For the Roses (Rose, #1)

For the Roses (Claybornes' Brides (Rose Hill) #1)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95  ·  rating details  ·  6,340 ratings  ·  221 reviews
1879. In Blue Belle, Montana, everyone knew better than to mess with the Claybornes. The brothers had once been a mismatched gang of street urchins -- until they found an abandoned baby girl in a New York city alley, named her Mary Rose, and headed west to raise her to be a lady. They became a family -- held together by loyalty and love if not by blood -- when suddenly the...more
Paperback, 576 pages
Published February 1st 1996 by Pocket Books (first published September 1st 1995)
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UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish
From the cover:
The Clayborne brothers were a rough gang of street urchins -- until they found an abandoned baby girl in a New York City alley, named her Mary Rose, and headed to Blue Belle, Montana, to raise her to be a lady. They became a family -- held together by loyalty and love if not blood -- when suddenly a stranger threatened to tear them apart...Lord Harrison Stanford MacDonald brandished a six-shooter and a swagger, but he soon proved to be a gentleman to the core. The brothers taught...more
Arch
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Zumbagirl
Normally, I love Julie Garwood. Maybe I've changed because this book kind of annoyed me. It was way too long - could have and should have been edited back at least 100 pages. Her writing style is very simple - maybe too simple. I liked all of the characters and the premise was good. But something was missing from this compared to some of her other books. The Bride (Lairds' Fiancées, #1) and The Secret (Highlands' Lairds #1) are still my favorites!
Kathie (katmom)
A friend, Sandi Layne, told me that THIS was the Julie Garwood book to read. She was right!

I LOVED this from the moment the four boys found Sidney who turns out to be a girl. These young men know what FAMILY is and they raise Mary Rose to be an articulate, knowledgeable, kind, caring woman.

Each chapter ends with a letter to Mama Rose, the eldest brother's mama, who has become the mama to all five of them. It doesn't matter that four of the five have NEVER even met her, she's their MAMA and throu...more
Christy
Despite its flaws--and there are many--I enjoyed this story of an unconventional family in the Wild West. I enjoyed it enough to check out the sequels from the library and am now looking forward to reading a trilogy of novellas about three of the brothers.
Joene
Set in western United States and England, this story tells of 4 young homeless boys, living on the streets of New York City, who find an infant girl who was thrown away. She binds them together, and they decide to become a real family in the far West, far from those who would challenge their family unit. The Claybornes are born with the adoption of the young baby. Mystery surrounds her and her brothers, as does danger. GREAT STORY!!!! It was even made into a TV movie (which I didn't think was so...more
Melissa
Oct 11, 2008 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everytone
I looked for For the Roses after seeing the Hallmark film, Rose Hill, which was very, very loosely based on the book. I saw the name of the book and author at the end of the film and went straight to the bookstore the next day to get it. I couldn't find it because it was a ROMANCE and at the time I thought myself above the genre. Boy, was I wrong. I bought the book and was immediately sucked in. It's a wonderful story with interesting and fleshed out characters. Julie Garwood changed my opinion...more
Jennifer
tl;dr

I got bogged down in scenes and characters I didn't feel added anything to the plot or character development, other than to continue to convince me that Mary Rose is annoying.

I'm beginning to think Mary Rose is an overgrown brat covering her behavior with exaggerated sweetness.
Andrea
This is one of the longest romantic books I've read so far. I loved it. I simply enjoyed every little word of it. The plot was genius and wonderfully written. The romantic scenes were as sweet and as exciting as any real true loving couple's lives can be. The Clayborne family is ideal in every possible way. The challenges they undergo create an interest in the reader, and keeping track of every one of them needs concentration. I admired Adam greatly. Just as Mary Rose was the piece that kept the...more
Jacky Faber
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Angie
Four young boys are living on the streets of New York when suddenly a woman throws a basket into their alley. The basket will change their world. The basket contains a baby girl. The boys decide to leave the city and raise the girl. They end up in Blue Belle, Montana and the become the Clayborne family: Adam, Douglas, Clay, Travis and Mary Rose. Together they build a life and a family, but it is all going to change when Harrison McDonald comes to town. He is looking for the long lost daughter of...more
Donna
I read this book a long time ago, and recently re-read it when I needed a warm, heart-lifting and fun book. I suppose technically it's a romance, but in the best sense of the word. It starts in 1860 in a large northern city (New York, I think), and four young boys - one an escaped slave - living on the streets find a baby girl who was thrown in the trash in their alley. They decided to become a family and raise her as their sister because they didn't trust anyone, so they headed west and settled...more
Nura
Cerita berawal dari tahun 1860an ketika Perang Saudara sudah di ambang batas. Pihak Union yang gigih memperjuangkan kebebasan kaum kulit hitam berperang dengan Pihak Konfederasi yang tetap mendukung adanya perbudakan. Padahal dalam deklarasi kemerdekaannya, orang Amerika menyatakan bahwa all men are created equal. Sejak awal Amerika memang telah menerapkan standar ganda yang ambigu.

Jadi ingat jalur pelarian yang dikenal sebagai underground railroad. Jalur ini dibangun oleh orang-orang kulit puti...more
Valen
This is one of my favorite Julie Garwood novels! It was sweet and really nice. The mixture of family love and romance was blended together thoroughly.

Four boys coming together and making an adult decision to take care of a baby was nothing I've ever read before. Honestly, I think the romance between Harrison and Mary Rose came only second to the main theme of the novel which is familial love. The Claybornes showed total love, trust and loyalty to each other that nothing can ever keep them apa...more
Jasmin
May 03, 2010 Jasmin rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Hopeless romantics
Recommended to Jasmin by: College friend
I liked the book, but I certainly didn't love it enough to give it five stars. But I have to admit that I enjoyed it in a certain extent. And fine, I became teary eyed in a few parts.

It's a nice read, but there were a lot of parts in the book that were "Fillers" or rather unnecessary and were just there to make the book even longer. Or rather, similar to what I'm doing, which is beating around the bush.

I never really enjoyed Western romances, and I have to admit that I was disappointed that this...more
Elise Wilson
I absolutely loved this book. It has everything I look for in a good read. I liked the hero, Harrison and heroine Mary Rose. In fact, I loved the entire Clayborne family. Garwood does an excellent job of creating four brothers who personalities are distinct and whose gifts are unique. I also liked that the brothers came from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. I don't see that too often in this genre. The storyline itself was different and I liked it.

And while there is the element of romance in t...more
June
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Pamela(AllHoney)
One of my faves. The prologue begins the story before the American Civil War. Then fast forward to chapter one and it is years later after the war. The heroine, Mary Rose, has arrived back to Blue Belle and her loving family after being away at school in St Louis. Mary Rose was found in a basket in an alley as a infant and raised by 4 "brothers". Filled with humor and a few heart wrenching moments I highly recommend this one.
Michelle Kelly
Not such a fan of this Garwood novel.
http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspo...

Well it was bound to happen eventually I'm sure. There is actually a Julie Garwood book that I did not fall in love with. I guess there is a first time for everything.

The prologue starts the setting off in New York City, 1860 and it was a spectacular beginning. I immediately was absorbed into the story and thought for sure For the Roses was going to be a total winner. The story begins with a group of misfit throw-away...more
P Harvey
I really enjoyed the first half of this story. However, it was very disturbing to to me that when Rose becomes afraid during her first sexual encounter with Harrison in the bunk house that HE HOLDS HER DOWN until she stops struggling. In this century we call that not consensual sex, or rape. Then the next night Rose is actually telling him that he's hurting her, and does he stop? NO! That's a serious problem. I think the author and Harrison use two excuses for him to ignore her obvious "NO" 1) S...more
Sara Nowlin-Edens
For the Roses by Julie Garwood is a paperback that is well-worn in my personal library. Garwood’s talent for making her heroines spunky, daring, and innocent, while allowing them to be strong, is a plus for her books. Mary Rose is no exception.

Mary Rose interacts with her family and friends with caring. She allows her interactions to be realistic and fun. It is easy to visualize this spunky heroine. She is allowed a temper, even at times that women are angry for no reason, but has that temper i...more
Holly
This is just another lovely Julie Garwood story.
Set in the Big Montana country, before it was a state.
It has a cowboy feel to it.
Some tragedy, but not too much... and lots of good character development. 1 beautiful, and strong woman and her 4 adopted brothers who raised her. Each character is very well described and their differences sort of blend together like a well woven blanket. Then along comes an outsider who falls in love with her and challenges her brothers...but of course, there is a...more
Marilyn
A delightful book about the Clayborne brothers who were a rough gang of street urchins - until they found an abandoned baby girl in a NY City alley, named her Mary Rose, and headed to Blue Belle, Montana, to raise her to be a lady. They became a family - held together by loyalty and love, if not blood - when suddenly a stranger threatened to tear them apart. Lord Harrison Stanford MacDonald brandished a six-shooter and a swagger, but he soon proved to be a gentleman to the core. The brothers tau...more
becky
When I first started reading this book, I hated everyone except Adam. About 100 pages in, I really couldn't understand why anyone would be head over heels in love with Mary Rose because she was downright annoying. And then Harrison entered the picture and I was intrigued by him, but couldn't quite grasp why/how/when he could have fallen in love with that simpering ninny of a heroine. Finally, I just had to accept that he had, but then they ran off to London and he didn't act much like a man in l...more
steph
FAVORITE. FAVORITE. FAVORITE BOOK ALERT. What I love about this book is that this book is that it's about family that was built on trust and love. None of the members of this family shared the same blood and that what makes this family unique. Because of Mary Rose, the boys decided to become a family. They became brothers and she became their sister. Fast forward years and suddenly Mary Rose is all grown up and causing trouble. I have read all the books in this "Rose" series and I have to say, e...more
Cyndi
After all my bitching on my review, why didn't I give it 1 star?? I don't know. I guess because ... I didn't hate it and I'm kind of interpreting a 1 as "hate."

What I didn't like:
1. Mary Rose
2. Harrison
3. the dialogue
4. the plot

What I didn't find horrible:
1. Eleanor or Ellen or whoever the hell Mary Rose's friend is
2. Cole
3. Adam
4. Blue Belle and the Judge

Do I want to read the others? I don't know. I was kind of hoping Cole and Ellie would hook up and since that seems out of the question (I re...more
AlTonya
This was a phenomenal story and one that was suggested by a friend/co-worker. When I saw how hefty it was, I thought no way was I gonna finish it anytime soon. WRONG!!! I could barely put it down from the moment I began it- not only do I adore historical novels, but as a romance novelist myself, finding novels that feature an array of settings and characters (including a very well done African American storyline..) simply amazing.

If you're a romance lover- especially an historical romance lover...more
Kristen
I love Julie Garwood books and this book did not disappoint me. The weekend I read it I wanted to read a quick book but I only had this book. For the Roses is rather lengthly but well worth it.
The story starts off with four street boys finding a baby girl in a dumpster in New York City just before the Civil War. The boys decide to keep her and want to raise her to be a proper woman. Most of the book takes place after the boys and Mary Rose have grown into adulthood but they reflect on growing u...more
Öykü
Güllere sor bitti . Bu Julie Garwood'un okuduğum ilk kitabıydı . Kesinlikle favori yazarlarımdan biri oldu diyebilirim . Kitaba gelince kitabı beğendim bir tek sonunu daha farklı bekliyordum . Orda biraz hayal kırıklığına uğradım . Onun dışında kesinlikle kitap çok güzeldi . Özellikle yazarın aile bağlarını işleyişini ve Dört erkek kardeşin Mary Rose 'u öz kardeşleriymiş gibi sahiplenmeleri ve birbirlerima davranışları çok hoşuma gitti . Özellikle de onların sonradan tanıştıklarını düşününce :)...more
R.L. Mathewson
From the cover I really didn't expect much more than a dry read, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a witty, entertaining and often times a steamy book. My only complaint was the writing style and it's a small complaint at that. The author would often speak about the event in past tense with a wrap up which she quickly turned the event into a present tense. It took a little while to get used to that. In the end things were quickly washed over in a rush to get to the end which was left wide o...more
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Let's Talk About ...: For The Roses (Rose #1) 1 2 Apr 08, 2013 01:21pm  
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For The Roses

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Julie Murphy was born in 1946 in Kansas City, Missouri to a large Irish family. At the age of six, Julie had her tonsils removed and complications from the surgery resulted in a long period of recuperation. She fell hopelessly behind in school and never caught up. "I was a slow, slow reader," Julie says. "I hated it." At the age of 11, her mother discovered her daughter's secret and promptly enrol...more
More about Julie Garwood...
The Bride (Lairds' Fiancées, #1) The Secret (Highlands' Lairds #1) Ransom (Highlands' Lairds, #2) Honor's Splendour The Prize

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“If you begin to give away parts of yourself, eventually you'll give it all. And once you've lost yourself, haven't you lost everything?” 62 people liked it
“I'm wearing clothes in my thoughts and dreams though. What am I wearing in yours?" she asked.

"Me."

Conversation between Mary Rose and Harrison in Julie Garwood's FOR THE ROSES”
13 people liked it
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