Forensic accountant Maggie Martin survives the sudden death of her husband, the charismatic President of Windsor College, only to uncover the secrets of his carefully-concealed double life. Dealing with the financial and emotional wreckage left in Paul’s wake, she is stunned to learn he inherited an estate known as Rosemont in the seemingly serene Midwestern town of Westbury. Why had he never … never told her?
Maggie travels to Westbury for the stated purpose of listing Rosemont for immediate sale, but what she really seeks are answers to her all consuming questions about her sham of a marriage; her sham of a life. She never anticipated the seductive charm of Rosemont. Throwing her trademark caution to the wind, and over the objections of her opinionated grown children, she pulls up stakes and moves halfway across the country, determined to make a fresh start in Westbury. Behind closed doors, however, lurks a cadre of evildoers, playing with multiple wild cards of fraud, embezzlement and arson.
With a quiet, orderly — and distinctively solitary — life in mind, Maggie is instead thrown headlong into a crusade against political corruption, where defeat and retreat are not an option. Still bearing the scars of betrayal, will she find joy, romance and possibility in Westbury?
This fast-paced, smart novel has enough twists and turns to make the reader want to buckle in!
Coming to Rosemont is the first book in the Rosemont series.
Interview with the Author
Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?
A: I’m an attorney and have done a lot of technical writing, but knew I wanted to write novels. I thought I’d find time when I retired. Fate stepped in, as it often does, and put me on this path sooner. I broke my neck in an auto accident and suffered from double vision for months. I couldn’t read or watch TV, so I conceived the plot for my Rosemont series.
Q: Why did you decide to write a series?
A: I prefer television series to movies. The longer format of television allows for deeper character development. The same holds true for series fiction. I like to fall in love with a character or hate a character (but root for them to change their ways). I feel like Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi from Alexander McCall Smith’s Ladies’ Detective Agency series are old friends. I wanted to recreate that sort of connection in the Rosemont series.
Q: What other authors do you read or admire?
A: I’m a fan of women’s fiction, women’s sagas, and romance. I love Rosamunde Pilcher’s later trilogy -The Shell Seekers, Coming Home, and September. Jan Karon’s Mitford series creates an enchanting world, as does Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove. My Rosemont series is set in the current day, but I’ve tried to capture a feeling of camaraderie and connection (among the good guys) that takes us back to a slightly simpler time and place.
Q: What are your favorite books?
A: In addition to the works I’ve already mentioned, I adored Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and A Long Way from Chicago.
Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your author life?
A: My dad–without question. He told me or read me a bedtime story every night of my childhood, often adding his own twists and turns to the plots or dialogue. He had an incredible, gentle sense of humor. He also wrote novels–who-done-its–when he retired. I have 17 of his manuscripts and can feel his comforting presence in the room with me when I pick up his pages and read.
Q: What of your own interests have you written about in the Rosemont series?
A: I love my home and all things related to homemaking: cooking, gardening, decorating, and entertaining. I love celebrating all of the seasons and I change my decor for Easter, 4th of July, fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring. I’m also addicted to vintage silver and all sorts of china, with a special fondness for teapots.
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I read the entire 5 books, could not stop after each book. Very strong characters. one of the best series I have read. with all the twists and turns it flowed well. Loved all 5 books.
I am reading all the books in the series and it is a good story.
Can’t wait to read the whole series!
I loved this book. I loved it enough to buy the whole series, and then wished for more. I liked having older characters. I get tired of 30 year old angst over finding the right romantic partner. this book had all ages and problems issues common to all the ages portrayed.
Excellent reading!
Loved the characters in this story! They were either really, really bad or really, really good. They found a Nobel cause and united to fight for it. The book was well written and easy to follow.
Barbara Hinske has become my favorite author. I have read eight of her books, including all in the Rosemont series. I find them well written with characters who are believable and authentic. She has reminded me that for the most part No one is all good or all evil. I have fallen in love with her writing and will continue hungrily devour her …
One of a series. Wasn’t able to stop until I had read, I believe all five in the series.
I love this series. The whole plot is interesting and some twists and turns.
I look forward to each new book to find out what happens.
LOVED THE STORY
Very enjoyable.
Enjoyable chic lit.
I love the way she brought the characters together.
Enjoyable read!
A Fast moving story line using multiple characters that have good versing evil. You want to keep reading the series to find out more about each character and will they be able to save the towns pension plan.
Great mystery and generational fiction. Twist at the end, couldn’t put it down.
It seems unrealistic as she is so stinking wealthy and has it all but in reality her life’s a mess. I admire her and in some ways would like to be her!!!
Good read!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the little town where this all took place. Having a town going through a financial crisis is a new plot and I wasn’t sure at the onset if it would make for a good story, but it did. I enjoyed reading this and plan on reading the rest of the series.
Coming to Rosemont was one of those books I did not want to put down. If I woke in the middle of the night, I would read a few (or more) pages before going back to sleep. It is a book that has you cheering for the main character and pleased when things turn out for the best. The book is one of the best I have read in a long time. Not a “cookie …
Interesting characters, back story and plot. I want to live in the little town!