Rose's Fight (The Trenwith Trilogy #3) by Rosie Clarke
Genre: Historical fiction, Post-WW1
Read: 19th September 2024
Published: 7th September 2024
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
The war has changed everything, but has it changed society enough?
London, 1917.
Rose Barlow has loved and lost. She has done her fair share during the war and seen her dreams shattered. As the British class system crumbles Rose is determined not to return to service at Trenwith Estate instead, she’s keen to pursue new opportunities and her own happiness now the war is over.
Luke Trenwith survived the war and has returned home as the next Trenwith Baronet. But the life he once accepted as his fate feels cold and empty. He is left wanting more.
But has the world changed enough to allow him to live his dream?
The war changed their world, but do Rose and Luke have the courage to carve out a new future that could shock society?
If you love this, have you tried Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane, Blackberry Farm, Dressmakers Alley and Harper's series?
Previously Published as Forbidden Love by Linda Sole
MY THOUGHTS:
The war has changed everything...but has it changed society enough...?
Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors and I eagerly devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, enjoying every sojourn with them. This is the third and final in the Trenwith Trilogy with the story this time centring on Rose, who we met at the beginning and have followed her since.
Although the book doesn't necessarily state what year it is, I can only surmise it is now 1919 with the Great War behind them having signed the Armistice on 11th November 1918. With that thought in mind, many young men are now returning from the Front whilst the memory remains of those who are not.
Rose Barlow, former housemaid at Trenwith and now close friend of Sarah Pelham, had intended to take up studying nursing as a vocation after the war, having served as a VAD for its duration. A splendid VAD, she had the makings of a promising nurse. However, she married in secret to Canadian fighter pilot Rod Carne (and nurses were not permitted to marry). Then when Rod was killed shortly after their wedding, Rose was heartbroken.
Now the war was over, Rose had no intentions of returning to service. Besides, times were changing and the days of service were from another era. She decided to try her luck on the stage as she had always enjoyed singing and had an ambition to see where it could take her. Having lost her husband, she reverted to her maiden name for the stage and soon became something of a star.
But her heart remained at Trenwith and the childish crush she'd harboured for the son and heir to the Trenwith estate - Luke Trenwith. But she was a servant and there was a clear social divide that separated them. But those days were past, for the most part though for some they remained. Little did Rose know that Luke had shared those feelings she had and whilst societal rules dictated that he should marry someone with money and breeding and thus producing an heir, Luke could not help but be drawn to Rose.
And so they began a clandestine affair, declaring their love for each other and forsaking all others. Until Luke returned home and was thrust into an engagement with "the right sort of girl". How would Rose take the news that he was to marry someone else? She did not want to be his mistress and she deserved far more than that but how could he fulfill his duty and his promise to the woman he loved?
Has the world changed enough to allow Rose and Luke to follow their dream to be together? Or must they sacrifice each other for the sake of the social class divide?
There is so much packed into this tale of love and woe. I found I grew frustrated with Rose and her stubborn streak but then I guess that's how society carved out these women in those days. We are reunited with Sarah and Troy at Pelham and Louise and Jack in Paris, though Rose is still in the dark as to her brother's fate. How will she react should Luke tell her the truth? And how will society react to Rose and Luke being together? Or is it still too soon for them to cross the social divide? And then there is the biggest secret of all. How will it all end?
I must say, this was my least favourite of the three books with the first one being my favourite. Though I was happy with the outcome nonetheless. Having said that, I still enjoyed this wonderful tale and reuniting with old friends and some enemies again.
As always, I look forward to the next Rosie Clarke novel.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.
Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.
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