of Wales to plead with her enemy to send her back in time.

To Robyn's surprise, Bryn does that but also sends Heidi back with her. They are captured by Owen Tudor and his men in Wales, one of Edward's most powerful enemies. She escapes and meets up with Edward but they are taken prisoner by the Wydvilles who want him to marry one of their daughters because they believe he will be the next king of England. Thanks to Robyn's ingenuity they escape the keep but their troubles are far from over as the French, the Irish, the Welsh and Queen Margaret's supporters force Edward into battles. When it looks like London might fall to enemy forces, Robyn puts out a newspaper rallying the commoners, hoping to buy enough time for Edward to control London.

This is the latest work starring Lady Robyn and is by far the best book in this series. Readers see the major battles of the War of the Roses as the author paints a vivid picture of this era. Fans of Roberta Gellis and Sharon Kay Penman will love WHITE ROSE, a grand love story in the tradition of Robin Hood and Lady Marion. The heroine is a feisty spunky independent woman who is more than a match for her beloved Edward.

Harriet Klausner