A young widow restores a dilapidated mansion with the assistance of a charming, eccentric genius, only to find the house is full of dangerous secrets in this effervescent Gilded Age debut novel
It’s 1875, and Alva Webster has perfected her stiff upper lip after three years of being pilloried in the presses of two continents over fleeing her abusive husband. Now his sudden death allows her to return to New York to make a fresh start, restoring Liefdehuis, a dilapidated Hyde Park mansion, and hopefully her reputation at the same time. However, fresh starts aren’t as easy as they seem, as Alva discovers when stories of a haunting at Liefdehuis begin to reach her. But Alva doesn’t believe in ghosts. So when the eccentric and brilliant professor, Samuel Moore, appears and informs her that he can get to the bottom of the mystery that surrounds Liefdehuis, she turns him down flat. She doesn’t need any more complications in her life―especially not a handsome, convention-flouting, scandal-raising one like Sam.
Unfortunately, though Alva is loath to admit it, Sam, a pioneer in electric lighting and a member of the nationally-adored Moore family of scientists, is the only one who can help. Together, the two delve into the tragic secrets wreathing Alva’s new home while Sam attempts to unlock Alva’s history―and her heart.
Title: The Widow of Rose House
Author: Diana Biller
Published: October 8th 2019 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Fiction
Stars: 5 Content: 7 (some sex and language)
I was so excited to receive this book to review. Did you read that synopsis? Who would not be interested? I love romance. The banter between these two was so fun. Sam’s overall goodness and steadiness combined with his flirty side made me wish the book would just keep on going. Alva has been through so much and has so much fear. I think the author did a great job with just enough back story to be relevant to the present without it being boring or unnecessary.
You guys.. the GHOST. This read is perfect for October because not only is it a romance, it is a ghost story! Alva come back to America to be a Joanna Gains of her time and Fixer Upper this old house. Only no one will do it because of the rumors. It turns into a mystery of who the ghost could be, if you believe in such things, and how to get rid of it so they can move on with the project. As Alva and Sam unravel the mystery of ghosts and Alva’s past I really began to hope they would figure it out and be together. I swear the book almost ends as a horror film would. I don’t know how I was expecting it to end but I couldn’t have predicted THAT. I loved it.
There are a few sexy parts. It’s adult for sure. There was one f*** and usually this doesn’t bother me too much but this time it did. I felt like it was out of place and not true to the character. It surprised me. It only surprises me if it comes from out of nowhere and I felt like that was the case here. Other than that I really adored this one. I’m going to buy it and then reread it when I need a spooky but hauntingly beautiful romance.
Thanks for reading!
xoxo,
PS If you visit my Instagram page I am doing a Giveaway for this book! Go check it out an enter if you meet the requirements!
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