I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this author. The characters were strong and had big personalities. The banter between Alva and Sam was entertaining. The love the Moore family had for one another was endearing.

You did have to suspend belief a bit because there is a ghost and haunting and visions from the ghost. It was believable enough, I suppose, so that didn’t bother me too much.

However, I sometimes felt like the dialogue was too modern, and it jolted me out the historical aspect of the novel more than once. I have a hard time believing a high class 30 year old woman in 1875 would ask, “What is all this stuff?” I also was very bothered by the fact that Sam said the f-word in front of her without apologizing or even acknowledging that he had used such a coarse swear word in front of a woman. I mean, he was expressing righteous anger on her behalf, but it would have been very unbecoming in that era, and he had better manners than that.

Then there were the sex scenes. I didn’t realize it was one of THOSE romantic novels. One was several chapters long. And they were awfully chatty for people supposedly in the passion of the moment. I kept getting to a chapter ending or upcoming dialogue thinking it was finally over, but no. Honestly, that alone probably bumped me down to a 2 1/2 where I had previously be toying with the idea of giving this book 4 stars. Since I had to round one way or the other, I ended up rounding up to a 3 since I had been enjoying it so much, but I can’t say I would recommend this book to my friends due to the explicit content.

4.5 Stars - I highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction, historical romance, and anything with a bit of a spooky feel to it.

Wow! This was such a fun book to read. I didn't really know what to expect with this one, and I found it to be a fun mix of historical fiction, horror, mystery, and romance. It had a very Gothic feel to it overall, much like du Maurier novels, or Jane Eyre. I enjoyed the Gilded Age setting in New York and the moves from the city to the country. It was nice to be out of regency England for a bit... I also enjoyed that while the character were wealthy, they had fairly normal professions and that made it feel different from all of the Dukes and Lairds common in historical novels. I really loved the spooky atmosphere that a lot of the book has, but also the contrast of the funny characters and clever dialogue. I enjoyed the "grumpy + sunshine" trope with the unusual slant that the male MC is the sunshine one. I thought Sam was really adorable and quirky, and he brought a lot of light to the story. I also like Alva and how she had overcome so many of her demons, and tried to change her life. Sam's relationship with his family and Henry were so wholesome and charming. I hope I get to read more books set in this world. While I'm not 100% sure I would classify this as solely a romance... it did have some really good chemistry, a fairly large romantic plot, and some steamy scenes. Le Swoon, I loved it! Overall I liked where the story went, and found the conclusion to be really satisfying. I think this was an incredible debut novel, and I cannot wait to read what else Diana Biller writes.

Diana Biller has given us a novel ghost story, entwined with a period romance with a touch of New York City history.
What's not to love? Alva is a strong character who frustrated me at times. I didn't want her to discourage Sam due to her troubled past. Sam is drawn to her from their first meeting, but Alva holds him at arm's length for undisclosed reasons. I would have liked a little more ghost investigating, but the resolution of the ghost and the history of the haunting did not disappoint. I enjoyed the plot and found Alva and Sam to be well-crafted characters. Even the 'supporting cast' were colorful characters. Definitely worth the read!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Loved this book - it was the perfect mix of mystery, menace and humor, all while delivering a poignant story of one woman's journey. Well written, with nuanced characters who slowly built a believable connection throughout the book.

Well, that was enjoyable.
.
It’s been a very long time since I have read Historical Romance....I mean....A Long Time. I had missed it.

The Widow of Rose House had it all. Scandal. Steamy scenes. Sexy scientist. Ghost. So much good stuff y’all.

I’m ending this with a four star. It was enjoyable....

I love a book with a good spook factor. I'm just disappointed in myself for getting so behind on books that it took me so long to read it!

A satisfying romance set within elements of ghost stories and very enjoyable. This title is definitely more a romance than it is a ghost story or Gothic romance title, but that love story was enjoyable, and the way that the ghosts were used within that romance and to help move the main character's growth was well done. While I'd been expecting more Gothic and ghost story and less romance, I didn't end up disappointed by this book at all.

While this book was well written and interesting , it didn't grab me like I expected it would. I couldn't get myself invested in this story or the characters as much as I wanted to. I would say I enjoyed it overall and will definitely read more from this author.

***4 Stars***

I don’t read a lot of historical romances anymore, I say this because there was a time (many, many moons ago) when that was all I read. But after reading the blurb, the need to dive in was strong and I have to say a very good idea. This was a fun and intriguing read with very unique characters that I wouldn’t mind spending a lot more time with.

I really liked Alva and Sam. Alva has been given a raw deal in life, though most definitely don’t see it, but regardless of all that she has had to, and is dealing with, she perseveres. I have to say, I loved her gumption and how she held her head high, no matter the circumstances. Sam was definitely interesting. He’s a cross between a pitbull puppy and the absent minded professor. Tenacious doesn’t begin to truly describe him, but once he’s in. He is ALL in. But he also has this goodness to him that makes you want to get as close as possible to him.

Their journey to their HEA was an interesting one, an enjoyable, but interesting as these two very opposite in almost every way people found that they were exactly what the other never knew they needed. Their bantering was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed watching as they got to know each other and let the other in ~ though that was easier said than done. Their life experiences, well, Alva’s life experiences to be exact, made for a lot of walls that they both had to climb, but I love the way everything turned out for them in the end.

This was a fun read. Engaging and though the pacing dragged at some points to me, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. The author did a good job at bringing the era to life with the differences between one’s social class, status in the world and the sexes. As for the supporting cast of characters, I have to say that I adored the Moore family as a whole. They were quite unique and I wouldn’t mind spending a lot more time with Henry, Benedict, Maggie, Winn and John.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

This book had a little of everything – romance, paranormal, suspense, mystery. Although this was a piece of historical fiction, I very much liked that Alva Webster was very much a "modern" independent woman, without seeming to come across as overly "quirky" (something that I find some historical novels struggle with). She knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go after it. Her relationship with Sam is equally modern and their interactions are very enjoyable to read. It's an intriguing story-line and definitely kept me turning the pages to see how it would all turn out in the end.

Honestly, I'd love to read more about the rest of Sam's family – they were an interesting bunch. Fingers crossed we'll see books for them in some shape in the future.

New York City, February 1, 1875, that is literally the first line in “The Widow of Rose House” which puts the timeline smack in the middle of the Gilded Age which is historically dated from 1865 – 1900.

It is a time of change; hence it is not surprising that the protagonists Alva Webster and Professor Samuel Moore are on the leading edge of the paradigm shift. A wealthy widow, Alva Webster should be “retiring” instead of being very active especially that she was the focus of a huge scandal.

But instead of hiding, she decided to put her money to good use. She was going to refurbish and redecorate the infamous Liefdehuis, a dilapidated Hyde Park mansion for her new home decoration book and hopefully also restore her reputation in the process.

Enter the eccentric and brilliant Professor Samuel Moore, an inventor and pioneer of electric lighting. So while Alva is what we would call today as a trust fund baby, Samuel Moore is the Gilded Age’s equivalent of a tech billionaire.

“The Widow of Rose House” is a rom-com, gothic style with a touch of paranormal courtesy of our hero, Samuel Moore’ fascination with ghosts. And of course, Liefdehuis was supposed to be haunted.

An accidental meeting in restaurant turned into an instant mutual attraction; but the flirtation was intentional! And as we get to know Alva and Samuel, we just continue falling in love with them!

An easy read, “The Widow of Rose House” gives readers a bird’s eye view of life during a time when electricity was just beginning to be commonplace, when there was no telephone (it was invented in 1876) and industrialization was at its infancy.

Author Diana Biller did a great job in world building. While reading, it felt as if I was transported back to 1875.

That I enjoyed the book is a given. Still, it made me compare the Gilded Age to current events. As described by Britannica.com, “Gilded Age, period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in U.S. history during the 1870s that gave rise to important novels of social and political criticism.”

Ah, the more things change, the more it stays the same.

“The Widow of Rose House” is Rated T for Teens. Parental guidance strongly advised due to paranormal activity and some sex scenes which are not graphic, but still, they are there.

3.5 stars Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Griffin for a chance to read and review this book. Published October 8, 2019.

I found this novel to be a light entertaining romance, spiced with a Gothic feel, set in the late 1800's with all the new inventions coming to light.

Broken, widowed, Alva meets free wheeling genius Sam while trying to renovate her house in American, after fleeing there in shame. What follows is pure magic.

This is a debut novel, and Biller does a great job.

If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be incongruous. The main characters Alva Webster and Sam Moore are way ahead of their time of 1875. They are right at the cusp of the Gilded Age in New York City fraught with possibilities. They are both unconventional character, stretching the limits of the society in which they live and it's quite refreshing. This was the main reason I enjoyed the story so much. It is the perfect mix of Victorian Gothic Romance, mystery, historical fiction, with a side of paranormal, which are all my favorite genres.

I enjoyed Diana Biller's seamless writing style, her likable and relate able characters, and look forward to more good read from her in the future.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley #St.Martin’sGriffin #DianaBiller #TheWidowofRoseHouse for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

I absolutely enjoyed this amazing Historical Fiction read that blew me away. I did not know that I would be a fan of a gothic romance, but it seems that Biller has made me a fan of this genre. The book is set in 1875 New York City, a period piece that is both romance and ghost story that is engaging, intriguing with a complex story line and characters that will surely haunt you with the spooky twist that is so eerily addicting and a fantastic read.

I devoured this book! I am amazed that this is a debut novel for Diana Biller and I will definitely be looking forward to her future works. Her writing is crisp and close to perfection as it could ever be.

This is such an amazing supernatural read that is highly entertaining and one that I will be recommending time and time again.

This book!!!!!!!!!! Swoonworthy doesn't even begin to describe the emotions I had as I read this book!
Let's start with the cover shall we, gorgeous I say? It says gothic to me.
"Only Love can light up the dark"

From the back cover,

1875
Gilded Age New York
A Gothic mansion
A woman shadowed by a tragic past
The man who loves her

This book is absolutely not to be missed! Though written by a debut author it is one of the best I've ever read, I was memorized by it. Swept away in it's current of madness this gothic historical romance .A scandalous widow in New York,the rebuilding of a crumbling mansion ,rumbles of haunting,an eccentric genius, with his scientific background he's enchanted with the mysterious mansion and it's beautiful owner.Slow burn sensual romance,dark truths revealed as the house's history is explored.I could not stop reading this absolutely fabulous. I really can't wait to see what this author puts out next.

Published October 8th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.-

The book had so much potential!!! When I started to read it I liked the plot and how the story started. As the pages tuned and chapters flew, the book and its characters became just a book. I wish it all was as good as the beginning towards the end.

DNF @ 18%

I wanted so very much to enjoy this one, but I was still waiting for it to grab me by this point with no luck. The writing was fluid and well-written, there was just no spark or a strong enough pace for me to feel involved in the story. I will try it again in the future, but I’m putting it down for now. --October 2019
Unfortunately things haven't changed and this book is just not for me.

As soon as I met the characters of Alva Webster and Samuel Moore, I knew I was going to enjoy "The Widow of Rose House." The author has created such delightful characters. Alva Webster was raised in high society New York, but she has returned to New York from Paris as a pariah, having left her husband (who was later murdered) and, if the newspaper stories are to be believed, having engaged in multiple affairs and orgies (hardly appropriate for a woman of "high society"). While the gossip about her and the behavior of her husband towards her during their marriage (which she has not revealed to anyone) have negatively impacted her and caused her to limit the possibilities for her romantically, Alva also has a strength of character and fierceness about her that will not allow the gossip to prevent her from pursuing her current venture, fixing up an old house (Liefdehuis) and using its restoration as a template for the interior design book she is writing. Samuel Moore is an inventor, from a family of inventors, and while he is a genius, he is also eccentric, not always aware of or following social norms, especially if caught up in thoughts about an invention. The fact that he is devastatingly handsome and quite charming gets him out of a lot of trouble caused by his eccentricities. While he is aware of many of the troubling things in the world and of the inequalities in society, with many of his inventions designed to improve efficiency, safety, or comfort, he also possesses a certain naivety about some aspects of human behavior, being shocked to learn how Alva's parents and other members of the upper class are willing to mistreat their children.

Alva and Sam meet because Sam has an interest in ghosts and haunted houses and he wants to study Liefdehuis, which reportedly has at least one ghostly inhabitant. Their first meeting is quite amusing because Alva believes Sam is propositioning her due to the gossip about her, while it never occurs to Sam that his request would be misunderstood. The book focuses on Sam's efforts to convince Alva to allow him to investigate the house, the events that happen once permission is reluctantly granted, the issues from Alva's past that are still haunting her (no pun intended), the developing relationship between Alva and Sam (the first time they have "relations" is both sensual and comedic), and the mystery of the ghost in Liefdehuis. The mystery of the ghost and how/why the ghost manifests is creative and interesting. The interaction between Alva and Sam, as well as between Sam and other characters in the book, is delightful and, at times, quite amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I strongly recommend it; 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I gave this book two out of five stars for odd pacing, interesting characters making odd choices, and the strange genre mix of horror, historical fiction, and erotica romance. I went into this thinking it was a horror book with a plot around a haunted mansion based on the summary. There’s no hint of romance in the summary. To be fair, this popped up as a recommendation for me through NetGally, and I subscribe to several genre categories. Currently it’s listed online under gothic romance. I expect readers hunting for historical fiction ghost novels will not unintentionally end up with a bodice ripper guised as historical fiction.

What I liked about the book:
1) The hero, Professor Samuel Moore. He’s about the only thing that redeemed the read for me. I liked his quirky off-center manners and ill fitted clothes self. I still disliked the chapters in his point of view, since his obsessive thoughts about Alva were too over the top and seemed out of character.

2) The supporting characters were entertaining and well done. The Moore family members I enjoyed the most.

What I didn’t like about the book:
1) Alva goes from being a highly capable independent female to a blubbering indecisive mess that allows herself to revert back into a person who is victimized and ruled by the opinions of others. Her steady stream of stupid decisions made it difficult to keep reading, and I despised her by the end of the book.

2) The antagonists were cliché. The ghost reveal was anticlimactic. The disgusting situation with the in-laws was believable. The way Ava bumbled against them when she could have easily countered the situation killed my suspended disbelief and countered all the narrative claims of Ava being a smart and savvy independent woman. I don’t even know why Ava spent time pursuing her parents. Each scene involving them felt out of place and unnecessary.

I would have DNF’d this book at the 25% mark if I had not received it in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

I'll say it again for the people in the back, this is a stellar debut and the novel deserves more buzz and appreciation!

I love the gothic tone and the subtle ghostly background story. To be clear this is not horror and while there are a few tense sense, I would not say this is scary. As someone with a skeptical interest in the paranormal and the history of paranormal belief this hit all of my buttons. Alva is skeptical while Samuel wants to prove ghost scientifically. I loved this flavor to the book and found it unique. Additionally, as a fan of historical romance I loved that this was set in America in the Gilded Age rather than British Regency. I am here for more historical romances in different time periods and locations.

Samuel... ah, Samuel. My new favorite hero. I'm all about his absent-minded professor behavior, his kindness and light, and well, his sexiness. And I was rooting for Alva the entire book. Between her abusive past, her battle with salacious rumors, among other things she's a cinnamon roll that deserves happiness and love. On that note, I found both characters relatable.

The dialogue is snappy and I really enjoyed the banter, which made the depth and hardship faced by Alva more palatable. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with the Moore family and Samuel's best friend. More novels with the More family, please!

I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical romances!