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Perennials #3
Rambling Rose
The wonderful and heart-warming conclusion to the epic Perennials Trilogy, Rambling Rose will thrill and satisfy fans of the series.
Trapped in a loveless marriage by a controlling husband, Rose has endured for the sake of her daughter. Suddenly cut adrift, Rose must now build a new life for herself and Jessica. Relying on the kindness of Lili and her friends, Rose struggles to survive - learning that material things are not truly life's essentials.
Having escaped one gilded cage, should Rose risk another?
Happy to offer Rose and Jessica the use of Sycamore Cottage rent-free, and angry at the way she has been treated, Tom realises the feelings he has for Rose have the potential to become so much more. But Rose has been burnt by one man and this time it's Tom's heart that is in danger of being crushed.
Meanwhile, tragedy awaits to devastate the life of one of Lili's found family and have far-reaching consequences for another member of her tribe.
"Heart-warming, poignant and sharply witty. If you love The Notebook, this emotional rollercoaster is a must-read".
Angela Cairns - author of the Ellie Rose series
Trapped in a loveless marriage by a controlling husband, Rose has endured for the sake of her daughter. Suddenly cut adrift, Rose must now build a new life for herself and Jessica. Relying on the kindness of Lili and her friends, Rose struggles to survive - learning that material things are not truly life's essentials.
Having escaped one gilded cage, should Rose risk another?
Happy to offer Rose and Jessica the use of Sycamore Cottage rent-free, and angry at the way she has been treated, Tom realises the feelings he has for Rose have the potential to become so much more. But Rose has been burnt by one man and this time it's Tom's heart that is in danger of being crushed.
Meanwhile, tragedy awaits to devastate the life of one of Lili's found family and have far-reaching consequences for another member of her tribe.
"Heart-warming, poignant and sharply witty. If you love The Notebook, this emotional rollercoaster is a must-read".
Angela Cairns - author of the Ellie Rose series
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2022
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Julia Blake
19 books176 followersI was born and raised in the beautiful historic market town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where I live still with my kid, one crazy cat and a succession of even crazier lodgers. I'm a multi-genre author which basically means I write whatever story floats into my head and worry about what genre it fits into afterwards. So far, I have written in contemporary fiction, romantic suspense, YA fantasy, folklore fantasy, sci-fi, short stories, poetry, and even a fabulous steampunk retelling of the Snow White story.
I have been writing stories and poems since I could first pick up a pen, and I promise there are many more books in the pipeline. I write the kind of books that I like to read myself. Books I can escape into and that make me laugh, cry and really connect with the characters. I also like my books to have a very satisfying ending, where all is explained and no string is left untied, well, not unless I'm planning a sequel that is.
www.juliablakeauthor.co.uk
Instagram: juliablakeauthor
YouTube: Julia Blake Author
Facebook: Julia Blake Author
I have been writing stories and poems since I could first pick up a pen, and I promise there are many more books in the pipeline. I write the kind of books that I like to read myself. Books I can escape into and that make me laugh, cry and really connect with the characters. I also like my books to have a very satisfying ending, where all is explained and no string is left untied, well, not unless I'm planning a sequel that is.
www.juliablakeauthor.co.uk
Instagram: juliablakeauthor
YouTube: Julia Blake Author
Facebook: Julia Blake Author
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 5, 2022
Fifteen years after the opening scene of Becoming Lili came to life under my fingers, I have written the final line of the final chapter of the final volume of the Perennials Trilogy. With the publication of Rambling Rose, an era has come to an end. For fifteen years Lili and her found family have lived in my head, whispering their stories, and becoming as close to me as my real family.
The trilogy begins with the story of a lonely, ugly duckling girl called Phyllis. She longs for love and attention but fears she will always be alone. Then fate intervenes and Phyllis becomes Lili – the beating heart of a group of loyal friends who form an unbreakable bond with one another.
The group grow together, becoming adults and parents in the darker middle book, Chaining Daisy, as more complex lives mean more complex problems. A novel to break you, Daisy requires a big box of tissues and an appreciation that sometimes life is tough.
Now we have the final volume in the trilogy, and Rambling Rose is a sweeping tale of a year in the lives of Lili and her found family. A turbulent year of separation, betrayal, happiness, grief, tragedy, and love. Yes, there are sad moments and times when the reader will grit their teeth in disbelief at the unfairness of life. But there are also moments of joy and realisation that it is the little things in life that make all the difference. It’s also a sharply witty book. The character of Rose is a triumph of humour over adversity, and of rising to meet the challenges that life throws at you head-on.
Of all my characters, Rose is the one most like me, and many of her experiences are based on the real-life events that were happening to me as I was writing volume one of the trilogy all those years ago. Struggling to survive a brutally unfair divorce during which most of my choices were taken away from me, I survived with the help of my friends, my ironic sense of humour, and my sheer bloody-minded resolve that I would not let this beat me.
Rose is far from perfect though. She has a quick temper, drinks too much, and has a potty mouth that would make a sailor blush. She struggles to control her patience when her pampered princess of a daughter complains about the hardships of their new life. But through it all, Rose does her best, and really, isn’t that all any of us can aspire to?
This volume is not only Rose’s tale. Lili and all the rest of her group are here, but there are dark days ahead for one of Lili’s tribe, the consequences of which will have a profound impact on Amy. Trying to balance what she believes to be right with what her heart is telling her, Amy has some tough decisions to make which will change her life forever.
As the final instalment of such a well-loved series, I felt an enormous responsibility to ensure it was a good ending. All the various story threads needed to be resolved, and most of all, I wanted the reader to leave feeling satisfied that this was absolutely the right way, the only way, for the tale to end.
Have I achieved that goal? Only you can tell me that – so why not read the book and decide for yourself.
The trilogy begins with the story of a lonely, ugly duckling girl called Phyllis. She longs for love and attention but fears she will always be alone. Then fate intervenes and Phyllis becomes Lili – the beating heart of a group of loyal friends who form an unbreakable bond with one another.
The group grow together, becoming adults and parents in the darker middle book, Chaining Daisy, as more complex lives mean more complex problems. A novel to break you, Daisy requires a big box of tissues and an appreciation that sometimes life is tough.
Now we have the final volume in the trilogy, and Rambling Rose is a sweeping tale of a year in the lives of Lili and her found family. A turbulent year of separation, betrayal, happiness, grief, tragedy, and love. Yes, there are sad moments and times when the reader will grit their teeth in disbelief at the unfairness of life. But there are also moments of joy and realisation that it is the little things in life that make all the difference. It’s also a sharply witty book. The character of Rose is a triumph of humour over adversity, and of rising to meet the challenges that life throws at you head-on.
Of all my characters, Rose is the one most like me, and many of her experiences are based on the real-life events that were happening to me as I was writing volume one of the trilogy all those years ago. Struggling to survive a brutally unfair divorce during which most of my choices were taken away from me, I survived with the help of my friends, my ironic sense of humour, and my sheer bloody-minded resolve that I would not let this beat me.
Rose is far from perfect though. She has a quick temper, drinks too much, and has a potty mouth that would make a sailor blush. She struggles to control her patience when her pampered princess of a daughter complains about the hardships of their new life. But through it all, Rose does her best, and really, isn’t that all any of us can aspire to?
This volume is not only Rose’s tale. Lili and all the rest of her group are here, but there are dark days ahead for one of Lili’s tribe, the consequences of which will have a profound impact on Amy. Trying to balance what she believes to be right with what her heart is telling her, Amy has some tough decisions to make which will change her life forever.
As the final instalment of such a well-loved series, I felt an enormous responsibility to ensure it was a good ending. All the various story threads needed to be resolved, and most of all, I wanted the reader to leave feeling satisfied that this was absolutely the right way, the only way, for the tale to end.
Have I achieved that goal? Only you can tell me that – so why not read the book and decide for yourself.
April 26, 2022
Great book!!
I could not book this book down.
I read this book in
one sitting.
I could not book this book down.
I read this book in
one sitting.
April 3, 2022
Rambling Rose by @juliablakeauthor starts with a short prologue… a bleak foreboding and cold peek of what will be. We see Rose trying to scrounge around her small home for loose change to cover a school lunch while at the same time worrying about turning on the heat when there’s no money. I was wide-eyed with this bleak picture of desperation the story dished out on the first pages. This was an ingenious move and brilliantly executed. It certainly grabbed my attention.
A young Rose first appeared at Lili’s 21st birthday party as a guest along with her parents. Actually, it was more of a cameo; but it was enough to catch Tom’s eyes. A thought flashed when I read this. Nah…. Fast forward to book 3. Rose is told by her husband she has the weekend to find a place to live and move out with their 13 year old daughter in tow. My brain is yelling to take everything not nailed down! Tom has a cottage he offered rent free. The rest of the gang pitched in to get it livable and moved Rose and Jessica. Rose knew it wasn’t going to be easy and so did I. Life isn’t always easy and there’s no limit on the number of gut punches in life you get.
There is a parallel storyline that I was hoping would be developed from book 2. I was shocked when it turned to tragedy with frightening consequences for two main characters.
The story is filled with real life situations happy, sad and frightening. Through it all, that thread of friendship Lili so diligently cultivated had been stretched and tested. I found Rambling Rose to be a compelling read from start to finish as if it was drawn from past personal experiences. I felt the tangled emotions as I was brought into the story.
The Encore chapter ties it all up. It was almost like having some eclairs and tea amongst old friends. I loved and enjoyed my time with Lili and the gang. I felt welcomed as if I were a part of the gang. I closed the book and turned off the light with a sigh of contentment.
A spectacular ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 25, 2022
The final instalment of the Perennials series by Julie Blake brings a fitting end to this wonderful series. With the focus on character Rose, whose husband has kicked her and her daughter out of their home, the theme of hope, friendship, and resilience fills this tale.
All the gang are here, and once again, they rally around to take care of Rose and Jessica as their life is turned upside down. This is a warts-and-all portrayal of separation and divorce, along with how Rose’s insecurities affect a blossoming friendship with her new landlord/neighbour Tom.
Rambling Rose also brings tragedy to the group of friends, one which shifts Amy and Martin’s world, leaving Amy facing a choice that will have a profound impact on her life. Martin’s story was one I didn’t see coming, but knowing how Blake’s plots don’t shy away from the curveballs life throws at us, I should have expected it!
As always, Blake’s characters come to life within the pages. The pace moves well, dialogue flows, and she gives enough visual to the story without overloading on detail. Rose is a sharp-witted, and determined character, and watching her friendship with Tom develop was the highlight of this story for me.
With such a full cast of characters, I wondered how all the tiny threads would be tied up for this final episode. Blake doesn’t disappoint, and so I turned the last page satisfied, a little weepy, and genuinely sorry to be reading the last of these friends.
All the gang are here, and once again, they rally around to take care of Rose and Jessica as their life is turned upside down. This is a warts-and-all portrayal of separation and divorce, along with how Rose’s insecurities affect a blossoming friendship with her new landlord/neighbour Tom.
Rambling Rose also brings tragedy to the group of friends, one which shifts Amy and Martin’s world, leaving Amy facing a choice that will have a profound impact on her life. Martin’s story was one I didn’t see coming, but knowing how Blake’s plots don’t shy away from the curveballs life throws at us, I should have expected it!
As always, Blake’s characters come to life within the pages. The pace moves well, dialogue flows, and she gives enough visual to the story without overloading on detail. Rose is a sharp-witted, and determined character, and watching her friendship with Tom develop was the highlight of this story for me.
With such a full cast of characters, I wondered how all the tiny threads would be tied up for this final episode. Blake doesn’t disappoint, and so I turned the last page satisfied, a little weepy, and genuinely sorry to be reading the last of these friends.
March 20, 2022
A beautiful conclusion of the outstanding trilogy.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Now I have only one problem: it breaks my heart to say goodbye to the characters.
Rambling Rose is full of love. There will be sad and even tragic moments (got any tissues left after reading “Chaining Daisy”?), there will be plenty of reminders of how unfair life is, but ultimately, this book is about love in all its forms. Romantic love, love between friends, love between parents and children, love towards pets, and last but not least, self-love.
Reading this amazing trilogy filled my heart with love, too. I fell in love with the characters and I’m so sad that I have to say goodbye. Throughout the three books, I’ve been watching them grow and change; laughed and cried with them; celebrated their achievements and suffered their losses. I’ll miss them so much.
All three books of the Perennials trilogy found a special place in my heart.
Looking forward to reading more books by this incredible author.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Now I have only one problem: it breaks my heart to say goodbye to the characters.
Rambling Rose is full of love. There will be sad and even tragic moments (got any tissues left after reading “Chaining Daisy”?), there will be plenty of reminders of how unfair life is, but ultimately, this book is about love in all its forms. Romantic love, love between friends, love between parents and children, love towards pets, and last but not least, self-love.
Reading this amazing trilogy filled my heart with love, too. I fell in love with the characters and I’m so sad that I have to say goodbye. Throughout the three books, I’ve been watching them grow and change; laughed and cried with them; celebrated their achievements and suffered their losses. I’ll miss them so much.
All three books of the Perennials trilogy found a special place in my heart.
Looking forward to reading more books by this incredible author.
March 11, 2022
Rambling Rose makes for an epic finale to the Perennials Trilogy. Following Becoming Lili and Chaining Daisy, Rambling Rose holds the perfect title for this story of our main heroine Rose, a feisty young mother propelled into a life of the unknown by her despicable cheating husband. We travel the chapters with Rose as she rambles through the lows and highs of her new life.
Like the first two in the series, it is a chunky read, perfect for those seeking an in-depth journey along with the characters, which there are many, most we have met in the earlier books, and some brilliant new ones. We all love a gorgeous leading man, and here the author has carved out the perfect one, flawed and natural, just like Rose.
Again, like the first two novels, we have another storyline with Amy and Martin alongside Rose: just as complex with tragedy and love. I will not give away any of the plot particulars, as this is a story about life in all its glory and destruction. But rest assured, as previously, Rambling Rose is a true page-turner, with a beautiful, almost nostalgic ending fitting for the trilogy, bringing all the much-loved characters together. Just brilliant.
Like the first two in the series, it is a chunky read, perfect for those seeking an in-depth journey along with the characters, which there are many, most we have met in the earlier books, and some brilliant new ones. We all love a gorgeous leading man, and here the author has carved out the perfect one, flawed and natural, just like Rose.
Again, like the first two novels, we have another storyline with Amy and Martin alongside Rose: just as complex with tragedy and love. I will not give away any of the plot particulars, as this is a story about life in all its glory and destruction. But rest assured, as previously, Rambling Rose is a true page-turner, with a beautiful, almost nostalgic ending fitting for the trilogy, bringing all the much-loved characters together. Just brilliant.
May 13, 2022
The third book in Julia Blake's Perennials trilogy is perhaps my favourite of the three. While it wasn't easy reading about the horrific treatment Rose endures at the hands of her husband, you have the sense that everything's going to be okay: after all, there's a fabulous supporting cast of characters around her, my favourite of which was the don't-judge-a-woman-by-the-local-gossip Jane, and Rose's determination to pull herself up by the bootstraps and get her life on track will have you rooting for her all the way. There's also the story of Martin and Amy. You don't have to have read the first two books in the series, but it would give you greater understanding of Amy and Martin's history before the events of this book, making you feel for them all the more when life throws some setbacks in their way. All in all, a fantastic read and a great ending to the series.
March 8, 2022
Rambling Rose is the final book in Julia Blake's compelling Perennials trilogy.
Rose is shocked to discover that her abusive, lying husband is divorcing her, throwing her and their teenage daughter into poverty. Rescued by the kindness of friends, Rose struggles to find her identity amidst the turmoil.
Meanwhile, in a parallel story, Martin suffers an accident which leaves his long held desire for the beautiful Amy supposedly beyond reach.
Concluding the story of Lili and her found family in style, Blake weaves a heartfelt tale of slow burning love and the discovery of true self, gradually drawing the strings tighter until the reader is caught in her web.
Five stars across the fabulous trilogy and a fitting end to a glorious dynasty.
Rose is shocked to discover that her abusive, lying husband is divorcing her, throwing her and their teenage daughter into poverty. Rescued by the kindness of friends, Rose struggles to find her identity amidst the turmoil.
Meanwhile, in a parallel story, Martin suffers an accident which leaves his long held desire for the beautiful Amy supposedly beyond reach.
Concluding the story of Lili and her found family in style, Blake weaves a heartfelt tale of slow burning love and the discovery of true self, gradually drawing the strings tighter until the reader is caught in her web.
Five stars across the fabulous trilogy and a fitting end to a glorious dynasty.
March 25, 2022
Rambling Rose is about a woman named Rose who unexpectedly finds herself as a single mother, after her husband announces that he wants a divorce and gives her four days to move herself and their 12 year old daughter out of the family home. Rose’s determination and perseverance, along with a group of friends, enable her to maneuver her way through divorce and finding a new life. I especially liked how Rose reconnects with an earlier version of herself. There is anger, betrayal, passion, and some “potty mouth” in the story, but the unexpected ending is what left me feeling so inspired.
September 4, 2022
Again, Julia Blake pens a story that grabs at your heartstrings and gives them a workout. A novel following two story lines, Rambling Rose is everything I hoped it would be, having fallen in love with the characters in the world she’s created for the Perennials Trilogy.
It’s a story of loss and discovery, love and pain, and the trials of life often given to us to overcome. If you’re looking for a new series to read, I highly recommend this trilogy.
It’s a story of loss and discovery, love and pain, and the trials of life often given to us to overcome. If you’re looking for a new series to read, I highly recommend this trilogy.
January 30, 2023
A moving ending!
Rambling Rose, the conclusion of the Perennials Trilogy, reunited me with old friends gloriously surviving the human experience with all its joys and foibles - and there are many! Blake drew me in yet again with characters whose depth and vulnerability made them dear friends of my own, ready to cheer their gains and mourn their losses. Well done!
Rambling Rose, the conclusion of the Perennials Trilogy, reunited me with old friends gloriously surviving the human experience with all its joys and foibles - and there are many! Blake drew me in yet again with characters whose depth and vulnerability made them dear friends of my own, ready to cheer their gains and mourn their losses. Well done!
September 20, 2024
Rich stories of a long-term group of loyal friends. This took me from grief, ugly divorce, and pain to joy, and hope. I finished reading this book in the emergency room waiting seats, and it was a perfect, exciting way to spend the hours. I feel so involved in the group, I'm amazed Rose didn't call me,
April 25, 2023
Rambling Rose is the third in the Perennial Trilogy but can be read as a stand alone.
I was instantly drawn into this story that follows Rose who, along with her daughter, is rudely ejected from her home by her abusive husband. Rose is a shell of herself after years of marriage with him and meekly moves into a tiny cottage. Can she reclaim her strength and sense of purpose while navigating further humiliations of her soon-to-be ex?
The story also follows Amy, a successful caterer, who is happy for her friends but wonders if she'll ever find her own HEA.
Both stories are woven together well as are all of the friends from previous books. I looked forward each day to picking up this book, rooting for both Rose and Amy and wondering what would happen next to each of these women. Their stories provide a satisfying ending to this trilogy.
The author rates this book for 18+ - there are two steamy sex scene and scattered profanity.
I was instantly drawn into this story that follows Rose who, along with her daughter, is rudely ejected from her home by her abusive husband. Rose is a shell of herself after years of marriage with him and meekly moves into a tiny cottage. Can she reclaim her strength and sense of purpose while navigating further humiliations of her soon-to-be ex?
The story also follows Amy, a successful caterer, who is happy for her friends but wonders if she'll ever find her own HEA.
Both stories are woven together well as are all of the friends from previous books. I looked forward each day to picking up this book, rooting for both Rose and Amy and wondering what would happen next to each of these women. Their stories provide a satisfying ending to this trilogy.
The author rates this book for 18+ - there are two steamy sex scene and scattered profanity.
March 13, 2022
Rambling Rose is volume three in Julia Blake’s much loved Perennials Trilogy. I loved all three, and Becoming Lili, book one, was actually the first book of Ms. Blake's I read. I instantly became a fan. Book two is Chaining Daisy.
Rambling Rose is very a satisfying conclusion to this heartfelt trilogy. It starts with Rose, physically forced out of her home by her abusive husband of 15 years, along with their 12-year-old daughter, Jessica, who adores her dad and has always, till now, been spoiled by him. They have the weekend to get out, the house in his name, and Rose in shock, not prepared. With the help and love of friends, the gang from book one and two, Rose must forge a new life for herself and Jessica. The relationship between Jessica and her mom, under these trying circumstances, is so on target and believable. It will stay with me. And I adore Rose’s spunk and “potty mouth.”
Tom, who we have also met before, has had an attraction for Rose for a long time. He has a lovely little cottage, adjacent to his home in the country, and offers Rose and Jessica to live there for free. He is a complete gentleman; there are no strings attached. This developing relationship is written about beautifully and with psychological finesse. It is the central relationship in this book.
There is also the fully developed story of Amy and Marty. They both have never married, unlike most the others in this group of friends. And their potential relationship is put under the immense burden of a tragic accident.
One could truly enjoy this book, even if you haven’t read the first two, but having done so, adds insight. It was heartwarming to find Lili taking front stage on several occasions. There is so much warmth in this tale and in the whole trilogy. There is ample humor, along with tragedy, anger, conflict, and love…the lasting kind. True family does not always means your biological relatives; certainly not with this group of friends. I will never forget them.
Rambling Rose is very a satisfying conclusion to this heartfelt trilogy. It starts with Rose, physically forced out of her home by her abusive husband of 15 years, along with their 12-year-old daughter, Jessica, who adores her dad and has always, till now, been spoiled by him. They have the weekend to get out, the house in his name, and Rose in shock, not prepared. With the help and love of friends, the gang from book one and two, Rose must forge a new life for herself and Jessica. The relationship between Jessica and her mom, under these trying circumstances, is so on target and believable. It will stay with me. And I adore Rose’s spunk and “potty mouth.”
Tom, who we have also met before, has had an attraction for Rose for a long time. He has a lovely little cottage, adjacent to his home in the country, and offers Rose and Jessica to live there for free. He is a complete gentleman; there are no strings attached. This developing relationship is written about beautifully and with psychological finesse. It is the central relationship in this book.
There is also the fully developed story of Amy and Marty. They both have never married, unlike most the others in this group of friends. And their potential relationship is put under the immense burden of a tragic accident.
One could truly enjoy this book, even if you haven’t read the first two, but having done so, adds insight. It was heartwarming to find Lili taking front stage on several occasions. There is so much warmth in this tale and in the whole trilogy. There is ample humor, along with tragedy, anger, conflict, and love…the lasting kind. True family does not always means your biological relatives; certainly not with this group of friends. I will never forget them.
August 10, 2022
Rambling Rose: I loved this beautifully crafted third in the Perennials Trilogy.
In the face of disaster and abandonment by an abusive husband, Rose and her daughter have forty-eight hours to find a new life and home.
This is a wonderful story of everyday heroism, found family and finding oneself.
Seamlessly woven through Rose’s tale we are drawn back into the world of Lili and her friends from Becoming Lili and Chaining Daisy. We hold our breath, laugh and cry salt tears as the next phase of their story unfolds and they face life, in its cruelty and splendour.
Warm, witty and harrowing in equal measure you will not want to miss Rambling Rose by Julia Blake.
In the face of disaster and abandonment by an abusive husband, Rose and her daughter have forty-eight hours to find a new life and home.
This is a wonderful story of everyday heroism, found family and finding oneself.
Seamlessly woven through Rose’s tale we are drawn back into the world of Lili and her friends from Becoming Lili and Chaining Daisy. We hold our breath, laugh and cry salt tears as the next phase of their story unfolds and they face life, in its cruelty and splendour.
Warm, witty and harrowing in equal measure you will not want to miss Rambling Rose by Julia Blake.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews