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Red Rose County #0.5
Red Rose County
Seek, and ye shall find.
Cate is a young woman with her future all planned out, right down to the colour of the roses at her forthcoming fairytale wedding.
When things fall apart at the last moment, she flees to a small town in Lancashire, but soon learns that if you don't face your problems, they keep following.
Zach has his own demons. He knows he can't even talk about them, or risk destroying his new future. As love blossoms with Cate, he questions his own motives, and is forced to make the hardest decision of his life. There can be no compromise between love and duty.
But with grace, can another way be found?
This is a novella of 25,000 words - just under half the length of a regular novel, written to be a quick and satisfying read. It has Christian themes of faith, hope and love. It is a standalone novella with a complete ending.
Cate is a young woman with her future all planned out, right down to the colour of the roses at her forthcoming fairytale wedding.
When things fall apart at the last moment, she flees to a small town in Lancashire, but soon learns that if you don't face your problems, they keep following.
Zach has his own demons. He knows he can't even talk about them, or risk destroying his new future. As love blossoms with Cate, he questions his own motives, and is forced to make the hardest decision of his life. There can be no compromise between love and duty.
But with grace, can another way be found?
This is a novella of 25,000 words - just under half the length of a regular novel, written to be a quick and satisfying read. It has Christian themes of faith, hope and love. It is a standalone novella with a complete ending.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2014
38 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Jane North
4 books2 followersSarah Jane North is a wife, step-mother, Quaker, and Lancashire lass through and through.
She lives in an old stone house (cold - but pretty!) with stunning views of the West Pennine Moors. She's a homemaker-in-potential, with more books on making preserves than actual completed jars of jelly. She enjoys gardening, knitting, and a slower pace of life.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 3, 2017
The book started out well. The characters were interesting, but just as they began to know each other on a deeper level, the story rushed to an ending. I know it's a novella, but it just didn't work for me.
November 20, 2020
The story centers around a group of new friends in a small town––all adults, but still trying to figure out their places in the world and how to live out God's plans for them.
And trying learning if one's past defines them. (BTW, it doesn't. Your past defines your past and helps shape your point of view.)
And trying learning if one's past defines them. (BTW, it doesn't. Your past defines your past and helps shape your point of view.)
September 16, 2024
We stumble and sometimes fall, but the path leads us home.
Love the variety of well balanced diverse characters and wonderful message. God leads us home and gives us a purpose in life .
Love the variety of well balanced diverse characters and wonderful message. God leads us home and gives us a purpose in life .
May 21, 2019
A satisfying read
It's not often that you find a novella that is such a complete and satisfying read. Well done, Sarah Jane!
It's not often that you find a novella that is such a complete and satisfying read. Well done, Sarah Jane!
February 28, 2016
Cate is fairly new in the small town where she meets Zach, and she's intrigued by the "bad boy" he appears to be. But what if it turns out that he's in the very category of all that she now despises?
I didn't read the book blurb before reading Red Rose County by author Sarah Jane North. I was enjoying the story well enough, but then, I don't know--I felt a poignant sting. Something about Cate and Zach's interaction, their imperfect chemistry, the absence of a push to make this romance a happy-go-lucky one. Not a tiptoe through the tulips, but not a depressing read, either. I had to sit up and pay attention.
I could sense the author's understanding of human nature without that understanding feeling forced into the story or "imposed" upon the characters. Now, in a few places, the flow of storytelling is awkward, like when sometimes the characters' italicized thoughts are written in third person, past tense, while at other times they're more fittingly in first person. (For instance, the first guest arriving at a party likely wouldn't think to himself, of himself, He was the only one there. He'd think, I'm the only one here.)
Still, I didn't find this to be quite a run-of-the-mill romance novella; it does a lot, without doing too much. A quick read, yes, but even as it went by quickly, I'm glad I was paying attention.
I didn't read the book blurb before reading Red Rose County by author Sarah Jane North. I was enjoying the story well enough, but then, I don't know--I felt a poignant sting. Something about Cate and Zach's interaction, their imperfect chemistry, the absence of a push to make this romance a happy-go-lucky one. Not a tiptoe through the tulips, but not a depressing read, either. I had to sit up and pay attention.
I could sense the author's understanding of human nature without that understanding feeling forced into the story or "imposed" upon the characters. Now, in a few places, the flow of storytelling is awkward, like when sometimes the characters' italicized thoughts are written in third person, past tense, while at other times they're more fittingly in first person. (For instance, the first guest arriving at a party likely wouldn't think to himself, of himself, He was the only one there. He'd think, I'm the only one here.)
Still, I didn't find this to be quite a run-of-the-mill romance novella; it does a lot, without doing too much. A quick read, yes, but even as it went by quickly, I'm glad I was paying attention.
October 27, 2014
Great story
This was a wonderful story and clean. I loved how Fate and Zach both used their faith in God to help them grow and to fall in love with each other. There were secondary characters that made this book even better. If you like good, clean, Christian stories, you'll love this one.
This was a wonderful story and clean. I loved how Fate and Zach both used their faith in God to help them grow and to fall in love with each other. There were secondary characters that made this book even better. If you like good, clean, Christian stories, you'll love this one.
January 2, 2015
Quick and full of introspection, in a good way
I never know what I'll get when i grab a free book. This one is a novella, so fairly quick but full of richness. She dumped her fiance and left town. Now what? Is this job right for me? Ooh, he's hot. And you'll have to read it yourself to find out the rest.
I never know what I'll get when i grab a free book. This one is a novella, so fairly quick but full of richness. She dumped her fiance and left town. Now what? Is this job right for me? Ooh, he's hot. And you'll have to read it yourself to find out the rest.
October 16, 2014
Refreshing
A nice change of writing style in a world full of vulgarity. The characters are relatable and the story line realistic. Happy to see writers who share their faith in God with the world.
A nice change of writing style in a world full of vulgarity. The characters are relatable and the story line realistic. Happy to see writers who share their faith in God with the world.
December 11, 2014
Good story
Red rose county is an enchanting story which is based on the interactions of a few adults who are coming to terms with their beliefs in God. There is romance as well, misunderstandings, tears, happiness and friendship which makes this story easy to read and enjoy.
Red rose county is an enchanting story which is based on the interactions of a few adults who are coming to terms with their beliefs in God. There is romance as well, misunderstandings, tears, happiness and friendship which makes this story easy to read and enjoy.
January 14, 2015
The plot was too fast for my liking. I'll go back to reading longer novels now...
June 3, 2015
3.5 stars
I mean it, I liked it. It was a short read yet a little slow or hard (to read) at times. Other than that, it's a good romantic read and liked the change (or developing) in some characters.
I mean it, I liked it. It was a short read yet a little slow or hard (to read) at times. Other than that, it's a good romantic read and liked the change (or developing) in some characters.
April 28, 2016
Short and interesting read, especially the English culture woven in the story.
April 4, 2015
Pleasant book.
April 1, 2015
I wasn't a fan of the running away from problems, but the rest was good!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews