First published 2026
Sasha Sinclair carries her parents' unfinished documentary dream to Blair Mountain, North Carolina. Three years after losing her successful filmmaker parents in a car accident, she has drifted through casual relationships and temporary work across the country. Now she wants to complete their vision: telling the story of Alice Bishop, who arrived in 1901 and opened Thornrose Apothecary. The townspeople called Alice the Rose Witch, and that reputation still follows her descendants. Margot Bishop runs the struggling family businesses with her mother. They operate both the original apothecary and Ghostlight, an occult amusement park that capitalizes on local supernatural folklore. When Margot's mother proposes a documentary to boost their fortunes, Margot resists. She refuses to risk her family's reputation for financial gain. Margot especially distrusts Sasha, the enthusiastic filmmaker assigned to work with her. As the two women research Alice Bishop's true history, their professional collaboration shifts into something deeper. Their growing connection becomes complicated as they uncover secrets about the past that could change everything they thought they knew about the Bishop family story.
Genres: historical-fiction, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, second-chance, slow-burn-romance
Setting: Blair Mountain, North Carolina, Thornrose Apothecary, Ghostlight
Period: 1901, 21st-century
400 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: death