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Garden of the Mystical Rose
Sometimes healing begins where faith and mystery meet
When a series of accidents leads to suspicious deaths in the quiet and charming seaside town of Lavender Hill Cove, Ella Martin, an event planner, and her detective sister Julie, spurred on by information they learn as members of a local prayer group, launch their own private investigation. Still reeling from her late husband’s untimely death and her father’s nearly fatal heart attack while trying to forge a new relationship with the town’s handsome architect, Ella discovers that sometimes healing begins where faith and mystery meet.
A story of secrets, second chances, strength in community, and trust in God’s plan.
When a series of accidents leads to suspicious deaths in the quiet and charming seaside town of Lavender Hill Cove, Ella Martin, an event planner, and her detective sister Julie, spurred on by information they learn as members of a local prayer group, launch their own private investigation. Still reeling from her late husband’s untimely death and her father’s nearly fatal heart attack while trying to forge a new relationship with the town’s handsome architect, Ella discovers that sometimes healing begins where faith and mystery meet.
A story of secrets, second chances, strength in community, and trust in God’s plan.
- GenresChristian
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2026
About the author
Maryann Ridini Spencer
12 books155 followersMaryann Ridini Spencer (https://MaryannRidiniSpencer.com) named Author of the Year for Christian Fiction at the 2025 International Impact Book Awards Gala in Hollywood, is an award-winning screenwriter/producer, author, food and lifestyle journalist, and TV host of the Telly Award-winning Simply Delicious Living with Maryann®, PBS-TV, and YouTube.com/MaryannRidiniSpencer).
As an author, Maryann has penned the award-winning, best-selling Kate Grace novels (Lady in the Window, The Paradise Table, Secrets of Grace Manor, and Under the Tropical Skies). The first book in Maryann's Lavender Hill Cove mystery series, Lavender Hill Cove, was honored with a 2024 Book Excellence Award for Christian Fiction, and the second book, Once Upon a Cove Christmas, was a 2025 Christlit Book Award Winner and a 2025 International Impact Book Award Winner for Christian Fiction. Garden of the Mystical Rose is the third book in the series.
Maryann's latest nonfiction book, The Mary Garden, ranked #3 in Christian Poetry on Amazon Kindle. She is also the author of the Simply Delicious Living with Maryann—Entrées cookbook (2019) and Country Skies: Prayerful Bible Meditations for Morning & Evening (2019), under the pseudonym KG Stevens (Kate Grace Stevens, her leading character in Maryann's Lady in the Window series).
Maryann's first novel, Lady in the Window (2017/2019) is a 2017 Best Book Awards: Fiction: Romance winner and finalist "Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Literature," a 2018 American Fiction Visionary Award winner, and 2019 Hawai'i Book Publishers Association Ka Palapala Po'okela Awards–Aloha From Across the Sea Award Finalist. Her second novel, The Paradise Table (2019), became an Amazon bestseller and was placed as a finalist at the American Book Fest in the "Fiction: Multicultural" and "Fiction: Inspirational" categories. Her third book, Secrets of Grace Manor (2021), is a 2021 Best Book Finalist and Amazon Bestseller, and her latest, Under the Tropical Skies (2022), ranked in Amazon's top 10 "Hot New Releases." Author of the Simply Delicious Living with Maryann®—Entrée cookbook (2019), Maryann continues to write new novels, nonfiction, and screenplays.
As a member of the Writers Guild of America West and the Producers Guild of America, Maryann has made significant contributions to the film industry. Her work spans across numerous TV movies and series on networks like CBS, USA Networks, SyFy Channel, Showtime, CNN, Time Warner Cable, and PBS-TV. Maryann's most celebrated project is the critically-acclaimed, award-winning rating hit, 'The Lost Valentine,' which she co-produced and wrote. The 2012 film, starring Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt, won the night in ratings with over 15 million viewers and held the position as CBS-TV's highest-rated movie for five years after the premiere. It has since become a Hallmark Hall Fame classic and part of Hallmark's DVD Gold Crown Collector's edition, airing annually on Hallmark channels.
Maryann has also worked as a freelance lifestyle and food writer and contributing editor for such publications as Palm Springs Life Magazine, Desert Magazine, Ventura County Star, and Los Angeles Magazine. Maryann loves to chat and get feedback from her readers. Please learn more about Maryann at http://maryannridinispencer.com and her award-winning healthy & and joyous living blog: http://simplydeliciousliving.com. and please find out more about Maryann at http://maryannridinispencer.com, her award-winning healthy & joyous living blog: http://simplydeliciousliving.com, and Amazon Author Page: Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Ridini...
While Maryann's professional achievements are impressive, her personal interests are equally captivating. Her passions in life (besides writing) are her family and friends, playing in her kitchen developing new recipes, spending as much time as possible in Hawaii, and blogging her recipes and creative and joyous living inspirations at
As an author, Maryann has penned the award-winning, best-selling Kate Grace novels (Lady in the Window, The Paradise Table, Secrets of Grace Manor, and Under the Tropical Skies). The first book in Maryann's Lavender Hill Cove mystery series, Lavender Hill Cove, was honored with a 2024 Book Excellence Award for Christian Fiction, and the second book, Once Upon a Cove Christmas, was a 2025 Christlit Book Award Winner and a 2025 International Impact Book Award Winner for Christian Fiction. Garden of the Mystical Rose is the third book in the series.
Maryann's latest nonfiction book, The Mary Garden, ranked #3 in Christian Poetry on Amazon Kindle. She is also the author of the Simply Delicious Living with Maryann—Entrées cookbook (2019) and Country Skies: Prayerful Bible Meditations for Morning & Evening (2019), under the pseudonym KG Stevens (Kate Grace Stevens, her leading character in Maryann's Lady in the Window series).
Maryann's first novel, Lady in the Window (2017/2019) is a 2017 Best Book Awards: Fiction: Romance winner and finalist "Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Literature," a 2018 American Fiction Visionary Award winner, and 2019 Hawai'i Book Publishers Association Ka Palapala Po'okela Awards–Aloha From Across the Sea Award Finalist. Her second novel, The Paradise Table (2019), became an Amazon bestseller and was placed as a finalist at the American Book Fest in the "Fiction: Multicultural" and "Fiction: Inspirational" categories. Her third book, Secrets of Grace Manor (2021), is a 2021 Best Book Finalist and Amazon Bestseller, and her latest, Under the Tropical Skies (2022), ranked in Amazon's top 10 "Hot New Releases." Author of the Simply Delicious Living with Maryann®—Entrée cookbook (2019), Maryann continues to write new novels, nonfiction, and screenplays.
As a member of the Writers Guild of America West and the Producers Guild of America, Maryann has made significant contributions to the film industry. Her work spans across numerous TV movies and series on networks like CBS, USA Networks, SyFy Channel, Showtime, CNN, Time Warner Cable, and PBS-TV. Maryann's most celebrated project is the critically-acclaimed, award-winning rating hit, 'The Lost Valentine,' which she co-produced and wrote. The 2012 film, starring Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt, won the night in ratings with over 15 million viewers and held the position as CBS-TV's highest-rated movie for five years after the premiere. It has since become a Hallmark Hall Fame classic and part of Hallmark's DVD Gold Crown Collector's edition, airing annually on Hallmark channels.
Maryann has also worked as a freelance lifestyle and food writer and contributing editor for such publications as Palm Springs Life Magazine, Desert Magazine, Ventura County Star, and Los Angeles Magazine. Maryann loves to chat and get feedback from her readers. Please learn more about Maryann at http://maryannridinispencer.com and her award-winning healthy & and joyous living blog: http://simplydeliciousliving.com. and please find out more about Maryann at http://maryannridinispencer.com, her award-winning healthy & joyous living blog: http://simplydeliciousliving.com, and Amazon Author Page: Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Ridini...
While Maryann's professional achievements are impressive, her personal interests are equally captivating. Her passions in life (besides writing) are her family and friends, playing in her kitchen developing new recipes, spending as much time as possible in Hawaii, and blogging her recipes and creative and joyous living inspirations at
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 11, 2026
This story has many plots in it. A good read for a cozy audience.
October 31, 2026
Stepping into the pages of Garden of the Mystical Rose feels less like opening a book and more like crossing the threshold into a place you never want to leave. Maryann Ridini Spencer is truly an amazing author with a rare gift for crafting exceptional, multi-layered narratives that make the charming world of Lavender Hill Cove feel instantly familiar and completely alive. Instead of just watching a plot unfold, you find yourself walking right alongside a community of beautifully interconnected characters, hanging on every word of their remarkably authentic dialogue.
While I came for the story, I left with something much deeper: a renewed passion for prayer and a desire to live out my faith boldly. The book had such a profound impact on me that I even dug out my old rosary that I hadn't used for a long time. What I love most about Spencer’s work is watching the characters model what a true, unashamed life of faith looks like. Their natural reflex to cover one another in prayer, stay close to God, and go to Him for every single decision and life issue offers a heartwarming yet convicting reminder of how we are called to walk with God.
Predominantly, this book beautifully captures the immense value, importance, and strength of community. The friendships, mutual support, and kindness extended to absolute strangers are not just background details—they are the beating heart of the story. Spencer masterfully highlights the biblical mandate for true Christian community, showing that we are not meant to walk out our faith in isolation. Instead, we are called to stir one another up toward love, good works, and relentless prayer. Just as the main character, Ella, wished for a prayer group to help her learn and deepen her faith, reading this book does exactly that for the reader. I also loved the rich references to Mary woven naturally into the narrative, from the Miraculous Medal to Her many names and instructions on how to pray the rosary. It educates beautifully without ever feeling forced.
On top of that, it is also a greatly inspiring reflection of God’s design for relationships. Instead of following the worldly trend of giving up when things get difficult, this story powerfully counters that narrative by showing the mutual effort, grace, and deep communication required to build a lasting bond. It was deeply refreshing to see a couple actively work through conflict by turning to others and prayer, bringing their hearts before the Lord rather than relying on their own strength. It is a stunning example of true covenant love, and a wonderful reminder of what happens when you keep Christ at the center of your love story.
Altogether, this book genuinely has it all—mystery, drama, joy, romance, faith, and the beauty of true community. I highly recommend it alongside the rest of this spectacular series, and will always look forward to my next visit to Lavender Hill Cove.
While I came for the story, I left with something much deeper: a renewed passion for prayer and a desire to live out my faith boldly. The book had such a profound impact on me that I even dug out my old rosary that I hadn't used for a long time. What I love most about Spencer’s work is watching the characters model what a true, unashamed life of faith looks like. Their natural reflex to cover one another in prayer, stay close to God, and go to Him for every single decision and life issue offers a heartwarming yet convicting reminder of how we are called to walk with God.
Predominantly, this book beautifully captures the immense value, importance, and strength of community. The friendships, mutual support, and kindness extended to absolute strangers are not just background details—they are the beating heart of the story. Spencer masterfully highlights the biblical mandate for true Christian community, showing that we are not meant to walk out our faith in isolation. Instead, we are called to stir one another up toward love, good works, and relentless prayer. Just as the main character, Ella, wished for a prayer group to help her learn and deepen her faith, reading this book does exactly that for the reader. I also loved the rich references to Mary woven naturally into the narrative, from the Miraculous Medal to Her many names and instructions on how to pray the rosary. It educates beautifully without ever feeling forced.
On top of that, it is also a greatly inspiring reflection of God’s design for relationships. Instead of following the worldly trend of giving up when things get difficult, this story powerfully counters that narrative by showing the mutual effort, grace, and deep communication required to build a lasting bond. It was deeply refreshing to see a couple actively work through conflict by turning to others and prayer, bringing their hearts before the Lord rather than relying on their own strength. It is a stunning example of true covenant love, and a wonderful reminder of what happens when you keep Christ at the center of your love story.
Altogether, this book genuinely has it all—mystery, drama, joy, romance, faith, and the beauty of true community. I highly recommend it alongside the rest of this spectacular series, and will always look forward to my next visit to Lavender Hill Cove.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews