In the small town of Colden, Massachusetts, Libby Sawyer leads a quiet, predictable life. Yet beneath the surface, she is haunted by a secret.
Newly arrived on American shores, Michael Dobrescu is far from predictable, and his arrival in Colden is anything but quiet. Michael’s shocking claim to be the rightful owner of Libby’s father’s house immediately alienates him from the appalled citizens of Colden.
Despite her own outrage, Libby is unwittingly fascinated by this enigmatic man who seems equally intrigued by her. As the court’s decision about the house looms and the layers of mystery surrounding Michael’s past are unveiled, Libby’s loyalties are tested in ways she never imagined.
A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.
My Impressions:
I chose to read and review The Rose of Winslow Street because the back cover blurb sounded really intriguing. How could someone come in and seize your house and still have a claim to it in the courts? It sounded like a nice little historical romance. But what I found was so much more. Elizabeth Camden has written characters that really come to life — the much under-appreciated and misjudged Libby, the proud, yet insecure professor that is Libby’s father, and the deeply wounded yet strong Mirela. Even the minor characters are fleshed out. And the larger than life, grab life with both hands, Michael Dobrescu is a character you won’t soon forget. (I kept picturing a much more sensitive Gaston from Beauty and The Beast. *giggle*)
The struggle over the house is interesting, but it is the character development that really steals the show. I felt so proud of Libby as she struggled to stand up to not only her father, but the whole town. Despite her obvious intelligence and artistic gifts, she had been labeled, as her father put it, as a mental deficient due to what could only be a learning disability. Michael is the first person in her life to see Libby’s value as the person God made her. Camden handles this truth very well.
If you like historical romance, you are going to like The Rose of Winslow Street. And if you like well-developed characters, a plausible plot, and a strong message of God’s truth without the preachiness, you’ll love it!
Highly Recommended.
(I received The Rose of Winslow Street from Bethany in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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