Of Jasmine and Roses is a lovely debut for Jill E Warner. Anna is a wonderful character, so kind. She spent a great deal of the book in constant worry of being dismissed from her position. My heart broke for her with what she endured from prejudice and unkindness. Lucy and Diane each were blessed to learn from her. But I loved her relationship with Diane the most. William was wonderful. The introduction of him so quite funny, mud and all. I adored Diane. She noticed quickly what a good man William was “Mr. Thaxton’s a true gentleman, isn’t he? He makes everyone feel better just by being around him.” The scene with William, Anna, and Diane after the stable was one of my favorites.
I was so frustrated at times with Anna’s treatment but was cheering during a certain scene. This is a wonderful story and I am excited to read another book from Jill E. Warner.
Thank you to the publisher for the Read Now Netgalley approval. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

I’m torn with this one. On the one hand, it’s a unique example of a woman of color living amongst the ton of Victorian England. Our heroine is repeatedly discriminated against, mistreated or seen as novel or exotic and therefore something to be studied. Over the course of the story, she finds a way to be comfortable with her self, find her identity and then a tinnnnny bit of love. So this perspective was really lovely to read and it certainly makes you reflect. However, I wanted to read a historical romance and this definitely felt like women’s fiction with a side story of love. It ended up being quite boring at times as well. The sweet moments were great, the pacing, while slow, isn’t necessarily too slow, but the overall arc of the story was stalling out. The ending was cute but by the time I finally got to it, I felt like I was just trying to be done and no longer enjoying it. These things aside, the character work is fantastic and I would love to pick up another work from this author, as this is her first work, and can only get better. 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

Not the usual governess romance story most of the story is really about self acceptance, finding ones place in life and discrimination. The romance is slower paced and takes a long time to resolve but the resolve itself was sweet. The characters are interesting and it's an intriguing storyline but a little too introspective for me and too slow though well written for a debut novel. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4-4.5 stars!

What a fabulous debut by Jill E. Warner! I enjoyed this heartfelt story of an orphaned, biracial young woman trying to navigate Victorian English Society with all its rules and prejudices. As the niece of a viscountess, Anna’s entitled to a certain amount of respect, however after losing her inheritance and with her mixed English/Indian heritage, she’s often looked down upon and treated with disdain.

After working in several governess positions, she finally feels like she’s found an acceptable situation. Her charges are two young women, one on the cusp of adulthood, and the other a delightful, often overlooked 10-year-old. She finds joy in hesitantly teaching them about India and helping their new to Society mother navigate the ton.

When Lady Spencer hosts a house party, Anna’s surprised to find her estranged relatives in attendance. Trying to balance her position with the need to interact with her family and the house guests makes for a precarious situation especially when one of her charges has a terrible accident. Add to that the dashing William Thaxton who seems to be the only person who really sees and understands Anna. He’s there to garner support for his budding political career, but will a friendship with Anna help him or hurt him?

I enjoyed how the author balanced Anna’s hardships with a slow burn romance & touch of humor. I loved William’s first meeting with Anna. He has such an endearing personality and I loved all their interactions & witty banter. Loved the way Anna is so free when she’s with him.

While some of the things Anna suffers are hard to read, she’s a strong person who triumphs over her afflictions with dignity and grace. I loved Anna’s and William’s growth as they learn to accept themselves and overcome others’ expectations for them. When Anna finally stands up for herself, I found myself cheering.

The author also does a great job humanizing the other characters. Most aren’t just cookie cutter, prejudiced villains. In most cases, there’s real hurt behind the prejudice and I enjoyed seeing some of those conflicts resolved or at least acknowledged. Anna also discovers her own misconceptions about her relatives’ feelings. I particularly loved her aunt, the feisty Lady Tilney, and the crusty earl.

It’s an impressive first novel and I look forward to reading more by this author! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

BOOK: OF JASMINE AND ROSES
AUTHOR: JILL E. WARNER @jillewarner
PUB DATE: 14 NOVEMBER 2023
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This was a very, very beautiful book with wonderful storyline, characters, and writing. I'm so glad I got this book, and it didn't even disappoint me
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Let's start with our FMC, Anna Beasley. She was an amazing character, but she felt lost, not belonging anywhere, and I understood her position. I can only imagine what it was like being biracial in 19th century England, but I felt a little of it(because you can't feel it all)in the book. I cried a little in some of the scenes, I just felt sorry for her and her condition, how she held herself apart from everyone else. But, she prevailed and discovered herself.
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Our MMC, William Thaxton, was a perfect match for Anna. He was a budding politician with dreams to help others, and I admire that. I liked that he stood up for what he believed in. I liked him
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I loved both of their relationships, they both liked and were honest with each other. There was a little miscommunication trope, but it was easily dealt with in the book. I loved their chemistry, although they only kissed, but I could still feel it.
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I'd have just wanted more of an epilogue and William's POV
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This book was very good, fast-paced, and I read it in record time. I'd definitely recommend it.

Not the usual romance story here - the characters are interesting and it's an intriguing storyline.

Miss Beasley is a governess who is part Indian and English. She faces a lot of adversity and injustice because of her mixed heritage. She's used to holding her tongue and blending in the background. Until a dinner party puts her more in the spotlight.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher in a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jill E Warner for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Of Jasmine and Roses coming out November 14, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Historical romance is one of my favorite genres. I’ve read several books like this, but this book did not disappoint me at all! I loved Anna as a character I loved that she was of mixed heritage. As someone who is mixed heritage, I could appreciate her struggle. She was in the society that didn’t always accept her and she felt like she didn’t belong, but she was brave enough to form a relationship with her distant family and find what made her happy. I thought the writing was really great! The plot was fresh and I loved the journey!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys diverse historical romances!

Anna's mother married an Indian man and moved to India. When her mother died, her father was grief-ridden, and with prodding from her mother's sister, he sent Anna to live with her and be raised with her mother's family. Anna's aunt always doted on her as her only tie to her deceased sister. And Anna was raised right alongside her cousins. Anna's uncle gets into a tight financial situation due to a scammer, so Anna refuses to burden their family anymore with her expenses and seeks employment as a governess. Her first position didn't go well, but Anna has finally found a position that she thinks she can last at.

The lady of the house is new to nobility. Her deceased husband made his money as a merchant, and she remarried after he passed to a lord who needed her finances. Although, they seem to have a good relationship. Anna offers much advice to the lady of the house over the proper way the gentry and nobility houses and such work just as much as the role she plays in teaching the lady's two daughters. The older daughter refuses to take much advice from Anna as she's in those lovely teenage years where they think they know everything there is to know. Yet she's also been sheltered from the world of ruined reputations. The youngest daughter has taken to Anna, and they share a special relationship. Because the lady relies upon Anna, she calls her to be a guest and chaperone to the elder daughter at a house party they are hosting. Anna protests, but her pleas go unheard.

The description states that William is an aspiring politician. But the truth is that William's family has aspirations of him being a politician. William isn't sure what he wants to do with his life beyond that, so he follows along. William and Anna meet when she and the youngest daughter are taking a walk and find him lost on his way to the house party. I did find it odd that he later said he grew up visiting the neighboring estate but didn't seem to know his way to their house.

As it turns out, William's twin brother is now engaged to Anna's cousin and are attending the house party, along with Anna's aunt and another cousin. I was surprised, along with Anna, to find what seemed like hostility on the part of Anna's cousins toward her when she only has fond memories of growing up with the two of them. Anna's aunt, however, treats her like a daughter. I found this area to be one of the most interesting conflicts. William's twin brother irritated me so much, and even Anna's cousin (I can't remember anyone's name, hardly).

Hopefully, without giving too much away, Anna's biggest obstacle was her own view of herself and her heritage. She has let society's worst tell her her value, and she's believed them. How can she believe that William can love her when she can't even believe in her aunt and uncle's feelings toward her?

I did enjoy Of Jasmine and Roses. I wish I hadn't let nearly a month go by before writing my review. I liked Anna and her journey to finding her own worth along with her journey with William. Of Jasmine and Roses gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read Of Jasmine and Roses? What did you think? Let me know!

Orphaned as a child, Anna Beasley was raised alongside her titled cousin only to find herself leaving her family to find work as a governess. As a woman of mixed race, part-Indian Anna begins to hope for another life when she meets aspiring politician William Thaxton. Soon after meeting Anna, William realises that Anna is like no other woman he has ever met. Despite her social status, he hopes for a future with her but soon finds that his family and societal expectations, plot to keep them apart.
This is a beautiful and quite realistic tale that highlights the pressures of society, to those finding love despite their backgrounds. I was so saddened by Anna’s experiences and admired her strength of character to persevere against her treatment and still remain positive. I felt her falter in her positivity when a life with William seems beyond her grasp. I truly admired William who does his best to convey his feelings but stumbles in the face of pressure. A beautiful and sweet romance, that rose above the ugliness of racism.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a lovely read of Anna and William. Something different and refreshing. I would recommend this HEA premise.

Of Jasmine of Roses is the debut novel from Jill E. Warner. And can I just say how beautiful the cover of this book is. It's as beautiful as the story that is written on the pages. Filled with tough subjects like racism, this is not your everyday regency romance. It's so much more.
Anna, the FMC, is what every young woman in that era strives to be; poised, kind, a gentle lady. But with her Indian heritage holding her back and family financial issues, she can only be a governess.
And then we had the MMC, William, who was just as endearing of a character. Trying to find his way as a third son, he falls into the trap of what his family wants him to be. But he isn't happy as a future politician. 
Set in England at a house party. William and Anna meet in the most awkwardly adorable way. I loved from that moment on that their relationship grew. There was chemistry between the two that had them wanting to see each other again.  They worked through their own individual problems throughout the story. And while there are many obstacles that fall into their path of HEA, they get through them. Their characters find themselves and grow into who they are meant to be. 
I loved this book so much, and I do hope we get to hear more of what happens with Anne and William. This was one of those stories that I never wanted to end.

Jasmine and Roses is a debut novel written by Jill E Warner. It is a clean historical romance. It is also a book about discrimination and self acceptance. It was hard to read how cruel people can be to someone based on the color of their skin.

I couldn’t help but love the main characters, Anna and William. They are both very warm hearted with a strong desire to help others. Anna is a governess who is having a hard time keeping a job. Not because she is not qualified but because of her heritage Anna’ is of mixed race. Her mother was English and her father was Indian. William is the 3rd son of a baron. Not being the eldest He knows he must pursue a career to support himself. William is one of the only people to see past Anna’s skin color to see the wonderful person she is.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially liked the love story between Anna and William it was ready sweet ad they had great chemistry. My only criticism for the no was that it ends too abruptly. It left a lot of questions unresolved. Is Anna ever accepted my Williams family? What has Adam decided to do with his life?

This book had good bones. The premise was interesting and there were parts that I really enjoyed. I liked Anna and Diane's relationship. I also enjoyed how William and Anna formed a friendship despite challenges.

There were other areas of the story that were more difficult for me to read. I understand the author's desire to convey the terrible prejudice Anna had to endure. I am sure that was not an easy topic to try to fully explain to the reader. I just felt like there was so much unnecessary repetition that it made the story drag in my opinion. The characters seemed to have the same thoughts in every chapter. It grew tiresome to me.

I also got confused with so many characters, especially when they mostly were acting similar to each other. I enjoyed the first 30 to 40 percent of the book, but then felt like so much after that was just rehashing what had already been explained.

I was left wanting more resolution in the end. I felt that was very rushed, especially after enduring so much of the same actions and thoughts for so much of the book.

I felt terrible for Anna. Nothing good happens for her most of the book. I really wanted to see her have some real happiness for more than half a chapter and an epilogue. And even the epilogue left me with unanswered questions.

I understand this is the first novel for this author. I wouldn't be adverse to reading a future book of hers. But this one wasn't my favorite.

I do thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy to read. I'm leaving an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Of Jasmine and Roses
Jill E. Warner
Publication 11/14/23

Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this ARC 💙! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This is a historical romance between half Indian heroine Anna Beasley and 3rd son of a baron William Thaxton. Anna was taken in by her aunt and uncle at 8 years old when her parents die. Anna loses her inheritance and adoptive parents' support, so she becomes a governess. At her employer's Lord and Lady Spencer, Anna takes care of Lady Spencer's daughters Lucy and Diane-both out in society. She meets William at a house party where she is demeaned and shun for who she is. William is the only person who actually sees her -not just her color.

Anna faces racism and classism dealing with the ton and other servants. It mirrors African American history of slavery and servitude. She takes care of wealthy English and their children only to be judged by them and their friends. It takes a lot of independence and self-acceptance for Anna to move beyond the whispers. William 's love also helps but he has political aspirations. It would be quite a scandal if he's seen with her let alone if he marries her. His twin brother Percy and his parents pushed him into politics, they believe Anna is not good enough for him. Percy has even chosen someone else for William to marry.

Unable to find a job after being fired by the Spencers, Anna goes back to Bombay and becomes a teacher. William stands up to his family, gets Anna back, and they marry.  I loved their HEA, coming back to England.

Rating 4/5

FYI This book reminded me of another book I read recently, One Season With The Duke by Addy Du Lac. If you enjoyed Of Jasmine and Roses, I'd recommend reading this book too.

This debut novel from Jill Warner was a delightful read.
Anna a governess who has gone from position to position has finally found a position where she is wanted and respected. Everything is put into jeopardy when she is asked by her employer to participate in a house party. Ignored or shunned by most in the party because of the color of her skin, Anna struggles to find her place between helping her employer and being a governess to her young charges. Add into that mix a handsome guest, William who treats her as an equal and enjoys spending time with her. When disaster strikes and Anna’s loses most she holds dear can she finally come to terms with her heritage and who she is?
While at times I found this book to be a little slow paced I really enjoyed the cultural differences presented throughout this story. It was not an easy time period to be different than those around you. I think that at some point in everyone’s life we struggle like Anna to feel like we fit in and are included. But as Anna discovers it’s also important to be our true selfs.
I am excited to read more from this author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Anna was caught in between society and servant status in Victorian England. Being partially from India society looked down upon her, including her own family.
I thought Anna remained true to herself throughout the book. I didn’t have much use for many of the people she encountered, but some were kind and sincere.
She had to make some tough decisions which finally woke up,the man who loved her.
It’s a sweet gentle romance.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

For some odd reason, the formatting on my kindle was weird, which made it a tad difficult to read some chapters as the line breaks were here and there, and then the next page would just be a wall of text, and towards the end, in the middle of some of the pages, the author's name and title were in the middle of the text.

Other than that, this was a wonderfully written debut romance that also deals with self-acceptance, racism, and finding where you belong. Anna and William have a lovely slow-burn romance, and while the romance was probably intended to be the main focus, I was more invested in Anna's issues with her family and employers.

If you're looking for an easy, clean romance but don't mind reading about the struggles of an interracial governess who longs to find where she belongs and learns to accept who she is and what she truly deserves, then this is the story for you, and I myself cannot wait to see what the author puts out next.

I kept hearing about this book and wanted to read it due to the reviews. For me, I enjoyed this book until the last half of the book which was quite surprising since the first half caught my attention. I loved Anna as a character. She had persevered due to her heritage background. It was sad to see how even her own family and others treated her.
William. For a main character what is not to love about him. He is sees an issue and wants to help in any way he can. He is witty too.
I could see the development of these two characters and how they came to care for one another. At one point in the book, something seemed to change. Anna felt like William pitied her and her situation. I honestly never got that vibe and towards the end, everything felt very rushed. I am giving this a 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to review this. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

Darling book about finding what you really want. Of Jasmine and Roses is delightful and intriguing. I loved the main character and her interactions with minor and major characters.

While this debut book is a romance, most of the story is really about self acceptance, finding ones place in life and discrimination. The romance is slower paced and takes a long time to resolve but the resolve itself was sweet.
Anna is hugely discriminated against and that doesn't seem to get a resolve in the end. Will William's family ever be able to accept her? We don't know. His brother was pretty awful so it doesn't seem likely. What is William planning to do with his life? Did I miss that being addressed? The ending gives the impression of a happily-ever-after but I had too many questions about how that was to be achieved.
I liked William but got irritated that he wouldn't stand up to his brother for his own sake or stand up to everyone for Anna's sake. She couldn't really stand up for herself in her position as the governess but I sure would have liked for her to do more than she did.
I loved the jewelry connection to Anna's mother even if it seemed almost too good to be true. It felt good.

No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.