Title: Four White Roses
Author: Judy Ann Davis
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Mystery (with a hint of Paranormal)
Book Blurb:
"Can a wily old ghost help two fractured souls find love again?"
When widower Rich Redman returns to Pennsylvania with his young daughter to sell his deceased grandmother's house, he discovers Grandmother Gertie's final request was for him to find a missing relative and a stash of WWI jewels. Torrie Larson, single mom, is trying to make her landscape center and flower arranging business succeed while attempting to save the lineage of a rare white rose brought from Austria in the 1900s. Together, the rich Texas lawyer and poor landscape owner team up to rescue the last rose and fulfill a dead woman's wishes. But in their search to discover answers to the mysteries surrounding them, will Rich and Torrie also discover love in each other's arms? Or will a meddling ghost, a pompous banker, and an elusive stray cat get in their way?
Excerpt:
Rich handed his keys to his SUV, broken down on the road outside town, to Torrie and withdrew his wallet. “How much do I owe you for the ride?”
She waved him away again. On her right hand, a delicate gold ring covered with clusters of expensive stones twinkled in the fading light. There was no wedding ring on her left hand.
“Just consider it a favor.” She smiled. “Your Grandmother Gertie and I were friends and belonged to the local garden club and the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. There are some flowerbeds in the backyard where we raised wildflowers, some gladiolas, and roses. I would like to talk to you about maintaining the flowerbeds and rose gardens when you have a few minutes. Once you’re settled in your grandmother’s house, I’ll stop by. A cup of coffee should make us even.”
Nodding, Rich put a hand gently on her shoulder. “Thanks, Torrie. Really. Thanks so much for rescuing us. I can’t wait to see your brothers, especially Lars.”
He looked toward the large wrap-around porch in the dying light and sighed. “I don’t know what to do with this monstrosity. No one seems interested in buying it. No one wants to live in it. It’s like a giant worthless gift. Maintenance costs exceed its usefulness. The heating bill is enormous. I have to pay to get the grass mowed in the summer and the snow shoveled in the winter.” He shrugged his shoulders in resignation and stared down the street where the street lights had come on. Their globes looked like Japanese lanterns floating in the air. His gaze found hers again. His expression was miserable and grim.
Torrie tipped her ball cap up and gave a cursory glance at the house. She pursed her lips and fell silent. Should she tell him the truth? Or should she wait until he and his little daughter were settled in? The knowledge twisted and turned inside her. As much as she hated rumors, she hated lies even more. There were enough of both of them flying around town…and some of them were about her. What to do? Finally, she flung her hands up in despair.
“Of course no one wants to buy it, Richard Lee,” she uttered with unmistakable candor. “I have it through reliable sources your grandmother’s house is haunted.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
“Sea Swept” [Book 1 of the Chesapeake Bay series by Nora Roberts]. The series features the Quinn Brothers. Cameron, a wild and carefree champion boat racer, is forced to return to their family home on the Maryland shore to honor their father's last request and care for a young troubled boy. Like a fish out of water, Cameron has no domestic skills. A beautiful and dogmatic social worker hounds him at his every move and after every mistake. The book is full of humor, wit, and hilarious antics and bantering among the three brothers.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
Four White Roses was a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards, the Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Award, and the American Fiction Awards. It’s a romantic mystery with a touch of paranormal (a ghost). It features a Texas lawyer and a widowed landscape artist, each with a precious little girl who join forces to tame an elusive cat—and bring the couple together. Chaos reigns when Richard’s dead grandmother, now a crafty ghost, gets into the ruckus requesting him to find his unknown half-sister and locate rubies lost during World War I.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card
Open internationally.
Runs August 1 – 31, 2023.
Drawing will be held on September 1, 2023.
Author Biography:
Multi-Award-winning author Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications. Throughout her career, she has written for both industry and education.
She writes both contemporary and historical fiction and is best known for “writing romance with a touch of mystery.”
To date, she has written seven novels, six novellas, and a short story collection. Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines and anthologies. Both her short stories and longer works have received numerous awards.
When Judy Ann isn’t behind a computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are few.
She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc., and Romance Writers of America. She divides her time between Central Pennsylvania and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Social Media Links:
Visit her on:
Her blog: www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com
Her website: www.judyanndavis.com
Twitter: JudyAnnDavis4 - https://twitter.com/JudyAnnDavis4