A Red, Red Rose

OUR OTHER CURRENTLY FEATURED BOOKS, “FALLEN,” BY MELINDA INMAN AND “SWINGING ON THE GARDEN GATE,” BY ELIZABETH JARRETT ANDREW, CAN BE FOUND BY SCROLLING DOWN BELOW THIS POST.

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TITLE: A Red, Red Rose.

PUBLISHED: 2014.

AUTHOR:  Susan Coryell

EDITOR: Ally Robertson

PUBLISHER: The Wild Rose Press (a NY based small publisher with about 500 authors. They are highly rated and just 10 years old.)

SUMMARY: When twenty-year-old Ashby Overton travels to Overhome Estate in Southern Virginia for the summer, she hopes to unearth her ancestral roots and the cause of a mysterious family rift surrounding the horseback riding death of her Grandmother Lenore many years ago.

From the moment she enters her room in the oldest wing, Ashby feels an invisible, enfolding presence. She learns the room belonged to a woman named Rosabelle, but no one is willing to talk about Rosabelle—no one except Luke, the stable boy who captures her heart. As Ashby and Luke become closer, she realizes he can be the confidant she needs to share the terrifying, unfolding secrets.

Ever present is a force Ashby never sees, only feels. Candles light themselves, notes from an old lullaby fall from the ceiling, the radio tunes itself each day. And roses, always meant for Ashby, appear in the unlikeliest places. Are the roses a symbol of love, or do they represent something dark, something deep and evil?

BACK STORY: My inspiration for the first book in the Overhome Trilogy came when I toured an ancient historic house rumored to house a ghost in Northern Virginia’s Hunt Country. A little research revealed a similar property in Southern Virginia where I had retired. The setting is fictional Moore Mountain Lake, based on Smith Mountain Lake. My muse had found a home.

WHY THIS TITLE? A Red, Red Rose gets its title from the recurring random appearance of red roses, buds and petals–left by Rosabelle, a Revolutionary War spirit who inhabits historic Overhome Estate. Sometimes the roses appear to be a warning–others a loving gesture. Robert Burns’ poem “My Luv is Like a Red, Red Rose,” is also featured in the novel.

WHY WOLD SOMEONE WANT TO READ IT? Anyone who likes cozy mysteries and/or Southern Gothics would like to read this book, the first in the Overhome Trilogy. The novel is all about history, mystery, romance and a ghost–what’s not to like? A contemporary novel with a history background appeals to lots of readers.

SOME REVIEW COMMENTS:

“The mystery and love story drive the plot but there are so many thought-provoking elements in the mix–from adoption to sibling rivalries, race and class. I read it while traveling. It made the time go by quickly and left me with much to think about.”

“A Red, Red Rose has everything: a rich and haunting ambiance, a mysterious ghost, a sweet bit of romance and a captivating sleuth, who guided me through the thrills and chills of a clever plot–then left me breathless and wanting more.”

“A beautifully crafted story redolent of the languorous atmosphere and brooding evil of the Old South. Ashby, a modern girl with a cell phone and Internet access, comes into intimate contact with her staid and tradition-bound ancestors and eventually aligns herself in their common cause. The fast-paced tale weaves contemporary characters, Southern charm and Gothic mystery into the historic setting all the way to its violent, shocking and yet fitting end. The story evokes some of the same emotions as Carson McCuller’s The Ballad of the Sad Cafe.”

AUTHOR PROFILE: “A career educator, I have taught students from 7th grade through college-level. I have a BA degree in English from Carson-Newman College and a Masters from George Mason University. I am listed in several different volumes of Who’s Who in Education and Who’s Who in Teaching. I belong to Author’s Guild, Virginia Writers, and Lake Writers. Talking with budding writers at schools, writers’ conferences and workshops is something I enjoy doing. I have always been interested in Southern concerns about culture and society, as hard-felt, long-held feelings battle with modern ideas. The ghosts slipped in, to my surprise, while writing cozy mystery/Southern Gothic A Red, Red Rose and its sequel Beneath the Stones.

My first published work was the award-winning young adult novel Eaglebait. I live at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.When not writing, I enjoy boating, kayaking, golf and yoga. My husband and I love to travel, especially when any of our seven grandchildren are involved.

AUTHOR COMMENTS: Picked up by Amazon Encore in 2015, A Red, Red Rose made it to a#1 rating for Ghosts and Gothics in November of 2015. Beneath the Stones, a stand-alone sequel, was published by TWRP in 2015. Nobody Knows, the third in the Overhome Trilogy will debut in 2016—date TBA. Each volume stands alone, but the trilogy covers ten years in the life of protagonist Ashby Overton. Much Civil War and Southern Virginia history serve as background for the contemporary mystery/Gothic.

SAMPLE CHAPTER: Amazon page link: https://amzn.com/B0145P8K16 Sample from Beneath the Stones: Amazon link: https://amzn.com/B00UF1YM6M

LOCAL OUTLETS: The General Store, Southern Roots, Gifts Ahoy—all in Moneta, Virginia at Westlake shopping locations.

OTHER OUTLETS: All on-line bookstores.

PRICE: $13.95 print, $3.99 e-book.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Susan-Coryell-Author-149075331807592/

Twitter: @SCoryellAuthor Website: www.susancoryellauthor.com.

Blog: http://www.susancoryellauthor.blogspot.com