I feel like this book is very timely, considering what the world is like right now. I thought Jill Warner did a good job merging two cultures. I have to read it as kind of a fantasy though, as the customs of the time would be very difficult to overcome for a mixed race couple. I did like the story.

This book is a delightful and engaging romance that explores the complexities of social status, identity, and love. Anna Beasley, a strong-willed and independent governess, and William Thaxton, an aspiring politician, are expertly woven together in a narrative that is both poignant and uplifting.

The author masterfully tackles the themes of intolerance and cruelty, creating a story that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. Anna's struggles to find her place in society, despite her mixed heritage and uncertain past, are deeply relatable, making her a compelling and endearing protagonist.

William's character is equally well-developed, with his growing attachment to Anna and his desire to overcome the societal barriers that stand in their way. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their love story is expertly paced and romantic.

The supporting cast is well-developed, with complex motivations and secrets that add to the plot's tension. The writing is descriptive and immersive, transporting readers to the world of high society in the ton.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of historical romance and stories of love and acceptance. With its heartwarming tale, poignant themes, and engaging characters, this book will leave readers smiling and eager for more.

*Spoiler Alert* This book has more of a somber tone as it deals with racial inequality. My heart hurt for Anna and all the pain and cruelty she endured. William honestly annoyed me. Just say what you are feeling already. I loved the ending with Anna’s mother’s ring and finally, her happily ever after.

After reading this story I found it was the author's first. I am impressed by this debut novel. The main character is a poor family relation raised with her cousin. As society shuns her due to her parentage, becoming a governess seems like the only path open to her. Enter William our hero. He was by far my favorite character. He is everything you want in a hero. Despite society's expectations and some rather unlikeable meddlesome side characters, William is able to follow his heart. I look forward to more books by this author. 3 1/2 stars

This book had a very interesting premise and I liked one of the lead chracters but it didn't complete its promise in the story and plot.

This novel had an interesting premise.

In execution it was ok. If someone likes novels with a bit of class romance this is the novel for them. The protagonist was a governess who neither belonged in the upper classes nor the lower classes. Luckily she falls for the right guy.

The author excels in creating a sense of place and there is a certain sweetness to the story. Even though the tale wasn't for me, I would read something else written by her.

It’s always nice to read a Regency romance that isn’t the typical format. Anna’s mother is British, but her father is part Indian, and that leaves her without a solid place in society. Although she was raised by cousins, she doesn’t truly and completely belong.

This sweet read encompasses loss, prejudice, and searching, which gives it an undertone of sadness, especially with the way Anna was treated by family. But at the same time, there is a feeling of hope that drifts through the pages.

I always love a good house party and this one allowed Anna to engage with William Thaxton and I loved the person she was when she was with him–carefree and content. She’s a strong character, facing her trials with dignity and grace. William is ambitious, yet likable, and it was a treat to watch them interact.

Content/TW: mild moment of peril/accident; mild, slow-burn romance; mild instances of prejudice

Oh this was a beautiful story of love and friendship! I truly enjoyed the characters and the scenes were beautiful! I wished there was a bit more kindness towards the main character. But I do think this was the heartache for the Indian/English people at that time! Lots of prejudice and misunderstandings! I thought this author navigated it well! And the hero was almost perfect!

Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant for this story! All opinions are my own!

This was a fantastic debut novel! I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I especially appreciated the uniqueness of this story. It isn't very common to have a Regency romance with a main character from a country other than England, so it was awesome to have the heroine, Anna, from India. While my heart broke for her and the struggles she faced, I loved that William loved her for who she was as a person and didn't disparage her solely for her heritage.

I cannot wait to read more of Jill's books in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book; all thoughts are my own.

With such a beautiful title and cover, I admit I'm a little bit disappointed the romance wasn't more full on. The writing is perfectly fine and the historical side very much fleshed out, and the two protagonists have great chemistry. It's a shame they appear so little in the story, and leave you wanting more.

'Of Jasmine and Roses' is the beautiful story of a woman torn between two vastly different worlds, falling in love with someone who can fully love her back. Its a story of acceptance, love (both of the romantic, familial and platonic varieites) and is a great read if you are looking to diversify your reading in historical fiction. However, this story left me wanting more. While it was a great love story, it was more from afar and when I finished the book I felt almost half-full. In a sense, I wish there would have been more romance and fluff.

This story started off a bit rough for me. I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters, and most of them just fell a bit flat for me. Plus, every time the author would use a contraction, such as "it'd", it would jar me out of the story, because it didn't feel like that word belonged.
But, I kept reading, and eventually became quite invested in the story. I always enjoy a good underdog story, and Anna's situation just broke my heart. She had a hard time seeing her value, based on the years of being told by others how little value she had. William saw through all of the prejudices and was able to get to know the real Anna - as much as she would let him, anyway. She had spent years putting up walls to protect herself, and those walls didn't break down very easily. One downside to putting up those walls, was that they made it so Anna was unable to see just how many people truly cared about her. I think that's a lesson that all of us can learn.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It started out rough, but got much better as it went on.

This was surprise for me. I don't know why, but I waited to start this one for sometime. But I enjoyed every chapter. Once I got passed the meet cute, I was completely sucked in.

It is a hard thing to come to terms with, loving ones self, when no one truly allows you to be proud of who you are. That was something that had to be overcome in this book. Finding where you belong and who you belong with. I loved the ability that William had to look at people as people, and he didn't believe himself above others. I loved Anna's tenderness with her charges. The characters in this book were well developed and I loved exploring who they were as I got further into the book.

I hope to read more by Jill E. Warner. This was a beautiful book.

I am truly impressed with this debut novel by Jill E. Warner which is so beautifully written. Warner completely changes one’s preconceived ideals of what a regency romance book normally looks like, and forces one to take a real hard look at the effects of prejudice which holds true even today.

I was pulled into Anna's story from the very beginning. She is one of the strongest heroines I have read in a long time, never letting the rudeness or the meanness of others change her. I experienced many emotions throughout this book from felling distraught to laughing. Watching Anna’s interactions with her two charges as a governess were definitely some of my favorite scenes. The connection she formed through her love of them was so heartwarming, and the strength that they both gained from her was awesome.

William Thaxton, a natural born problem solver, who pays attention to details, soon recognizes the value of Anna as they slowly grew together. Anna and William’s journey to love is precious, moving, and unforgettable.

I will not soon forget this engaging story, and highly recommend Of Jasmine and Roses, a wonderful Historical Romance.

I received an ARC copy Of Jasmine and Roses from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Unfortunately this book was just not for me. Such a unique idea but despite my every effort, I could not get into the story or the characters. The plot was just to slow for me, but there are definitely readers who would love this one!

I enjoyed the historical fiction novel! The characters were well written and I loved how the story progressed. I look forward to reading more by Jill!

I have a new author to add to my favorite list. This book was everything I wanted in a clean read that is just so enjoyable! Beautifully written love story in so many ways!

This is a wonderful romance story. I enjoyed getting to know Anna as she struggles to find her place in a society that demands perfection. Anna is biracial her mother was English while her father was Indian. After her parents die she is raised by her titled family but eventually loses her inheritance as well as her connection with her family. She is forced to become a governess but struggles to maintain a long placement as she is often dismissed because of her biracial heritage. This is an awesome story of a young woman who overcomes much adversity as she grows into maturity and self-acceptance. The young man who finally sees her for who she is adds so much to the story. Their good-natured banter and interactions add so much to the story and make the reader cheer for them to succeed. I enjoy romances but this one was so much more than just boy meets girl and everyone lives happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful surprise Of Jasmine and Roses by Jill E. Warner is! Don’t get me wrong. I had no sense that this book wouldn’t be great. I just had no idea what to expect. I’ve never heard of Jill E. Warner before and I definitely haven’t read any of her books. That’s because Of Jasmine and Roses is Warner’s debut novel, and what a debut it is. I loved this story so much. Right from page one I was hooked and tore through the pages of this story. The best part of this story is Anna. I love her character so much. She is one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever read. Many times in this story I wanted to scream at all the other characters for being so obtuse and rude and ugly. But Anna never lets the meanness take her down. Sure, she gets hurt feelings, she gets sad, she even gets frustrated, but she never lets the rudeness or the meanness of others change her. Anna is strong. She is strong on page one, and she is strong on the final page, too. I was very encouraged by her throughout this story. But I was also glad for William Thaxton to enter her life. William is a wonderful hero. He pays attention to details, he sees what others miss or take for granted, and he recognizes the value of everyone. He is also a natural problem solver and wants desperately to fix others’ problems when he can (and even when he can’t). He is the perfect hero for Anna. I love how Anna and William become friends, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, they become more than friends. But they are a tad oblivious to their true feelings, and it takes a minute or two for them to get on the same page. I found Anna and William’s journey to love rather refreshing and endearing. What I like so much about Anna and William’s relationship is how through each other they find a sense of belonging. Like God made Anna just for William and vice versa. So sweet!

Of Jasmine and Roses is a wonderful Historical Romance. This is a story I won’t soon forget. If you love a well-written, highly engaging story that will make you feel all the feels, then this is definitely the story for you.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I LOVED this book! It brought so much to the table that we don’t usually get in regency books. It had a main character that was a minority. The author didn’t shy away from showing hard things happening to her and the prejudice that was obviously going on at the time. Anna and William were just so lovely. Their story was honest and heartwarming. The side characters were intriguing and made their own way in the story.

I seriously can’t get over this book. I loved every page!