This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Rose is a harrowing work of realistic fiction based on true events, written by author Tom Kelly. Studying the impact of a single unplanned event on an entire family, the work centers on titular character Rose during the 1920s. Coming from a strict Irish Catholic family, Rose’s future changes forever when she falls pregnant, and at first it seems there is no hope for her to ever get her life back on track and escape the stigma of an unwed mother at the time. But when the church itself offers a truly radical solution, Rose and her parents feel the weight of secrets and lies upon them to make it happen.
It is clear from the raw emotional quality of the plot that the events of the tale come from somewhere deep and real, especially when we are introduced to Rose as a bright young thing with a great life ahead of her. A baby ought not to be a tragedy, and that injustice is richly felt throughout the work as author Tom Kelly shows us life from every painful angle during a difficult and judgmental period of human history. His characters are superbly realistic and well drawn, with authentic narration from the Irish Catholic perspective and dialogue that characterizes as well as deepens the connection to religion, heritage, and location. Overall, Rose is a powerful journey with much to learn about society at the time in history, but also a thought-provoking piece on whether attitudes, particularly in religious settings, have really changed that much as time has passed.
