The Bone Flower

The Bone Flower is a sad, yet mysterious Gothic love story set in 1800's England. Edward Monteith is a young man who has money, but not much else. While spending time at his local gentleman's club, he is surrounded by men who are scientists, explorers, and he listens as they recount the stories of their adventures and their forays in to the supernatural. One of them suggests that he attend a seance with them and when he does, he is enthralled with one of the young women there, Settie, a woman he has also seen selling flowers on the street. 

Edward and Settie begin a whirlwind romance. Spending weeks together in a little cottage by the sea. But Settie feels hidden away and tells Edward to make her his wife and be out in the open or she will leave forever. They are very much in love but also worlds apart. She from a Gypsy family and he afraid his father would never accept her.

This book is part ghost story and part Gothic mystery. Its beautifully written, touching on topics that were taboo for the time and I can tell the time period was well researched. It's a slow and steady read but I would also say a page turner because I could not stop reading it. I received this book free from the publisher for an honest review.