Stealing Roses by Heather Cooper
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Read: 10th November 2019
Purchase: Amazon
(publication: 24th October 2019)
★★★★ 4.5 stars
I requested STEALING ROSES on a bit of a whim upon reading the premise which sounded like a delightful breath of fresh air. Indeed I was not wrong. An easy read, which I devoured in two sittings lost within the Victorian era of such social considerations of which would be so strange to us today.
A gentle Victorian romance, STEALING ROSES is populated with a delightful (and some not so delightful) cast of characters set upon the Isle of Wight in 1862. It was a time when a woman's sole purpose was to marry and produce children, with a prestigious marriage to a someone of substantial wealth considered most advantageous.
This is the predicament in which Eveline Stanhope finds herself. As the youngest of three girls, Eveline is on the cusp of spinsterhood at the tender age of 19. Her mother, Adelaide Stanhope (but more referred to as Mrs Stanhope throughout), has designs on a marriage between the nephew of one of the more respectable families, Charles Sandham, and her youngest daughter. But Evie is a girl of independent spirit which sets her apart from her older sisters with her forward thinking and modern ideas. She doesn't see marriage as her only option nor does she see spinsterhood a failing, for she believes women should have the power to choose their own destiny...even if that means being happy and alone, tied to a loveless marriage or even working for a living.
But not everyone is as modern in their thinking...her mother nearly fainting from the sheer distress of such an idea (someone pass the smelling salts!) and instead attempting to find a respectable match for her through a volley of dinner parties, garden teas and various other social engagements, where two suitors catch her attention. Charles Sandham and railway engineer, Thomas Armitage. Whilst her mother sees a marriage between the socially acceptable and wealthy Charles an attractive venture, Eveline finds herself somewhat drawn to the rather unaffable Thomas...without even considering the idea of marriage. She has far more important ventures to pursue. And yet she each time she comes across the reserved Thomas, she still catches herself with thoughts of him.
Eveline's older "married" sisters, Louisa and Beatrice, are always on hand to offer advice regarding such important issues as lady's maids, hairstyles, clothing and its various accessories. But Eveline feels the confines of her sheltered life is almost like a prison, particularly when her mother strictly forbids her to visit the "Professor of Photography" shop, where she and her maid Jennie spent hours learning about the art, as well as the swimming lessons Jennie had been giving her. Why should a man have more freedom to do the things she herself would like to do? But as her sisters wisely pointed out, she will have far greater freedom once she is married...as if marriage were the answer to everything!
And yet her mother is secretly hoping for a union between Charles Sandham and her youngest daughter to happen quite soon. When Eveline takes herself off to London on a private family matter, Mrs Stanhope has no qualms in letting slip the hotel in which she is stayed to the charming Charles, who claims to have some business to attend to in the capital and promises to look in on Eveline whilst he is there. Moreso, he gives Mrs Stanhope the assurance that he will accompany Eveline back home, to which she is most agreeable. She is so sure than an engagement will be announced upon their return that she confides in half the town on the intention.
But Eveline is not to be swept off her feet by the charms of Charles Sandham. In fact, whilst she is most polite to him she wishes nothing more than to escape his presence at the earliest opportunity. But while the cat's away the mice will play and Charles has other ideas. Strong in spirit, Eveline puts him in his place but not before she feels the sting of his hand and anger of his rage. The next morning she is at the station for the first train to escape his path but he soon catches up with her and when they disembark the steamer on the Isle, Eveline is disheartened to see the darkness fall across Thomas Armitage's face when he catches a glimpse of her with Charles. By the time she disentangles Charles' hand from her arm, Thomas has already looked away...and Eveline is surprised to find herself distressed by the whole thing.
When Eveline arrives home to find her mother has her already engaged to the unsavoury Charles, she realises she has no alternative but to regale her mother with the events that took place in London. At first, she refuses to accept such a thing and then she assumes that Eveline must have done something to provoke him...but finally, the following day, Mrs Stanhope concludes that her daughter is telling the truth. And then the prospect of having to face such humiliation after already marrying the couple off, Mrs Stanhope concedes to simply ignore it.
But alas, as in all good historical romances, it doesn't end there. It isn't long before we see Eveline giving herself the extra freedom she so longs for, albeit secretly, as she and Jennie's friendship remains steadfast long after the young girl had left the Stanhope's employ. And thereto Evie finds another type of freedom encountering Thomas Armitage once again. But no sooner does she find herself and love at the same time, does she also learn of heartbreak and a sadness she never thought she could feel after her father's death. In the ensuing chapters, we see Evie pining and mope about before anticipating a satisfying ending.
But will Evie find her happily ever after?
A simply delightful read, STEALING ROSES is a leisurely stroll through the Victoria era of romance and etiquette. But if one anticipates this to be an enthralling tale of romance...it is here, but sparingly. STEALING ROSES is more about Evie's journey...where she feels restricted by all that is expected of her class and longs to have the same freedoms afforded to those of lower classes. She may be the youngest of the three Stanhope daughters but in some ways she is far wiser than her older siblings. If she is to marry, and it wouldn't be the end of the world if she didn't, then she desires someone to support her and share in her views as not only a woman but as an equal. Forward thinking for the Victorian age, and not widely accepted. But Evie found a way to make her mark.
I thoroughly enjoyed STEALING ROSES, and the only thing keeping me from rating it 5 stars was the ending...as I felt it a little too abrupt to be in line with the rest of the story. I would have preferred to see a happy ending peter out into a satisfying conclusion. But it is still a delightful read and incredibly enjoyable.
The best way to simply describe STEALING ROSES to other readers, I feel, is that it is a kind of "Jane Austen meets Downton Abbey".
Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction.
I would like to thank #HeatherCooper, #NetGalley and #AllisonAndBusby for an ARC of #StealingRoses in exchange for an honest review.
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