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When Eva's film star sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Cornwall, where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina's ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs. But Eva must also confront the ghosts from her own past, as well as those... read more

Summary edit see section history

The Rose Garden' delivers suspense and mystery with a haunting, atmospheric and romantic story in Eva Ward whose return to the home, Trelowarth, she loved during childhood summers on the Cornish coast brings to life the past and lights her future path. Following the death of her sister... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The Rose Garden' delivers suspense and mystery with a haunting, atmospheric and romantic story in Eva Ward whose return to the home, Trelowarth, she loved during childhood summers on the Cornish coast brings to life the past and lights her future path. Following the death of her sister Katrina, Eva decides to scatter her ashes in the one place they both felt they truly belonged. Staying with friends Mark and Susan and their step-mother Claire, who have decided to open a Tea Room, she spends the summer helping her friends launch their new venture. And, discovering the voices and hidden pathways of the home and grounds that lead her back three centuries to Jack and Daniel Butler - original owners of Trelowarth. Somehow, Eva has become an unwitting time traveler whose vistas melts and shifts to reveal a new setting.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Eva Ellen Ward: Time traveling, lonely woman whose sister recently died, leaving her without family other than Aunt Claire at Trelowarth in Cornwall.
  • Katrina Ward: Eva's dead sister. Famous actress. Good sister.
  • Mark Hallett: Resident of Trelowarth House and stepson of Aunt Claire. Raises roses in the estate's garden. Longtime friend of Eva. Object of Felicity's desire.
  • Susan Hallett: Sister of Mark Hallett. Plans to open a tea house in Trelowarth's unused greenhouse. Has left a painful relationship with an older man but finds her plumber quite attractive.
  • Claire Hallett: Eva's aunt. She lives in a cottage near Trelowarth. She is stepmother to Mark and Susan. She is also an artist and very perspicacious.
  • Felicity: Has a shop in Pelgolly, the town near Trelowarth. Helps Susan set up and decorate the tea room. Fancies Mark.
  • Oliver: Childhood friend of Eva, Mark, and Susan. He wants to be more than a friend to Eva. He runs a pirate museum in town. He helps Eva with historical details she asks for, purportedly to help give color to the tea room and make it more appealing in the advertising.
  • Daniel Butler: Smuggler on the side of Charles Stewart. Formerly married to Ann, who died. Brother to Jack. Well loved by the people of the area for his kindness and generosity. Love interest.
  • Jack Butler: Daniel's hot-headed, impulsive brother. Also a smuggler. Can't keep quiet about secrets.
  • Fergal O'Cleary: Protector and friend of Daniel Butler. Cooks and does whatever Butler asks him to, although he may grumble a bit. Claims Eva is his mute sister.
  • Sally: The ship owned by the Butler brothers.
  • George Hallett: Dead husband of Aunt Claire.
  • Mr. Teague: The vicar. Older gentleman with sharp memory.
  • Peter: Friend of Daniel who gets caught up in the Constable's underhanded activities.
  • Samson: Dog at Trelowarth
  • Ann Butler: First wife of Daniel Butler. Died before the story begins. Eva wears some of her clothing.
  • Maclean: Real name of Duke of Ormonde's secretary.
  • Mr. Creed: The Constable. Hates Daniel Butler. Wants to arrest both Butler brothers and see them hang along with anyone who helps them.
  • Duke of Ormonde: Supporter of Charles Stewart. Kinsman to Daniel Butler.
  • the Gray Lady: Ghost seen at Trelowarth.
Show all 20 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Tis always best to think the worst of everyone, for that way you'll be seldom disappointed.”
  • “Sometimes...tis better to be in the dark”
    Daniel
  • “The past casts oong shadows.”
  • “About half your troubles come from wantin' your own way... The other half come from gettin' it.”
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  • ‘Life is always uncertain,’ he said with a shrug. ‘We cannot let the fear of what might happen stop us living as we choose.’
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  • ‘I’ve always rather liked the Celtic view of life, that this world and the next one aren’t so separate from each other. My grandmother believed that. She was Welsh, you know—a true Celt, through and through—and if you’d told her you’d heard whispers in your walls, she would have taken it in her stride,’ she said, with certainty. ‘She would have said you’d heard the voices of the people living at Trelowarth, sharing space with us, but in another time.’
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  • ‘From The Prophet,’ I explained. ‘Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.
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  • Time was good at erasing the tangible proof that a person had lived.
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  • Einstein’s Theory of Relativity having proved that time and space were curved and changeable, not fixed and absolute as Isaac Newton had maintained.
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Show all 14 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Cornwall, England: Setting of the novel in the present and past.
  • Trelowarth: Name of the house on the cliff by the harbor. Home to the Halletts and to the Butlers. A gateway for time travel for Eva.
  • Polgelly: Name of town at foot of steep hill that leads to Trelowarth.
  • London: Susan's former lover plans to move there.
  • India: Eva and Katrina visited there.
  • Vancouver: Eva lived there before moving to California to help her sister.
  • Newgate: Prison where Daniel Butler was briefly held.
  • California: Katrina lived there as an actress. Eva moved there to manage her affairs.

First Sentence edit see section history

I lost my only sister in the last days of November.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Untitled Chapters 1-41

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Susanna Kearsley (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Country: Canada
Publication Date: May 2011
ISBN: 0749009802
Page Count: 480

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Okay for young adults. Sex is a factor, but is not described other than kissing.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Winter Sea
  • Named of the Dragon
  • The Shadowy Horses

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