The story blends the action and melodrama together much better than its predecessor. Instead of a Fiona-like righteous revenge driven plot like the first, this story focuses on the redemption of morally deficient, damaged Sid Malone. This second story focuses on a female doctor, India, the quietly fierce, determined and oh yeah, disowned heir to the Selwyn Jones fortune, and the brother of the protagonist from the first, Fiona Finnegan's brother Charlie/Sid Malone. If I liked The Tea Rose and enjoyed its amount of sheer ridiculousness, then I loved The Winter Rose.

We've got illegal drug trades, unwitting use of said drugs by innocent persons, women's suffrage, the emergence of female doctors in the workplace, dirty cops and politicians, a modern-day Robin Hood, Africa, amputations, TWO escapes from jail, a serial killer, more star-crossed lovers (two couples this time! 100% increase in Angst Opportunity over last time!), women being hunted by lions and hyenas AND the most repellant antagonist I've read this year. After finishing the first, the question inquiring minds want to know was if the author could top the sheer spectacle of The Tea Rose? That answer was a resounding YES, yes she can. As before with my previous Jennifer Donnelly novel, this one was an interesting read, and I might get a wee bit spoilery.

The winter rose by jennifer donnelly