Kiss from a Rose

A Modern Vintage Romance

He built an empire but forgot to cherish his queen. So, she found herself by leaving him. Can he find her by following? Because when is a kiss from his Rose not just a kiss—but a second chance?

Gray Rutherford had it all—a thriving business, a luxurious home, and a family he adored. Yet, when his wife Rose leaves him after twenty years of marriage, he's forced to face the bitter truth: he's taken her devotion for granted.

Confronted with his failings, Gray embarks on a desperate journey to reclaim the love of his life and prove that she is indispensable to him.

On the cusp of forty, Rose Rutherford stands at a life-altering crossroads. Tired of feeling invisible and undervalued in her marriage, she leaves her affluent Atlanta life for Angel Island to manage a friend's B&B as her friend faces the end of her life.

When Gray arrives, intent on reconciliation, Rose is torn between her newfound independence and the past she left behind.

Kiss from a Rose is a complete standalone in the A Modern Vintage Romance series. Get a dose of classic Mills & Boon and Harlequin romance novels with a contemporary dual POV and a sexy touch. Indulge in your favorite tropes: marriage in crisis, later in life, betrayal and groveling, and no cheating. This book mentions suicidal ideation, depression, and the passing of a friend due to cancer. For mature listeners.

©2024 Maya Alden (P)2025 Podium Audio

Beautiful

Love it! Is emocional, strong, loving and amazing. I love Rose friendship with Malu! God the part where they all hug together on her funeral… left me in tears not just because it was a sad, but because they finally came together as a family and it was beautiful!

Read this book and then listened twice!

First things first. This book I consider is a must read! Maya Alden done a spectacular job with the characters strength! Loved the love you felt, the anxiety and sadness (I cried) but the strength Rose had was BIG. And her hubby, well let’s just say not all men are like him but his self reflection was on point! I swear at one time I felt like I was reading about one of my friends.

Life this story

First off, I loved the story so much I bought the audio version so I knew the story was amazing. The people doing the reading were wonderful as well. Completely recommend.

Not my favorite - feeling frustrated

How can forgetting and forgiving work out for a woman who spent her youth—20 years—raising her children while being emotionally neglected and bullied by everyone around her, including her husband? How can she forget the many times she overheard her husband and family members degrading her? How can forgetting erase years of waiting while her husband traveled and dined with his secretary, neglecting her birthdays and anniversaries? A tight schedule with his secretary, not noticing that he was nurturing an emotional affair? Then, no sex—please! 🤪. Why does this heroine have suicidal thoughts when she could have chosen to prove herself more productive, perhaps with a new skill? From my perspective, this heroine lacks backbone and throws a tantrum of “leaving” to manipulate everyone around her. Calling everyone back after she leaves, with the excuse to “check in,” and then sharing her phone and address—please! 🤔🤮. It would have been better if she had taken at least a year away from everyone, including her adult bully children. 20 years!!! (I wish you could hear my voice). Not enough remorse from MMC, and I don't see how this guy—without principles—can change and learn not to speak badly about his wife or see her differently for what she stood for in his life: a forced marriage, a gold digger, or a woman without education incapable of supporting herself.
Maya Alden depicted this FMC so poorly, especially in her efforts to build something for herself, that even her last inheritance came from a third party. I felt that she was taking care of her friend to only be in her Will🧐. Sorry, but I couldn't feel a connection between the characters or the author’s intent. I only felt frustration and anger.

OMG I wasn’t expecting that!!

Such a good book! Be aware you will cry! The book is full of heartache, self reflection, determination, and love.