Lady of the Roses
Sandra Worth
Berkley Books
ISBN: 978-0-425-21914-0
Historical Fiction, Romance
Reviewed by Shannon Frost

In the year 1456, at the tender age of fifteen, young Isobel Ingoldesthorpe leaves the priory that has been her home for the past year to become a ward of England’s Queen Marguerite and be wed to the highest bidder.  But a life of loveless marriage would be a life of imprisonment for Isobel, and she pleads with Heaven to send her love.  That love arrives when she meets the valiant knight, Sir John Neville.  From the moment of their first dance together, theirs is to be a love that transcends time and tragedy.  With England being torn asunder by the warring families of York and Lancaster, it is only in each other’s arms that Isobel and John can find sanctuary while they pray for peace.

When Lady of the Roses begins, right away readers know they are about to embark on a journey of beautiful writing and deep emotion.  The details in this book are so rich and painstakingly created, from food to clothing to customs of the people, it paints life during the 15th century with brilliant clarity and demonstrates the scholarly care author Worth takes in her writing.  As much of the story is based in fact and actual events, it’s filled with historical figures, yet despite the mass of names and titles, author Worth does a superb job in presenting each in a comprehensive manner so as to not confuse or frustrate readers who may not be familiar with this dark period of England’s history.  This finely crafted work has something that’s sure to please nearly every reader; lush detail, characters that all but breath through the pages, politics of the day, action and suspense, and most of all, romance, because at it’s heart, Lady of the Roses is a love story.  

Written from the first-person perspective of Isobel, a strong and endearing female heroine, readers follow her through her life’s journey, rejoicing in her successes and happiness, feeling the pains of her loses and hardships with her.  Through it all, though, one thing remains constant, and that’s Isobel’s and John’s profound love for each other.  Their emotions, written with heartfelt tenderness, lift from the pages to the reader’s heart, making their story one that touches all who read it.

There are many love stories that readers can chose from, but few are as powerful as Lady of the Roses.  The highest of praises go to author Worth for creating this beautiful literary work.