Rosa's Island

by Valerie Wood

Rosa grew up an orphan in a remote, watery island fastness on the wild East coast of Yorkshire. Taken in as a small child by the motherly Mrs Drew, she realised as she grew up that this large and seemingly close farming family contained many troubled souls. Mr Drew, whose religious fervor held a dark secret; Jim, the eldest son, who was terrified of something from his past; Delia, longing to escape from the island; and tall, handsome, confident Matthew, who wanted only one thing - Rosa herself.

But Rosa's background was one of mystery. Her mother, before she drowned in the dyke near their home, had always promised that one day Rosa's father would return to her - a handsome Spaniard, with jewels and silks in treasure chests, sailing in on a ship with golden sails. Mr Drew knew the secret of Rosa's past - and so did the two mysterious Irishmen, who came back to the island after many years and who threatened everything which Rosa held most dear.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance

443 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Val Wood, formerly published as Valerie Wood is the award winning author of romantic historical novels set in and around Hull | City of Culture 2017

Val Wood

Reviews

[tracybookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the plot of this book, great characters, great story. Definately worth reading. Didn’t want to put it down

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been improved by being cut back to 300 or less pages. Let me explain why. It has a good start. We meet Rosa, her mother has offed herself and her father disappeared before she was born. Her grandmother's circumstances require her to pawn Rosa off on a nearby neighbor, a religious zealot, Mr. Drew and his family. Mr. Drew and his family is what stinks and should've been cut back a bit. Nobody in this family dares to speak up to Mr. Drew. Everyone wakes up, does his bidding, works their arses off, goes to bed, and starts all over again the next day. The daughters won't leave because who will take care of the menfolk if they do? The sons won't leave because... well, I don't know, lack of balls?? Testosterone deficiency? Meanwhile, Rosa is an absolute saint and all the brothers are in love with her. Of course.

There is a bit of a mystery regarding Rosa's father, a missing ship, and Mr. Drew and his son are definetly hiding something fishy. It grows pretty obvious what the deal is tho bout halfway into the novel. Another reason the book should have been cut back. Around page 300, I was rolling my eyes and saying, "Are all you people blind?"

For those that like predictablility and rags to riches.

[Louise Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book val wood has an amazing way of drawing people into the novel and making them become the person in the novel she makes it possible to imagine being rosa through her life love it soooo much

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book some time ago and I have read this story a few times since. Talented author, recommended.

[Kayleigh Goodyear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Love all of val woods books ill always give top ratings. Been a hull girl myself I absolutely love the historical fiction based on hull and the surrounding areas
Every time I read one of her books I'm transported back to that time and as I'm familiar with the areas I can really picture them in my head. They are easy to get into and just a good read

[cathie knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Would recommend this book. Had too keep reading, couldn't wait too find out about what happened to Rosa very well written

[Aida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parašyta labai tikroviškai, tik per daug ištempta ir nuspėjama.

[A H MARKS · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing storyline, with compelling page turning!

I was drawn in by Rosa's story. The Drew family secrets, and the link with Rosa's fathers disappearance. Brilliantly written!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book ,well written. A good storyline, great storyline,lots of twists and turns and set in my neck of the woods!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosa never knew her father, who simply disppeared. Her mother lost hope and eventually her life as she sadly waited and watched for her husband to return. Now Rosa is alone, left at first with ailing grandparents, then with the scheming man who pretends piety. The story of Rosa's father's disappearance and the greedy neighbor is pretty obvious, but the story does show the gritty life on the rough windswept island in an interesting way.

[Natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book although I agree with one of the other reviewers: this could have been cut down. There was a lot of detail about Rosa's domestic duties around the house that didn't make for especially thrilling reading and that I felt could have been cut down or left out entirely. However, the characters were good and it was a good read.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story which I really enjoyed and would recommend.