Rose

Author: Lauren Royal
Published: October 2003 (Signet)
Category: Historical Romance (Restoration)
Series: Flower Trilogy (#3)
Rating: 6/10

Sorry, this will be a quick one because I'm behind on my reviews! Rose is the conclusion to Royal's Flower trilogy and follows Rose in her pursuit of a wealthy, handsome, not-old, titled husband. Of all the Ashcroft sisters, Rose was most focused on catching a husband, and didn't mind hiding her intelligence to become more appealing to her target audience. So it really must have bugged her that her two sisters married before her and to handsome titled gentlemen.

The last of the lovely Ashcroft sisters to find a husband, Rose is fast approaching spinsterhood at the age of twenty-one. But the intelligent beauty is determined to make her way down the aisle—with no less than a nobleman—even if it means hiding her brains, her hopes, and her dreams.

There is someone, however, to whom Rose can reveal everything. He is Christopher Kit Martyn, a handsome and determined man set on landing the post of official Royal Architect. Kit is no stranger to female attention, and though a commoner, he does not hesitate to pursue the out-of-reach Rose despite her inability to see him as a husband. Somehow he must convince her that a title is worth little in the presence of a noble and passionate heart.…

At times, I didn't think Rose deserved Kit, with his unconditional love. Despite her kissing every eligible man in court (trying to figure out why Kit's kiss was so exceptional) and telling him she was aiming for a duke, he never gave up on her even though his career was hanging on the edge, with someone sabotaging him in his efforts to become Deputy Surveyor (sort of like a big shot architect).

Rose was also supposed to be very smart, and yet she was so completely stupid about Kit. True, love is blind, but I think it went a little far. She has all these passionate interludes with Kit and she still denies any feelings for him because he's just a commoner. Ugh. Every time she thought, "He's just a commoner," I was disgusted. She's kissed Kit and admits that it's wonderful, but she continues pursuing a duke whose kisses don't do anything for her.

And Rose wasn't the only female I wanted to smack upside the head. Kit's sister Ellen wanted to marry a pawn shop owner, much to Kit's dismay, but eventually got her way, under the condition that her husband didn't get her dowry. It was all just a test to make sure that the man wasn't after Ellen for the money, and Kit intended to give it to them a little while after the wedding, but Ellen became a complete bitch afterward, refusing to speak to Kit. The man raised her and busted his butt to earn a living, constantly save for a respectable dowry, and she forgets everything he's done now that she's married. I didn't think she should get the money; why did she feel so entitled to it? Did she do anything to earn it? No! The least she could've been was a bit more polite. So Rose steps in and uses her own dowry to pay off Ellen so she'll attend Rose and Kit's wedding, and Kit, unaware of that earlier transaction, goes to Ellen with her money so they can mend the rift. And Ellen, under the impression that her brother's given her the money, is all open arms. I highly doubt that character's goodness at that change of heart, no matter what she says, blaming it on her pregnancy hormones.

Sorry, annoyance outweighed the enjoyment for this one!