"Tropical Rose" is inspired by the author's maternal grandmother, the charming and adventurous Therese. The book chronicles the heroine's coming of age on Mauritius, a troubled, colonial, tropical island located in east Africa, and her subsequent move to England with her soldier husband. Therese grows into a bold and confident young woman. During the course of two world wars, she often assumes a leadership role. She is up for a challenge and faces perilous dangers in occupied France, while attracting admirers everywhere she goes. While fiercely coming to the aid of friends and family who are in difficult situations, she remains a loving wife and devoted mother.