East London, 1888 - a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled street...
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reviews
Jan 15, 2012
Leanne
rated it: 
Never has a book left me feeling so conflicted. On one hand, this book was a delight to read, a towering old-fashioned tale filled with wonderful Victorian sensibilities. Jennifer Donnelley is a terrific storyteller, and I was captivated by the vibrant story she concocted. From the tantalizing, wafting aroma of tea down to the rowdy banters from the local pub on Montague street, she has a talent for bringing this story to life.
Despite her talent for setting and descriptive languag More...
Despite her talent for setting and descriptive languag More...
4 comments
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(13 people liked it)
May 26, 2011
Wendy Darling
rated it:
3.5 stars. This book is not at all what I expected! I thought it was historical fiction, but there's too much crazy melodrama for it to be that. Then I thought it was a historical romance, but it's far too detailed and well done for that, too. So the book is either extremely campy historical fiction or really, really excellent historical romance. But either way, it's loads and loads of fun.
A few things you should know about me that factor into why I enjoyed this book so much:
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A few things you should know about me that factor into why I enjoyed this book so much:
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11 comments
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(22 people liked it)
Jan 01, 2010
Allison (The Allure of Books)
rated it: 
This book has faults. The story was pretty far fetched at times-but I suppose in kind of an endearing "fairy tale" way (which is funny, since a great deal of the book is extremely horrible and depressing), and the main character didn't really have any flaws.
Well, I take that back. Fiona, the main character, was in love with Joe. That is a fault, in my eyes. They grew up together, were in love, and had big plans to get rich together. Well, through a horrible chain of events, More...
Well, I take that back. Fiona, the main character, was in love with Joe. That is a fault, in my eyes. They grew up together, were in love, and had big plans to get rich together. Well, through a horrible chain of events, More...
5 comments
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(28 people liked it)
Oct 16, 2011
Shell
rated it: 
I was just saying to my reading buddy, Rhonda, that I was tiring of the typical.. 'Privelaged girl meets Privelaged boy, having to endure the constant snear of society, all the while trying to (and always failing) to maintain ones virtue' stories.
Don't get me wrong, I love those books as much as the next guy..er.. uhm girl. It's just that lately I have been craving something 'more'. More angst, More struggle, (beyond what color of dress to wear to the society ball), more 'REAL'.
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Don't get me wrong, I love those books as much as the next guy..er.. uhm girl. It's just that lately I have been craving something 'more'. More angst, More struggle, (beyond what color of dress to wear to the society ball), more 'REAL'.
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Dec 16, 2007
Renee
rated it: 
I had a lot of hope for this after reading Donnelly's "A Northen Light" (which I really liked) and after learning that "A Tea Rose" was set in London at the time of the Jack the Ripper murders (a very intriguing setting, I thought). But I'm sorry to say, I was terribly disappointed.
The characters are all extremely stale. Good-hearted and good-looking people who have unfortunately been born into the working class. There are no flaws to make them human. Nothing I co More...
The characters are all extremely stale. Good-hearted and good-looking people who have unfortunately been born into the working class. There are no flaws to make them human. Nothing I co More...
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(11 people liked it)
Jul 07, 2011
Doug
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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10 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Mar 14, 2009
Michel
rated it:
Countess of Monte-Christo…
Revenge is sweet. And the good girl does not finish last!
The magic of the story is in the telling. This long long long book finishes too soon, that's a good test; and it stays with you for a while, another good test; and characters you know like you met them, some you love to love, and some you love to hate, another good test; and the setting, Dickens!
I read this book right after Rita died, and, well, it made me love, and miss, her even more: I wante More...
Revenge is sweet. And the good girl does not finish last!
The magic of the story is in the telling. This long long long book finishes too soon, that's a good test; and it stays with you for a while, another good test; and characters you know like you met them, some you love to love, and some you love to hate, another good test; and the setting, Dickens!
I read this book right after Rita died, and, well, it made me love, and miss, her even more: I wante More...
0 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Jun 29, 2011
Glenda
rated it:
Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spur them on, Fiona and Joe struggle, save, and sacrifice to achieve their dreams.
But Fiona's life is shattered when the actions of a dark and brutal man take from her nearly everything-and everyone-she holds dear. Fearing her own death, she is forced to flee London for New York. There, the ghosts of her pas More...
But Fiona's life is shattered when the actions of a dark and brutal man take from her nearly everything-and everyone-she holds dear. Fearing her own death, she is forced to flee London for New York. There, the ghosts of her pas More...
Feb 20, 2008
Christie
rated it:
Although I really liked this book I just couldn't quite give it five stars. Since I don't want to spoil it for others I'll try not to give too much away but here are the reasons I just couldn't give it five stars:
Too long....I like long books but I got impaitent with some parts of this book because I felt like there were unecessary elements and some of the "just missed it" scenes were frustrating.
I felt that the attempt to weave Jack the Ripper into the story actually detr More...
Too long....I like long books but I got impaitent with some parts of this book because I felt like there were unecessary elements and some of the "just missed it" scenes were frustrating.
I felt that the attempt to weave Jack the Ripper into the story actually detr More...
4 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Mar 17, 2008
Po
rated it:
This one of my all time favorites!! It is a sweeping saga, set between the US, Ireland, and England. It's fabulous. If you love historical epics, do yourself a favor and read it now! It's out in paperback now. A warning, it's huge!!
6 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Nov 08, 2011
Jessie (Ageless Pages Reviews)
rated it:
This is going to be an interesting review. But that is entirely fitting since this was an interesting book. I went back and forth on the rating of this as well. It's truly not good enough for more than a 3 star rating and yet, in the end, I sped through it and loved it. This also might end up being a tad bit more spoilery than I usually try to be; I honestly couldn't help it. This was part daytime soap-opera distilled into book form, part historical fiction set in London/New York in 1880s/1890s,
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 06, 2011
Eileen
rated it:
I drink a lot of tea, roses are one of my favorite flowers and I love historical fiction and that's the reason why I put this book on my to-read-list. It didn't disappoint me at all! It sucked me in from the beginning until the very exciting end. Unfortunately I was busy at work, because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to put the book down. This book needs a cold winters day, a comfortable couch, a big bar of chocolate and hot tea.......... You'll have an incredible read!
The stor More...
The stor More...
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 14, 2008
Bethany
rated it:
I seldom fail to finish a book, but I put this one down with a sigh. There were a few interesting tidbits about the tea trade, but so many more really awful ploys to make us think the main character was forward-thinking and imaginative: naming her tea Tas-Tea and "inventing" scented teas are just two examples.
The characters and plot were unfortunately predictable, not very well fleshed-out, and ultimately not believable. Most offensive of all to me (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!) was that o More...
The characters and plot were unfortunately predictable, not very well fleshed-out, and ultimately not believable. Most offensive of all to me (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!) was that o More...
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(1 person liked it)
Apr 14, 2008
Kathy
rated it: 
Our latest book club pick was The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. Andrea wanted something "steamy". Apparently, even married peeps need some hotness in their reading. Too bad it wasn't so steamy. In over 500 pages, there were only five sex scenes.
I was reminded of Taylor Caldwell and Colleen McCullough. Think family saga, beautiful young people torn apart by circumstances and an eventual happy ending but not until there are a few tear-jerking deaths. Oh, and throw in More...
I was reminded of Taylor Caldwell and Colleen McCullough. Think family saga, beautiful young people torn apart by circumstances and an eventual happy ending but not until there are a few tear-jerking deaths. Oh, and throw in More...
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 10, 2011
LemonLinda
rated it:
June is stacking up to be an amazing month of reading for me - already three 5 star books. The first two were great books that were out of my normal type of reading being fantasy and sci-fi. This book, however, was like coming home after having taken an exotic trip. It was familiar and all things normally good for me in a good, thick HF.
It had so many of those elements that make for a good read - passion and romance, deception and intrigue, historical relevance and a great story of f More...
It had so many of those elements that make for a good read - passion and romance, deception and intrigue, historical relevance and a great story of f More...
Feb 25, 2008
Rhiannon
rated it:
I found the book to be very engrossing. The characters were interesting as well as their personal journeys. By the time I got a little past half way in the book and I couldn't put it down. I stayed up WAY to late to finish the book because I had to know what happened.
I don't mind long books, but I think this was a tad too long due to too many "just walk through the door!" or "just talk to him/her!" moments. That was the only drawback to the story for me. No, I lied. More...
I don't mind long books, but I think this was a tad too long due to too many "just walk through the door!" or "just talk to him/her!" moments. That was the only drawback to the story for me. No, I lied. More...
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(2 people liked it)
Nov 14, 2011
Hira
rated it:
3.5 stars
Wow...this book was full of surprises. Just when you think you've figured out what it's about, you're once again surprised at the turn of events. It was a thriller, romance, and even a tragedy at one point.
This was a good read, i enjoyed it. But honestly, there wasn't that much depth to the story. The characters are all likeable enough (I really liked Nick :(), and you'll feel really sad for Fiona at a point. What I can say was different about this book was it's More...
Wow...this book was full of surprises. Just when you think you've figured out what it's about, you're once again surprised at the turn of events. It was a thriller, romance, and even a tragedy at one point.
This was a good read, i enjoyed it. But honestly, there wasn't that much depth to the story. The characters are all likeable enough (I really liked Nick :(), and you'll feel really sad for Fiona at a point. What I can say was different about this book was it's More...
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(1 person liked it)
Apr 20, 2008
Deodand
rated it:
This is another one of my mother's recommendations. She and I both love tea, and we love historical fiction, so this was an excellent choice.
I liked this book, and recommend it, but it wasn't terrific. There are lots of coincidences in the plot that tear away the necessary suspension of disbelief. Some of the inventions the characters make have the reader going "Come on, really??" Or as least they did me.
The characters were the best part of this book. I fin More...
I liked this book, and recommend it, but it wasn't terrific. There are lots of coincidences in the plot that tear away the necessary suspension of disbelief. Some of the inventions the characters make have the reader going "Come on, really??" Or as least they did me.
The characters were the best part of this book. I fin More...
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 11, 2011
Kate
rated it:
Well, it's definitely reminiscent of a soap opera. very melodramatic and unrealistic. But it's a soap opera I became powerfully addicted to. And I love it when books make me feel like I have to read them. I liked it a lot. In fact I kept reading, and loving it thinking; "OMG this could get 5 stars! this could get 5 stars!" until I was well, WELL into the book (page 400 I bet) And then a star was taken away, because I felt like the conclusion of the story dragged on forever and ever, ma
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(2 people liked it)
May 03, 2009
Patty
rated it:
This is a book that will get you through a move. It is a story of love, pain, revenge and adventure. Just when you think things are a little stressful in your own life, you turn to the book about Joe and Fee and conclude that things could be alot worse. Watching where fear, loyalty, revenge and ambition takes Fiona keeps you wrapped up in the story as she rises above her roots to be a solid force in the tea trade. For those that are looking for an escapist thick read for the summer, I would
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2 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 19, 2008
Jess
rated it:
A nice big saga, plenty of drama and tragedy and romance, but a lot of elements felt unrealistically modern and many plot points required a major suspension of disbelief. A good fun read, but lacking the more authentic historical feel of Donnelly's A Northern Light. (Who am I to say what an authentic historical feel is? As if I knew what the 1880s were really like. At any rate, A Northern Light let you get lost in the period without distracting you with things like the protagonist inventing
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 29, 2008
Carol
rated it:
From the back cover:
East London, 1888 - a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths. Here, by the whispering waters of the Thames, Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spu More...
East London, 1888 - a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths. Here, by the whispering waters of the Thames, Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spu More...
Jan 30, 2012
Laurel
rated it:
I fell into The Tea Rose and lived in Victorian England until I finished it. It is a richly written novel of a young woman of poor circumstances in the dockside and dicey Montague Street. Fiona works in a tea factory and loves a boy, Joe, the son of a costermonger. They are on the cusp of committing to each other when he has an opportunity to improve himself and ends up losing his true love to a wealthy, manipulative woman. Fiona had another blow as well. Her beloved father was killed under susp
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Jan 29, 2012
Literella
rated it:
Inhalt:
Im London des Jahres 1888 arbeitet die 17jährige Fiona als Teepackerin in den Docks. Sie stammt aus armen Verhältnissen, hat mit ihrer großen Liebe Joe aber ehrgeizige Pläne: Die beiden sparen Geld, um einen eigenen Laden zu eröffnen. Durch widrige Umstände verliert Fiona jedoch alles – ihre Familie, ihren geliebten Joe- und ist gezwungen nach New York zu flüchten. Schafft sie es sich eine neue Existenz aufzubauen? So oder so, eine Rechnung mit der Person, die sie aus London vertrieb More...
Im London des Jahres 1888 arbeitet die 17jährige Fiona als Teepackerin in den Docks. Sie stammt aus armen Verhältnissen, hat mit ihrer großen Liebe Joe aber ehrgeizige Pläne: Die beiden sparen Geld, um einen eigenen Laden zu eröffnen. Durch widrige Umstände verliert Fiona jedoch alles – ihre Familie, ihren geliebten Joe- und ist gezwungen nach New York zu flüchten. Schafft sie es sich eine neue Existenz aufzubauen? So oder so, eine Rechnung mit der Person, die sie aus London vertrieb More...
Nov 30, 2011
Marcia
rated it:
You remember those epic style books from the 80s (if I'm just showing my age here, please humor me and play along)? The Thornbirds kind of books, which were inevitably made into multi-night miniseries for one of the three networks (while I'm already aging myself, I'd like to say how much I miss those miniseries and really wish they'd make a comeback). This is the same sort of book, a sweeping family saga with a star-crossed romance at its heart and a basic rags to riches story. It spans continen
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Oct 13, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
Jennifer Donelly's recently completed third book caught my attention so I decided to read the first book of the series which is The Tea Rose. I wasn't expecting a rags-to-riches romance with lots of melodrama, but Jennifer has turned out to be an extraordinary writer and the book is a pleasure to experience. Her East London characters are memorable and the setting of Whitechapel, where Jack the Ripper is running loose, adds authenticity to the events. Fiona Finnegan is a worker in a tea facto
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Aug 21, 2011
Kirsten
rated it:
Just finished this yesterday. It is the first in the series of three books so far, but is the second one I read. Since I already read Winter Rose, I'm afraid I knew some of the outcomes. However, that made no difference; I enjoyed finding out how it all came about. The character of Fee and her incredible rise in the tea world in such a short time, just as Joe rises in the fruit/vegetable world is probably not realistic time-line wise, but the rise of their fortunes is not so surprising. I l
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Aug 06, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
NOTE: This review is a review of all three books in the Rose Trilogy.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but the books in the Rose Trilogy reminded me of the Danielle Steel books I used to devour when I was 14-years old … and I mean that in the very best way!!
I used to love Danielle Steel’s books (though I’ve “outgrown” them after being exposed to a “better” class of books) because they featured heroines who experienced all these ups and downs but who eventually triumphed over dif More...
Don’t take this the wrong way, but the books in the Rose Trilogy reminded me of the Danielle Steel books I used to devour when I was 14-years old … and I mean that in the very best way!!
I used to love Danielle Steel’s books (though I’ve “outgrown” them after being exposed to a “better” class of books) because they featured heroines who experienced all these ups and downs but who eventually triumphed over dif More...
Jan 28, 2011
Maria
rated it:
I guess I should really give this novel 2.5 stars. There were times when I couldn't put it down, and other times when I thought the plot was lame and improbable and asked myself why I don't just stick to memoirs and classics. The beginning was nice, the end of part one was fabulous. Part two was interesting but by part three I was skipping through chapters just to see what happened in the end. My opinion is that this novel is much longer than it needs to be. I appreciate the historical tie ins
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Jul 19, 2010
Jackie
rated it:
This one earned 4 ½ stars from me. The Tea Rose is a classical rags to riches story following the harrowing struggles of Fiona Finnegan as she tries to make it in the world. If you thought you had a bad life, you should try stepping into Fiona’s shoes for awhile. Donnelly pulled out all the stops in the drama department producing a very well written and engaging story. Admittedly, sometimes the beginning of the book became too heavy for me to read with so much loss and devestation, but once I go
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