This is a wonderful Victorian Gothic Romance you can get lost in. Full of comedic moments and romantic interludes,"The Widow of Rose House" is an absolutely delicious read by an excitingly talented new author.

Take a trip back in time to the Gilded Age of New York and immerse yourself in an exciting gothic love story; often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but definitely captivating, the characters stay around (just like the ghosts they meet) long afterwards.

Alva, aka the widowed Mrs. Webster, has just left England along with her scandalous reputation, and moved back to New York hoping for a new start. Alva is smart, beautiful and wealthy...and she invested in an old house. She just didn't expect it to be haunted.

Sam is from a well established wealthy family; handsome, genius, and a scientific inventor who sees Alva for more than her beauty.

What evolves is a romantic, yet lively relationship where things go bump in the night and it isn't always ghosts!

Loved these characters so much!...let's hope Ms. Diana Biller brings them back for further adventures.

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley,
St. Martin's Press and the author Ms. Diana Biller for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of your delicious read "The Widow of Rose House"

My stars, and I ever so glad I managed to get an arc of this one because it is, was, and will always be delightful!

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I really enjoyed this. It was nigh impossible to put down. Alva is absolutely a heroine to get behind and root for. She has gone through s**t no woman should ever have to go through, both as a wife and a daughter, and she comes out the other side exactly as I would wish for her to. But Sam is the one who stole my heart. The eccentric inventor who says exactly what he thinks and knows his way around a woman ... swoon! In all seriousness though, he really was the best part of this book. And his family, however briefly they appear, are wonderful.

I quite like the romance that occurs as well. The saucy moments weren't ... awkwardly worded like some tend to get. It felt realistic and the chemistry was definitely there in those scenes and the sweet, quiet moments as well.

It did lose a star because I expected a haunted house. While the way the ghost came about and was dealt with was satisfying, I need more spook. More frights and scares and creeps. Especially since it is a central part of the summary and the premise itself. And it releases in October. It's kind of expected. Just sayin'

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller is a mysterious paranormal romance novel that will pull you into a world full of unknowns and keep you second-guessing until the surprising end. A wonderfully well-written story full of family drama, ghosts, chemistry fueled heated romance, unexpected twists, and turns, Alva and Sam have a chemistry that is off the charts. They cannot be in the same room together without the heated romantic chemistry between them causing sparks to fly. A ghost-hunting adventure and sweeping romance with a hint of mystery and intriguing as Alva and Sam try to find the supernatural. The Widow of Rose House is a delicious, swoony, spooky, completely engrossing historical novel. Add in some suspense and a strong dose of spookiness that makes this book hard to put down.

"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."

Literally THE BOOK everyone is talking about so go buy it and see why!

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.

I loved this book! Fast-paced, rich with vivid descriptions of people, places, and inventions, this story pulled me in from the very first pages. I loved the ghost and the origin of the ghost - it was different from what you usually find in a story like this.

The romance was rich and interesting and kept you rooting for them right up until the very end. The historical setting came across beautifully, from the descriptions of the places and clothing to the social restrictions and ideas that people had.

I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author!

Infamous widow Alva Webster decides to buy a run-down house in 1800’s New York. Having had to endure horrible rumors during her marriage and with her husband now dead, she decides it’s time to start over with a brand new life so hopefully her notoriety will wane. She has already gotten herself a book deal, unheard of during the time for a woman, in which she will chronicle the restoration and decoration of the house. But when her contractor and his laborers refuse to continue their work on the house because of ghosts she sees her new life begin to crumble.

Enter Dr. Samuel Moore, a well-known scientist who takes a liking to not only finding the ghosts but to our lovely widow Alva. Moore, who is a bit eccentric, comes from a family of scientists and doctors and must convince Alva that he can scientifically figure out how to talk to the ghosts, hence send them on their merry way. Alva, for her part is done with love, and doesn’t particularly believe in ghosts. Having just come out of a horrible marriage she does not want anything to do with the doctor romantically, although she must admit he is adorable.

Sam has other ideas. Although unconventional himself, he realizes Alva is his soul-mate. Now he just has to persuade her of this realization! But, while falling in love, they must also try and solve the mystery as to who is haunting the house and why.

The Widow of Rose House is an adorably romantic funny ghost story which although takes place during the 1800’s has themes that ring true even in today’s world. I would love to see more adventures of Alva and Sam!

Thank you so much to #NetGalley #St.Martin’sGriffin #DianaBiller #TheWidowofRoseHouse for the advanced copy. The book will be out October 8.

Wow, what an unusual tale! Romance and intrigue mixed with fascinating paranormal activity, domestic abuse, and treatment of mental illness. What I liked best about the hero of this story is that he's not typical literary hero material. He's sweetly oblivious and awkward and single-mindedly focused on his scientific theories and experiments. An absent-minded professor, who's simultaneously open-minded, seeing possibilities nobody else sees. The heroine is the seemingly worldly, experienced, cynical type--for very good reason. This is not your standard historical romance. At times their relationship seems somewhat contemporary, there is such an openness about their interactions, even with a figurative wall between them. The atmosphere made me imagine a steel-gray sky threatening rain. There was a foreboding stillness and a brooding feeling throughout the book. The pacing of the story was a bit slow for me, although I'm sure it was intended to build suspense, and it succeeded in being both eerie and intriguing. I liked how the heroine's history was only hinted at for a while. The reader is entrusted with the chilling details only as the heroine begins to trust the hero. I appreciated the partnership they shared, and the building admiration and connection between them. The reader learns through the hero's eyes about how one doesn't fully appreciate how good they have it until they see how others struggle through unimaginable and often hidden torture. It was a valuable lesson in gratitude. I immediately loved the attention-grabbing cover and book title, and now that I've read the story, I can see what it all alludes to and find it very clever. This was an engrossing book from start to finish.

FINAL DECISION: Enjoyable historical romance combined with a ghost story. While the book had some parts that dragged, overall, I thought this was a good story with interesting characters. I wanted to read more of the Moore family.

THE STORY: Alva Webster returns to New York after the death of her estranged husband as the notorious widow. She intends to build a life for herself by renovating a dilapidated house and using it as the subject of a book. But when her plans are derailed by tales of ghosts that haunt the house, she ends up working with Samuel Moore, a scientist and inventor, who takes up investigating what is haunting the house. Samuel also is intrigued by Alva even as she wants to avoid any entanglements. As the two get closer and search for the secrets of Alva's house, Alva's own secret past threatens her plans for the future.

OPINION: This book is an interesting combination of a Gilded Age historical romance, a mystery, and a ghost book with the attendant thriller and suspense aspects. I thought the combination of these genres worked really well. I never felt that the story was out of balance. I enjoyed all aspects of the story.

I liked the relationship between Alva and Samuel. Alva has been grievously injured by her marriage and she treats Samuel pretty poorly because of it. Indeed, if I have a complaint, it is that Samuel is way too accommodating to Alva. She leads Samuel on knowing his feelings for her. I also thought that her insistence on handling her past problems herself was pretty idiotic. The inability to ask for help is not strength but a weakness.

But apart from that, I really loved when Alva and Samuel's relationship was working. He is adorable and there was such fun and sweetness in their interactions.

The book had some really interesting parts. I thought that parts were repetitive and the book dragged somewhat when Alva is dealing with her past. But the parts with Alva and Samuel together were lovely. I also thought that the ghost portions themselves were suspenseful and scary without being too graphic. The portions of Samuel and Alva doing investigations of the origins of the ghosts in the house also introduced readers to a variety of well drawn characters.

And ultimately, it was the strength of the characterizations which made this book for me. I not only really enjoyed Alva and Samuel, but also Samuel's family and other more minor characters that help with the investigation.

I thought the ghost story portion was well done and certainly was rooted in real trials of the time.

WORTH MENTIONING: I really want to read the stories of the other Moore siblings (including Henry).

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE WIDOW OF ROSE HOUSE is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Review to be published on blog October 8th.

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I had a hard time getting into it and I guess I just wanted more ghosts.

There is so much mystery to this novel that I must choose my words carefully so that I don't give away any spoilers. Alva buys a house in historic, Hyde Park, New York. She intends to renovate it and write a book about the renovation and decoration. Local lore has it that the house is haunted which intrigues genius scientist Sam Moore. He has to do quite a bit of begging to get Alva to let him set up experiments in the house. But she succumbs not only to the begging but to falling in love with the scientist.

I enjoyed this rather scary story. The reader wonders if the house is really haunted or not. There are evil people who want to blackmail Alva and it makes one wonder if they are behind the ghost business. We think Alva will be okay because she has our hunky hero, Sam, to watch out for her, but (like most scary stories) she often goes off on her own when she should have had company. I alternated between gasping for breath in the suspenseful scenes and sighing with the romance scenes.
This is a perfect Halloween romance; ghosts?, hunky hero, damsel in distress and to top it off a horrid villain.

Loved this! During the Gilded Age, Mrs. Alva Webster is widowed after a marriage to an abusive spouse in Paris. She moves back to the US to start over and to create an interior design career. She uses some of her personal fortune to buy a mansion in upstate New York in order to gut it and renovate it. She wants to break through the scandal of her past by publishing a book of her designs including how they can be translated for the middle class. The problem is that no one wants to work on the house because of the ghost or ghosts. Alva doesn't believe in ghosts but Samuel Moore does. Enter Samuel Moore and his entire wonderful family. They're a beloved family of scientists who are on the forefront of electrical science research among other scientific fronts. I would read another book about this family, they were delightful. Sam is dogged in his pursuit of Alva, both so that he can do experiments in her house and also so that he can pursue Alva romantically. I really enjoyed their back and forth. They were both great characters and their motivations were transparent to the reader. This book kind of reads like a gothic thriller, kind of like a romance, kind of a like a "woman finding her strength" story, take your pick. There are only two sex scenes in the book but they were steamy! Thank you so much to NetGalley and also to St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I was provided with an ARC of this title by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Now that she is finally free of her oppressive marriage, Alva needs to re-invent herself. Her family is a scion of New York society, but will not welcome her back into the fold because of the scandal associated with her. She decides to write a book on interior decoration and use an actual project to demonstrate each idea.

The house Alva purchases is Liefdehuis. It is a grand estate, now abandoned and ruined. But she knows she can fix the leaky roof and the squirrel-infested bedrooms. She doesn't know if she can overcome the ghost stories that accompany the house. She hires Professor Samuel Moore to help her establish the veracity of the haunting, and exorcise it if necessary.

Circumstances continually throw them together - and the handsome, warm, witty, wonderful professor becomes more essential and irresistible every day. And she is having the same effect on him.

I loved the Gothic underplot of this book, the decadent Old New York setting, the mystery, and the fantastic love story. The characters were well-rounded, the plot was engaging, and the setting was evocative.

4 Stars.

This was a pleasant surprise.

Alva Webster has a cloud of controversy surrounding her after she leaves her husband. After he dies, she travels home to repair an old house from her childhood. Even though she is told the house is haunted, she is too busy dealing with how unpleasant the living are to her to care. Samuel Moore, genius who comes from a family of geniuses, believes in ghosts and wishes to use her house to find evidence in the supernatural.

I loved Samuel Moore and his family of crazy scientists. Slightly hoping for another book about the rest of his family. He is very loving and accepting of Alva which is something that she needs. Her own family refuses to see her because of the false rumors that she has had orgies.

There are ghosts in the book with a mystery of who it could be.


Copy provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

Let’s turn a negative into a positive.

When your 20-month-old toddler wakes you up by shrieking from his bed “momMY, momMY, momMY” before 7 am on a Sunday, you have the opportunity to work on a blog post that you might not have posted that day.

Similarly, when you buy a huge home with the intent of renovating it and using that renovation as an example in your book about home interior design, and then you discover that the house you purchased for said project is haunted, you have the opportunity to befriend, be-lust, and maybe more an absent-minded, brilliant, strapping scientist who happens to be interested in ghosts.

The second example is one that the scandalous widow Alva Webster finds herself reluctantly embracing in Diana Biller’s fantastic The Widow of Rose House. This book has everything I could have wanted: an enticing ghost story, a courageous widow-heroine who’s wary of relationships given her history with her husband and parents, and a wonderfully irrepressible hero, an inventor named Samuel Moore who delights in Alva’s prickliness and is determined to protect her from the challenges that beset her…including a ghost.

It’s the dynamics between Alva and Samuel that make this book shine. Besides having a searing chemistry—and really, it’s amazing—these leads are also so funny together. When others might be repelled by Alva’s prickliness, her occasional eye-rolling, or even the sexual rumors that have dogged her for years, Samuel delights in her; when other partners might be annoyed by Samuel’s frequent daydreams of possible inventions, Alva’s drawn in, bemused by the giant, good-natured and brilliant inventor who can turn from dreamy-eyed to physically intimidating in an instant. (If I sound a little in love, it’s because I am.)

Add to this the fact that their relationship is based on mutual respect, and well, it’s the kind of relationship anyone would want in a ghost story/romance. Wouldn’t you agree?

And all of this is set in a place and time—New York, 1875—that Biller imbues with atmosphere and mystery. It’s deliciously creepy-crawl-y with a ghost who can and does scare the bejeezus out of people, and yet the exchanges between Alva and Samuel, the way they are together, make the book unexpectedly light-hearted at times. Happy.

I don’t know how to tell you any plainer that The Widow of Rose House is wonderful, it’s particularly perfect for fall, and you will love it and want more.

5 stars.




Content Warning: mental and physical abuse.

The Widow of Rose House is the perfect book for a rainy fall day with a blanket and a cup of coffee. It's a romance and a ghost story that keep you turning the page and excited to find out what happens next. I really enjoyed the quirkiness of Sam and his family and also the strength of Alva. She was totally not what you expected but maintained a likability that isn't always that case in unexpected characters. I would love to see more of Sam's family. They would make for a fun series!

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book.

I'm afraid this one didn't work for me at all. I didn't care for the hero - I found him more silly than anything else. His eccentric family also left me cold and their banter didn't amuse me. I didn't find the book to be either funny or darkly Gothic. The dialog felt far too modern as well and the plot seemed to drag in many places.

There was so much to like in "The Widow at Rose House." Set in 1875, Alva Webster has returned to New York after the death of her abusive husband and has purchased a run-down house that locals think is haunted. Undeterred by the stories of multiple hauntings, she wants to have the house fixed and refurnished so that she can write a book about interior design and make a name for herself. But Alva already has a 'name': Mrs. Webster. Her name has been in gossip columns for sexual deviance and she has returned from her time abroad as a social outcast.
Alva is a complex character- we learn from the very start that the rumors that have destroyed her reputation are not true. Her past is very sad, and we get pieces of the abuse in her life as the story unfolds. The way that Alva tries to make a better future for herself is believable, and I like her as a female role model type character.
This is first and foremost a romance-- the focus is on Alva and her relationship with an eccentric, smart, handsome (of course), and rich (because let's make him the 'perfect' man) man. If I was going to rate this book down for anything, it's that Sam Moore was TOO perfect. I fell in love with him within the first 50 pages, so I'm not really complaining... but he can be a bit much. He's witty and only eccentric when it's convenient. He is described by every adjective that means handsome or manly. And of course, he is very capable in bed. As a warning, this book is not suitable for younger readers.

I liked the ghost story aspect of the story. I went into this book thinking that the content would be much heavier than it was because it was a 'ghost story'- but I was pleasantly surprised with the balance of multiple genres. This is Diana Biller's debut book and she has done an amazing job setting both a spooky tone and a romantic mood. I will definitely be following the writer on Goodreads and hope to read more from her in the future.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. :)

Heat Factor: Steamy
Character Chemistry: Opposites attract in the best way
Plot: Scandalous Widow wants to renovate haunted house, hires ghost hunter to de-hauntify
Overall: This Gothic Romantic Comedy was wonderful. I was utterly captivated.

I would not blame loyal readers of The Smut Report if they found themselves double-checking the byline for this review right about now. Did Holly really just write that she was “utterly captivated”? Yes. Yes, I did. That is how awesome this book was.

Readers, you also read correctly that I am calling this a Gothic Romantic Comedy. Because it is both a Gothic Romance with a scary haunted house and a melancholy mystery and a tragic backstory for our heroine and also an excellent Romantic Comedy where the heroine and heroine build their connection through banter and gentle ribbing. Avid fans of Gothic romances should note, however, that while the ghost story provides the central impetus to the plot, it ultimately plays a pretty small role in the story as a whole. If I had to pick just one category, I would lean more towards comedy.

Let’s start with the Gothic side of the equation. Spoiler alert: the ghost is real. And is both legitimately frightening and also really sad. Alva, our practical widow who needs work to start on this house like, yesterday, is not amused. Especially since her dead ex-husband was really terrible, and if ghosts are real, well… that means that maybe she won’t ever be free of him.

Enter Sam. Sam is a genius who can’t tie his own shoes. Well, he can, and then he gets distracted by calculating how long it takes to lace up his boots, and maybe he should invent a boot-lacing machine. Here’s a description of Sam getting dressed, so you can get a sense of him:
Socks were under the bed, undershirt on the bottom-left bedpost, and, most confusingly, shirts were in a nearly folded pile in the armoire.
But lest you think Sam is incompetent on all practical levels, let me set you straight. He is also extremely good at people when he wants to be. He’s the kind of guy that people take care of, which is quite convenient since he can’t be bothered to do things like feed himself. He is wonderful to read about because he is kind and thoughtful and pays attention when it’s important and is not emotionally stupid. I love him on the page, but he would drive me absolutely insane if he were my real life partner. Note: I know this guy in real life. He literally once had a guy give him the shirt off his back because he complimented it. And not like a friend; a random guy working in the sandwich shop where we were eating lunch. True story, I saw it happen. He then left said shirt, his sleeping bag, his cell phone, and his passport at my apartment.

Alva and Sam have sparkling chemistry. They tease each other, but not in a biting way. Rather, their light-hearted banter shows the ways in which they complement each other. And - bonus! - it’s frequently quite witty. For example:
He smiled wider. “Are you worried Zeus will descend Mount Olympus and smite us for our effrontery?”
“Something like that.”
“Wouldn’t that be a red-letter day for science,” he said.
Alva rolled her eyes, the tightness in her stomach easing. “You have a unique and frequently disturbing outlook on life.”
“Oh, come now. The discovery Zeus is not a mythical figure but does in fact exist? Think of the questions that could be answered. For example, what does it feel like to have your daughter born from your own skull?”
“Is Hera as horrible as the stories make her out to be, or is it classic scandalmongering?”
Notice also that the banter puts Alva at ease. Sam quickly realizes that being extra ridiculous brings out the best in them both, that sometimes Alva needs help battling her demons, and that a well-timed distraction can work wonders. This scandalous widow is carrying a LOT of baggage, which is the primary obstacle between her and a happily ever after with Sam. (Well, that and the ghost.) Her path to finding love and trust and self-worth shapes the novel, and her growth is truly satisfying to read.

I could go on and on, because I really cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book, but I’ll leave with this: Diana Biller, please tell me you have a sequel in the works about Sam’s sister. I mean, her two favorite things are French fashions and causing explosions. I cannot wait to read more about her.


I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report. (As of Oct 9, 2019)

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. I fell in love with both the main characters and found myself completely charmed by many of the secondary characters as well! Alva was an interesting, complicated heroine that perfectly complemented our goofy giant of a hero. The conversations between Alva and Sam highlighted her intelligence and sense of humor perfectly.

Sam Moore was a delightful hero. For a genius inventor, he was surprisingly thoughtful and sensitive. I found myself looking forward to his POV and scenes with Alva and his family because his sense of humor made me so happy. The author truly crafted a couple that I wanted to root for and I have a new favorite book boyfriend.

As much as I loved the story, I do wish the paranormal aspects had been woven into the story a bit more. The ghostly inclusions happened in bursts and in the interim, I sort of forgot about it. While I don’t think it necessarily detracts from the story, I do wish that aspect had flowed a bit more.

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!


**Review and Excerpt will be posted during blog tour stop on 9 OCT 2019
**Shortened review posted to goodreads/instagram/bookbub
**review will be posted to retailers on/after release day