Rating: 
Summary: A good book--not a great one!
Review: Essentially, I agree with the previous reviewers that this is a good read, a (relatively) accurate and completely sympathetic portrayal of the early years of Richard III. I do think, in her effort to make Richard more sympathetic, Sandra Worth also succeeds in making him weaker, both mentally and phyically, than he probably was. Worth's young Richard is almost always depicted as being terrified, martially inept, and subject to panic attacks, and so the reader has some difficulties in understanding how he developed both the prowess and the courage for which he became renowned (the modern idea of overcompensation just doesn't seem to work for me). But my bottom line is this: If you give this book 5 stars, what on earth can you give Sharon Kay Penman's brilliant "The Sunne in Splendour"--a far superior and much richer work? If you are a Richard III enthusiast, you'll like this book (and I do recommend it), but read it before you read the Sunne in Splendour--so you won't feel that this one is anticlimactic.
Rating:
Summary: A good book--not a great one!
Review: Essentially, I agree with the previous reviewers that this is a good read, a (relatively) accurate and completely sympathetic portrayal of the early years of Richard III. I do think, in her effort to make Richard more sympathetic, Sandra Worth also succeeds in making him weaker, both mentally and phyically, than he probably was. Worth's young Richard is almost always depicted as being terrified, martially inept, and subject to panic attacks, and so the reader has some difficulties in understanding how he developed both the prowess and the courage for which he became renowned (the modern idea of overcompensation just doesn't seem to work for me). But my bottom line is this: If you give this book 5 stars, what on earth can you give Sharon Kay Penman's brilliant "The Sunne in Splendour"--a far superior and much richer work? If you are a Richard III enthusiast, you'll like this book (and I do recommend it), but read it before you read the Sunne in Splendour--so you won't feel that this one is anticlimactic.
Rating: 
Summary: The Rose of York - Love and War
Review: Every now and then along comes a new author with a debut novel that just reminds us all why we love to read. I could not put this book down and was left at the end with WHERE'S THE NEXT INSTALLMENT? Without being redundant, I agree with all of the other reviews posted here. This Author pulls you into the lives of the characters. You FEEL their emotions, you become part of the story, rooting for good over evil, love over greed, etc. Pick up a copy of this terrific book and see for yourself. Great job Ms. Worth you have me hooked as one of your new loyal fans!
Rating:
Summary: Love and War
Review: I enoyed this book enormously. I found it both passionate and thrilling. Ms. Worth brought all the characters to life for me, and I especially enjoyed her portrayal of Richard. Through out history, he has been much maligned. It was such a treat to see him portrayed from another and more sympathetic perspective. Ms. Worth has a unique ability to not only bring all participants to life, but also, a notorious time in history, filled with intrigue, betrayal and cruelty beyond imagination. I cannot wait until the sequel is published. Thank you Ms. Worth for an unforgettable read!
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: I had not one expectation when I started this book. I didn't know anything about Richard III or Anne or any of this saga. I didn't know very much about English history. But from the first moment I started reading Ms. Worth's book, I was captivated, entranced, swept back in time. I had a very difficult time pulling myself away from her magically worded prose. It was quiet obvious as I read this that she loves her subject matter. That she spent countless hours on research. This is one of those books that will hopefully find a producer and director to bring this version to the silver screen. It would be an Oscar-worthy contender if they honored Ms. Worth's saavy style.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book
Review: I loved this book! Sandra Worth has written a most beautiful love story. Her style is vibrant and she does a fabulous job of setting the reader right in the midst of the fifteenth century. It's like taking a a time machine back into the medieval world and you have the feeling that you're right there, and that everything that's happening is happening around you. All the people in the book are real, and you understand them and can't help but feel for them, as they are faced with terrible choices. I didn't know much about the Wars of the Roses, Richard III, Warwick the Kingmaker, and Anne Neville, but I understand it all now. This book is leagues above the usual stuff being written today and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historicals, or a wonderful romance, or just a darn good read. I can't wait for the sequels!
Rating:
Summary: A Magical Read!
Review: Sandra Worth has written a truly sparkling novel of Richard III a man so misunderstood and misued by history; how wonderful to read such devotion, to see so many wrongs, righted and all with the stroke and ebb of pen that tells the tale with out-right beauty, poetry, tears and laughter. The first book in a planned trilogy (O, how hurtful to have to wait!) - Ms. Worth's has discovered a Richard, full of pride of family, devotion to his wife, a heart-felt hero-worship for his unlce John Neville - his life so short, yet so full of difficult choices. All during a time when it was brother against brother, bloody fields and glorious triumphs and the love of his fair, Anne Neville - one time wife to the greatest enemy of the House of York, daughter of his mentor, Warwick. My emotions were as tangled as the real players in this drama as conflict begets conflict.
Richard, in perphaps one of the most moving parts of this lovely book, shares a special devotion to and with John Neville. I found this 'Neville's' story (within Richard and Anne's story) to be gently ebbing and comforting....and soulfully heartbreaking. Love & War is passion and drama and bittersweet and amazingly beautiful to read.
Rating:
Summary: Glorious!
Review: Sandra Worth's Love and War is a spectacular work of historical fiction! Worth does an incredible job of bringing to life the fascinating people who created the historical canvas of the War of the Roses. Worth makes you experience the passions and intrigues in a fresh way--Richard of Gloucester (the future Richard III) is seen as a vibrant young man wrestling with his family and his loyalties. I would favorably compare this novel with Sharon Kay Penman's The Sunne in Splendour, and I am impatiently awaiting Books 2 and 3 in this trilogy. This book is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction about England's tumultuous past.
Rating:
Summary: A Marvelous Treat for Lovers of HISTORICAL Romance
Review: THE ROSE OF YORK: `Love and War' is the debut novel of Sandra Worth that reads a lot like a historical text or master's thesis on the life and times of the very much-maligned King Richard III (1452-1485). Richard III was King for only two years, and in this first novel of a planned trilogy, Ms. Worth chronicles brilliantly his all too brief childhood and the events and the people that molded him into the thoughtful and insightful young man he became. It is powerful; it is heartbreaking; and it is a beautifully told love story that depicts an often frightened man constantly torn by love and honor for family, friends and especially the one woman who was his hearts desire. The historical aspects will give you insights that the casual historical fiction reader has probably never thought of, as I can surely attest to. Whereas I can normally devour a book in a day, this one took me a longer as I had to keep referencing other sources on the lineage of royals. But, oh for the lovers of history, and for those looking forward to a most passionate story of love, this for you is a marvelous treat! The author shows us Richard as a lonely young fellow who idolized his cousin John of Montagu, who looked to the Earl of Warwick as a surrogate father and fell in love with the Earl's daughter, Anne Neville. It was a horrible age where brother went against brother as politics, greed, and marriages entered into the mix. Richard would have to make the heart wrenching decision to choose sides and it appeared that his love for Anne would fall victim to politics, and family loyalty. Richard is painted as a truly good, honorable and kind youth who became a pawn, used and abused by his brother, the King, Edward IV. The choices he made for honor and love of kin, at a cost to his own heartache will leave you shaking your head and wiping tears of sympathy for the injustices of that period - not only for him but also for Anne. Whether intentional or not, I found that the secondary romance between John Neville, Lord Montagu and his wife Isobel to be pure poetry. The love depicted between John and his wife, who was also such a special friend to Richard, was depicted so beautifully that it simply took my breath away. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this planned trilogy and if the tone and finesse imbued in this, her debut novel is any indication of what to expect we are all in for a marvelous treat. ---- Submitted by Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Relevant
Review: This book describes a world that is a harsh place, but one where beauty, honour, courage, and once-in-a-lifetime love can still flourish amidst betrayal, uncertainty, political intrigue, and war. It is a joy to read an historical novel that provides such a fresh, well-researched, and credible portrayal of Richard III's turbulent life. "The Rose of York: Love & War" provides an insightful and moving touchstone with which, upon reflection, we can relate more meaningfully to our present experience of uncertainty, war, and political intrigue.
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