The Winter Rose.

The Winter Rose

Jennifer Donnelly

Hyperion

77 West 66th St., New York, NY 10023-6298

9781401301033, $24.95, 2008

The 20th century was just beginning. It was a time of male dominance in many careers, especially the field of medicine. Nurses were women, but female doctors were few and far between.

India Selwyn Jones graduates from the London School of Medicine for Women and she takes on a job with a male doctor. It's not long before she realizes the man is a butcher and cares little for the ills of women, particularly those who are poor and pregnant. India, however, is very idealistic and her dream is to one day have her own clinic that caters to those who cannot afford good medical care.

Her family doesn't understand her goals. They are wealthy and aristocratic and still hold to the belief that a woman should be standing beside a man and helping him with his career. Indeed, India is engaged to marry a man who has high political aspirations and her mother supports his wish to have India on his arm. It would look good for his career and, at the same time, provide the money he so desperately needs. Her mother has promised him a substantial dowry if he marries her daughter and puts an end to the ridiculous notion of being a doctor.

In the meantime, India meets Sid Malone. He's handsome, strong, charismatic and a romantic figure. He's also London's most notorious gangster. His reputation precedes him and India is determined to avoid his offered help to start a clinic.

Yet, she finds herself drawn to him and he is drawn to her. Their constant bickering is merely a cover-up for their true feelings, which both are trying desperately to ignore and stifle. India's fiance holds to a platform of ridding London of the criminal element and goes after Sid. Unfortunately, India seems to always be at the wrong place at the wrong time and it results in the two of them being thrown together once again.

"The Winter Rose" is a sequel to "The Tea Rose," Jennifer Donnelly's first novel, but the book manages to stand on its own. Beautifully written, the book transports the reader back to a time when men were men and women were trying to break out of the stereotype those same men put them in.

The book also educates the reader on the history of London at the turn of the century, when the city was undergoing many changes.

"The Winter Rose" is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Some readers may be intimidated by the size--after all, it is 700 pages--but the smooth writing style keeps the book flowing. Before you know it, you've reached the end and wonder what will happen next. Obviously, Ms. Donnelly plans a sequel and I, for one, am looking forward to it.