The "In the Garden" gang is back, with this novel focusing on the romance between Rosalind (Roz) Harper and Mitch Carnegie.

Roz has hired Mitch to research her family history in order to learn the identity of the resident ghost. Widowed at a young age and divorced from a gold digger in middle age, Roz has learned to stand on her own and not to anticipate another relationship. Her otherworldly houseguest couldn't agree more.

However, things get steamy as Roz and Mitch develop a genuine attraction. A recovering alcoholic, Mitch has made amends for the mistakes he made as a young man and is ready to move forward with Roz-much to the Harper ghost's distress.

Besides the ghost's histrionics and financial attacks by Roz's ex, there's a garden center to be run, and Roz doesn't allow anyone to stand in the way. She is a strong, even bull-headed, character who knows what she's about.

The characters that make up the "In the Garden" trilogy are strong and memorable. Roberts continues to fill out the story in the second installment. While people with black thumbs may not appreciate some of the gardening lingo, I find it to be a great metaphor for the process of growth the people in this story go through.

I give this novel five books for character strength, easy readability, and a fun plot. "Black Rose" is a worthy successor to "Blue Dahlia," perhaps even better.

-C.W.

Also by Nora Roberts:

Black Rose
Red Lily

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