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 … 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.
more
A widow surrounded by scandalous rumors, a murdered husband, and a haunted house. What an incredibly intriguing way to start a story!! I was enraptured from the start!
The author gives us multiple story lines woven together so well they drew you deeper into the story eager for answers. The main characters were a pair you don’t see often. Yes, of course we get female leads like Alva that are strong because of what they’ve endured and we get to join them on their journey of self-discovery and redemption. However, we don’t often get male leads that are the professor, inventor type with a genius mind. The quirky kind that easily get lost in their calculations yet, still hunky/alpha enough to make us melt and willing to wait forever for their engineering thoughts to stop brewing. It was a fun refreshing change to meet Sam and Alva. I enjoyed how their relationship evolved as they learned to work with each other and appreciate each other’s eccentricities. What I didn’t expect was the level of sparking passion that resulted, wow!
“He was light, and she was bruises and sharp edges and shadows, and people like her didn’t get to have people like him.”
“She had tasted of strength and passion, of meticulously banked fire and fury.”
Yes! I was totally hooked! But let me back up. Here’s where we should start. Alva had grown up in a repressed high societal household. At a young age, she thought she married for love, only to discover the hidden truths that happened behind closed doors. Without receiving help even from her parents, Alva endured ten distraught years until she couldn’t take it anymore.
No longer under the constraints of her parents or her husband, she was free. Despite the rumors, despite what society decreed she was free and she was going to show them who she really was and what she was really capable of.
“The truth was selfish, she wanted something for herself. She wanted to do something herself, something big, to show herself she could.”
Her goal was to renovate an old house for a book she is writing. The old house she buys is suspected as being haunted. She can’t get anyone to complete the renovations until she can prove it is no longer haunted. That is where our hunky professor comes in.
This author put a unique spin on things that I really enjoyed. In addition to the interesting cast of characters and the difference in personalities, she also created a house with a haunting that isn’t the norm. It really had me on edge trying to determine how it was all going to play out. Add in the stress of Alva avoiding a relationship with Sam at all costs. Enthralling! Alva had strength to fight for her own reputation and was willing to tarnish herself it the process, but she wasn’t willing to have her reputation reflect poorly on Sam or his family.
“Love isn’t naïve, Alva. It’s hope, and it’s faith, and it can outlast buildings and wars and empires.”
Will Sam let her push him away? Will they survive the evil clutches of the house? This was a great mystery romance. I was truly captivated and entertained reading this story.
The Widow of Rose House is a perfect fall read. It’s exactly what I look for in a Gothic mystery. It’s atmospheric, spooky, and romantic. I loved the eerie setting of Liefdehuis, and the ghost story was so well-written! The romance part was so swoony; I adored Alva and Sam together. If you like Gothic books and are looking for a ghostly read, you should add The Widow of Rose House to your TBR.
*ARC provided by the publisher vie Edelweiss.
It’s really frightening to think about the lack of rights women had in the past. Alva experienced this to an extreme, but she had the guts to fight even though she back slid a lot in the process. Enter Sam Moore, one of the most lovable male characters I’ve read in long time. In fact, I wish I had a Sam. This book shows how people lives as children mold them into the adults they become. I’m not sure Alva was shown any love at all except maybe from a governess; while Sam was showered in it and floated in a lovely bubble of love all his life. Thank goodness Sam was intent on meeting Alva. A very scary or at least unnerving ghost is a resident of the house Alva purchases in an effort to begin a new life after scandal and becoming a widow. This book did slow down some in the middle, but push through as it’s totally worth it in the end.
One of my favorite bloggers, Natasha is a Book Junkie, recently talked in her Facebook group about reading this book and how amazing she thought it was. I take what Natasha says to heart, and Diana Biller has taken a couple of my favorite tropes and melded them into one fantastic story!
This is my first time reading a historical romance combined with some paranormal and I absolutely loved it! This book is categorized as Gothic Romance, which I admit is a trope I am not familiar with, but will be one that I plan to research thoroughly now that I’ve had a taste!
I truly felt for Alva, her life has been less than glamorous even though she comes from a very prominent family. And her married life was even worse, so she has really had no guiding light through it all, having to rely on her own inner voice to make decisions.
Sam was so refreshing as a male character. He was such a good man. That was what Alva thought of him, he was a good man. He bore no pretenses and he was scatterbrained and couldn’t seem to match his socks, but he stood up for what was right and he helped those who needed a hand, and he knew exactly what he wanted, and he wanted Alva.
Even though there is a paranormal element in this story, it isn’t a creepy book, and in fact the ghost story per se doesn’t really come to a head until the end of the book. The majority of the story centers around Alva and her journey to restoring her name that has been besmirched, and how Sam helps her to see what her truth worth really is.
There are plenty of entertaining secondary characters that come along for the ride. This story moves at a steady pace and I found myself not being able to put the book down until I turned the last page. I’m highly impressed that this is Ms. Biller’s debut novel and I very much look forward to seeing what she has in store for us in the future!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
There are rumors that the house was haunted but Alva Webster always thought the house looked lonely. Alva’s dreams of renovating the house and publishing a book on it are hindered after the workmen abandoned the house in fear of ghosts. A famous scientist and inventor, Sam Moore’s interest in investigating the paranormal activity might help Alva. Sam is also intrigued by Alva’s beauty and courage in the wake of her past marital scandal. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is a delightful well written romance. There are interesting characters, questions about the different ghost stories, romance, a few steamy scenes, intrigue, and suspense. I don’t want to spoil the book by describing it further. Sam’s interest in inventing solutions to everyday problems lends a lot of humor to this book. For me, he is also one of the perfect heroes in literature. I love this book. I am hoping there will be future books that focus on Sam’s family and his best friend Harry.
The Widow of Rose House is the debut novel of Diana Biller. I was wondering how a book that was an intersection of Gilded Age New York, ghosts, science, domestic abuse and gothic romance could possibly turn out well. It didn’t turn out well…..it turned out BRILLIANTLY! Seriously, this is one of the best books I’ve read all year! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Ms. Biller will write more books featuring the genius and loving Moore family.
Alva Webster is a widow who has recently returned to New York from Paris. It was a horrid marriage, and sensational rumors have followed her back home, turning her into a pariah. She has bought an old mansion that she is going to refurbish, and she will document her project in a book for the new middle class. Except…it seems the house may just be haunted. When she meets Sam Moore, a brilliant scientist from the famed Moore scientific family (truly, not a dim bulb in the whole bunch!), he tries to convince her to allow him to investigate. It’s not easy saying no to Sam, and the investigation begins. As the relationship between Alva and Sam heats up, the ghost and Alva’s past begin to wreak havoc in their lives.
The story was unique and exciting, but it was the wonderful characters who made it shine so brightly. Alva had a miserable life, first at home and then after marriage. She didn’t let it break her, though she was willing to sacrifice happiness with Sam so she wouldn’t bring him down. And Sam? One of my favorite heroes EVER, I kid you not! He was a genuine genius, and his mind wandered from his surroundings when a brilliant invention popped into his head. He was always slightly disheveled in dress, and every available space in his home was covered in “bits and bobs” of his work. Though a physically strong and protective man, he did not hesitate at all to let the ones he loved know how much he cared for them. He was extremely funny, and often didn’t seem to notice the effect he had on women. I actually loved the entire Moore family. Henry, Sam’s best friend, attorney and honorary brother, was also a particular favorite of mine. After just one book, Diana Biller is definitely on my favorites list. I can’t wait to read more!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
I do not usually read paranormal/ghost stories but something about this book made me want to read it and I am
so glad I did. The story takes place in Hyde Park, New York in 1875 when Alva Webster returns after the death of her abusive husband. She buys Liefdenhuis, a dilapidated mansion and wants to restore it. Rumor has it that the house is haunted. An inventor, Professor Sam Moore, wants to explore the house for ghostly activity and he falls for Alva after meeting her. This is a really cute, romantic, story with paranormal activity. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC of this very delightful Gothic Romance.
Full review will be available on the blog on 9OCT for the blog tour but here is a snippet!
I don’t think I could overstate how much I adored this book. I almost wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time again but barring that, I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to reread and love on.
Overall, this is a delightful romance between two loveable characters. I sincerely hope there is a follow-up book because I really want to spend more time with the Moore family. Maggie, Henry, and Benedict were all delightful secondary characters that deserve their own stories. Diana Biller weaves a beautiful, heart-warming romance and I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story centers around Sam, the bright oblivious professor and Alva the wronged widow. Alva has been abused and wrongly accused and Sam comes to her rescue. There is a major supernatural force at work along with past evil, there is romance, humor and steam. Enjoyed this story immensely, not my usual read, put at the top of your TBR.
Will the open to life scientist be able to break down the defenses of the lonesome widow.
Twice in a short span of time I have read the first published book of a new historical author. Twice I was left stunned by both story,
With one only outcome, to read more about these awesome talented writers.
Mrs Diana Biller is one hell of a gifted with words person. She has crafted a moving and transcendental story of healing and redeeming the wrong done to others.
She brought all her characters to life, they are more blood and flesh than paper with their shortcomings and successes.
Sam and Alva are two sides of the same coin, they need to trust on each other and themselves to make things work between them.
Sam is one man to love so easily, the perfect portrayed scientific, losing himself in his work, very singleminded when focused to get what he is looking for and rebuffs do not deter him. With his sole smile as his weapon, he disarms anyone by his simple and quite naive view of life, not influenced by rules, gossips and expectations.
Alva never experienced love even in her young years, every aspect of her life controlled by her overbearing family, so when a handsome man seduced her, she mistook it easily but too late, she was already in an other gilded cage. To break free, she confronted scandal and nearly lost everything, but a wounded animal must do what need be to stay alive. But now she is ready to wipe the slate clean of her past if only it hadn’t the wrong habit to jump at her face.
It was a tale about darkness and light, Sam is the light source in this story while Alva lives in the shadows, only surrounded by gloom and when her past is slowly revealed, will Sam’s life force be enough to pull her out of her nightmares. When she drowns in her fears and doubts, he brightens and alleviates the whole scene. With his truthfulness close to candor and his humor, he slowly brings back Alva on the side of the livings, opening her to a colorful avenir instead of the dreary one she was designing for herself.
This was a big five stars read to slowly devour to appreciate all its various depths and layers, the painful past of Alva, Sam’s appreciation of life, the Moore family’s humor, eccentricities and their shared love and the mystery behind the ghosts tale. Everything combined a wondrous journey beyond love and time.
I was granted this advance copy through Netgalley and Edelweiss via the publisher St Martin’s Griffin. I so loved it I purchased my own copy.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=449451925643984&id=429830134272830