Bottled Secrets of Rosewood

by Mary Kendall

Miranda falls in love with her dream house but soon discovers it's an affair with complications. A lot of them. Rosewood is a centuries old, tumble-down, gambrel roofed charmer located in an isolated, coastal corner of Virginia referred to as "strange". Known for long-standing and antiquated customs, an almost indecipherable brogue and possible witchcraft connections, Miranda shrugs all locational concerns aside to pursue her new love.

When an archeological dig is undertaken at the property, a series of incidents commences that goes beyond just "bumps in the night". Awakened one night by the eerie glow from a ring of fire around her house, Miranda must decide. Should she leave Rosewood or stay---and potentially pay the ultimate price?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Gothic

290 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2024

About the author

Mary Kendall lived in old (and haunted) houses growing up which sparked a life-long interest in history and story-telling. She earned degrees in history related fields and worked as an historian for many years. Her fiction writing is heavily influenced by the past which she believes is never really dead and buried.

Fueled by black coffee and a possible sprinkling of Celtic fairy dust, she tends to find inspiration in odd places and sometimes while kneading bread dough.

The author currently resides in Maryland with her family (husband, three kids, barn cat and the occasional backyard hen) who put up with her mad scribbling at inconvenient hours.

Reviews

[Alissa Arford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bottled Secrets of Rosewood by Mary Kendall cast a spell on me almost immediately and refused to let go.

What initially hooked me was the setting and subject matter. My sister is an archeologist in Virginia, and the details around archaeological digs, historic homes, and preservation work felt authentic and familiar. I could vividly picture Rosewood and the discoveries the author describes.

Layered on top of that realism is a fascinating thread of witch folklore. The history and symbolism surrounding the blue bottles add an eerie, supernatural edge to the story, blurring the line between legend and reality in a way that keeps you constantly guessing. Is what’s happening explainable, or something darker? That question drives much of the suspense and gives the mystery real depth.

I also enjoyed the romantic tension between Miranda and the archeologist, Brian. Their relationship unfolds slowly, with a classic "will they or won’t they" feel that’s grounded in trust, hesitation, and circumstance. It adds warmth and emotional stakes to the story without overshadowing the mystery, making you just as invested in their connection as in uncovering the truth behind Rosewood.

Between the twists, the unsettling atmosphere, and the unanswered questions, this was absolutely a stay-up-too-late kind of book. I needed to know who was good, who was bad, and why. The journey to get there kept me turning pages well past bedtime. Bottled Secrets of Rosewood is a compelling blend of mystery, folklore, and romance that I happily recommend.

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so easy to immerse myself in the life of Miranda Chesney. She works as an adjunct professor of Logic at William and Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia. She is single, in her thirties, and has just purchased an historic house in Tidewater, a rural area outside the city. The house needs a lot of work, but Miranda feels such a connection to the old place that she deems it worth the effort.

The professor of archaeology at the university approaches her to see if he can do 'a dig' on her property with a few of his students. She agrees, with the blessing of the university. Soon after, a blue bottle is unearthed. Presumed to date back to the 1700s, the bottle is a 'witch's bottle', a talisman to ward off evil and witchcraft.

There has been several times that Miranda has had the feeling of being watched. This uneasy sensation is beginning to mar her enjoyment of her new home and she wants to discover what is going on. Then, sinister things begin to happen, and it is obvious that despite her having changed all the locks on her house, someone is still gaining entry. But how? And where?

Miranda begins a tentative relationship with Brian, the archaeology professor. Their new relationship is marred by the jealousy of one of his graduate students, Fiona.  Their relationship ends as quickly as it began, to Miranda's disappointment...

On one of her walks, Miranda finds a small orange kitten and decides to adopt her. She names the kitten, Polly. When mysterious occurrences and threatening events escalate, Miranda and her kitten are driven out of Rosewood, much to Miranda's rage. Why is this happening?

Soon, she realizes that she herself has familial ties to the place. As do many of her neighbours it would seem. Who wants to scare her away from the home she has come to love?

Kendall's writing is crisp and eminently readable. Her characters and settings are well drawn and easy to imagine.

With themes of folklore, witchcraft, genealogy, and avarice, this novel was a pleasant surprise and an enjoyable read. The rich history of the Williamsburg area of Virginia made the read educational and interesting.

I found the ending a tad unsatisfying, but couldn't pinpoint what made me feel that way...  Overall though, the history, mystery, and folklore combines to make for an engaging read. I will gladly seek out more of this author's fiction.

[Jocelyn Klucar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am rating this book 5 stars because it was an great read and not because I know the author. I do not rate books 5 stars unless they are original and I can't put the book down. Bottle Secrets of Rosewood is a different story and I love the historical background and tracing ancestry. I know the section about Mark Twain was odd to throw in the middle of the story but I thought it was wonderful. Cheers to Mary Kendall and I will now go read her earlier publications.

[Maryb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Kendall's Bottled Secrets of Rosewood.is packed with mystery, unexpected turns, & history. Loved this fictional book with a modern-day Cheasapeake Bay area twist!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins when college lecturer Miranda Chesney moves to a new campus to take up a newly arisen post. On starting her new job, Miranda encounters Brian, an archaeologist. Having decided she is staying and needing to set down roots, Miranda falls in love with an old property in the area. It’s a bit out of her price range, but there is something about the house that keeps pulling at her. Having moved in, her colleague Brian suggests a dig on her property because of the long history associated with the building and that part of town. The discovery of a witch's bottle, an artefact that has an unclear history and meaning, is the beginning of a series of tense and mysterious occurrences at the house. As the novel progresses, Miranda is left questioning her personal safety and her attachment to the house.
What a great story this is. I found the plot compelling, the twists and turns kept me turning the page and the narrative voice flowed easily. All the characters are engaging and very well drawn. I particularly enjoyed the developing relationship between Brian and Miranda—the ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ subplot adding an extra dimension to this very engaging tale.
It was also interesting to pick up on snippets of colonial history throughout the story. The notes at the end of the book provide the actual historical background to the text, which made me curious enough to check a few things out. So, I took some time out to do some research, and that captured my attention further. I certainly want to visit the real locations used in the novel at some point in the future.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable modern gothic novel and I can heartily endorse it as an excellent read.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottled Secrets of Rosewood is an interesting, engaging, tightly woven story full of gothic eeriness and mystery, a book that will make you jump and not want to turn off the lights in case things bump in the night.

One for reading in daylight!

College lecture Miranda starts her new job at the local college and moves into the eerily quiet mansion; Rosewood, an old house with so much history and secrets. a colleague persuades her to allow an archaeological dig to be done in her garden, to discover more about the house and its turbulent past. But when the dig unearths a strange bottle full of very random objects also known as a witch's bottle a whole host of strange occurrences happen which puts Miranda at the very heart of danger and intrigue.

Is it all connected to the house? Or it's colonial history, or is there something far darker at work which has been unearthed and set free with the witchy bottle?

well, I ain't going to tell you that, you are going to have to read it for yourself!

I will be perfectly honest here and say that I am incredibly picky with non-romance type books, I will occasionally dip my toe into thriller or adventure genre when the mood fits but I am so picky, this one even though it is completely different to what I usually read appealed to me, and as any mood reader knows when a book grabs your attention you have to read it and I am so please that I did!

I thoroughly enjoyed the crisp and engaging writing and how the author pulls you into the story and keeps you on the edge while she subtly twirls mystery around you, it's incredibly well written and engaging I liked the will-they-wont-they romance between Miranda and her college Brian it added another dimension the story and kept you guessing.

Highly recommended!

[Charissa Costa Bauhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first learned about BOTTLED SECRETS OF ROSEWOOD by Mary Kendall at an author meet-and-greet earlier this year. During the event, Mary mentioned “witch bottles,” and my curiosity was instantly piqued. According to Wikipedia, a witch bottle is “a protective magical item traditionally used to guard against witchcraft.” These bottles are often filled with sharp objects, bodily fluids, and other unusual items (I’ll let you look that part up), and are typically buried or burned to trap or repel harmful magic.

Mary explained that she had read an article about a real witch bottle found in Williamsburg, Virginia, one of a dozen or so ever discovered in the US, and that article inspired the story behind BOTTLED SECRETS OF ROSEWOOD.

This novel blends history, archaeology, mystery, and the supernatural… but at its core, it’s also a deeply personal story about a woman searching for meaning and clarity in her life. As our heroine investigates the eerie secrets of her new home, Rosewood, she finds herself uncovering long-buried truths, not just about the house, but about her own family’s history.

BOTTLED SECRETS OF ROSEWOOD is a fast, fun and page-turning read. If you like stories with well-researched history and supernatural elements, you will love this book!

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! A little mystery, some historical and a little witch lore. Miranda has just bought a house on a whim, something was pulling her to this property and so when an archeologist from the college asks if they can set up a dig on her new property, she can't say yes fast enough. So when strange things start happening, blue bottles start appearing and Miranda feels she is being watched she is wondering if she made the right decision in agreeing to the dig and buying this house. As she starts to question the locals, it seems everyone already knows who she is and she is the one who is doesn't have all of the history of this place. With the help of her realtor and an unlikely friend who talks in riddles, Miranda tries to get to the bottom of whether this place is cursed and those bottles really have a meaning or if there is someone who is not happy that she bought this place and is digging into the history. The more Miranda researches and finds, the more she realizes the reason why this place was calling to her and get to the bottom of everything going on. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Kim Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful, and mysterious, novel with a gothic flare. Miranda, the protagonist, is a likable no-nonsense, no-roots, kind of gal who suddenly decides Rosewood, near Williamsburg, Virginia, is her home. But as an archaeological dig on her property discovers unsettling things, she starts to realize she needs to know why she loves her house as much as she does. Familial histories, rumors of curses and witchcraft, secrets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, they all come together seamlessly in this story and create an atmosphere of tension and intrigue for the reader. And I was not able to guess the ending and how it would play out. The complex storyline and multiple secrets lead me to guess that something nefarious was on the horizon, but not exactly what it was. That kept me engrossed and unable to put down the book.

Small-town suspicion, hidden family histories, unscrupulous characters, found families…it all comes together in this story that leaves you hooked from start to finish. 4.5 stars

A big thank you to Bittersweet book tours for my ARC. My opinion is my own.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bottled Secrets of Rosewood" by Mary Kendall is a captivating blend of mystery and supernatural suspense. The story centers around Miranda, who falls in love with an old, charming house named Rosewood in a remote corner of Virginia known for its strange customs and rumored witchcraft connections. Despite these ominous signs, Miranda is determined to make Rosewood her home.

As an archaeological dig begins on the property, unsettling events escalate beyond simple bumps in the night. One night, Miranda is awakened by an eerie glow from a ring of fire encircling her house, forcing her to confront the house's dark secrets and decide whether to stay or leave, risking her life.

Kendall’s writing vividly captures the eerie atmosphere and rich history of Rosewood. The novel’s blend of historical intrigue, supernatural elements, and Miranda’s gripping personal journey makes it a compelling read. "Bottled Secrets of Rosewood" is a thrilling story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending mystery with the paranormal in a unique and engaging way.

[Tom Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Bottled Secrets of Rosewood by Mary Kendall.

Bottled Secrets of Rosewood is a fun and interesting mystery that takes place in a small town outside Williamsburg, Virginia after Miranda Chesney, a young university professor discovers a jade blue “witch bottle” buried on grounds of the old colonial house she just purchased.

I really enjoyed the way the author blended archeology and history into the storyline, and I was intrigued by the discoveries of witches and witchcraft artifacts, both old and new. I believed and felt for Miranda as she slowly tried to make sense of the strange events unfolding in and around her house.

What I loved most about the story, however, was how perfectly the author portrayed the dynamics of life in a small town and the interesting characters and relationships that can be found there. All of the characters felt like people I knew, and the businesses felt like places I had eaten and shopped. This made the story even more believable and fun.

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Tidewater native and William & Mary alum, I was initially drawn to "Bottled Secrets of Rosewood" by Mary Kendall. The Rosewood setting felt both familiar and eerie, and the story itself proved to be quite intriguing weaving in colonial history and superstition. Kendall’s portrayal of the town and its secrets had an enigmatic quality. However, the book does have one notable flaw: the resolution of Brian’s character arc. While his role in the story is significant, his motivations for embezzlement and archaeological thefts, as well as the specifics of the treasures he stole, remain unresolved. Also, I need to know where that tunnel is and what secrets lay at the end. Despite the cliffhangers, "Bottled Secrets of Rosewood" offers an enjoyable read, with its strengths in setting and narrative largely overshadowing the unanswered questions.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery and pacing of Bottled Secrets of Rosewood worked well but where was the closure? Why am I searching for the next book in the series?

Miranda’s quest to explore the mysterious blue bottle uncovered from the archeological dig with the help of Brian leaves her learning about her history and that of her new neighbors.

Miranda was a bit frustrating as a character. For such a book smart protagonist she really ignored some clear red flags. I did admire the lengths she went to learn the truth of her background and that she pushed through weird interactions at time to realize who was on her side.

It’s a short quick read so read if you like mystery but understand that not everything will be fully answered.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

#bottledsecretsofrosewood is a good, chilling read. the author mentions nancy drew and gothics in her note, two of my favorite things! initially i wasn't sure if i was going to be able to like miranda, but we both came around, and i was rooting for her all the way. bonus points for living less than an hour from williamsburg, va, and familiar with many of the locations mentioned in the book.

p.s. thanks to this_is_edelweiss for the ARC.

[Jean Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this author writes suspense, especially when introducing new characters. Is this person as suspicious as first judged? (A subtle theme running throughout the book: How we mis-judge folks at first glance.) In broader strokes, the mystery of the story is quite suspenseful and even has historical roots, including land rights, witchcraft, artifacts, and Virginia coastal regional culture.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was definitely a slow burn. The MMC sometimes made me think like, sometimes cold, and sometimes shallow. I mean for the reason that happens, I get it. But overall it was such a great read. Very thrilling and very highly captivating at some points.
July 16, 2024 is release day. I highly recommend this read to one who enjoys a good thrill.

[Kasey Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Mystery, Southern Gothic

Miranda, a young professor of logic, has found her dream home in the backwoods of the Virginia coast. Better yet the handsome archeology professor at the university she's just been hired at wants to use her new property as a teaching dig site! But the excitement of the dig and the new house begin to sour as strange artifacts turn up in locked rooms and the locals seem to shun her. Some people are calling her a witch! Could it be true that there is an ancient family curse on her?

An intriging mystery story with strange twists and ties to traditions of witchcraft. A touch of twisted romance. I enjoyed the Southern Gothic feel and the creepy atmosphere. The ancient curse and strange artifacts were interesting -- I actually wanted to know more about them.

However, it wasn't really my cup of tea. I never felt very connected with the MC and often felt her actions diverged from her description (she was supposed to be logical "methodical and precise" but acted more emotional and impulsive, and, frankly, gullible). The love story's twist felt unreasonable while paradoxically predictable and the end left me uncertain and confuse.

Overall a fine read, it just wasn't much to my taste.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had sooo much potential. But with major plot holes and the main character being a complete idiot despite being a professor of logic, it was a disaster and a disappointment.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could’ve been a good story where it better written. I had high hopes… Evasive, while still trying. Hopefully on down the line, technique will improve.

[Leona Puglia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this story down. The suspense kept me in the grips of Miranda's homeowning adventure. Highly recommend you read this book if you love to be on the edge of your seat.

[Deborah Oberreich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book mystery, and trying to find out information about what was happening around rosewood

[Jane C. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bottled Secrets of Rose wood

A good and different story! A young ambitious woman buys a house then finds out there is mystery to be investigated!

[M.J. Compton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but a lot of it went nowhere, and the ending simply fizzled.