The Rose-Garden Husband Series by Margaret Widdemer

• Two wholesome, romance novels from a century ago are together in this Kindle "The Rose-Garden Husband" (1914) and the sequel "The Wishing-Ring Man" (1917). Both are written by Pulitzer Prize winning American author Margaret Widdemer. The Rose-Garden Husband (First published 1914) Phyllis had a good job, as a librarian, but she rented a room in a boarding house and struggled to make ends meet. She looked on enviously as she saw a girl from her home town, walking with two young children... more• Two wholesome, romance novels from a century ago are together in this Kindle "The Rose-Garden Husband" (1914) and the sequel "The Wishing-Ring Man" (1917). Both are written by Pulitzer Prize winning American author Margaret Widdemer. The Rose-Garden Husband (First published 1914) Phyllis had a good job, as a librarian, but she rented a room in a boarding house and struggled to make ends meet. She looked on enviously as she saw a girl from her home town, walking with two young children. More than anything, Phyllis wanted a husband, and enough money to have nice things including a rose garden. When Phyllis is invited to dinner by Mr and Mrs De Guenther, a wealthy elderly couple, she is surprised to hear their proposal. One of their acquaintances, Allan, had been an invalid since the car accident that killed his fiancée seven years earlier and his mother was hunting for a wife for her son. The Wishing-Ring Man (first published 1917, a sequel to "The Rose-Garden Husband" ) Joy Havenith is sheltered, bored and forced to wear quaint short dresses and pigtails to inspire her grandfather's sentimental poetry. Joy is young for her 19 years, but she longs for glamour and romance, Luckily Johnny Hewitt comes along and explains that if she wishes hard enough, her dreams will come true. Not knowing his name, she remembers him as her "wishing ring man." Joy has the opportunity to visit the city with a married couple but her grandparents won't allow it until she is engaged. Desperate, Joan lies to them, fibbing that she is engaged to Dr. John Hewitt, a man she's only heard about through her about through her friends. John agrees to play along, but his fiancée is not pleased. Can trouble be far behind? The Wishing-Ring Man was made into a Hollywood film. Excerpt: -- "She felt suddenly little and frightened and helpless. The current of mischief and merriment dropped away from her for a minute, here where everything, from the class picture on the wall to the pipe on the bureau, spoke so of John--of what everything about him meant to her--about what going away from him would mean. She flung herself on her knees beside the narrow iron cot in the corner, her arms out over the pillow where his head rested." This is a sequel to "The Rose-Garden Husband" in that Allan, Phyllis Harrington and Dr John Hewitt make another appearance. About the Author Nobel-Prize winning author Margaret Widdemer (1884 – 1978) was a U.S. poet and novelist. She won the Pulitzer Prize (known then as the Columbia University Prize) in 1919 for her collection The Old Road to Paradise. She was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in New Jersey. She garnered attention with her poem "The Factories", which addressed child labor. In 1919, she married author and cellist Robert Haven Schauffler. Widdemer's memoir recalls her friendships with Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, T. S. Eliot, Thornton Wilder, and Edna St. Vincent Millay. less

Margaret Widdemer's 'The Rose-Garden Husband' is a charming novella that combines elements of romance and social commentary. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows a young woman named Meg who marries a man she barely knows in order to save her family's estate. The narrative is intertwined with themes of love, duty, and societal expectations, making it a thought-provoking read... moreMargaret Widdemer's 'The Rose-Garden Husband' is a charming novella that combines elements of romance and social commentary. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows a young woman named Meg who marries a man she barely knows in order to save her family's estate. The narrative is intertwined with themes of love, duty, and societal expectations, making it a thought-provoking read. Widdemer's writing style is elegant and evocative, immersing the reader in the lush surroundings of the rose garden while exploring the complexities of human relationships. The novella is a perfect example of early 20th-century romantic literature, offering a glimpse into the concerns and values of the time. Margaret Widdemer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, drew inspiration from her own experiences and observations of society to craft this compelling story. Her expertise in character development and storytelling shines through in 'The Rose-Garden Husband', making it a captivating and timeless work of fiction that will resonate with readers who appreciate classic romance novels. less

She felt suddenly little and frightened and helpless. The current of mischief and merriment dropped away from her for a minute, here where everything, from the class picture on the wall to the pipe on the bureau, spoke so of John--of what everything about him meant to her--about what going away from him would mean. She flung herself on her knees beside the narrow iron cot in the corner, her arms out over the pillow where his head rested.