The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
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.
Book Details
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
Published October 8th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin
Fiction / Romance / Historical / Gothic
Paperback, 352 pages
My rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Review
The Widow of Rose House is a delightful debut by Diana Biller that is one-part ghost story adventure and one-part historical romance.
“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 story takes place in 1875 New York City and is set in a dilapidated mansion that’s rumored to be haunted by ghosts. The atmosphere is redolent of an Victorian Gothic and it doesn’t take long for readers to get swept away into the story.
Liefdehuis, once a stately Hyde Park mansion, has a mysterious history. One that strangely calls to the protagonist who inadvertently came across it during her childhood which left an indelible impression on her.
The Widow of Rose House features two engaging characters, Alva Webster who is fleeing her abusive husband and a tattered reputation and the swoon-ish and brilliantly-charming Professor Samuel "Sam" Moore, who together, build plenty of romantic tension across the pages.
I loved the back-and-forth banter between Alva and Sam. The snappy dialogue between the two guaranteed smiles and delight, while the cast of secondary character, namely Sam’s family and his business partner, added so much fun to the story.
Yes, there are ghosts, but there’s also plenty of kisses too. A touch of chills and thrills to entertain.
“Love isn’t naive, Alve. It’s hope, and it’s faith, and it can outlast buildings and wars and empires.”
Overall, The Widow of Rose House delivered an entertaining read with a strong emphasis on the romance while surrounding it in an atmospheric setting complete with ghosts, a gorgeous but crumbling mansion and touches of the Gothic.
Although, I was hoping for a more substantial mystery, and that is what kept me from rating the book higher, the engaging romance between Alva and Sam made this a fun read while the moody setting and supernatural twists added to my reading enjoyment. I will be keeping eye for future books by Diana Biller!
