Title: Last of the English Roses
Author: Charlotte Kendrick
Publisher: GoldTouch Press, LLC
ISBN: 978-1953791030
Pages: 132
Genre: Parenting & Relationships
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
One of the most difficult and nearly impossible things to predict is how someone will cope with grief. Whether it is the trauma of a past event or the loss of a loved one, grief can take many forms and come out through us in an equally vast number of ways. However, grief can also be an important stepping stone for life to move on, as it serves as a reminder that whoever or whatever we are grieving for, they made an impact on our lives – one way or another.
In author Charlotte Kendrick’s Last of the English Roses, it is a story of loss, grief, family and friendship. After the loss of her father following a lengthy battle with his illness, Elizabeth Rose finds herself having trouble coping, and her life changed forever. Soon she must turn to her younger sister Alice, as her Uncle and two children from the United States return to the family estate, and she must find friendship and even rekindle a romance in order to find a brighter and more promising future.
This is a powerful and emotional story. The theme of loss and grief is one many readers will be able to identify with, as the narrative explores this painful topic with clarity and purpose. The protagonist’s relationships and character growth become paramount to the overall story, as readers see from the beginning how her father’s death has changed her and her sister. From bouts of sleeplessness to sleeping entire days away, and even learning more about her father after his death than she ever knew in his life, Elizabeth must overcome great struggles in the face of so much grief and change.
This particular tale is the perfect read for those who enjoy fictional dramas with a touch of romance and family events, especially those which touch upon grief and loss within the narrative, and how it impacts us both in the moment and long-term. As someone who has had to deal with grief several times, it was very relatable to me as a reader to see from Elizabeth’s viewpoint. What really comes across in the narrative is how each character that interacts with Elizabeth is struggling with their own forms of grief and change, from Alice’s romantic relationship, to Beth’s loss of a relationship and so much more.
A beautifully written, heartfelt and powerful read, author Charlotte Kendrick’s Last of the English Roses is the perfect read for those looking for an important fictional story dealing with grief and loss in all its forms. It also showcases the power that grief and loss can also bring others together, and mend wounds thought broken forever within a family. If you enjoy good family dramas with a bit of romance and a major deep-dive into the subject of loss and hope, then be sure to grab your own copy of this amazing novel.