[.ca] Red Roses Mean Love (ISBN 0440235537)

From Amazon.com:
Setting: England, 1820 Sensuality: 7 At 25, Hayley Albright--the oldest of her orphaned family--firmly decides that she will not marry. Instead, she devotes herself to her household of boisterous siblings and eccentric servants, giving up her dreams of love and marriage until one moonlit night, when she comes upon a wounded stranger in the woods. Determined to save him, Hayley takes him home and nurses him back to health. Lord Stephen Barrett awakens in an unfamiliar bedchamber to find he's been shot in what appears to be the second attempt on his life. Deciding that the Albright home is a safe place to recuperate while he works out a plan to catch his assailant, he conceals his true identity by telling his rescuer that he is a tutor en route to his next assignment. What Stephen won't admit, even to himself, is that Hayley's warmth of spirit, beautiful face, aquamarine eyes, and lushly curved six-foot-tall body is a powerful inducement for him to remain in Kent. Before long, however, Stephen can't deny that Hayley stirs a fierce passion in him while the rambunctious children and devoted servants threaten to melt the icy coldness of his heart. But he must leave the Albright home to identify and capture his would-be assassin, for to remain would place the family in jeopardy. Will Hayley forgive Stephen for deserting her--if only for a little while--and can Stephen come to terms with the depth of his feelings for the beautiful spinster? In her debut novel, D'Alessandro pairs a moody, dark hero with a sunny, free-spirited heroine while demonstrating a marked talent for gathering a cast of lively secondary characters. The hero is endearingly obtuse about recognizing love and the heroine admirable in her determination not to pine for a man who refuses to realize their rare good fortune. --Lois Faye Dyer

Worth the time to read...:
There is a review of this book below that I read pointing out all of the errors in this book. I personally don't pick out historical errors throughout the romance books that I read. I just want a nice, flowing storyline that makes me feel satisfied when I am done reading it. Sure, this book has it's faults, but it more than makes up for it with a cast of lovable characters. You can pick it apart if you like, but try reading it without loving it!!

Very Charming:
I read this book after reading some of the author's later novels. This was a very nice story with a good H/H and fabulous secondary characters. Hayley's siblings are adorable, her servants are a riot (Pierre zee cook is my fave!)and Stephen's best friend is an absolute doll. The author did a great job with tugging the heartstrings. My only problem is how neatly things were wrapped up. It felt a little anticlimactic once Hayley discovered Stephen's true identity and a little disbelievable that his family reformed so quickly after he references numerous times throughout the story how horrible they are. But don't let those quibbles stop you from reading this book. It's a lovely and heartwarming read!

Really liked this book. A great read:
For my first D'Alessandro book, it was an enjoyable read. Nice hero, heroine. Wonderful secondary characters. I look forward to reading her other works.

Fun and Endearing First Novel:
Red Roses Mean Love is a fun and endearing first novel from promising author Jacquie Dï¿1/2Alessandro. After being jilted by her fiancé, orphan Hayley Albright has given up any dreams of romance to care for her younger siblings. When she rescues Lord Stephen Barrett from a failed assassination attempt, she hardly expects to fall for the handsome man who claims to be penniless tutor Stephen Barrettson. But as he convalesces in the warm family environment Hayley has created, he soon seems like an indispensable family member. Wealthy and powerful Lord Barrett thinks it a fine idea to convalesce undercover at Hayleyï¿1/2s modest but charming country home while he investigates who could be trying to kill him. A jaded rake who doesnï¿1/2t trust any woman, Stephen believes himself immune to Hayleyï¿1/2s innocent charm and especially to her loopy familyï¿1/2s unconventional way of doing things. Convincing himself that he feels nothing, he nevertheless falls under the spell of the delightful Albright family while discovering feelings he never knew he had. Hayley is in love with Stephen but her own secret makes her hold back at first. Then the revelation of Stephenï¿1/2s true identity and his deceit is devastating. Stephen storms back to London. How will they be reunited? Dï¿1/2Alessandro treats us to several inventive plot twists that surprise and entertain. It is lovely to watch Stephen transform from a cynical nobleman to a down to earth person finally able to trust in another personï¿1/2s goodness. Hayley, however, is too angelic. She needs a flaw, however minor, to humanize her. Supporting characters are funny and charming, like Hayleyï¿1/2s outspoken little sister Callie and the familyï¿1/2s hilarious motley servants Grimsley and Winston. Former sailor Winston always has a funny phrase to express his surprise, such as ï¿1/2Drop me from the crowï¿1/2s nest and feed me to the fishes!ï¿1/2 Other comic elements include Stephenï¿1/2s inability to ever get his romantic rival Jeremy Popplemoreï¿1/2s name right. Popplemore becomes Poppledard, Popplepuss, Popplecart, etc., depending on how annoyed with him Stephen is at the moment. This is a funny, very entertaining first novel with colorful characters, heartfelt love and a nice plot that holds the readerï¿1/2s interest.

Basically Good ý Despite Flaws:
Hayley Albright had all but given up on ever settling down and getting married. Her fiancé jilted her after her father's death left behind the responsibility of raising her four younger siblings. Not only that, but her father also left debts which took most of the inheritance to pay off. Hayley found a way to support her family, but if society ever discovers her secret employment, it would be quite the scandal. Returning home from London one evening, she finds an unconscious man who has been shot and left for dead. She takes him home and under her care, he slowly recovers. Stephen Barrett, the Marquess of Glenfield, and heir to a duke, woke to the conclusion someone is indeed trying to kill him. Therefore, it would be in his best interest to not divulge his identity, in case the killer tries to find him to finish him off. So, Hayley comes to know him as the tutor, Stephen Barrettson. Stephen is cynical, not used to displays of love and affection, and believes anyone being nice to him must have a hidden agenda. But he's baffled by Hayley's compassion, and selflessness, when she has no idea of his noble status. He finds himself unwittingly drawn to, and captivated by her, even though she and her household are unconventional to say the least. Hayley also finds herself attracted to this too proper, but ultimately kind man. What will happen when Stephen has to leave and return to his London home? And what will she think if she finds out he's lied about his true identity? This was the debut novel for Ms. D'Alessandro, and I found it a little difficult to rate, because while it was good, I didn't feel it was great. However, taking into account this is her first published book, I see great potential for growth. Certain phrases and plot devices seemed overused in the portrayal of this story. Some examples would be, Stephen and Hayley would have an encounter with each other, and then each would separately vow to steer clear of the other. But of course, by that evening or the next day, they were spending time together again. Now, we want them to be together, but I did tire of hearing the same mental battle over and over. These women also blushed way too much. It became distracting that one of them always had "color staining her cheeks". That phrase was overused. Hayley saved Stephen's life not once, but twice. That plot device seemed overused. Stephen also treated Hayley unkindly too many times, and that became tiresome as well. Overall, the writing was good, but these things I've mentioned became a distraction. The characters were all likeable, and the humor made it much more enjoyable for me. In summary, even though this book was only average in my opinion, I will read another by this author, because I see real potential for her future work.