Written by Diana Biller, The Widow of Rose House follows Mrs. Alva Webster and Sam Moore as they work together to find out if the old house Alva has purchased really has a ghost as well as how to get rid of said ghost so that she can begin redesigning it.
Now, that is my summary of the story, however it’s worth taking a look at the summary that comes with this book (that will be released October 2019):
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
-The Widow of Rose House
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.
Set during the Gilded Age in New York City, The Widow of Rose House is a gorgeous debut by Diana Biller, with a darkly Victorian Gothic flair and an intrepid and resilient American heroine guaranteed to delight readers.
So, the first thing of note this is a Romance (NOT SUITABLE FOR KIDS) and that the ghost story, while the propeller for the plot, is not the main point of the book until the last half. Before that, its the romance.
Sam Moore is the best character in this. I love the description that Alva uses for him, he is a Good Man. A Good Man isn’t a Nice Guy, a Good Man is the kind of person who stands up for what is right and is honestly good. Good through his actions, and good through what he believes and how he treats everyone. Sam is the kind of person who can talk to anyone, doesn’t see the point in wasting time on things that he doesn’t care about, and is far more focused on how he can make life better/easier for everyone around him.
Alva is a strong character as well; she and Sam share the lime light fairly equally. Throughout the book, I appreciate her growth which is in large part to the steadfast and unchangeable nature that Sam has. The two of them create a wonderful foil.
If you enjoy romance or a good ghost story, or even a woman who was scared coming to her own, this is a good novel for you.
I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
