Amid a tangle of rose blooms and thorn, widow Lillian Diamon's private moment of grief is captured in a painting on display in a present-day, Sonoma Valley, California, art gallery, Her quest to find the artist unravels a greater mystery changing everything about her loss-and her future.
Rose House, written by Tina Ann Forkner, is a romance novel whose main character, Lillian Diamon, must wrestle with painful memories of her past while trying to establish a new relationship with a temperamental artist. This story, set in a tiny southern California town called La Rosasleda, finds Lillian trying to come to terms with her grief over losing her husband and two children in a suspicious car accident in which her sister, Geena, was able to walk away unharmed. Lillian meets Truman Clark, a local landscape artist, who has painted a remarkable picture of the Rose House, named for the massive rose bushes covering the outside. The painting, called Beauty and the Beast Within, also includes a woman who resembles Lillian. Thus, a romance begins. But Truman leaves Lillian to give her space when she seems unable to put away her old feelings for her deceased husband.
This story is relationship-driven rather than plot-driven. Heavy use of description drags the pacing to a slow crawl and makes this book difficult to get through. Forkner’s book consists of main characters who are partially developed if not two-dimensional, settings are confusing, and the pacing is slow. As a result, this book is not a page-turner. As a Christian novel, religious references are sparse and incidental, not contributing to the storyline at all. There are a few references to an outdoor Sunday morning service, and once we find Geena thinking of herself as the prodigal daughter of a stepfather who happens to be a preacher. However, the main focus is the Rose House itself and its presence, inviting visitors to experience hope, dreams, and inspiration while harboring secrets from within. – Anita Tiemeyer, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
“In Rose House, Tina Ann Forkner brings us back to the beauty of California wine country and draws us into a story fit for the misty gothic moors. Just as the Rose House itself sits within a mass of beautiful, entwined roses and vines, so is the story nestled in a masterful weaving of secrets, betrayals, hope, and healing.” — Allison Pittman, author of Stealing Home and Saturdays with Stella
“Tina Ann Forkner pens a compelling tale of betrayal and grief, of hope and forgiveness in Rose House. The unique setting and her lyrical descriptions enticed me into the scene, where I was captivated by the appealing characters and the story’s underlying mystery. I couldn’t put it down.” — Ane Mulligan, author of Novel Journey
“With Rose House, Tina Ann Forkner paints a breathtaking canvas of lush prose brushstrokes. Don’t get lulled into a sense of calm; the storyline casts suspenseful shadows on this masterpiece of women’s fiction. Delightful!”— Patti Lacy, author of An Irishwoman’s Tale and What the Bayou Saw
“Captivating, mysterious, and romantically enticing, Forkner’s Rose House keeps the pages turning.” — Alice J. Wisler, author of Rain Song and How Sweet It Is
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 8 Reviews Showing:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Lauryn Abbott (Sunny, AZ), August 27, 2009
This is a beautiful and compelling story! "Rose House" by Tina Ann Forkner, is a poignant and heartfelt story of love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness and new beginnings. It takes place in the picturesque wine country of California. The characters are personable, appealing and interesting. It was all too easy to feel the pain and sorrow of the main character. The story moves at a leisurely pace, but is not slow. I was thoroughly drawn in by the beauty, pain and secrets that swirl together seamlessly, and culminating in the hope of a new future.
3 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christy Lockstein (Oconto Falls, WIsconsin), August 25, 2009
Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner is the second book in the La Rosaleda series following Ruby Among Us. I do recommend reading the first book in this series, because there is a great deal of emphasis on the hope that Rose House offers. Lillian Diamon visits Rose House shortly after the death of her husband and twin children, but after being followed by mysterious men, she cuts her visit short. She doesn't return for four years, but when she does, she discovers that someone has painted a picture of her in the moment of her deepest grief. At first, she is angry at the intrusion, but upon meeting the mysterious artist, Truman, she finds herself drawn to him. Before she can make room for him in her heart, she has to release the grief at her loss and the bitterness at her sister's part in it. This book just didn't work for me as well as Ruby Among Us. The various plots didn't knit together neatly, and the purpose for the antagonist's murderous rage is never really disclosed. I didn't understand why he didn't just leave Lillian and Geena alone, no deep dark secrets were exposed to explain it. The romance between Lillian and Truman is the saving grace of the novel, but there is too little of it. Forkner is a terrific author, and I'm sure that her next book will be again evidence of that.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Debbie (Alpena, AR), August 20, 2009
"Rose House" was a well-written Christian romance novel with a good dose of suspense. It had a lot of romantic tension and temptation.
This novel was the second in a series. This one focused on new characters with some characters from the previous book playing a supporting role. You can understand this book without having read the previous one. However, the author was deliberately vague about some details from the first book that might have helped readers understand the full significance of the Rose House.
The characters were engaging and complex. They dealt with real, difficult conflicts and decisions. There were no quick or easy answers to the pain and betrayal Lillian felt even though healing and reconciliation did come in the end. The pacing was excellent, and the world-building details were excellent.
Lillian dealt with a lot of loss in the novel and questioned why God allowed her young children to die. She ignored God after losing them. Several of the characters discussed this question with her, but I never felt like the discussion got preachy or "here's how you ought to believe." There's probably more God discussion in the novel than most non-Christians would be interested in, though.
There was no sex (for reasons beyond "religion," too), and I don't recall any bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book as very good, clean reading.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Carol Wilson (Prescott, AZ), June 02, 2009
Enjoyed it very much...kept me guessing...a nice mixture of romance and suspense. I could well visualize the Rose House and all the "players".
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Carole Jarvis (Jonesboro, GA), May 23, 2009
The back cover of Rose House describes this book as "A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman's search for hope." After reading only a few pages, I wondered how or even if Lillian would find this hope, after the indescribable loss she had faced in her personal life.
But Rose House, a vine-covered cottage nestled in the vineyards of Sonoma Valley, is that symbol of hope. Rose House became famous, and visitors to the fictional town of La Rosaleda saw the house as a symbol of their hopes and dreams.
Forkner's writing style often evokes emotions and makes the reader think, as when Kitty says: "I learned that a home is more than walls or even beautiful gardens. Without people who love us going in and out, walking down the halls, sitting at the kitchen table for a meal, a house is just an empty shell." I am thankful for my house that is certainly not an "empty shell."
This book is not a downer at all. In fact, it inspires and shows how joy can come out of pain and loss. There's engaging characters, suspense, and the mending of difficult relationships - elements that combine to make an enjoyable read. Forkner is also good at using the art of painting to help us see God as the true Master Artist in our lives.
Forkner's conclusion, actually the Epilogue, was done in one of the most unusual ways I've ever seen - through a photographer's lens as he pans out to capture the scene. "The camera's lens caught the joy on the face of each of Lillian's guests, pausing the moment where it seemed that their lives, and hers, were poised at the edge of a blank canvas just waiting to be painted with the rich shades and hues of a dazzling new scene. Click-click."
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cheryl Shryack (Yakima, WA), May 17, 2009
Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner
If you haven’t read Rose House you need to rush to the book store and purchase it. It is really a great book. I read the book in 2 days. It’s one of those books that you can’t put down.
Rose House is the 2nd book in the series and well worth the wait. My book club read Ruby Among Us which was Tina’s first book in the series. Also a great book!
The story takes place in a small town known as La Rosaleda which is near the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley. Lillian finds herself at a beautiful cottage that is covered in roses which is known as the Rose House. She is mourning the loss of her entire family and seems to be drawn to this place.
Four years later she returns to La Rosaleda and discovers a painting of her in front of the Rose House. She is determined to find out who the mysterious painter is. She never really knew what happened to her family on that fateful day 4 years earlier. There is a mystery to be uncovered. What happened on the day that her family was killed? The only one who truly knows what happened is her sister who disappeared on that fateful day? This is a story about pain, healing and forgiveness.
I truly loved the characters in the story. Tina made them come alive and feel real to me. I loved the mystery that was wrapped into this story. I especailly loved the ending to this story but you will just have to read it to find out.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ann Shorey (Sutherlin, OR), May 14, 2009
Tina Ann Forkner’s second novel, Rose House, is an engrossing and worthy successor to her outstanding first book, Ruby Among Us. In Rose House, Forkner revisits La Rosaleda, a fictional town set in the beautiful Sonoma Valley of California.
I’d call the plot of Rose House “a mystery wrapped in an enigma,” to paraphrase Winston Churchill. The main character, Lillian Diamon, is mourning the loss of her family when she finds herself drawn to the fabled Rose House in La Rosaleda. Forkner starts the pages turning right away, with a mysterious photographer who is spying on Lillian. From there the story spins out question after question. We walk in Lillian’s shoes as she lives through her grief and confusion—each new revelation deepening the mystery of what happened to her family.
The story is filled with a sense of menace. We share Lillian’s doubts about whom she can trust. The reader is drawn further into Rose House to answer questions raised about each of the fully-drawn characters that Forkner introduces. As the plot lines converge, the book sweeps to a heart-stopping conclusion.
The characters became real to me—I’m still thinking about them. I loved the way this novel resolved. I had tears in my eyes when I read the ending.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle Sutton (AZ), April 29, 2009
Rose House was a compelling story about a widow's grief and healing journey. Lillian is living every woman's worst nightmare. Having her family wiped out and then finding out how and why it happened would send anyone over the edge. This well-written portrayal of her pain pulled me because she had many legitimate reasons to be sad. I found this very believable and the writing very passionate. The whole scenario with her sister was also realistic as I personally have known several people in the same situation - betrayed by their own sister. That's tough to deal with. But my favorite part of the story was actually the romance. Truman was one of the hottest heroes I've gotten to know in 2009. He was amazing and I can see why Lillian found him hard to resist. The air literally crackled when they were near each other. This author knows how to write romantic tension like few authors have mastered. That alone makes this story a treat for me. So often in Christian fiction the attraction is toned down. Not so in Rose House. I sensed their longing and it was incredibly well done. I was just sorry the story had to end. I hope there is a sequel in the works.
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