It’s not often I get the opportunity to review a book written by someone I know (a friend of a friend) so I’m delighted to introduce you to Tropical Rose, a book by Debbie Sands from Calgary, Canada. 

Sands’ new book, Tropical Rose is the fictionalized story of her grandmother Thérèse who led a colourful and somewhat unusual life. The book’s title is derived from the affectionate nickname given to her by her husband while they were still courting. Thérèse was born a French-speaking citizen of Mauritius off the east coast of Africa. At one time the beautiful tropical island had been under French control but was later taken over by the British. This usurping of former French rule was a sore point for Thérèse’s father who owned a large sugar plantation that supported his wife and thirteen children.

As the eldest daughter, Thérèse was pampered and enjoyed a privileged lifestyle. With the outbreak of World War I, three of her older brothers went to France to fight and only one survived. When Thérèse fell in love and wanted to marry a British soldier stationed in Mauritius, her father was adamantly opposed to the union. Her persistence and some cunning prevailed and she became Mrs. Emmett Richardson.

When her husband was demobilized, the newlyweds moved to England into a house he owned in London. Things got difficult when the aging aunt who had raised him moved in with them, but Thérèse persevered as the couple started their own family.

By the start of World War II, two of her children were grown and Thérèse was left raising 12-year-old Vivienne while her husband worked as a successful civil servant. To escape the bombing of London, Thérèse and her daughter evacuated to the home of relatives in a seaside village near Liverpool where she became involved in wartime support work.

Thérèse made two high-risk trips to France, once before the start of the war and again after to rescue people threatened by the Nazi regime. Her placement and service during two critical events of the war earned her recognition from Charles de Gaulle.

The beginning of the story reads much like romantic fiction on a tropical island with old-fashioned colonial manners and values. However, when Thérèse arrives in England, the tone changes to a more realistic and contemporary voice.

Sands takes us on an adventurous journey halfway around the world while keeping the reader engaged and turning the pages to see what happens next. The book is a lovely read and I highly recommend it.

Debbie’s earlier book A Moth To The Flame is the story of her beautiful daughter Amy’s struggle with borderline personality disorder. This too is an excellent read.

If you are unable to obtain Tropical Rose or A Moth To The Flame by Debbie Sands at your local bookstore or library, please click on the image of the book below to have it delivered directly to your door from Amazon.

(Disclosure: If you order from these links I may receive a teeny, tiny commission. Thank you for supporting Canadian authors!)