Coming to Rosemont

Rosemont Saga #1

by Barbara Hinske

Forensic accountant Maggie Martin's well-ordered life is shattered by her husband's untimely death and the double life he concealed. Dealing with the financial and emotional wreckage left in Paul's wake, she is stunned to learn he inherited an estate known as Rosemont in the seemingly-serene Midwestern town of Westbury. Seeking a fresh start and a quiet, solitary life, she moves halfway across the country to make Rosemont her home. Before she can unpack her first box, she's knee-deep in a battle against political corruption, where defeat and retreat are not an option. Still bearing the scars of betrayal, will she find joy, romance and possibility in Westbury?

Coming to Rosemont is the first book in the Rosemont series.

Praise for Coming to Rosemont:
"In a category that doesn’t often feature felonious crimes as a main plot point, it’s somewhat surprising to see this title — with corruption, fraud, and arson coursing through the story — in a list of top performers. But with enough twists and turns to hook any reader’s attention, an adorable dog on the cover, and some classic women’s fiction tropes, Coming To Rosemont delivered more than enough firepower to win over our readers!" BookBub's Best: Women's Fiction (#4)

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Mystery, Contemporary, Audiobook, Womens Fiction

226 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2012

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Barbara Hinske is an attorney who recently left the practice of law to pursue her career as a full-time novelist. She inherited the fiction gene from her father who wrote mysteries when he retired and told her a story every night of her childhood. Barbara is the bestselling author of the beloved Rosemont series; the acclaimed Guiding Emily series; a collection of murder mystery thrillers in her "Who's There?" collection; and her sweet Christmas novellas The Christmas Club (adapted for the Hallmark Channel in 2019), Paws & Pastries, and No Matter How Far.

She and her husband share their own Rosemont with two adorable and spoiled dogs. She is besotted with decorating, entertaining, cooking and gardening. Now that her novel The Christmas Club has been made into a Hallmark Channel movie, she is completely star-struck and thrilled to have her work on the screen.

Reviews

[Kate Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lovely setting and some pleasant characters just waiting for a plot.

The main character has dinner parties and bonds with her children. She cleans the house and looks for cheese. She goes shopping and has pleasant dates with a true gentleman. She holds a charming, family-friendly fundraiser at the palatial home she inherited.

For the first 50% or so of the book, I was in for the ride. I felt like I was being lulled into a false sense of complacency. 'The author's building up the mundane details so I'll feel it more when it all shatters,' I thought.

By 60 or 70% I was starting to get worried. Had the author left enough time? We were so far in, and since the first couple chapters, nothing had really happened. There'd been a few meetings. The heroine did some forensic accounting, apparently, and then made a report to a committee. There was a FIRE! - But no one was hurt and the authorities investigated and of course the heroine wouldn't interfere with their work. She also didn't interfere with the work of the police after she and the committee turned their findings over to the proper authority.

By 80% I had more or less given up. There wasn't enough room for a satisfying build, climax, and denouement. It was either going to be rushed or it wasn't going to happen at all.

It didn't happen at all. The conclusion is a peculiar deus ex machina, resulting in something that the MC had said she didn't even want. The main villain, such as he was, isn't dealt with. It just felt like even the author got bored of the complete lack of story and couldn't bear to write about any more well-mannered dinners, so she just quit writing.

There were threads that could have been pursued that could have made this a much more worth-while story. The villain was full of plans to seduce the heroine in order to steal her home... but then he just didn't do it. The heroine's late husband had a secret family and the heroine says she's determined to investigate them and share the information with her children... but she doesn't. Pretty much any source of conflict (and therefore, PLOT!) is ignored.

It's a lovely series of events that happened to a lovely character. But she doesn't grow, she doesn't overcome, she doesn't express any agency in the closest thing to a resolution of the story that I can find...

It's too bad, but there's just not much here.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I enjoyed spending time in Rosemont and getting to know the townsfolk but the deets of the political campaigning were a bit tedious. There was a bit of romance (a bit, zero smut or heat though) and a bit of intrigue but it was a gentle, undemanding tale about a widow getting back in her feet after a deep betrayal really.

First in a series, quite a few things were left unresolved. I might read more of this series to see how it develops as it's on ku.

[JJ Story · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful escape I had, curling up into Maggie's life. Coming to Rosemont has some mystery, a tinge of romance, and personal growth in the life a woman whose world has been turned upside down. Hinske also brings out some wayward characters who provide twists and turns in the plot. I loved the way Maggie took charge of her life in spite of the pain she had suffered, and found adventure where she didn't expect it. Probably the best part of this recommendation is that I didn't want the story to end.

[Linda Langford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good until it changed into politics. It lost me at that point, and I won’t read any further stories. I was disappointed.

[Chris Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific start to a series. Westbury is going to be a fascinating little town with memorable characters and lots of problems. Maggie’s new life should hold lots of challenges and triumphs. I am already looking forward to the next chapters.

[Tami Winbush · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a widow finds out who her husband really was, what should she do?

Hide from the rest of her life?
Cry until there are no more tears?
Scream, rant, rave and rave?

Not Maggie! Maggie is a woman of action, a do it now person, and someone not afraid to face her fears.

Maggie learns of a house her husband owns, and of his misdeeds at work. She decides that the only thing she can take care of right now is the house. She travels to the Westbury in hopes of cleaning it up and putting it on the market. But as you've always heard, the heart wants what the heart wants. When Maggie walks into Rosemont it was love at first sight.

Barbara was able to suck me into her story and the down home real life people in her book. I came to know, love and enjoy their triumphs and hate the hardships that they were forced to endure.

I appreciate how Barbara was able to create love that was responsible and built upon a friendship. And as all good writers do, there was a good hint of hot to it as well.

I am excited to read book two: Weaving the Strands.

Stay tuned and excited as I am going to send a interview to our crown jewel author and she's going to answer them and I'll post for all to see! Thanks again, and keep those pages turning.

[Caron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not have high expectations for this book as it was a freebie from Book Bub and I figured it would be a easy "escape". Sad to say it has to be one of the worst books I have ever read, which I did, cover to cover. It could have been an entertaining "beach" read, but it read like a fairy tale written by a 7th grader. The main character inherits a house in a town that she has never lived in and meets all the most virtuous people practically overnight. Even the tension in the plot was unbelievable. The ending, which was one of the worst I have ever read, would have been better if it had been "and she lived happily ever after"

[Anne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. The biggest strength of the book is the totally, totally likeable "good guy" characters and how they all band together in a way that makes the reader want to cheer. It's a great feel-good story. Another strength is in the descriptive prose, which is especially good. And the plot was well constructed, making the reader want to know what was going to happen.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

This is an interesting start to a series. I love the Dog! Kinda tired of the dead husband leaving behind all the secrets, but Maggie's reaction and subsequent life changes made me happy.

[Kav · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ?

I wrestled with how to rate this book various reasons. First, I went into it thinking it was a mystery...it's tagged as such on various sites...and while there is....well, a kinda unmystery...readers know everything through the villain's POV, names, dates, deeds etc, as they happen, before they happen even, but the characters do not. So the characters are solving a mystery but the reader is always in the know which takes the fun out of reading a mystery, right?

Then there's the ending...major cliff-hangers, which sets things up for the next book, but I didn't feel like this one had enough closure to satisfy me.

And there's multiple points of view which include a lot of head hopping (switching of POVs in mid scene, mid paragraph even.) And random POVs from side-side-side characters occasionally. I found that jarring.

Aside from all that (aren't I a cranky-boots tonight?) I did find the story compelling. I wanted to keep listening. I really like Maggie and the town and the way they all rally together to combat corrupt small town politics. And I love Eve, the little rescue pup Maggie adopts. Even so, I'm ambivalent about continuing on with the series. I read the back cover descriptions for the rest of the books in the Rosemont Saga series and that seems to be what this series is -- an open ended saga -- kind of like a literary soap opera which just isn't my thing.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried, I did manage to finish. But it was painful. The dialogue between characters is cringe worthy. The over- descriptions of food, emotions and settings was like they gave a thesaurus to a junior high girl. (In describing a shopping mall, it had “oxygenated air”) wtlf?!? I am assuming this is #1 in a series…I will not be returning to widowed Pollyanna and her midlife experiences in a corrupt town.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the main character and those she meets when she arrives in a small midwest town to inherit what could only be my own dream home full of antiques and stories. The town is full of problems and people who bicker and fight but most of them pull together to get the job done.

I'm off to order the next book in the series.

[maggie langrehr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to stop reading this book

As a Christian I found that some parts of this book were in conflict with my personal beliefs. Had it not been for this it would have been a good book. Unfortunately I'm finding that this is true of a lot of "New" authors. I am not being judgemental just faithful to my beliefs.

[Martha Little · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it a two star rating as it wasn’t a realistic story. It was promoted as being like Jan Karon’s books about small town life with lively characters but it was not like that at all. Disappointed to say the least!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a series....this is the story of a woman making a new start in a cozy small town.

[Deb Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but simple. Why didn't the author tie up the loose ends?

[Roxy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the stereotypical characters and obvious plot, I really enjoyed this story, and will read the others in the series. 3.5 stars.

[TiffanyLamp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a boring read. I've tried writing this review to sound more kind but it can't be done. The main character was too perfect and the pity you were supposed to have for her waned by the time she got to Rosemont. I can sympathize with her struggle but she didn't seem to be struggling. In fact, she was thriving. I thought halfway in, Man, I'd like to see where this is going. By the time I made it to the end, I don't care if she stays in her manor, or her daughter does something, or her dog finds a playmate, or her husband comes back from the dead, count me out of this series.

[Kelly Gressley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Coming to Rosemont as a group discussion!
Maggie sure went thru a time with her sick spouse and then to learn things about him.
She is a strong welled woman.
I had a hard time putting the book down plus I can not wait for the next book in Barbara Hinske's.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first effort! While not my normal read, I found the characters believable and the plot exciting. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Hoping the author continues the series soon.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Reading about Maggie growing and overcoming her husband's death and living in his shadow. It was an enjoyable read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book.. It covers some great characters and also some very corrupt town council members that are running the town into the ground.. Can't wait to start book two!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it’s nothing like I first imagined when I picked it up I don’t know when. Recently I read another review and said it got too detailed in the political and such. This more or less turned out to be true. But as it was with a nice friendly group of people, it was kind of nice to learn more about something I generally avoid and know little about.

I felt like the actual writing was slightly juvenile. Especially when it came to transitions - in conversations, in movements, in scenes, etc - it was choppy and often disjointed. The conversation didn’t quite seem natural - more mini soliloquies than most fiction has. Overall, I wasn’t that impressed.

This book fit a reading challenge 👍 but I feel no need to carry in with the overly friendly people of Westbury (I really wished the author had picked an actual state it was in, even though it technically doesn’t matter!)

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maggie finds herself alone after surviving the sudden death of her husband, only to uncover a rather dreadful secrets he kept hidden in life. Shortly thereafter she inherits a stunning estate. On a trip to sell the large home she sees how incredible the house is, how beautiful the town and it’s residents are and decides to stay. While getting involved with the local government she suspects a potentially dangerous scheme to embezzle money from the local government.

The writing was not stellar in this book and in truth it barely held my interest but it was a fairly interesting plot and I wanted to see how it ended. That being said I probably would not read another by this author.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book in the Rosemont Series. The story is of an older lady who finds out that her newly dead husband has embezzled lots of money from the college he was president of and had a mistress. He did leave a rather large house to her in the middle the country so she moves there and starts a new life. Over the next four books she settles in there and tries to become involved in a country life and we see different people come and go like the mistress, and her children trying to figure out why she has moved there.

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended to me because I loved the Mitford books.
You got to see the town coming together to help one another and move forward after corruption has been found in town.
Maggie is new in town, finding out that her husband had a home name Rosemont, she came to sell it and move on with her life now that she is a widow dealing with secrets he kept. However, one step into Rosemont and she found home.
Will be looking for the next book in the series.

[Luci Brehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Comfortable Read

I enjoyed this book. The characters were fun. I read political thrillers and intrigue, and then I also read lighter books like this. Highly recommend if you want a soft book to curl up with.

[Judith Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn’t stay with it. Too slow. I really wanted to like it.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read book 7 in this series earlier this summer not knowing it was part of a series. Book one has now filled in some gaps for me. It’s a very good series. Love the characters