Weeping Roses

by D.J. Manly

Timing can mean everything, especially when true love is at stake...

Madison and his brother Jeff are real estate flippers—they move into houses, renovate them, then sell them for a profit. When Jeff spots Maison St-Pierre on a website that lists abandoned houses, the brothers end up purchasing the enormous estate for a song. The lavish "fixer-upper" is situated in Quebec, on the American border, has a gothic appearance, even an accompanying graveyard, and is shrouded in folklore and mystery.

Not long after the brothers arrive, the sound of someone crying awakens Madison in the middle of the night. This becomes a nightly occurrence, soon leaving Madison jittery and suffering from sleep deprivation. Jeff, however, seems immune to the noises and scoffs at Madison when he mentions the possibility of Maison St-Pierre being haunted.

Then one night, Madison sees the ghost of a man, an apparition that begs him to unlock the door of the root cellar and release something—or someone—from its resting place. Believing he can aid the lamenting spirit and solve the mystery of Maison St-Pierre once and for all, Madison agrees to the request, and his world changes forever.

Weeping Roses is a saga that sweeps the reader to a time more than one hundred years ago when the old house was first built, and to a torrid love affair that is still thriving and filled with regret...yet somehow holds out new promise...

Gay / Dark Fantasy / Vampire / Paranormal / Ghosts / Hauntings / BDSM

Genres: M M Romance, Ghosts, Paranormal, Vampires, Contemporary, Gay, Mystery

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2011

About the author

I write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t written and told stories. When I’m not writing, I’m dreaming about writing, doing something wild and adventurous, or trying to make the world a better and more open minded place to live in. I adore beautiful men, and I know I’m not alone in this! Eroticism between consenting adults, in all its many forms is the icing on the cake of life!

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Don't get me wrong, the low rating here has nothing to do with the writing or characters. I have read several stories by D.J. Manly to know that he/she is one author whose writing I can enjoy and characters I can love. I have no problem with the technicality of this story (though some who are into details probably going to criticize the supposed used language of late 1800 which is TOO modern for that time, I think ... though English is not my native tongue, so I wouldn't know for sure).

The idea of ghost haunting a mansion is nice -- if you like horror. There is also scene of being possessed as well as exploring some sort of twisted relationship of one wanting to be dominated, which is intriguing. Oh, and also, the career of Madison and his brother as house/estate flippers is not one I have encountered before in other books.

So, what is my problem then??

My problem is, I kind of expect this story to be ABOUT Madison and the vampire, Amelein. BUT, what I actually get is an almost 2/3 of the book of flashback about Amelein and his life back in the late 1800 with a rich young man, who later becomes the ghost of the mansion where Madison lives. I don't even BELIEVE that Madison gets easily in love with Amelein and vice versa ... not when their encounter seems superficial; and that I get more feeling about Amelein and the other guy (however twisted).

It's not the kind of romance I expect; so I am left feeling so unsatisfied. THUS, the 2.5 stars

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what this book is like, check the cover. Seriously. I keep saying that horror creeps me out (and it does), but the thing with D.J.'s books is that they're fascinating. To be exact, though, and to do Weeping Roses justice, it's more of a GOTHIC story. And the capital letters are totally justified, just go and read the book.

Madison is an interesting character. He's more sensitive than his brother, and the way he deals with the ghost and his request throws him right into the middle of a dramatic affair that is over a hundred years old. I loved the way he managed to hold his own despite being totally out of his depth.

Amelien is torn between loyalty to his old (but dead) lover and the new romance with Madison. He's an extremely interesting character who has to make some very difficult choices.

Weeping Roses definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. It combines two love stories into one whole - making for a fascinating variation of the love triangle with some very unusual players. The many vivid descriptions of "the dark and scary", including those of the graveyard that accompanies the estate and the basement of the house, were really well done. I loved the solution at the end as well - although I almost gave up hope quite a few times.

Anyone looking for an unusual story with some fascinating characters, and who isn't afraid of the dark (yet), will probably enjoy this book as much as I did.


NOTE: This book was provided by Amber Allure for the purpose of a review at Queer Magazine Online.

[Feliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love triangle of a very special kind, since only one party is actually alive. One is already dead, but determined not to remain that way, while another ought to be dead by rights, but instead is anything but. All three main characters were well-drawn, with voices of their own, although purists might find the dialogue passages during the historical part too modern. Madison was sweet and even a bit naive at times, the role-model innocent for his vampire knight in shining armor to save. Amelien was intriguing in his brokenness and dark chivalry, just like a noble vampire ought to be. I actually thought Rene the most interesting character; he could have been a tragical hero but was made out so mean and selfish that I hated him with a vengeance although I could even relate to his motives. A lot of the sinister atmosphere wafting through this book stems from the mischief Rene brews. Madison can never be sure where the ghost will pop up next, and neither can Amelien know whose spirit dwells behind the eyes of the human he's just talking to. With all the ghost's taking posession of one body or the other, the various personalities tangled so closely they were hard to follow at times, yet they were kept admirably straight for the most part. (One complete jumble occured, although I think the mix-up was mostly due to some editing oversight).

Although this is labelled as BDSM, there's actually very little physical BDSM in here. It's more about the mind games Rene plays with Amelien - Rene isn't only topping from the bottom, he's actually dominating from the submissive position. However, it's through the skillfull writing the reader comes to understand that Rene hurt himself just as badly as he did Amelien. Their painful love/hate relationship was beautifully balanced by the new love between Amelien and Madison. The fact that Amelien not only managed to overcome his obsession with Rene but even dared to open himself for the possibility of a new love gave his character growth and strength. And Madison's courage to stand up against something as scary and powerful as a ghost despite his fear and the very concrete threat to his life made him all the more likeable.

This was a multi-layered, fascinating read. Even the solution wasn't as easy as it appeared at first sight; it's actually disturbingly open.

If you read this book, I'd recommend you light a (rose-scented) candle, switch off the light and put on some music, preferably some symphonic metal or gothic rock. Follow my recommendations AYOR, though, since you won't be sleeping afterwards; you'll want to watch out for the ghost instead.

Read the full review at reviewsbyjessewave.com

[Alaska · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Could have been more but the characters just did not speak to me. I didn't like them much and Rene was especially annoying. Amelien appeared more like a weak-minded, cock-driven boy than someone deeply in love.
I liked the start but after the two stories got mixed up I lost interest because Madisons love seemed too sudden and everytime someone cried I just couldn't feel it.
So, it was not bad but there are better vampire novels.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished it. It's not very long, about 180 pages. It's a nice story about two brothers who are flipping an old house. One brother, Madison, has an encounter with a vampire and a ghost(who is crying for his vampire lover.....little dweeb should cry the way he treated Amelien while they were alive!). Madison and Amelien have a thing (though a little too love at first sight to suite me)which angers said ghost. It's an interesting story (though sometimes you must suspend belief...then of course, maybe you don't since it is a vampire and a ghost!). I loved the ending. It was sweet. I'd give it 3.5 stars.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars.


I am a big D.J. Manly fan but this book really didn't do anything for me. Maybe it was my frame of mind while I was reading it, but it seemed confusing at times. I could never get a feel for any of the characters. Rene was an absolute jerk, and I know that his character was supposed to be that way. What I did not get was Amelien's obsession with him. Certain things happened quite quickly and then seemed rushed. A couple of things were not explained, I don't believe.

Nothing could prevent me from reading more of this author's work, as I really enjoy his other stuff. This one just will not be on my favorites list.