The House of Roses

by Holden Robinson

In The House of Roses, debut author, Holden Robinson, takes the reader on a journey to reclaim lost love. Love has been devalued. Pursuits of lesser importance have trumped love, and personal relationships.

Novelist, Caitlin Goodrich, and AIDS Pediatrician, Colin Thomas, have ended their four-year love affair. As their days apart stretch into months, their regret grows proportionately to the size of Caitlin's abdomen. Colin has left more than a broken heart.

In the early hours of single-motherhood, Caitlin learns she has been betrayed by the one woman who vowed to care for her. In New Hope, Pennsylvania, where the secrets began, and the lies are encased in the walls of the historic landmarks, the true will be revealed.

Dr. Colin Thomas has led a life of orderly chaos. This well-made plan begins to unravel when he is asked a question that will change his life. He begins to see living and dying in a way he never has.

The House of Roses is an incredible story of love, loss, betrayal and secrets, but more importantly, it speaks of the weight of guilt, the strength of family, and the incredible power of love.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

370 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2010

Reviews

[Sarah Darling Jones]

I don't know how to write a review on this book because Holden Robinson was a good friend of mine. She passed away in September 2025. Copies of this book were given out at her memorial. It isn't normally a type of book I would read because I am not a huge fan of love stories. She wrote it though so of course I had to read it! I had to wait awhile before I read it and I honestly think I should have waited even longer. While I can see a piece of her in each of the characters, I was depressed reading this book because there is so much death in it. I understand she was trying to show that in death there is also the birth of new life, but it still depressed me. She wrote about how precious life is pretty often in this book and that was upsetting to me because she is no longer here. It isn't my business to go into detail about that except for the fact that I never got closure from her death.

I also thought Caitlin and Colin were both highly annoying. Of course I feel bad saying that though because they were Holden's characters. The storyline was pretty predictable if you can keep up with ping ponging back and forth between life and death.

With all of that being said, Holden loved to write and bring stories to life. Her words were always well put together and elegant. She always had a special way of saying things and I could hear this book in her voice.

[Lisa]

I must say this was a very interesting book. I read it in one day and the author, Holden Robinson really takes you on an emotional ride. What would you do if you found love, lost love, discovered secrets about your family that you never knew and still manged to reclaim this lost love all over again???? This is how this story went. There was new romances discovered, old romances rekindled, death and births all in one novel. In the end it all worked out for the best for all the couples involved, but there were so many layers written in the book. I gave it 4 stars only because some things were repeats and could've been left out, I found a few typos, but overall I really enjoyed this novel.

[Jo Notary]

370pgs, They break up after a 4 uear relationship. Love has been devalued. Pursuits of lesser importance have trumped love, and personal relationships. She is pregnant and becomes a single mom. The House of Roses is an incredible story of love, loss, betrayal and secrets, but more importantly, it speaks of the weight of guilt, the strength of family, and the incredible power of love.

[Amy]

I'm torn about this book. I really liked it and was moved to tears on occasion, but it was a little too predictable in places.