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The Rose Bush
The Rose Bush
is a gothic romance you should pluck without hesitation of thorns to read and to be bewitched by this intriguing love story. During the 1840s, a young girl, Annabel Allan, knows she has a bright future ahead of her. While unbeknownst to her, tragedy, betrayal, death, and supernatural twists loom around every corner of her life blending the enchantment of darkness with gothic accoutrements. All she wants in her life is to love and be loved, and to be happy. It is not until she moves back to her parental home as an adult that she might find her true love and remain in her kingdom by the sea. She finds out about a family tradition where love is cultivated through a specially chosen rose bush meant just for her. Will the rose bush bind her love forevermore? Or will it be the heartbreaking death of Annabel?
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Carmen Bouldin
4 books6 followersCarmen Bouldin works as an English teacher. She has worked in education since 2004. In her spare time, she writes gothic romance, mystery, and poetry. Much of her writing and art is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Her poem, “The Raven’s Mourning,” was nominated for a Saturday Visiter Award in 2020. She also cohosts a podcast, The Six Degrees of Edgar A. Poe, where she and her POEcast partner, Jeanie Smith, discuss Poe’s influences on multiple genres. She also enjoys creating visual art. Her painting, “There’s no Place like Poe,” was nominated for a Saturday Visiter Award in 2019. A native Memphian, Carmen, resides in Middle Tennessee with her husband, Jeff, and their two cats, tuxedo cat-Mitt and solid black cat-Poe. Carmen and Jeff love to travel and wear vintage inspired attire Carmen creates through the art of sewing.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 14, 2025
(3.5; rated up)
This was such a beautifully haunting read. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee—a poem about eternal love, loss, and devotion “in a kingdom by the sea”—this gothic romance carries the same undercurrent of yearning and tragedy.
Gothic romance isn’t about perfect, shiny love stories. It’s about passion wrapped in shadows—where beauty grows alongside decay, and joy must be wrestled from the jaws of sorrow.
Annabel Allan begins as a young woman with a bright future ahead of her, but life quickly teaches her otherwise. Tragedy, betrayal, death, and supernatural twists weave their way through her path, forcing her to grow, adapt, and discover her own strength. By the time she returns to her family home as an adult, she has learned that love is never simple—and that happiness comes at a cost.
This book delivers everything a gothic romance should—ruin, longing, mystery, and the kind of love that feels both like salvation and a curse. It’s not a gentle story, but like its namesake, it’s one worth braving the thorns for.
This was such a beautifully haunting read. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee—a poem about eternal love, loss, and devotion “in a kingdom by the sea”—this gothic romance carries the same undercurrent of yearning and tragedy.
Gothic romance isn’t about perfect, shiny love stories. It’s about passion wrapped in shadows—where beauty grows alongside decay, and joy must be wrestled from the jaws of sorrow.
Annabel Allan begins as a young woman with a bright future ahead of her, but life quickly teaches her otherwise. Tragedy, betrayal, death, and supernatural twists weave their way through her path, forcing her to grow, adapt, and discover her own strength. By the time she returns to her family home as an adult, she has learned that love is never simple—and that happiness comes at a cost.
This book delivers everything a gothic romance should—ruin, longing, mystery, and the kind of love that feels both like salvation and a curse. It’s not a gentle story, but like its namesake, it’s one worth braving the thorns for.
August 9, 2025
🌹 BRO vs. THE ROSE BUSH 🌹
🥊 The Book: In 1840s coastal gloom, Annabel Allan dreams of love and happiness, but fate’s got other plans—plans involving betrayal, death, supernatural whispers, and a rose bush tied to a family tradition that might bind her true love…or end her life. With nods to Poe and enough gothic trimmings to make a raven blush, The Rose Bush is a dark romance draped in tragedy.
💪 The Bro: I’ve been on a gothic streak this year, but this one? Easily the top of the list. Imagine Edgar Allan Poe wandered into a romance novel with a bouquet of black roses. Oh yeah. We’re vibin.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• Hits that perfect gothic note from the jump. It’s moody, lyrical, and dripping with foreboding.
• The setup feels almost biographical: we meet Annabel young and follow her through heartbreaks, betrayals, and moments of fragile beauty.
• The Poe references aren’t just Easter eggs—they shape the tone and hint at Annabel’s tragic arc. If you know Poe, you know where it’s going, but it’s great to still take the journey.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Boudin’s prose is gorgeous, each sentence flowing like a love letter from the past.
• Macabre events and a shadowy phantom keep the romance from ever feeling safe or predictable.
• Annabel’s solace in painting and her mysterious Night Rose are haunting details that give the story texture.
• The gothic romance beats land well. Like Poe’s work, love and death dance around each other in an uncomfortably close waltz.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• The balance between darkness and light makes the final chapters bittersweet and satisfying. Maybe it’s not what you want, but it’s thematically breathtaking.
• Leaves you wanting more in the best way—not because it’s unfinished, but because the world is so beautifully constructed.
⸻
🌹 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🌹
🥊 Unanimous Decision – The Rose Bush is gothic romance at its finest: atmospheric, tragic, and hauntingly beautiful. If you like your love stories shadowed by death, fate, and family curses, plant yourself next to this one and let it bloom.
🥊 The Book: In 1840s coastal gloom, Annabel Allan dreams of love and happiness, but fate’s got other plans—plans involving betrayal, death, supernatural whispers, and a rose bush tied to a family tradition that might bind her true love…or end her life. With nods to Poe and enough gothic trimmings to make a raven blush, The Rose Bush is a dark romance draped in tragedy.
💪 The Bro: I’ve been on a gothic streak this year, but this one? Easily the top of the list. Imagine Edgar Allan Poe wandered into a romance novel with a bouquet of black roses. Oh yeah. We’re vibin.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• Hits that perfect gothic note from the jump. It’s moody, lyrical, and dripping with foreboding.
• The setup feels almost biographical: we meet Annabel young and follow her through heartbreaks, betrayals, and moments of fragile beauty.
• The Poe references aren’t just Easter eggs—they shape the tone and hint at Annabel’s tragic arc. If you know Poe, you know where it’s going, but it’s great to still take the journey.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Boudin’s prose is gorgeous, each sentence flowing like a love letter from the past.
• Macabre events and a shadowy phantom keep the romance from ever feeling safe or predictable.
• Annabel’s solace in painting and her mysterious Night Rose are haunting details that give the story texture.
• The gothic romance beats land well. Like Poe’s work, love and death dance around each other in an uncomfortably close waltz.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• The balance between darkness and light makes the final chapters bittersweet and satisfying. Maybe it’s not what you want, but it’s thematically breathtaking.
• Leaves you wanting more in the best way—not because it’s unfinished, but because the world is so beautifully constructed.
⸻
🌹 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🌹
🥊 Unanimous Decision – The Rose Bush is gothic romance at its finest: atmospheric, tragic, and hauntingly beautiful. If you like your love stories shadowed by death, fate, and family curses, plant yourself next to this one and let it bloom.
May 18, 2025
I’m so ashamed!! I read this book in 2 sittings!!! But it’s taken me forever to sit down and write a review! So sorry, Dr Bouldin! 😉
If you’re a fan of Edgar Allan Poe or just remember reading him in high school…take a chance on this novella.
Carmen Bouldin knows her Poe…ask her about him! So every character name will be familiar and the Easter eggs are numerous!
It’s an interesting prelude to Poe’s Annabel Lee.
Now I’ll be honest and say that Carmen and I are friends so I was always going to read anything she wrote (writes)… but that has no bearing on my opinion.
Her first published book is such an excellent escape back in time. She writes well and her details will never leave you wanting…you’ll see it like she did.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Rose Bush 🥀.
Thank you Carmen, for trusting me with this piece of your heart!! ❤️
If you’re a fan of Edgar Allan Poe or just remember reading him in high school…take a chance on this novella.
Carmen Bouldin knows her Poe…ask her about him! So every character name will be familiar and the Easter eggs are numerous!
It’s an interesting prelude to Poe’s Annabel Lee.
Now I’ll be honest and say that Carmen and I are friends so I was always going to read anything she wrote (writes)… but that has no bearing on my opinion.
Her first published book is such an excellent escape back in time. She writes well and her details will never leave you wanting…you’ll see it like she did.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Rose Bush 🥀.
Thank you Carmen, for trusting me with this piece of your heart!! ❤️
May 27, 2025
“The Rose Bush” is a gothic romance tinged with Poe’s lighter horror elements, with a twist of Hawthorne’s “Rappaccinni’s Daughter” and a dash of Nicholas Sparks, circa The Notebook. The young main character Annabel is quite likable, and she handles multiple tragedies with much grace and courage. The rose bushes are a sweet metaphor for family and love. If you love a little darkness in your romance, you'll enjoy this novella.
(I am normally not a romance reader.)
(I am normally not a romance reader.)
June 22, 2025
The Rose Bush is a charming gothic romance novella by Carmen Bouldin.
I appreciated how Poe’s poems foreshadowed events in the story, adding a nice touch to the novella’s structure.
The story’s blend of art, nature, and symbolism, reflected in the title, was another aspect I enjoyed. It had a nice Edgar Allan Poe feel.
Great read!
I appreciated how Poe’s poems foreshadowed events in the story, adding a nice touch to the novella’s structure.
The story’s blend of art, nature, and symbolism, reflected in the title, was another aspect I enjoyed. It had a nice Edgar Allan Poe feel.
Great read!
May 20, 2025
What an incredibly charming read! Each page will leave you breathless and waiting for more.
October 8, 2025
I got the honor to meet Carmen at the Happily Ever After Book Festival. I loved stepping back in time with this book. You fall in love with the characters and find yourself in each scene!
June 5, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Macabre events, an unknown phantom, a destiny outlined in a poetry book of Edgar Allan Poe, The Rose Bush is a gothic novella at its finest!
A life fueled by loss and betrayal, Annabel Allan finds solace in painting and the Night Rose. Just as a rose cannot last forever, neither can her peace. There’s always darkness before the light and Bouldin masterfully pens both sides of a gothic romance, leaving her readers greedy for more.
The Rose Bush follows Annabel as she struggles to find her happily ever after. In the fashion of a biographical novel, we are introduced to a young Annabel. We journey with her into womanhood and through the many trials and tribulations that it brings. Through twists of fate and changes of the heart, the story quickly becomes a page turner.
The Rose Bush stands out as an excellent example of love and loss and how those earnest moments shape the future. This is one story you are going to want to read over and over!
Bouldin’s writing style is reminiscent of a time when there was pride and beauty in word choice. The words flow like lyrics over the page, transporting the reader into a world long since passed. Like the many Poe references throughout the book, Bouldin has created a timeless story that will haunt readers.
Macabre events, an unknown phantom, a destiny outlined in a poetry book of Edgar Allan Poe, The Rose Bush is a gothic novella at its finest!
A life fueled by loss and betrayal, Annabel Allan finds solace in painting and the Night Rose. Just as a rose cannot last forever, neither can her peace. There’s always darkness before the light and Bouldin masterfully pens both sides of a gothic romance, leaving her readers greedy for more.
The Rose Bush follows Annabel as she struggles to find her happily ever after. In the fashion of a biographical novel, we are introduced to a young Annabel. We journey with her into womanhood and through the many trials and tribulations that it brings. Through twists of fate and changes of the heart, the story quickly becomes a page turner.
The Rose Bush stands out as an excellent example of love and loss and how those earnest moments shape the future. This is one story you are going to want to read over and over!
Bouldin’s writing style is reminiscent of a time when there was pride and beauty in word choice. The words flow like lyrics over the page, transporting the reader into a world long since passed. Like the many Poe references throughout the book, Bouldin has created a timeless story that will haunt readers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews