From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Book two of Roberts's In the Garden trilogy (following
Blue Dahlia) ably showcases the author's many strengths, from her creation of appealing characters to her melding of the eerily paranormal with the delightfully down-to-earth. Rosalind Harper is the owner of a historic Tennessee mansion and the force behind the thriving garden business on its grounds. Widowed young and then scarred by an unwise second marriage, Roz has sworn off dating, instead inviting a collection of family, friends and their children to share her home. Unfortunately, the house is also inhabited by a mysterious ghost, known as the Harper Bride. Roz hires genealogist Dr. Mitchell Carnagie to track the Bride's identity, but the unpredictable and passionate relationship that develops between the two sets off still more malignant displays from the ghost. Roberts postpones the ghost story's resolution for the trilogy's end, but brings Roz and Mitch to a satisfying commitment complete with realistic power struggles and peace treaties among their various children. Roz's inherited privilege is off-putting at times, and her calm in the face of ghostly attacks seems far-fetched. Yet she remains a warmly appealing heroine, resolutely finding her path through a midlife romance that is more complex and hard-fought than 20-something love.
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From AudioFile
Roberts picks up where BLUE DAHLIA stops, with Rosalind Harper continuing her investigation into the Harper Bride, who haunts the house and seems to protect its inhabitants. But the ghost becomes more violent as Rosalind falls in love with Dr. Mitchell Carnegie, a historian who uncovers more of the family past. Susie Breck has a beguiling way of reaching into stories and making them come alive with her flawless performance. Each character has his or her own voice, even the ghost. And let us not forget the gardens, with their enchanting flowers, that run through this trilogy. BLACK ROSE takes listeners into a garden of love and life. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
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