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The Mitchell Sisters #3
Black Roses
HER SECRETS ARE UGLY.
They've kept her from going home.
Now she's risking everything to return.
Piper Mitchell
Coming back to New York for my sister’s wedding was a mistake.
It was supposed to be a quick trip. Show up, say the right words, then I’d be gone.
But everywhere I look, I imagine I see the men who destroyed my life.
I didn’t think anyone could ever understand what was taken from me that fateful day.
Until I meet him. The football star. The single dad.
Mason Lawrence
I throw a football in front of eighty thousand people.
Mingling with the rich and famous is just another part of my job.
Nothing makes me nervous. Not until she walks off a plane and into my life.
She’s broken. Shattered by some event she keeps hidden under lock and key. The clues on her body fail to reveal her secrets—unlike the clues on my body that clearly publicize mine.
The clock is ticking, giving me only a few short months to uncover the true meaning of the flower branded onto her flesh.
Because if she gets back on that plane, I know she’ll be gone forever.
Black Roses is an angsty enemies-to-lovers romance. It is part of a series in which the books can easily be enjoyed in any order.
They've kept her from going home.
Now she's risking everything to return.
Piper Mitchell
Coming back to New York for my sister’s wedding was a mistake.
It was supposed to be a quick trip. Show up, say the right words, then I’d be gone.
But everywhere I look, I imagine I see the men who destroyed my life.
I didn’t think anyone could ever understand what was taken from me that fateful day.
Until I meet him. The football star. The single dad.
Mason Lawrence
I throw a football in front of eighty thousand people.
Mingling with the rich and famous is just another part of my job.
Nothing makes me nervous. Not until she walks off a plane and into my life.
She’s broken. Shattered by some event she keeps hidden under lock and key. The clues on her body fail to reveal her secrets—unlike the clues on my body that clearly publicize mine.
The clock is ticking, giving me only a few short months to uncover the true meaning of the flower branded onto her flesh.
Because if she gets back on that plane, I know she’ll be gone forever.
Black Roses is an angsty enemies-to-lovers romance. It is part of a series in which the books can easily be enjoyed in any order.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2016
5850 people are currently reading
3843 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Christy
45 books3,539 followersDespite the fact that she is a romance writer, Samantha Christy's favorite television show of all time is The Walking Dead.
And contrary to the fact that her heroines drink things like wine and Cosmos, she prefers Bud Light.
She also loves fan mail and answers all of it.
She went to college and all that, getting a degree in something she never uses. She's also got a gaggle of kids (4) and a pretty decent husband.
And contrary to the fact that her heroines drink things like wine and Cosmos, she prefers Bud Light.
She also loves fan mail and answers all of it.
She went to college and all that, getting a degree in something she never uses. She's also got a gaggle of kids (4) and a pretty decent husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 554 reviews
March 8, 2016
Yeah, uh, I wrote it :-)
July 30, 2017
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was an ok read. The first book in the series, Purple Orchids, will remain my top rated and liked. This was surprisingly pretty heavy with the past trauma the h was dealing with. The epilogue literally gave me goosebumps, but it wasn't enough to make me love this book either.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Piper and Mason story. Piper is returning to the states after being away for many years for her sister's wedding. She meets Mason when he is sent to the airport to pick her up, since he is the best man. Sparks fly immediately, but they deal with them by bickering and not getting along. Piper has some past damage, and it's obvious by the way she puts up a b¡tch exterior. Mason sees something worth pursuing through it all. They form a friendship of sorts that eventually turns into more. There are some major past demons that they both have to face and work through, some family issues, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get their HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Piper and Mason's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. The epilogue was right after a conflict -- not the big one, but it seems to be what a lot of authors are doing right now. I hate it when that happens. I never skimmed, and otherwise it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They had a friendship of sorts before developing into love.
H rating: 5 stars. Mason. He was pretty perfect IMO. He was damaged in his own way, but he was completely devoted to Piper. He never gave up and worked hard on getting through to her. AND he was celibate for 2+ years before the h.
h rating: 3 stars. Piper. I struggled with her character. I understood that she was really damaged from her past, but I didn't find her likeable enough to get past her pushing away the amazing H so much.
Sadness level: Low. Even though it did cover some really heavy subjects, I never felt the need to cry.
Heat level: Moderate/low. The h was traumatized because of her past (see below trigger spoiler), but the H was extremely patient and broke down her walls. They did have some hotter scenes later.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes. Condoms are used.
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (major spoilers -- click at your own risk)
Closure: This had pretty good closure with a HEA ending in the jump ahead epilogue.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: Safe with exception
Overall Opinion: This was an ok read. The first book in the series, Purple Orchids, will remain my top rated and liked. This was surprisingly pretty heavy with the past trauma the h was dealing with. The epilogue literally gave me goosebumps, but it wasn't enough to make me love this book either.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Piper and Mason story. Piper is returning to the states after being away for many years for her sister's wedding. She meets Mason when he is sent to the airport to pick her up, since he is the best man. Sparks fly immediately, but they deal with them by bickering and not getting along. Piper has some past damage, and it's obvious by the way she puts up a b¡tch exterior. Mason sees something worth pursuing through it all. They form a friendship of sorts that eventually turns into more. There are some major past demons that they both have to face and work through, some family issues, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get their HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Piper and Mason's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. The epilogue was right after a conflict -- not the big one, but it seems to be what a lot of authors are doing right now. I hate it when that happens. I never skimmed, and otherwise it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They had a friendship of sorts before developing into love.
H rating: 5 stars. Mason. He was pretty perfect IMO. He was damaged in his own way, but he was completely devoted to Piper. He never gave up and worked hard on getting through to her. AND he was celibate for 2+ years before the h.
h rating: 3 stars. Piper. I struggled with her character. I understood that she was really damaged from her past, but I didn't find her likeable enough to get past her pushing away the amazing H so much.
Sadness level: Low. Even though it did cover some really heavy subjects, I never felt the need to cry.
Heat level: Moderate/low. The h was traumatized because of her past (see below trigger spoiler), but the H was extremely patient and broke down her walls. They did have some hotter scenes later.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes. Condoms are used.
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (major spoilers -- click at your own risk)
Closure: This had pretty good closure with a HEA ending in the jump ahead epilogue.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: Safe with exception
dnf
April 3, 2016DNF
I'm not rating this because I have no intention of finishing it. At 34%, I really don't feel like going any further... I want to because I really love Mason, but I honestly can't stand the heroine. I know she's broken and damaged, but seriously she just comes of as a total bitch and mean. As a reader, she's not really likable at all. And the way she is right now, no matter what is revealed to justify the way she is, I have no desire to even want to like her. She needs to come across as closed off when it comes to men, not my-mother-never-taught-me-how-to-talk-to-people stand-offish and rude.
I'm not rating this because I have no intention of finishing it. At 34%, I really don't feel like going any further... I want to because I really love Mason, but I honestly can't stand the heroine. I know she's broken and damaged, but seriously she just comes of as a total bitch and mean. As a reader, she's not really likable at all. And the way she is right now, no matter what is revealed to justify the way she is, I have no desire to even want to like her. She needs to come across as closed off when it comes to men, not my-mother-never-taught-me-how-to-talk-to-people stand-offish and rude.
Want to read
October 15, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/15/2017)!
November 27, 2021
I didn’t read any reviews going into this book. I knew it was going to tear my heart out just based on the little information I had from the prior 2 books in the Mitchell Sisters series. And tear my heart out it certainly did. But in true romance fashion, Samantha Christy mended all the shattered pieces for a heartwarming and beautifully orchestrated HEA. Black Roses is an intense journey through the memories and emotions of two beautifully developed characters (Piper & Mason) with the help of multiple beloved characters from the prior two books in the series. But what is really stunning is how Piper and Mason heal themselves while they heal each other. There are no gratuitous and unnecessary emotional outbursts, just genuinely impassioned and powerful connections and conflicts that move the story forward and create a compelling bond that brings the entire series to a poignant and heartmending close. The Mitchell Sisters is the perfect emotional minibinge, and I definitely recommend reading them in order rather than as standalones. Grab lots of tissues, and prepare for your own intense reactions to the characters and their stories. They are all too real and wonderfully written.
February 5, 2024
It has a racial slur on the first page. I told the author about it and she never changed it.
Edit to add: I told the author in June 2023 about the slur and as of February of 2024 it’s still in the book.
Edit to add: I told the author in June 2023 about the slur and as of February of 2024 it’s still in the book.
June 24, 2016
I can't believe I'm admitting to starting this series with the third book. It's not really something I do -- ever! But the book blurb caught my interest and believe me -- the book entrapped me. I loved every minute devouring this knockout romance.
The two main characters are beautifully drawn. (Yes, I also admit that the hero being an NFL quarterback might have been part of the allure for me!) Both are equally filled with pain and agonizing angst -- one is just handling his better than the other. The attraction is instant, but the road to happily-ever-after is filled with slow steps and sometimes no steps at all. But the romance is everything a romance reader yearns for in a romance novel. And to top it all off, there's plenty of family and friends that add all the layers that complete the full range of feel goods.
This one was the full package and a surefire winner! And yes, I'm definitely going to read the first two books in this fabulous series immediately!
The two main characters are beautifully drawn. (Yes, I also admit that the hero being an NFL quarterback might have been part of the allure for me!) Both are equally filled with pain and agonizing angst -- one is just handling his better than the other. The attraction is instant, but the road to happily-ever-after is filled with slow steps and sometimes no steps at all. But the romance is everything a romance reader yearns for in a romance novel. And to top it all off, there's plenty of family and friends that add all the layers that complete the full range of feel goods.
This one was the full package and a surefire winner! And yes, I'm definitely going to read the first two books in this fabulous series immediately!
February 15, 2018
The plot had potential...but the writing and storytelling failed to deliver.
November 29, 2024
Piper, my heart aches for you, and Mason, wow…💔
This book was painful, I cried so many times. But the compassion and understanding and the goodness in some characters made this book so beautiful.
I seriously finished all three of these books so quickly it’s crazy
This book was painful, I cried so many times. But the compassion and understanding and the goodness in some characters made this book so beautiful.
I seriously finished all three of these books so quickly it’s crazy
January 31, 2018
Nazywam się Amber Rose Black. a ja umarlam i nie żyje....
January 28, 2018
Znakomita i pierwszorzędna
May 27, 2018
This one has a nice bite to it; a not so gentle romance. I do not usually read a series out of order, this is book 3 and I'm starting with it because it is what is available to borrow. I have been assured that this series is a standalone and they don't need to be read in order.
I finished it and I am glad I did. There are some parts that I really do wish the main characters had more privacy, but I got used to it and it went along just fine. At this point I believe I may want to read the first two in the series.
It was entertaining.
I finished it and I am glad I did. There are some parts that I really do wish the main characters had more privacy, but I got used to it and it went along just fine. At this point I believe I may want to read the first two in the series.
It was entertaining.
September 5, 2019
***3.5 estrellas
Muy linda y conmovedora historia... fue muy triste lo que vivió Piper...
Pero lo que más me gustó del libro fue Mason... aahh me gustó mucho lo del significado de los colores de las rosas!!
Lo que no me gustó fue esa proposición tan apresurada, me parece que apenas se iban conociendo y ella se permitía entrar en una relación de pareja como una mujer normal.
Muy linda y conmovedora historia... fue muy triste lo que vivió Piper...
Pero lo que más me gustó del libro fue Mason... aahh me gustó mucho lo del significado de los colores de las rosas!!
Lo que no me gustó fue esa proposición tan apresurada, me parece que apenas se iban conociendo y ella se permitía entrar en una relación de pareja como una mujer normal.
SINOPSIS
Piper Mitchell
El veinticinco de abril fue el día que nací.
También fue el día que morí.
La sangre aún corría por mis venas. El oxígeno todavía saturaba mis células. Pero, para todos los efectos, dejé de estar entre los vivos.
Volver a Nueva York para la boda de mi hermana fue un error, pero se lo prometí. Sería un rápido viaje. Aparecer, decir las palabras correctas, luego me habría ido. Esta vez para bien.
No pensé que alguien podría entender lo que me fue quitado ese fatídico día.
No hasta que lo conocí.
Mason Lawrence
Lanzaba un balón delante de ochenta mil personas.
Mezclarme con los ricos y famosos era solo otra parte de mi trabajo.
Nada me ponía nervioso.
No hasta que ella salió de ese avión y entró en mi vida.
Estaba rota. Destrozada por algún evento que mantenía oculto bajo llave. Las pistas sobre su cuerpo no revelaban sus secretos… a diferencia de las pistas sobre mi cuerpo, que claramente divulgaban los míos.
El reloj hacía tic tac, dándome solo unos pocos meses para descubrir el verdadero significado de la flor grabada en su carne. Porque si se volvía a subir a ese avión, sabía que sería para siempre.
August 31, 2018
Well.........
Meh
Meh
Read
August 24, 2022DNF at 11%. Was not a fan of the bitchy heroine
July 30, 2020
Piper just flew back to the States for his sister's wedding and at the airport meets her ride, Mason. Their 1st exchange is adversarial. To say the least. They are oil and water but over the course of the book you will learn they both are hiding hurts, deep, severe hurts that explain why.
Piper is broken. She has been gone for 5 yrs and the day she lands in NY is the day she is ready to leave to get back to Charlie, her best friend and travel buddy. Mason is broken and mostly back together. He has a daughter, Hillary, a toddler, nearly two who is his world and is the back up QB for the hometown Giants.
These two butt heads every time they are together. Mason is the first to realize why. He likes her. He really likes her, and he hasn't liked any women since his ex-girlfriend should up pregnant and learning she trapped him on purpose. Piper is slower to realize why. She is guarded, severely, with just cause and this leads to a one step forward, two steps back approach between him and her.
Secrets will get reveal and boy are there a lot of them. A few twists especially one that has her fleeing again.
This book was just....WOW!
Such a great read.
Highly recommend it!
January 28, 2018
Zaskakująca - bardzo pozytywnie.
January 9, 2024
3.5⭐️ ok this was probably my favorite of the Mitchell sisters but idk what it is!!!! I just can’t get behind Samantha Christy. Maybe it’s the way she writes the spicy scenes? Is she just an awkward/weird lover? Haha I don’t know!!! I can’t pinpoint it but something always feels missing or off!!
August 3, 2016
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️READ THIS SERIES⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Get tissues...I read each book in this series in 3 days and I swear I don't know which one I love the most...there is no way to chose bc they are all PERFECTLY WRITTEN!!! I have to save though, White Lilies was the gut wrenching one for sure even though they each had their good share of pure painful moments. Wow is all I can say!! I can't wait to read Charlie's story and the three brothers that start the new series. I am just absolutely blown away by this series!!! Thanks to my sister in law for telling me about them and thank you Samantha Christy for writing a series I will never forget....the characters were so great and so thought out...just amazing writing sweet lady!!! I won't forget these stories for a very long time!
Get tissues...I read each book in this series in 3 days and I swear I don't know which one I love the most...there is no way to chose bc they are all PERFECTLY WRITTEN!!! I have to save though, White Lilies was the gut wrenching one for sure even though they each had their good share of pure painful moments. Wow is all I can say!! I can't wait to read Charlie's story and the three brothers that start the new series. I am just absolutely blown away by this series!!! Thanks to my sister in law for telling me about them and thank you Samantha Christy for writing a series I will never forget....the characters were so great and so thought out...just amazing writing sweet lady!!! I won't forget these stories for a very long time!
March 5, 2016
I was thrilled to be asked to beta read for Samantha.
I'm a huge fan of The Mitchell Sisters series, and when I find out this book was coming out, I was behind excited.
This is probably my favorite book in the whole series. It's so heartbreakingly good, you will not be able to stop reading. This book left me speechless once I finished. It's just sooooo good. You can't help but get sucked into the story. I was so emotionally drained after this, but in the best possible way. This book is a standalone, but you are going to want read the entire series, because it is just that good.
I'm a huge fan of The Mitchell Sisters series, and when I find out this book was coming out, I was behind excited.
This is probably my favorite book in the whole series. It's so heartbreakingly good, you will not be able to stop reading. This book left me speechless once I finished. It's just sooooo good. You can't help but get sucked into the story. I was so emotionally drained after this, but in the best possible way. This book is a standalone, but you are going to want read the entire series, because it is just that good.
January 2, 2025
Amazing
This was my first book I've read by this author. I didn't read the first two books of this series which was completely ok, there were not any parts missing that took away from the story. Black Roses is one of those rare books that give you all the feels. Great characters, there are sensitive subjects but it was so well written. Although I loved the two main characters, Mason and Piper, I fell in love with her best friend Charlie and was so happy she would be getting her own story.
This was my first book I've read by this author. I didn't read the first two books of this series which was completely ok, there were not any parts missing that took away from the story. Black Roses is one of those rare books that give you all the feels. Great characters, there are sensitive subjects but it was so well written. Although I loved the two main characters, Mason and Piper, I fell in love with her best friend Charlie and was so happy she would be getting her own story.
Read
January 9, 2017DNF @ 18%
Not sure how many chapters I'm expected to read with the heroine being a total bitch before she "sees the light" and starts being nice, but so far she's not worth it and I don't have the energy to tolerate her any longer.
Not sure how many chapters I'm expected to read with the heroine being a total bitch before she "sees the light" and starts being nice, but so far she's not worth it and I don't have the energy to tolerate her any longer.
January 5, 2018
FENOMENALNA!!!
November 19, 2025
Finally getting to the 3rd book in the sisters series and I immediately knew that this one was going to be more my vibe than the other 2 books. First off I loved Mason in the previous books and was rooting for him. Thankfully I didn't feel the way previous reviewers did about Piper - I thought her gruff personality fit her fine - I liked her spirit and rooted for her comeback!
I felt their chemistry immediately and finally some real fun banter. I truly love an enemies to lovers trope. The competition was on and I was here for it!! Mason showed up as a true alpha dog and I am always here for that too!! This book really did wreck my heart. I'm not sure I have read a book in the last few years that made me feel like I needed to reveal that this should have a major trigger warning for rape. This is one of those stories you really march through the effects with Piper and all her relationships. This had me smiling and crying till the bitter end. The epilogue actually sent me over the edge in a way I haven't been in many reads. I love a good feels book!!!
I also loved her BFF Charlie throughout the story and was hoping she would get a story. Well, well so happy to see that her story starts the next series - Stone brothers. so I'll have to add those for sure!!
I felt their chemistry immediately and finally some real fun banter. I truly love an enemies to lovers trope. The competition was on and I was here for it!! Mason showed up as a true alpha dog and I am always here for that too!! This book really did wreck my heart. I'm not sure I have read a book in the last few years that made me feel like I needed to reveal that this should have a major trigger warning for rape. This is one of those stories you really march through the effects with Piper and all her relationships. This had me smiling and crying till the bitter end. The epilogue actually sent me over the edge in a way I haven't been in many reads. I love a good feels book!!!
I also loved her BFF Charlie throughout the story and was hoping she would get a story. Well, well so happy to see that her story starts the next series - Stone brothers. so I'll have to add those for sure!!
April 1, 2020
Lots of angst.
Possible triggers.
Gang rape, some memories, observations of others.
Ex drama.
HEA.
Possible triggers.
Gang rape, some memories, observations of others.
Ex drama.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2023
4 stars
October 8, 2017
Seriously rough reading. But also so freaking fantastic!
January 9, 2022
This was an emotional read. It hit upon some tough and heartbreaking subject matter. I have enjoyed this series and Piper and Mason's love story melted my heart.
April 9, 2016
I admit I was a little nervous to read this as I wasn't too sure about Piper after seeing a bit of her in her sisters books.
Piper is a runner - literally and figuratively. Add to that she was a bit of a bitch for the early part of the book and yeah, I definitely wasn't too sure about Piper. Her first meeting with Mason didn't go too well, she snarled and he snapped. And I love that he stood up to her.
Mason was, for me, the perfect hero. He was gentle, understanding, so patient and could read between the lines so he just "got" Piper. And as the story unfolds and it's revealed why Piper is how she is I got her too. My God, that any child should endure what she did doesn't bear thinking about. He was so open with her, he knew she needed that and when he shared his past without playing on it (so no drama) my heart melted into goo. Again, for a youngster to have to endure that loss and come through the other side not only a totally head-screwed-on-the-right-way amazing man, but a fantastic father too. She made him work for it and he didn't give up, not once regardless of what she threw at him.
I loved seeing him earn her trust, seeing her slowly opening up to him and accepting and believing in him. There was a little hiccup towards the end thanks to Cassidy, but for a book that could have jumped on the whole woe is me drama train, kudos to the author for not taking the story there.
We got to catch up again with the couples from the previous books and all this was finished off with an epilogue that left me hugging my Kindle. Oh, and the promise of Charlie's story. Eek, so stoked about that bit of news.
After this series I'm thinking I'll read Ms. Christy's shopping list if she hits publish on it.
Piper is a runner - literally and figuratively. Add to that she was a bit of a bitch for the early part of the book and yeah, I definitely wasn't too sure about Piper. Her first meeting with Mason didn't go too well, she snarled and he snapped. And I love that he stood up to her.
Mason was, for me, the perfect hero. He was gentle, understanding, so patient and could read between the lines so he just "got" Piper. And as the story unfolds and it's revealed why Piper is how she is I got her too. My God, that any child should endure what she did doesn't bear thinking about. He was so open with her, he knew she needed that and when he shared his past without playing on it (so no drama) my heart melted into goo. Again, for a youngster to have to endure that loss and come through the other side not only a totally head-screwed-on-the-right-way amazing man, but a fantastic father too. She made him work for it and he didn't give up, not once regardless of what she threw at him.
I loved seeing him earn her trust, seeing her slowly opening up to him and accepting and believing in him. There was a little hiccup towards the end thanks to Cassidy, but for a book that could have jumped on the whole woe is me drama train, kudos to the author for not taking the story there.
We got to catch up again with the couples from the previous books and all this was finished off with an epilogue that left me hugging my Kindle. Oh, and the promise of Charlie's story. Eek, so stoked about that bit of news.
After this series I'm thinking I'll read Ms. Christy's shopping list if she hits publish on it.
October 27, 2017
I thought this was really good. Piper has some major issues. But I could understand why. I like that she had this tough girl act but then something would trigger her and you would see the wounded soul. Piper and Mason were perfect for each other. They healed each other. Mason was so patient and sweet with Piper trying to help her to overcome what happened to her. I did not read the first two books but now I want to . Charlie has her own book too. I want to read her book as well . Overall I was very happy with this read. Will be checking out more books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 554 reviews