The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

Every once in a while I read an outstanding book and The Tea Rose is one of those books. My sister recommended this one to me over a year ago. I took her recommendation, and purchased the book for the library. I devoured this book. I couldn't put it down and am anxious to read the next two in the series Winter Rose and Wild Rose. The book has romance, mystery, intrigue.
Summary
In 1888, Fiona Finnegan and Joe Bristow hoard shillings and pennies so that they can marry and open a shop. But Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of London's East End, and poverty threatens from the shadows. Setting the story in motion is the murder of Fiona's father, a dock worker whose union activities angered his tea-company boss. Fiona and her younger brother must flee to New York City to avoid their own murders. Through hard work and luck, Fiona and her beloved Joe prosper on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Misunderstandings and mistakes keep them apart as they build separate lives and incredible fortunes. Children's book writer Donnelly effortlessly takes her narrative through slums and high society while intertwining a number of subplots without tangling them. Both major and minor characters capture and hold interest and sympathy.