"With a nod to Byron and a wink to Leacock, The Love of Women unveils its comically Canadian picaresque --- from a woman´s point of view. Our Rosie Goshen, erstwhile convent girl turned runaway, lands up in the imaginary Ottawa Valley town of Booth and transforms it within five days, for better or for worse. Ensconced as a maid in Booth´s Strathcona hotel, circa 1920´s, Rosie flexes her newly-discovered ´initiative.´  To the beautiful and intelligent hotel keeper, Carmel McReady Woods, Rosie is irreplaceable; to Carmel´s would-be poet husband, the surly but stunning Lawrence Woods, Rosie is irresistible.  Simultaneously right-hand woman and other woman, Rosie gets by on practical morality and regular doses of good luck. Rosie´s youthful passion arouses in the misanthropic Lawrence: "the anticipation of desire." All too tardy a penitent for the transfiguring power of her love, Our Rosie Goshen emerges relatively unscathed from this satirically ´moral tale.´" 

     Gwendolyn Guth

"I´m always pleased to see a broadening of awareness of the Ottawa Valley, and especially by a young writer of talent and potential." 

      Joan Finnigan

"Compellingly written, Jenifer McVaugh´s extraordinary novel ... is a delight.  Comic and poetic, sensual and spiritual, it´s an enchanting story, told through evocative details, eccentric characters, and astonishing wit. This is the debut novel of a highly original and talented writer." 

      Sandra Gulland