Product Description

Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, has always taken the duties of his rank seriously--until shocking news sends him running from his isolating world of wealth and privilege to roam the countryside as an ordinary man. When he meets the lovely Rosalind Jordan, she stirs the deepest desires of his heart. Yet how can Stephen declare his love when he is haunted by the knowledge that made him flee his old life?.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #274001 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-29
• Released on: 1998-04-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 421 pages

Amazon.com Review
Mary Jo Putney explores a sensitive, challenging subject with grace and poignancy in this story of a young duke who is told he has a fatal illness and struggles to come to terms with his imminent death ... only to be surprised by love. Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, vowing to live fully every moment of his remaining days, sets off alone across the countryside of Regency England, feeling wonderfully liberated from his ducal duties, when he becomes caught up with the traveling Fitzgerald Theater Troupe. Soon he's treading the boards and falling in love with the acting family's cheerful, down-to-earth adopted daughter Rosalind. How Stephen and Rosalind embrace their love under such sad circumstances heightens the passion and power of their romance, while Putney skillfully avoids becoming maudlin ... and dutifully provides the requisite happy ending. Rosalind's matter-of-fact approach to life contrasts delightfully with her dramatic family's emotional excesses, while her parents' loving marriage provides a fun secondary romance.

From Library Journal
Stunned when his family physician tells him that he only has a few months to live, Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, escapes Ashburton Hall and temporarily leaves his responsibilities behind to wander the countryside anonymously as he tries to sort out his feelings and reconcile himself to his apparent fate. However, when his heroic rescue of a young boy results in his becoming part of a traveling theater company, he meets the compelling Rosalind Jordan. In her superb, inimitable style, Putney (River of Fire, Signet, 1996) takes a pair of magnetic, beautifully matched protagonists, places them in a dark, impossible situation, and makes it work. This title is the first of Ballantine's new "keeper" series of paperback-sized hardcover romances and should be in demand by Putney fans and libraries. She lives in Baltimore.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Running from his doctor's grim diagnosis, Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, goes on what very well may be his last trip. He has played by the strict rules of rank all his life and lived up to his title of duke. But now, with the shadow of death looming over him, Stephen decides to live for himself while he can. He just wants to be an ordinary fellow without the responsibilities and duties of a duke. By chance, he ends up joining the Fitzgerald Theater Troupe. The warm hearted Fitzgerald family welcomes him with open arms and the kind of affection he never knew in his own family. But it is their daughter, Rosalind, who makes Stephen long for a second chance at life and love. Rosalind was adopted by the Fitzgeralds as a child and does not know her true identity. She is a kind hearted, beautiful young woman and she enchants Stephen from the first moment he sees her. She doesn't know the class difference between Stephen and herself and Stephen has no intention of telling her. In another life, they would never have known each other. But fate has brought this unlikely pair together and only time will tell if they will find love and happiness. Mary Jo Putney is a wonderful storyteller and readers will definitely want to add One Perfect Rose to their collection. One Perfect Rose is being released as a paperback-sized hardcover from Ballantine (with two other books in the same format to be released later this year by different authors). This is an exciting and unique idea sure to please readers. One Perfect Rose was a perfect choice for this special promotion! Don't miss Mary Jo Putney's latest love story! One Perfect Rose promises to be a very hot collector's book! Mary Jo Putney never fails to deliver a winning story with heart warming characters! She is a pleasure to read... always! A delightful tale filled with wonderful historical details! A sweet and satisfying read!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

Customer Reviews

One of My Favorites
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.

A magnificent tearjerker you'll never forget
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.

A tear jerker
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.