What do you think?
Rate this book
Das Geheimnis der Winterrosen
Mysteriöse Geräusche in der Nacht, welkende Rosen im Schnee … In Miss Hester Lattimers Cottage scheint es zu spuken! Was weiß ihr Nachbar Guy Westrope, Earl of Buckland, darüber? Beharrlich, ja fast zärtlich, sucht der attraktive Lord ihre Nähe. Will er sie erobern - oder steckt etwa er hinter dem Geheimnis von Moon House?
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2006
9 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Louise Allen
424 books331 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 7, 2020
Storia carina ma niente di esaltante.
Peccato, perché c'era un alone di mystery intrigante, che purtroppo è stato portato avanti troppo per le lunghe e alla fine mi ha un po' annoiato.
3 stelle tirate per i capelli.
Peccato, perché c'era un alone di mystery intrigante, che purtroppo è stato portato avanti troppo per le lunghe e alla fine mi ha un po' annoiato.
3 stelle tirate per i capelli.
not-my-cuppa
December 15, 2015The writing style of this was not to my taste. I only read 10% and was done. The formatting was not what I am used to and it was so annoying I could not give the story itself a chance (hence no star rating).
Within the first 10% we met about 15 characters, the quotes were written as part of the paragraphs (not broken out so they are easy to see) and Allen jumped from POV to POV so that it was hard for me to tell who was thinking what. Within one paragraph we could have quotes from three characters along with their internal thoughts. It was very busy.
I think the author was going for zany, unique characters, but I found all of the chaos to be annoying and with the limited time I currently have to read, I didn't want to work at this.
Within the first 10% we met about 15 characters, the quotes were written as part of the paragraphs (not broken out so they are easy to see) and Allen jumped from POV to POV so that it was hard for me to tell who was thinking what. Within one paragraph we could have quotes from three characters along with their internal thoughts. It was very busy.
I think the author was going for zany, unique characters, but I found all of the chaos to be annoying and with the limited time I currently have to read, I didn't want to work at this.
January 10, 2016
3.75 stars out of 5 (B-)
May 29, 2017
I've always been a fan of Louise Allen and I picked this up when I had the urge to read something Christmassy. The story is about Hester Lattimer, who has arrived in a sleepy English village hoping to escape a scandal. She has a small inheritance, which she used to buy the beautiful if slightly decayed Moon House and sets about trying to establish herself as a respectable single woman, with the aid of a timid ex-governess as her companion, a rescued waif with ambitions to be a butler and her maid. This is slightly hampered by the deliciously dashing Earl of Buckland setting up house directly opposite, setting village tongues wagging.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, because as well as the historical romance, there is also a bit of a mystery, both about Hester's 'scandal', threatening to derail her friendship with the Earl, and Moon House itself, which has not been lived in for many years and might possibly be haunted. Is the Earl's interest in Hester only a sham, to hide his interest in buying the house for himself? And what of the mysterious dead roses, appearing throughout the house?
The story is firmly set in winter, leading up to Christmas, although not overly festive. I loved the light humour and the characters - Hester, determined to be independent and not rely on a handsome man to save her; Jethroe, saved from the slums with ambitions to become the best butler ever; even nervous Miss Prudhome, the companion, determined to do her job and 'save' Hester from the advances of the Earl, even though she doesn't particularly want saving!
This is a well-researched, very entertaining Mills & Boon historical romance with a bit of a mystery and the occasional sex scene, and would definitely appeal to fans of the genre. Recommended!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, because as well as the historical romance, there is also a bit of a mystery, both about Hester's 'scandal', threatening to derail her friendship with the Earl, and Moon House itself, which has not been lived in for many years and might possibly be haunted. Is the Earl's interest in Hester only a sham, to hide his interest in buying the house for himself? And what of the mysterious dead roses, appearing throughout the house?
The story is firmly set in winter, leading up to Christmas, although not overly festive. I loved the light humour and the characters - Hester, determined to be independent and not rely on a handsome man to save her; Jethroe, saved from the slums with ambitions to become the best butler ever; even nervous Miss Prudhome, the companion, determined to do her job and 'save' Hester from the advances of the Earl, even though she doesn't particularly want saving!
This is a well-researched, very entertaining Mills & Boon historical romance with a bit of a mystery and the occasional sex scene, and would definitely appeal to fans of the genre. Recommended!
December 12, 2025
Ein bisschen wie ein Detektivroman. Mysteriöse Dinge geschehen im Moonhouse und der attraktive Earl als direkter Nachbar ist penetrant und interessant, selbst wenn man es gar nicht will.
Also die üblichen Klischees werden erwartungsvoll bedient. Aber ich muss schon sagen, dass es mal für zwischen drin gar nicht schlecht war. Man könnte sich durchaus amüsieren und auch bisschen mit rätseln. Angenehm fand ich, dass kein Spice vorkommt. Obwohl, ganz zum Schluss könnte es sich die Autorin dann doch nicht nehmen lassen eine Szene einzubauen. Aber meine Befürchtungen wurden nicht erfüllt. Es bleibt weitgehend sittsam.
Wer also bisschen seichte Romantik im gewohnten Klischee nicht abgeneigt ist, kann sich hier amüsieren lassen.
Also die üblichen Klischees werden erwartungsvoll bedient. Aber ich muss schon sagen, dass es mal für zwischen drin gar nicht schlecht war. Man könnte sich durchaus amüsieren und auch bisschen mit rätseln. Angenehm fand ich, dass kein Spice vorkommt. Obwohl, ganz zum Schluss könnte es sich die Autorin dann doch nicht nehmen lassen eine Szene einzubauen. Aber meine Befürchtungen wurden nicht erfüllt. Es bleibt weitgehend sittsam.
Wer also bisschen seichte Romantik im gewohnten Klischee nicht abgeneigt ist, kann sich hier amüsieren lassen.
October 6, 2017
Lovely story, a mix of mystery and romance. Lots of period detail.
December 11, 2017
Love, mystery and ghosts...the perfect mixture for a great story.
I really liked it.
I really liked it.
May 29, 2020
Gothic crim.; unpleasant
June 17, 2008
I have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy an historical and this book was great. I loved the back story and hint of mystery.
June 30, 2010
It took me a bit to get into this one, but once I did it was worth the read.
April 20, 2011
A very cure story!
January 8, 2012
Enjoyable read. A bit of a mistery.
August 12, 2012
Largely forgettable. OK for a 1 time read
November 26, 2012
This was a easy and enjoyable read for the holidays. I always like a bit of mystery with my romance books and this one had that.
November 20, 2014
nice, easy read that is quick and stays to the point of the story without drifting off.
August 14, 2018
Enjoyed it
January 30, 2017
Not bad, but something just didn't click for me. I liked Hester and her people, I liked Guy, but the mystery was just meh. In the end it was very disjointed and easily forgettable.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews