Coming Up Roses

Meet Me at the Fair #1

by Alice Duncan

In the tradition of Pamela Morsi and Jill Barnett, Alice Duncan blends humor into this first book in a series of quirky and sweet love stories set around the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Rose Ellen Gilhooley didn't get to be a star in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for nothing. Bareback riding and shooting, along with some pretty sharp instincts, have taken her worlds away from the sleepy Kansas town she grew up in. So if Mr. H.L. May thinks a lack of book learning makes her an easy mark, he's in for the shock of his life. Any girl can see the handsome newsman is only interested in one thing. Trouble is, the more he squires her about Chicago and the grand Columbian Exposition, the more Rose yearns for the same! But when H.L. swears he's not the marrying kind, Rose thinks it's high time she taught him a lesson—about listening to his heart...and trusting a future with the woman he loves.

314 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Also writes as Emma Craig, Rachel Wilson, Anne Robins and wrote two books under the name of Jon Sharpe (Pecos Belle Brigade and California Crusader).

Reviews

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that encompasses adventure, entertainment, romance, and suspense, Coming Up Roses has a delightful plot that kept my interest throughout. Rose Gilhooley came from the backwoods of Deadwood, Kentucky where she had been responsible for putting food on the table for her family whilst other children went to school. What she lacked in education, she made up for in skilled bare backed horse riding, shooting, and horse training, having been taught by her Sioux friends. With the intervention of her younger brother, Rose finds herself performing for Colonel Cody of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and before she can blink an eye, she is on the road to New York City. The show eventually becomes one of the attractions at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 where Rose has earned the name Wind Dancer and catches the attention of the Chicago Globe reporter, H.L. May. Her first meeting with the silver-tongued and elegant H.L., as he prefers to be called, leaves her with a feeling of disquiet and mistrust. Recognising her reluctance to be interviewed, H.L. decides on a plan of action to win her trust and learn about all about her. I found the descriptions of the exposition amazing and was astounded by the number of inventions already in place at the end of that century to be found in the Machinery Hall. Even growing up in South Africa in the fifties, I had read about The Wild West Show and the World's Fair, but I did not realise it was of such enormous magnitude. I found this book extremely well written, well-edited, and easy to read. The author was also very successful in the portrayal of one of the largest events that took place in American history, imparting information in a lively and interesting manner. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose Ellen Gilhooley joined the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at 16 as a bareback rider. Now 21 and world traveled, she is a star of the show playing at the Chicago World's Fair. H. L. May is a reporter for the Chicago Globe assigned to write articles about the Fair. He decides to feature Rose's story and her perspective on the Fair. Rose is intrepid on horseback, a sharpshooter and a tracker having grown up in Kansas and the main meat provider for her family. She is almost barely literate and ashamed of her lack of schooling. This is the crux of the contention between the characters. Interesting plot but too much redundant inner turmoil.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read

[Sharil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly peppered with information about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair or Columbian Exposition, especially good at pulling the reader back in time.

Not a fast read. I can't quite put my finger on it, but with the way it is written, I find myself re-reading sentences and paragraphs a lot. It would probably read better if I wasn't tired and had better focus.

I enjoyed it because it entrenches the reader into 1893 Chicago with details of life and specifics about the Exposition.

I found the dialogue tiring at times. Rose says "fiddlesticks" and other colloquialisms out loud and to herself a lot. In fact, the other thing that got a bit tiring, and is typical of many romance books with star-crossed lovers, was that a lot of writing focused on each characters' assumptions about the other and for Rose, self-doubt.

The story line was a bit "fantastic" or not quite believable, but had terrific action during the last third of the book that was seriously lacking before.

Overall, I did enjoy it as I enjoy reading fiction about Chicago during this time.

I suspect that lower ratings are due to the very mild romantic feel and pursuit during most of the book and the lack of sex scenes. This book is nearly what I call "light romance" or without sex, but a good story and romance line...but not quite. However, it is a far cry on the scale of today's romance novels, so if you are used to those and have a preference from those, I doubt you will enjoy this book.

If you are a bit more of a history buff and enjoy a good story line with some romance and not too much sex, then you may enjoy this book.

[NorthernLightsGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had a nice story.