I'm continuing my quest to read more cowboy romances. I find that easing myself into a genre is always best when I have an anthology collection to help me. I had read a work by Linda Broday before, but I was eager to dive into the works by other authors as well. What I found in these stories were a collection ranging from the community-oriented, sweet and clean, and even the second chance trope! I have to be honest, I've been all about the second chance tropes lately, so I was very happily surprised to find one in One Snowy Christmas Eve by Anna Schmidt. Christmas in Paradise seemed to go over my head a bit, but that is mostly because it is meant to accompany Roseanne Bittner's other work, Paradise Valley. Either way, I enjoyed her writing and flow! I felt that Leigh Greenwood's story, A Fairy Tale Christmas, could have been a story much longer than a novella - maybe an idea for something else in the future? I haven't read one of Greenwood's books before, but I wouldn't mind diving into that. Broday's A Christmas Wedding was a bit of a palate cleanser as well as a novella in need of a full fledged story because it was not just about a couple and/or one woman really - it was about a community of characters all worthy of more detailed attention. Margaret Brownley's A Love Letter to Santa really made my heart warm up and it reminded me of all the Christmas stories I love to read and watch as we get closer to Christmas. It was a sweet reading that anyone could enjoy. And finally Amy Sandas' Through the Storm gave me a bit of that rakish character that I'm used to reading in all of my other historical romances! It was welcomed and definitely stood out from the other stories. In fact, that is something I commend this collection for - each story was quite unlike the one before or after it. I never felt like I was reading something repetitive (which can happen in this genre). If anything, this collection made me wish for more of each authors' works. I will make sure to look for them in the future (and the back-list bump)!

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
10/15/19
Book Trailer
Carpe Diem Chronicles

10/15/19
BONUS STOP
Hall Ways Blog

10/16/19
Review
Book Fidelity

10/17/19
Author Spotlight
That's What She's Reading

10/18/19
Review
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/19/19
Author Spotlight
All the Ups and Downs

10/20/19
Author Spotlight
StoreyBook Reviews

10/21/19
Review
Reading by Moonlight

10/22/19
Author Spotlight
The Page Unbound

10/23/19
Review
Missus Gonzo

10/24/19
Review
Forgotten Winds
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The Widow of Rose House
by Diana Biller

Synopsis

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 romantic comedy debut
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.

Review

I don't know if I've read anything quite like The Widow of Rose House. It has everything I love from historical romances like the smart, handsome male protagonist, Same, and the down on her luck but fierce female protagonist, Alva. The only thing that could have made it better, and did, was the inclusion of background spookiness with tales of hauntings. Talk about the perfect book to read during Halloween time!

Biller's writing is atmospheric and flows so smoothly. It had me turning the pages, eager for more of the romance (this book is heavier on the romance than the scary bits). The backdrop of rumored hauntings adds to the feeling the story gives the reader. I truly enjoyed Alva's character - her wit and fierceness really did the story for me. I've found myself disliking stories where the female protagonist(s) are meek and/or always clinging to their counterpart (male or otherwise). Alva gave me none of those feelings and I love her (and Billings) for it! 

Please pick this book up this month! It's the perfect reading for those who want a dose of spookiness in their background!

Good morning readers! Have I mentioned to you all how much I love doing moodboards? Especially for books! Below you'll find my addition for The Bootlace Magician - make sure to check out the whole series by Cassie Beasley!