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Wild Rose
When sixteen-year-old Iris Howard is sent to live with her estranged great-aunt at Howard Hall, nothing can prepare her for what she discovers. At the stunning estate, she is offered a life of both security and luxury. But all is not as it seems at Howard Hall, home to the infamous Rose Garden Massacre in 1974. When Iris starts to see glimpses of a boy in the attic, in the hedge maze, and in the beautiful rose gardens, she begins to question her sanity. Is he the handsome ghost of a tortured soul bound by the home’s dark past, or is he real? Sleeping secrets are awakened when Iris discovers that indeed the mystery boy exists, despite her aunt pretending that he doesn’t. Iris is soon swept into a forbidden romance with a boy she shouldn’t love, while still yearning for her old life, which can never be.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2024
337 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Garden
13 books247 followersA bookseller and Young Adult author, Vanessa loves nothing more than immersing herself in the exciting world of books. When she is not raving about her favourite reads with customers, or mentally casting actors to play the characters in her next novel, she enjoys hanging out with those she loves most.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 25, 2025
Entertaining relationship listening 😃🙄
This kindle ebook novel was free from Amazon
She is sent to live with an aunt who she did not know. She keeps learning about the family.
I would recommend this novel and author to family and friends relationships novels 😏😮 2025 🙄😘
This kindle ebook novel was free from Amazon
She is sent to live with an aunt who she did not know. She keeps learning about the family.
I would recommend this novel and author to family and friends relationships novels 😏😮 2025 🙄😘
January 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book but I was so confused by the ending… like?? Is that really the end?? I was so curious to see what happened all those years ago but the ending was so abrupt. I think this would have been better if we got a little more of Heath’s journals and what happened back then.
April 10, 2025
This is a quick, fun read for me. I enjoyed it. It reminds me of The Secret Garden. I like the whole atmosphere of this story. There is a cool mystery plot involved. Perfect for spring. It is free on Kindle and definitely held my interest.
August 27, 2019
Sad but a heart warming story.I loved it. An unbelievable history of a family and their loss and love.
I would recommend this book to anyone that believed in family,love and loss and the hardships they had to go through.
I would recommend this book to anyone that believed in family,love and loss and the hardships they had to go through.
January 6, 2025
Such a great book to start 2025 off with 💕 First Iris was written perfectly. The book had me from the start and only took 1-3 days to read, I didn’t wanna put it down,no book has had me like this in awhile(lol) Although at the end I wish there was more of Iris & Phoenix after they found each other again,I loved Heath he seems adorable in the book,I really wish there was a second book to this but there probably won’t be.
August 13, 2025
Pretty good quick read.
This was a good quick read. The book starts out with a big event that sets up the rest of the book. We start out with Iris and Phoenix, childhood best friends who have each others backs in life, while just trying to survive what life throws at them. Iris, whose had a very tough life, is very naive and inexperienced in life, though she takes care of her wheelchair bound mom. Phoenix is her childhood best friend and neighbor who has had a rough life himself. One night, when the two feel they may see light in the darkness life pulls the rug out from underneath them and both of their live are forever changed. Both are sent in different direction.
The book in from Irises POV so we don't learn much more about Phoenix till the end. We get introduced to a handful of other characters pretty quickly that play a big part in the rest of the book. I enjoyed these characters a lot and feel that most were important to furthering the story. Iris moved in with her great aunt Amelia. We are also introduced to the mysterious Heath. His story is very interesting.
I really wanted to love this story but I found it was a little anticlimactic, but what was there was still a good read. There was a lot of build up about The Rose Garden Massacre of 1974 but, sadly, it doesn't go into much detail about it or the person that committed the crime and why, just speculation. That was a little disappointing and I do hope we get a book 2 , especially since the book left off the way it did, alluding to new information discovered.
All in all its a 3.5*. I liked the story and hope there will be a book 2 so that we can further delve into this story.
This was a good quick read. The book starts out with a big event that sets up the rest of the book. We start out with Iris and Phoenix, childhood best friends who have each others backs in life, while just trying to survive what life throws at them. Iris, whose had a very tough life, is very naive and inexperienced in life, though she takes care of her wheelchair bound mom. Phoenix is her childhood best friend and neighbor who has had a rough life himself. One night, when the two feel they may see light in the darkness life pulls the rug out from underneath them and both of their live are forever changed. Both are sent in different direction.
The book in from Irises POV so we don't learn much more about Phoenix till the end. We get introduced to a handful of other characters pretty quickly that play a big part in the rest of the book. I enjoyed these characters a lot and feel that most were important to furthering the story. Iris moved in with her great aunt Amelia. We are also introduced to the mysterious Heath. His story is very interesting.
I really wanted to love this story but I found it was a little anticlimactic, but what was there was still a good read. There was a lot of build up about The Rose Garden Massacre of 1974 but, sadly, it doesn't go into much detail about it or the person that committed the crime and why, just speculation. That was a little disappointing and I do hope we get a book 2 , especially since the book left off the way it did, alluding to new information discovered.
All in all its a 3.5*. I liked the story and hope there will be a book 2 so that we can further delve into this story.
January 11, 2025
‼️Spoilers‼️
This was a book club pick.
When I first started it I wasn't a fan of the writing and it only got worse throughout. The characters were extremely cringe and felt like this was written by a middle schooler.
As the story progresses we find out Iris falls in insta-love with her cousin and reading sentences with how attractive Heath is in the same sentences as cousin just gave me the ICK! However, at the very end of the book, you find out they're not actually related.
Sentences like..
I planted a kiss on his shoulder. ‘So, you see, I was thinking about how I love you ... I mean, love having you ... as a cousin, and I wasn’t drunk then ... so ...’
Even beneath the night sky, it was easy to see that he had a perfect body. I wondered, briefly, if it was wrong to be thinking that my cousin had a hot body.
‘Iris,’ he whispered, his breathing shallow and rapid. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this.’ ‘I agree,’ I said, wondering how I had let myself get carried away like this. I felt so confused. Heath was my cousin. But my feelings for him were most definitely not the kind you have for a relative.
This was a book club pick.
When I first started it I wasn't a fan of the writing and it only got worse throughout. The characters were extremely cringe and felt like this was written by a middle schooler.
As the story progresses we find out Iris falls in insta-love with her cousin and reading sentences with how attractive Heath is in the same sentences as cousin just gave me the ICK! However, at the very end of the book, you find out they're not actually related.
Sentences like..
I planted a kiss on his shoulder. ‘So, you see, I was thinking about how I love you ... I mean, love having you ... as a cousin, and I wasn’t drunk then ... so ...’
Even beneath the night sky, it was easy to see that he had a perfect body. I wondered, briefly, if it was wrong to be thinking that my cousin had a hot body.
‘Iris,’ he whispered, his breathing shallow and rapid. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this.’ ‘I agree,’ I said, wondering how I had let myself get carried away like this. I felt so confused. Heath was my cousin. But my feelings for him were most definitely not the kind you have for a relative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2025
this had such a gut wrenching story with such beautiful characters and an even better ending.
i really enjoyed this book, it was a quick, easy read, very fast paced, and really interesting. however the only issue i had with this book was the fact that we were led to believe that heath and iris were COUSINS until like the end of the story which really weirded me out ngl. i also wish there was a little more closure with phoenix.
(p.s. i COULD NOT STAND elise or whatever her name was.)
i really enjoyed this book, it was a quick, easy read, very fast paced, and really interesting. however the only issue i had with this book was the fact that we were led to believe that heath and iris were COUSINS until like the end of the story which really weirded me out ngl. i also wish there was a little more closure with phoenix.
(p.s. i COULD NOT STAND elise or whatever her name was.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2025
What a wildly fun read. It has very serious themes but also fun and goofy. It felt like real life reading or reading the diary of a peer/friend. I was very happy with the plot twists, and how the whole book had me guessing. It was so fun to read that it was hard to put down. Wildly relatable and I highly recommend. The romance is so spicy too, it is just my kind of spice where the slow burning passion is ever present. Sad it is over now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
This book had the potential to get 4 🌟 from me. The first 75% was really good and sucked me in. Unfortunately, the last chunk felt rushed, jumbled, and like the author wasn’t sure how to wrap the story up.
I’d still recommend reading it because it’s a fun tale. I just wanted some consistency with the ending.
I’d still recommend reading it because it’s a fun tale. I just wanted some consistency with the ending.
January 26, 2025
Murder mystery in the rose garden
Troubled teens, a story from the past that quickly becomes an unreliable tale, an Aunt who may know more than she tells and someone is a master manipulator.
Troubled teens, a story from the past that quickly becomes an unreliable tale, an Aunt who may know more than she tells and someone is a master manipulator.
Read
September 10, 2019 I really did story it was sad but good story
December 4, 2024
kinda weird book, good writing but weird plot😹
December 7, 2024
Disappointed for sure.
Book abruptly ended when the journals were found. There was no ending. Very poor quality without any explanation. Feel my time was wasted.
Book abruptly ended when the journals were found. There was no ending. Very poor quality without any explanation. Feel my time was wasted.
January 1, 2025
Easy read.
Read
January 3, 2025Oh my god.
What a story, I don't want I need more. Just wow, so many twists and turns and the emotion s I felt throughout it all. Give me more than lack luster ending
What a story, I don't want I need more. Just wow, so many twists and turns and the emotion s I felt throughout it all. Give me more than lack luster ending
January 16, 2025
Iris's adventure
This story was an adventure for a teenage girl of learning about her distant family and a secret that she wasn't familiar with.
This story was an adventure for a teenage girl of learning about her distant family and a secret that she wasn't familiar with.
January 26, 2025
Good read
I want to know more.... That's what makes a great book. Really enjoyed this one. Get caught up and couldn't of it down.
I want to know more.... That's what makes a great book. Really enjoyed this one. Get caught up and couldn't of it down.
Currently reading
March 6, 2025Good
April 21, 2025
Wild Rose
This book kept me on the front of my seat and was a very good ending not what I would of thought
This book kept me on the front of my seat and was a very good ending not what I would of thought
June 15, 2025
It’s a big no for me.
July 24, 2025
Loved the the story up until the weird attraction for her “cousin “ ; also felt his true backstory was just thrown together.
September 20, 2025
Sounds from the attic
Great read....couldn't put it down from the minute I started. If you like suspense and love stories entertained this one is recommended
Great read....couldn't put it down from the minute I started. If you like suspense and love stories entertained this one is recommended
May 27, 2025
It was a quick easy read, but certain parts of the book just didn't sit right with me.
It was a free book, so that was nice but honestly I would not read it again.
The whole thing with her couisn was weird, even though we find out it's not actually her cousin.
The mystery spot was cool, and her reunion with phoenix was something I was looking forward to.
It was a free book, so that was nice but honestly I would not read it again.
The whole thing with her couisn was weird, even though we find out it's not actually her cousin.
The mystery spot was cool, and her reunion with phoenix was something I was looking forward to.
March 3, 2020
First book I read by Vanessa Garden and I was pleasantly surprised and looking forward to reading more by her.
This is the story of 17 year old Iris, that comes from a impoverished and neglectful family. After the events of one beautiful night which turns quickly tragic, she looses the two damaged people she loves in the world, her mom and her best friend.
Thrust into the mysterious and wealthy world of her previously unknown great aunt, she learns why her father kept his side of the family a secret and became the sad man he was. Her new life is more lonely than before, as she is cut off from her old world completely and her new world is surrounded by rumors she knows nothing about. Through it all there is an air of mystery with a boy she things she sees... until she finally does and they become secret friends.
This is the part of the story that threw me off the most. I could not understand why her aunt and her staff took the lengths they took to keep Iris and Heath apart. It also took me a bit to realize this takes place on an Australian coast. Once I figured that out the wording made more since. But it was nice in the beginning when I didn't realize, because it gives the book this old-time feel which added to the suspense of 'what is actually going on'... although there are mobile phones.
The final reason it lost a full star is because the end is wrapped up so quickly. The pacing in this story is perfect, fast in the very beginning then slows down to build the intrigue, but then speeds back up in the reveal through the end, which just felt rushed.
All in all, a beautiful story and Iris' journey to learn what true family is and how we are all perfectly imperfect is a worth while journey.
This is the story of 17 year old Iris, that comes from a impoverished and neglectful family. After the events of one beautiful night which turns quickly tragic, she looses the two damaged people she loves in the world, her mom and her best friend.
Thrust into the mysterious and wealthy world of her previously unknown great aunt, she learns why her father kept his side of the family a secret and became the sad man he was. Her new life is more lonely than before, as she is cut off from her old world completely and her new world is surrounded by rumors she knows nothing about. Through it all there is an air of mystery with a boy she things she sees... until she finally does and they become secret friends.
This is the part of the story that threw me off the most. I could not understand why her aunt and her staff took the lengths they took to keep Iris and Heath apart. It also took me a bit to realize this takes place on an Australian coast. Once I figured that out the wording made more since. But it was nice in the beginning when I didn't realize, because it gives the book this old-time feel which added to the suspense of 'what is actually going on'... although there are mobile phones.
The final reason it lost a full star is because the end is wrapped up so quickly. The pacing in this story is perfect, fast in the very beginning then slows down to build the intrigue, but then speeds back up in the reveal through the end, which just felt rushed.
All in all, a beautiful story and Iris' journey to learn what true family is and how we are all perfectly imperfect is a worth while journey.
December 30, 2024
Must Read
The characters and the plot. This book really keeps you on your toes. It's dramatic and mysterious. You can not put it down! The end really gives you a feeling of just, this guy? Oh, I like this guy. Or maybe the other guy. It's a really grate must read.
The characters and the plot. This book really keeps you on your toes. It's dramatic and mysterious. You can not put it down! The end really gives you a feeling of just, this guy? Oh, I like this guy. Or maybe the other guy. It's a really grate must read.
December 12, 2024
Good but sad story that moved slowly.
August 18, 2025
Had a weird dynamic to it but it was decent. Was able to get into it but the dynamic between the two characters were a touch… interesting.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews