July 1944. Chicago nurse Clara Janacek has spent her whole life taking care of other people. Grumpy yet loveable, all she wants now is to live out her life in peace, tending her roses and protecting her heart. But beneath the gruff exterior lies a story, and when new neighbors move in and shake up her quiet world, Clara must grapple with long-buried realities. July 1915. The picnic across Lake Michigan was to be the highlight of the summer for young nurse Clara—a day filled with laughter, dancing, and budding romance aboard a stately excursion steamer. But when unspeakable tragedy strikes, Clara’s life is changed forever. By turns funny, tender, and bittersweet, The Rose Keeper celebrates the redemptive hope found in friendship, faith, and the search for belonging.

“A tender story of kindness and compassion, The Rose Keeper thrums a chord deep within all of us that yearns for an understanding of our hurting hearts. Surprising friendships, new families, and timeless love are formed with Leo’s skillful pen amid rich historical details and events. Settle into the pages, dear readers, and prepare to have your heart touched.”–J’nell Ciesielski, author of Beauty Among Ruins