25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A magnificent tearjerker you'll never forget, July 15, 2000
This review is from: One Perfect Rose (Fallen Angels) (Mass Market Paperback)
This has to be one of Putney's best books, along with The Rake and Thunder and Roses. Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, who was introduced to readers in Shattered Rainbows as the stiff but essentially good-hearted older brother of Michael Kenyon, discovers that he is suffering from a fatal illness, the symptoms of which appear - to the reader - to be consistent with stomach cancer or severe liver damage. He has, he is told, between three and six months to live. Unable to bear the thought of carrying on with his normal life under those circumstances, he packs a small bag, takes his favourite horse and rides off to be by himself until he can at least come to terms with his fate sufficiently well to enable him to set his affairs in order and say goodbye to his family. And by the way, contrary to what one reviewer says, he always intended to arrange his affairs and talk to Michael; he just needed time to accustom himself to his fate.
Counting his remaining time in days, with a countdown from three months - any time he lives beyond that he considers will be a bonus - after about a week he falls in with a company of strolling players. He is immediately attracted to the adopted oldest daughter of the family, Rosalind, already a widow, and it's clear the attraction is mutual. But she doesn't know who `Mr Ashe' really is, and nor does she know that he is dying, and Stephen not only doesn't want her pity but since he is also escaping from himself and his life, he wants for a short time at least to pretend that all is normal.
Until one day she sees him having a bad attack, and the truth comes out, and he makes her an offer of convenience....
Stephen is a magnificent hero, proving that heroes of romantic novels don't always have to be strong and powerful and slaying all dragons in their path. In many ways, in fact, he becomes strongest in spirit when he is weakest in body. Rosalind, the foundling who has no idea of her background, is a strong and caring heroine who loves Stephen and is devastated at the thought of losing him.
The story is lovingly and carefully depicted, with clearly a large amount of research having gone into it. The characters are all three-dimensional, entertaining as well as poignant, and it is good to see some old friends: Rafe and Ian Kinlock, as well as Michael and Catherine. Given the subject-matter, it would have been very easy for this book to slip past pathos into melodrama, but Putney treads that line carefully, providing touches of humour and of the mundane to balance the emotional moments. As such, although there is poignancy throughout, it wasn't until the last fifty pages that I found tears flowing. Incidentally, when reading the book I had completely forgotten the editorial and customer reviews here which made reference to a happy ending: I had got to the point where I really believed Stephen would die. A real tear-jerker!
A fantastic, powerful, memorable book; my only regret is that it is the last of the Fallen Angels series, and so I will not meet any of these characters in subsequent books.
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43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of My Favorites, February 14, 1999
This review is from: One Perfect Rose (Fallen Angels) (Mass Market Paperback)
Mary Jo Putney has a gift for storytelling. It is difficult to say what I enjoyed most about this story--the depth and quality of the characterization, the deft plotting, or the well-written prose. Rosalind is refreshingly mature, a realistic character who is both strong and vulnerable. With Stephen, Putney achieves just the right balance of integrity, responsibility, and mischief to charm the reader. I cared about these people, as well as the secondary characters, and simply couldn't put down the book.
One Perfect Rose also gives a moving portrayal of two people facing the inescapable reality of human mortality. Putney achieves an effective blend here of insight, emotion, and philosophy. Too much in one direction and the story could have become melodramatic; too much in the other and it could have lost its heart. It takes a talented writer to make this subject matter work so well--and Putney is that writer.
One Perfect Rose is romance at its best. In fact, it transcends genre. At times I have been asked by people who don't normally read romance to recommend one they might enjoy. This book is always on my list.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tear jerker, May 3, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: One Perfect Rose (Fallen Angels) (Mass Market Paperback)
Wow, what an incredible story. Stephen, diagnosed with a deadly disease decides to go on a 'holiday' for a while. With a theater group in town, he decides to attend. He meets Rose. They immediately feel a mutual attraction. Knowing that he's dying makes him rethink a relationship. He doesn't feel it would be fair to her. As the days count down, he starts getting sicker and sicker, losing weight, etc. I had to put the book down several times to wipe my eyes. I know this sounds stupid but it's the truth. I didn't realize this is the 4th of the Fallen Angel series. Had I known, I think I would have read them in order. Instead I have to go back and at least read the other three in order. Thunder & Roses, Dancing on the Wind, and Shattered Rainbows are the first three. A Perfect Rose is the 4th. Neverthless, this is a very good read.
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