For some good suspense romance, check out these three books; Blue Dahlia, Black Rose and Red Lily, which together form the “In the Garden” trilogy by Nora Roberts. This is a great easy-to-read story that I found captivating on many levels. First, the romance is divine especially with such strong female leads. Second, you have to love a mystery as entrenched and spooky as a hundred-year-old poltergeist. Third, the interesting development of the characters as they meet, become friends, and then grow to be a family.

Each of the three books covers one of the three different women, all from different stages in their lives. In the Garden is a nursery where all three women work. The three of them become roommates and close friends. In the midst of some major plant analogies and academic gardening technique, you come to understand these womens’ lives, their struggles and their victories. As they help one another, each grows and learns in life and love. Family is a major theme.

I always love it when a good light romance is spiced up with a some excitement, and what better than a ghost running mad around the house? The Harper Bride ghost starts out singing nice sweet lullabies and ends up causing trouble. The ladies must find the answer to this mystery and help out the ghost before it goes postal and brings down the household. The three books are sequential, you must read them in order for the mystery of the ghost to unfold.

The romances are good, all different and interesting, and not cliche. As the lives of the characters intersect with each other the story that unfolds seems very real to me. The different relationships and people’s actions and dialog are authentic. Classic Nora Roberts with her great plots, believable characters, and talented writing skills.

In Blue Dahlia, there is a middle-aged mom who is a widow looking for a new start. She meets a rugged landscaper who drives her crazy. In Black Rose, the lead is the nursery business owner, an established, wealthy, mature woman with three adult children and two previous marraiges. She starts playing detective with an ‘absent-minded professor’ delving into her family heritage to figure out more about the ghost. In Red Lily, there is young new mom just starting out. She has the hots for the boss’s son, and she’s trying to keep her hands off!

All three stories are fun and kept me burning the midnight oil reading to find out what happens next! As someone who does NOT read horror books, The Harper Bride ghost was not scary enough for me to be turned off or frightened. Just enough to keep things interesting. I hope you find this triology as entertaining as I did! Happy reading!