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gaulien's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
msnyderk's review
5.0
I love this trilogy. There's something about the gardening theme, the old family home, the way the characters came together,....it all just comes together for me into a great story. Perfect escape.
jscarpa14's review
4.0
This is the second or third time I've read this book. The action picks up in Roz's story and I like her better as a character because she's a stronger woman than Stella was. Stella often comes across as worried and afraid and Roz is more like I'll be damned if anyone sees me cry. While it still has Robert's typical lyrical winding writing, it doesn't meander off into the day to day life as much as it did in the first book.
I will say in some scenes I think it could have used a little closer attention to detail. It's wasn't a grammar thing, but a name thing, kind of like how a flustered Mom of multiple children will inevitably say all her kids names before landing on the one she's actually trying to yell at. Sentences that would attribute and action or thought to one character didn't make any sense unless she actually meant another character. For example in one scene Roz leaves Stella and Hailey on her porch, and the scene even gives a couple of sentence where the two are talking without her, yet some how Stella is speaking in the kitchen with David while she's also on the porch with Hailey. Everything makes sense if the writer was referring to Roz, but the page says Stella. It happens a few times in this book and as a reader I found it a little jarring and to be honest I expect better from Roberts.
However the drama in Roz's personal life and her interactions with Amelia, the ghost are a lot more edge of the seat and page turning than those in the previous novel in this trilogy and as I've read it at least once before and still enjoyed a reread I'd definitely say this is a title worth reading.
I will say in some scenes I think it could have used a little closer attention to detail. It's wasn't a grammar thing, but a name thing, kind of like how a flustered Mom of multiple children will inevitably say all her kids names before landing on the one she's actually trying to yell at. Sentences that would attribute and action or thought to one character didn't make any sense unless she actually meant another character. For example in one scene Roz leaves Stella and Hailey on her porch, and the scene even gives a couple of sentence where the two are talking without her, yet some how Stella is speaking in the kitchen with David while she's also on the porch with Hailey. Everything makes sense if the writer was referring to Roz, but the page says Stella. It happens a few times in this book and as a reader I found it a little jarring and to be honest I expect better from Roberts.
However the drama in Roz's personal life and her interactions with Amelia, the ghost are a lot more edge of the seat and page turning than those in the previous novel in this trilogy and as I've read it at least once before and still enjoyed a reread I'd definitely say this is a title worth reading.
jayfr's review against another edition
3.0
Firstly how great to see a romance book where the heroine is over 40.
I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to read the next to finally get the mystery of the Harper Bride solved.
I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to read the next to finally get the mystery of the Harper Bride solved.
tamara_mousa's review
5.0
A beautiful story but unfortunately I did not read the sequels yet!!
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
msripley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Black Rose
3 Stars
In an attempt to learn more about Amelia, The Harper Bride, Rosalind Harper engages the services of genealogist Mitchell Carnegie to trace her origins. As they work together to uncover the clues to her identity, Roz and Mitch grow closer, but the Harper Bride is enraged by their burgeoning relationship and is determined to cut it short at all costs.
Unfortunately, this second book suffers from the same issues as the first. The developments in the ongoing arc concerning the ghost haunting Harper House cannot compensate for the excessive descriptions of plants and flowers and the uninspired romance.
To put it mildly, Mitch and Roz's relationship is boring. They have no chemistry and their sex scenes lack both sensuality and intimacy.
The subplot revolving around the machinations of Roz's ex has the potential to add some excitement and suspense, but never goes beyond annoying. That said, there are a couple of scenes with him toward the end that are very satisfying.
Susie Breck's narration of the audiobook makes it easier to slog through the boring sections. Hayley and Harper's story is next and I hope it will be an improvement on the first two books.
3 Stars
In an attempt to learn more about Amelia, The Harper Bride, Rosalind Harper engages the services of genealogist Mitchell Carnegie to trace her origins. As they work together to uncover the clues to her identity, Roz and Mitch grow closer, but the Harper Bride is enraged by their burgeoning relationship and is determined to cut it short at all costs.
Unfortunately, this second book suffers from the same issues as the first. The developments in the ongoing arc concerning the ghost haunting Harper House cannot compensate for the excessive descriptions of plants and flowers and the uninspired romance.
To put it mildly, Mitch and Roz's relationship is boring. They have no chemistry and their sex scenes lack both sensuality and intimacy.
The subplot revolving around the machinations of Roz's ex has the potential to add some excitement and suspense, but never goes beyond annoying. That said, there are a couple of scenes with him toward the end that are very satisfying.
Susie Breck's narration of the audiobook makes it easier to slog through the boring sections. Hayley and Harper's story is next and I hope it will be an improvement on the first two books.
lisam0183_bookworm's review
4.0
Back to Harper House to see what The Harper Bride is up to this time.
This time it's about Roz. She likes her life just as it is. However, she has hired Mitch to research the origins of the family ghost. She finds herself falling for him, but the Harper Bride isn't happy and will try and keep them apart.
Another good story and Roz eventually found out how she was related to The Harper Bride and how the ghost is linked to the Harper family.
It was nice to read about Stella's life moving along too from the first book.
Let's see what the last installment brings.
This time it's about Roz. She likes her life just as it is. However, she has hired Mitch to research the origins of the family ghost. She finds herself falling for him, but the Harper Bride isn't happy and will try and keep them apart.
Another good story and Roz eventually found out how she was related to The Harper Bride and how the ghost is linked to the Harper family.
It was nice to read about Stella's life moving along too from the first book.
Let's see what the last installment brings.