Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In The Lost Petal of the White Rose by Grant Winston, postgraduate student of astronomy Melibea Paz has been researching a newly discovered supernova in the White Rose galaxy. But the galaxy suddenly begins to disappear, and consensus by the scientific world concludes that the galaxy is being engulfed by an unidentified universe and it is heading straight for Earth at lightning speed. Melibea calls on the help of her mentor, Dr. Trailing Arbutus Banks, and together they attempt the mammoth task of convincing Congress to fund the research and stop the annihilation of the entire solar system. As they battle against Congress, they realize that they are also up against the corrupt multinationals only interested in their profits. Meanwhile, Melibea is fighting her own personal battle as she tries to save her dwindling relationship. Time is fast running out and both Melibea and Trailing discover how far the elite and multinationals will go to save their companies as their lack of ethics has devastating consequences.

If you enjoy a fast-paced action novel full of suspense and tension, then this is a must-read. The creation of such strong and formidable female protagonists, such as Melibea and Trailing, is perfection. Their personalities are unique but both are fearless, assertive and focused when dealing with the bureaucracy of Congress and unscrupulous elites. Each of the supporting characters is equally believable and the corrupt characters are realistic and not at all clichéd. The author managed to build the atmosphere of the story with his quality descriptive writing which transported you into the story. There are many twists and turns throughout the plot which made for an enthralling and engaging read. The conflict was perfectly placed in the story line as the protagonists strived to save the Earth. The nail-biting ending was written exceptionally well. I thought the Epilogue was a much-needed addition to tie up all the unanswered questions I had.