Rosebuds Author:Margaret Mayhew A novel of lifelong friendship, in the tradition of Rosamunde Pilcher. Flora Middleton and Tally Ashby meet in 1947 as 10 year olds starting boarding school. The girls are polar opposites in looks--Tally is tall, blonde, and blue-eyed, while Flora is short, brown-haired, and freckled--and in background, with Tally being Lady Atalanta As... more »hby, daughter of an earl, and Flora, whose father was killed in the war, coming from a poor family. As the girls grow up, their friendship deepens, but their lives take very different paths. Tally's wealth gives her the freedom to do anything she wishes -- finishing school, modeling -- or nothing at all. Flora works hard to earn a living as a secretary. Tally has masses of male friends, but Flora only has eyes for one man, Tally's older brother, Nicholas. In the best tradition of Rosamund Pilcher and Maeve Binchy, Mayhew offers a warm, engaging romance set in post-World War II England. The realistic dialogue, appealing characters, careful "period" details, and straightforward plot add up to a winning combination for genre fans.« less