The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"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."

My Thoughts:

The Widow of Rose House was everything that I love in a gothic romance!  Why are authors not writing more books like this?  I've always enjoyed books like this but they are from older authors like Barbara Michaels or Mary Stewart.  I'm sure you can imagine my delight when I read this description and saw the words Victorian Gothic included....I've never hit the request button on NetGalley so fast!  This book was everything that I hoped it would be and so much more!  One of the things that made this book stand out for me was Samuel's character.  I didn't even realize that I would love his character so much until I did.  The way that his mind worked just was so fascinating to read about, and I couldn't help but adore him.  The romance between Sam and Alva was also just so very delightful to read about.  Alva has had a hard time in her life - her marriage was horrible and her parents aren't much better.  On the other hand, Samuel's family was absolutely the best (please, please tell me that we are going to get more books featuring some of his siblings) so they had very different experiences.  The struggles that Alva faced with trust and love all came from her past and previous experiences.  It made the romance that was developing between her and Samuel all the sweeter though because of it.  I was fully behind these two working through everything so that they could find their happy ever after together.  I also really, really enjoyed the haunted house that Alva was trying to renovate.  I'm a sucker for a haunted house especially when there are ghosts in the mix.  I was so intrigued by those portions of the book and what exactly was going on.  Fair warning though, this book was unexpectedly darker than I thought it would be at times.  There are a few trigger warnings in here that readers may want to be made aware of (just leave me a comment or email if you want more details).  The ending of this book was absolute perfection - I cannot get over the fact that this book is this author's debut!  

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book so much and cannot recommend this book highly enough!  I NEED more authors to dip their toes in the gothic romance waters for sure. I also need Diana Biller to keep writing books just like this because it was both amazing and delightful.  This is honestly one of the top romances that I've read so far this year and I've already read some really great ones.  Fans of Barbara Michaels and Mary Stewart - take note of this author and book!  I would recommend this one to fans of romance, historical romance, and anyone who loves a great gothic read like I do.  I will be just sitting over here impatiently waiting for whatever this author writes next now!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  This book is everything that I wanted in a gothic romance without me even knowing it!  Such a delight!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Charlotte's Story by Laura Benedict (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"The fall of 1957 in southern Virginia was a seemingly idyllic, even prosperous time. A young housewife, Charlotte Bliss, lives with her husband, Hasbrouck Preston “Press” Bliss, and their two young children, Eva Grace and Michael, in the gorgeous Bliss family home. On the surface, theirs seems a calm, picturesque life, but soon tragedy befalls them: four tragic deaths, with apparently simple explanations.
But nothing is simple if Bliss House is involved. How far will Charlotte go to discover the truth? And how far will she get without knowing who her real enemy is? Though Bliss House may promise to give its inhabitants what they want, it never gives them exactly what they expect."

My Thoughts:





Wow!  I don't say this lightly at all but this is an author to watch!  I'm a sucker for a good gothic novel....love them, love them, love them.  This book had everything that I love about these type of books and I couldn't help but love this book because of it.  One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the uncertainty I felt while reading it.  At the beginning of this book tragedy unexpectedly strikes and it was the aftermath/causes of this tragedy that the book focused on.  For me, I always seem to enjoy a book where I don't quite know what is going on.  I find that with books like this I am able to put my trust in the author's capable hands and just enjoy the ride.  Early on in the book I started to question things and before I knew it I was completely lost in the story.  I loved the atmosphere that the author created in this book which was filled with more questions than answers and loads of suspense.  There was some foreshadowing but the author was able to use this to create even more questions for me as the reader.  All of these different things made for such an intense reading experience.

I also really enjoyed the way that Bliss House is portrayed in this book.  It comes across as a living, breathing entity that managed to give this book such a creepy feel because of it.  I never quite knew if what was happening was because of the house or due to the people living in it.  It had a presence in this book that I can only liken to the house in the book The Haunting of Hill House.  Both books have these houses that almost seem to come alive and both books were able to thoroughly creep me out.  The ending of this book is wonderfully done with the story wrapped up but in a way that questions were still left open.  I can't say more without spoiling other than I loved the way that this book ended!  And now I absolutely cannot wait to read more by this author!

Overall this book left me so completely excited about this author!  A dark, forbidding house, ghostly presences, even a seance....I couldn't have asked more more from this book!  I truly mean it when I say that it took everything that I love from gothic novels and wrapped it altogether in this one book.  I found myself completely engrossed while reading this book and also very creeped out.  I will definitely be reading more by this author!!!  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A book that isn't to be missed if you are a fan of gothic novels!


Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book Tour.

This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart (thoughts)

This Rough Magic is my first read by Mary Stewart but it definitely won't be my last! Lucy Waring is visiting her sister on the island of Corfu while also taking a break from her acting career. She believes that she is relaxing in paradise until strange events begin to occur. And when two young men both mysteriously drown while fishing, Lucy finds herself impossibly caught up in the mystery of what is happening on this island.

This Rough Magic started off slowly for me but I'm really glad that I stuck with it. The author had me thoroughly entranced by the end of the novel as I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out. Just trying to collect all of my thoughts on this book is amusing for me as I feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. Without giving too much away, there were many moments of unbelievability in this book that usually would have bothered me. Instead, I found myself both charmed with this book and the storyline that the author had created. For instance, the love angle between Lucy and another (sorry too spoiler-ey if I say who) happens within a matter of pages. One moment they hate each other and the next they are practically ready to exchange vows. I couldn't help but shake my head and smile though. None of the improbable (and there were a lot of them upon consideration) events took away from the story. Instead, it made it all a bit more magical which was how the island was portrayed itself. The ending of the book tied everything up quite nicely and left me ready to read more by Stewart.

All in all, quite an enjoyable read despite the slow start and improbability of it all. I am excited to have found a new author with a nice sized backlist of books for me to peruse. I'm definitely going to be reading more by this author! And this was also the perfect way for me to begin Carl's R.I.P. VII event as this book definitely fits! Recommended!

Bottom Line: A solid romantic suspense with magical qualities!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library. I need to get on their catalog and see what other books they have by this author for me to read!

Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton (thoughts)

Now You See Me was a gripping read that didn't let me go until the very last page. Lacey is a young police officer working off-duty on a case when she comes across a woman that literally dies in her arms. This vicious murder propels Lacy into the biggest murder investigation that she has ever been involved in. But unfortunately, the murderer seems to have an eerie attachment to Lacey and the murders seem to be mimicking Jack the Ripper. And of course everything isn't what it seems....

Now You See Me is one of those books that sucks you in from the very first page. The main character Lacey was a curious individual that had my interest from the very beginning. Lacey is one of those characters that has secrets, and the secrets add to both the mystery and atmosphere that is constantly present in the story. The atmosphere begins from the very beginning; it was a creepy presence that grew as the book went on. I loved the references to Jack the Ripper and all of the historical tidbits that were included. I felt like they really added to the book and made it just that much more creepy. The plot was both unique and compelling. It really made the book hard to put down! While I was reading, I was constantly trying to figure out what was really going on and who the killer could possibly be. I was left guessing until the very end which made the book stand out for me. And while the ending didn't take me by complete surprise (I guessed one part), the other parts did. I found it to be very satisfying while still leaving questions that left me thinking about the book after I finished.

All in all, this was an amazing read that kept me on my toes the entire time. I couldn't put it down, didn't guess the ending, and was left wanting more. What else could you ask for in a book??? I'm eager to read more by this author and have already added the other books to my wishlist. Highly recommended!

Bottom Line: A thriller that kept me hooked throughout with atmosphere in spades!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library. This book was an Edgar Award Nominee for the Mary Higgins Clark Award which is why I picked it up as I'm trying to read all of them (personal goal). I'm so glad that I did because this was a great way to start this project!

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier (thoughts)

Why, why, why did I wait so long to read this book??? My Cousin Rachel blew me out of the water in its' greatness and left me wondering why I hadn't read it sooner! It is the story of Phillip Ashley and how his entire world changes when Rachel comes into his life. Rachel is the widow of his beloved Uncle Ambrose who is recently deceased. Everything Phillip has ever known changes when his cousin Rachel arrives.....and his life will never be the same.

This is basically going to be a gush fest so be prepared. I adored this book. Just adored it! The atmosphere and underlying tension in this book was just amazing. It had me well and truly hooked as I was reading. My Cousin Rachel has this creepy feeling to it where you know something bad is going to happen and all you can do is wait for it. This feeling made the atmosphere of the book so creepy and intense. I just couldn't put the book down! (And I'll admit to peeking at the ending when I was almost finished because I couldn't take it any longer. I had to know. And it still didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel.) Rachel and Phillip are on this destructive path together that neither of them realizes, and all the reader can do is wait for it to happen. Even then knowing that there couldn't possibly be a happy ending to the story, I was blown away by the ending. It left me thinking, and I had to go back and reread the first chapter again. And then the ending again. And I was still left wanting to discuss this one with someone. It was just that good!

I don't think I need to even summarize my feelings on this one. I LOVED it, plain and simple! I would reread it again without a second thought and want a copy of it for my own shelves. Just thinking about it now makes me want to read it again so what can I do but recommend it to all of you! Highly recommended!!!

Bottom Line: An amazing read.....nothing more to say other than that!

Disclosure: I checked this one out from my local library but you can bet I will be purchasing my own copy!

This book has me itching for a reread of Rebecca by du Maurier! I will definitely be doing that this year but I thought it would be fun to leave you a link to my original thoughts on Rebecca here.

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (thoughts)

What would you do if you found out that you had a twin sister that you had never known?? Lucy opens the door one day and the life that she knows changes forever as she meets her mother's twin sister for the first time. At first her mother and her new found aunt are completely opposite in every way, but as time goes on Lucy begins to realize that it is getting harder and harder to tell them apart. And then the unthinkable happens...

This book had such a unique premise that instantly intrigued me. I loved the idea of finding a long lost sister and seeing how it would affect the family and their everyday lives. The author gives the story a creepy, dark atmosphere where I was constantly questioning Lucy's new aunt and her motives and actions. The book had a sinister feel to it throughout that really made the book more enjoyable in my opinion. I liked getting the chance to see how Lucy's Aunt Helen affected the entire family and their everyday lives. As Helen began to act more and more like Lucy's mother, I became more and more invested in the story. I had to know what was going to happen next. The ending of the book was quite intense and I was hooked until the last page. My only complaint with this book was that I had trouble connecting to some of the characters at times. I'll admit that after the book finished everything made a bit more sense and helped to tie up the loose ends for me. All in all, an interesting and suspenseful read that I would recommend to fans of gothic novels.

Bottom Line: An intriguing premise and a solid read!

Disclosure: I checked this book out from my local library.

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill (thoughts)

The Butterfly Cabinet tells the eerie tale of two different women and one horrible event that ties them together forever. Maddie McGlade is a former nanny that is just now sharing her secrets from the past and telling her story to an old family friend. Alongside Maddie's memories is the prison journal of her former employer Harriet, who was sent to prison for the murder of her four year old daughter. Both stories intertwine to create a mesmerizing tale that is both dark and haunting.

Wow! The author of this book created atmosphere in spades that allowed me to be pulled deep into the novel. The Butterfly Cabinet is one of those books that you go into from the beginning knowing that the ending can't be good, that bad things may happen, but yet you still want to read it. And the author creates such a rich atmosphere that I felt like I was part of the book...like I was in the prison walls with Harriet and in the old castle with Maddie. I loved the way that the two stories that the women shared (one in memories and the other through her journal) complemented each other and allowed for what really happened to four year old Charlotte to come out at the end. This book wasn't a page turner in the normal sense, but instead I was content to just take my time and allow the author to draw me along with the story that she was telling. It ended up being a solid read for me that had me thinking about it days after it ended. The characters really stuck with me long after I closed the pages of this book. This is an author that I want to read more of and I would definitely recommend!

Bottom Line: A haunting tale that drew me into its' pages!

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher as part of a blog tour for Free Press Blog Tours.

The White Devil by Justin Evans (thoughts)

From Goodreads:

"When seventeen-year-old Andrew Taylor is transplanted from his American high school to a British boarding school—a high-profile academy for the sons of England’s finest—his father hopes that the boy’s dark past will not follow him from across the Atlantic. But blood, suspense, and intrigue quickly surround Andrew once again as he finds himself struggling with a deadly mystery left unsolved by a student from Harrow School’s past—the enigmatic poet Lord Byron."

My Thoughts:

Sounds creepy, right? This book was filled with creepy, atmospheric moments that had me turning pages and guessing to see what would happen next throughout the story. The author creates such a dark mysterious atmosphere with a boarding school and ghost at the center of the story. The setting of the story was one of my favorite parts of the book as it adds so much to the storyline and the book itself. This book is just filled with atmosphere and I couldn't get enough! I found the storyline and history of Lord Byron, the poet, both interesting and intriguing. This book made me want to learn more about Byron's life and I'm looking forward to reading his poetry at some point in the near future. I couldn't help but be reminded of Jennifer Egan's The Keep as I was reading this book. Both books were filled with a gothic, creepy atmosphere and setting that kept me turning the pages. This book had a few intense, weird moments that also mirrored my reading experience of Egan's novel. Has anyone else read both of these??? I found that I couldn't put this book down though as I wanted to see what would happen next. Andrew was an interesting main character as he is mainly an outsider throughout the novel. His loneliness and sense of isolation helped to add to the creepiness that was present throughout the book. I don't want to say too much more and give anything away with the plot so I'll cut my thoughts a bit short and just say READ THIS. All in all, this was a book that kept me thinking about it long after I put it down and I'm looking forward to reading this author's other novel. Definitely recommended but with a warning that it was slightly graphic in a few parts....nothing that would stop me from telling others to give this book a try though.

Disclosure: This book was sent to me for review from the lovely people at Harper Collins. These are my own honest thoughts!

The Affinity Readalong Part One (thoughts)

From the inside cover:

"From Sarah Waters-a spellbinding ghost story, a complex and intriguing historical mystery, and a poignant romance with an unexpected twist.

An upper-class woman recovering from a suicide attempt, Margaret Prior has begun visiting the women's ward of Millbank prison, Victorian London's grimmest jail, as part of her rehabilitative charity work. Amongst Millbank's murderers and common thieves, Margaret finds herself increasingly fascinated by an apparently innocent inmate, the enigmatic spiritualist Selina Dawes."

My Thoughts:

I began reading this book as part of Andi's (Tripping Toward Lucidity) Affinity readalong. I'm so glad that I'm finally taking the time to read a novel by Sarah Waters. And as soon as I read that summary I knew that this was a book that I wanted to read. My thoughts so far are very positive. I love the atmosphere that Waters has created with this book. While I'm reading it, I can almost feel like I'm there with Margaret at the prison. She describes everything in such perfect detail that I find myself caught within the pages. I think that the hint of ghosts and supernatural is interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing what more the author does with this. Margaret's character is very mysterious with hints of something more given in small portions. I know from reading the summary (sorry if the summary I shared is a bit spoilery) that Margaret tried to commit suicide, but it isn't clear exactly what led her to it or any of the details. I want to know more and am curious to see how this plays into the storyline. I've only read the first two parts of the book and am anxious to return and see what happens next. All in all, so far I'm really liking this book and I can't wait to read more.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (thoughts)

From Goodreads:

"Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte's only novel, is one of the pinnacles of 19th century English literature. It's the story of Heathcliff, an orphan who falls in love with a girl above his class, loses her, and devotes the rest of his life to wreaking revenge on her family."

My Thoughts:

Sorry but I couldn't resist this short and sweet summary. I'm pretty sure that I couldn't describe this book better than that anyways. I've been putting off sharing my thoughts on this book for a few weeks now. Why you might ask??? Because even now I'm still a bit at a loss for words on how I felt about this book. Crazy, huh?

From the very beginning when I started reading this book I began to hear very differing opinions on this novel. Readers either seem to love it or hate it and I find myself right in the middle with a definite leaning towards enjoying it (I can't say I loved it). The story started off a bit slow for me. I found my attention wandering and began to wonder if this book was going to be for me or not. But all of a sudden I was caught up in the book and found myself putting the "other" book I was reading to the side in order to read this one. And then I just had to see how the storyline would play out and how everything would end. I'm huge on characters in books and my connection with them as a reader. So it was very surprising for me to realize that I was enjoying reading the book even though I didn't really care for any of the characters. At all. The ending of the book redeemed my connection to the characters just slightly but overall I disliked almost every character in the book. And after closing the book I just sat and mused over my feelings. I still find myself at a loss so I'll leave you with this. I will definitely be rereading this book at some point. (And sorry for the less than coherent thoughts on this one...LOL!)

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library just for this lovely cover :)

And I'm going to leave you with the link to the lovely Naida's review (who loved this story and can actually express why she did)