…Wild Rose is a moving story that takes on life's biggest question; what happens when we die? I had chills from the first chapter.

Merschdorf creates a smart, capable, fully realized, multi-dimensional, real-life woman protagonist who is not afraid to let love in. I was mesmerized by each character as Merschdorf masterfully allowed their stories to unfold. A freshly crafted tale of women helping each other.

Hang the do not disturb sign on the door, pour a glass of wine, jump under the covers, and flip these pages as they twist and through time. Wild Rose is a charming and captivating story about self-love and self-less love. I give it ten stars!”

-Kristen Westbrook

“Get lost in this amazing novel, Wild Rose!! Be prepared to smile, cry, and reflect as you take a captivating journey with main character Julia.

You’ll page turn this book and find its 2am in the morning…Oops! Can’t put it down! A powerful novel, with a simple and elegant flow, that keeps your focus on the depth of characters, their unfolding intertwining stories and that beautiful hotel.

Author Jennifer Merschdorf writes a fantastic novel containing hints of foreshadowing that does not give away anything while reading, but that grounds the connections for the reader as the book unfolds. Her writing generates suspense and eagerness to find out more about the women who patiently find their voice. And her use of illustrative and descriptive writing brings the details of the women and hotel to imaginative life for the reader. Jennifer makes the story believable…channeling the reader’s skepticism through Julia’s thoughts and actions. In that way it was tremendously complex. Hopefully it’s the first of many novels for this author.”

-Christy Hackney

“Wild Rose is a delightful read, the story is so engaging it is hard to put down. The author does a great job showing the power of sisterhood and how it can carry us through grief and the most difficult times in our lives.

This book reminds us that we really never lose our loved ones as their love and presence stay within us after they have departed this earth, giving us the strength to keep going and achieve great things. Family ties are strong and keep us together in ways we might not understand but carry us through life’s challenges.

All in all, Wild Rose is an uplifting story that feels intimate yet universal. I loved it. I think you will too.”

-Diana Del Castillo

“Julia, bewildered by devastating family tragedy, quits the facade of American life for the cloister of an abandoned hotel in a small New England town where she is satisfied to know no one. She buys the hotel—once vigorous, now dead—on an impulse as mercurial as the instant her loved ones were taken away. She sets to work sublimating her loss and survivor's guilt in the solitude of scraping, sanding, and painting over old sins. Unsure what she is trying to accomplish, other than penance, Julia uncloaks antique furniture and boxed-up artifacts of a once storied hotel, as well as semi-permanent residents—three ghosts, women of the hotel's famed eras who were victims of their own tragedies. Over months of trying harder, Julia communicates with the ghosts, becomes a friend in their eternal griefs, and sets to work trying to help their spirits though the pain of acceptance, adaptation, and finding the courage to move on in time.

Merschdorf, a debut author, writes with a steady hand on plot and a talent for prose both intelligent and unpretentious. Particularly remarkable are her descriptions of roses everywhere around the hotel, thriving in the past, then dormant, then revitalized as Julia lets their scents reoccupy the brightening hotel spaces. And Merschdorf carefully crafts visualizations of guest rooms, service rooms, and ballrooms of the hotel remembered, forgotten and reopened with new light. Like our handyperson in purgatory, Merschdorf’s Julia literally scrapes black-paint off windows to reilluminate books, ephemera, and objects people polish with beeswax to help make life's inevitable dark areas bearable.

WILD ROSE is both sprawling and too short. If Merschdorf had the opportunity to make this novel longer, we might have liked expanded backstories of the ghosts and a more drawn out catharsis for Julia. But perhaps Julia's life is intended to be yielded a job-in-progress, and wishing the book be longer is the servant's hallway into saying the book works more than fine. WILD ROSE is tragic, playful, ruminative, and irresolute just like the world inside each of our own shadowy ballroooms.”

-Richard F. Brown

“I LOVED this book! I was instantly invested into the character Julia and then into the other 3 women and I transported into the Wild Rose. A beautiful story of love, tragedy, friendship, loss and strength within ourselves, family and surprises that connect these 4 resilient women together. I didn’t want it to end, it was that good! I can’t wait for the next Jennifer Merschdorf novel, I’m ready NOW Please!”

-Tammie Belshi

“Jennifer Merschdorf’s debut novel is a touching tale of women finding connection and support through their own experiences of grief. Julia suffers a horrible tragedy and through her renovation of a once glorious old hotel, connects with the spirits of other women who were part of the Wild Rose history. It is heartbreaking, sweet and poignant.”

-Mary Ajango

“I have a pile of "Must read" books all over my house...I start reading a book and I put it down, back on a pile and mostly forgotten. The Wild Rose, I craved to finish. Had me hooked in Chapter One. I felt like I was there, and on this journey with those women of the Wild Rose. Wonderfully thoughtful debut book by Jennifer Merschdorf.”

-Linda Tosti

“From the beginning of this book, I was caught up in memories and emotions with Julia and the women of Wild Rose. Such a poignant tale of loss, love and remembrance. Giving voice to so many different lives, Merschdorf seamlessly goes from one moment in time to the next, keeping the reader rapt and wanting for more. I loved that I never wanted to put this book down. I could visualize the transformation of Wild Rose with the turning of each page. Simply Brilliant!”

-Kerry Rice

“I rarely pick up a book about ghosts or death yet this is a true gem for any Chick Lit lover. Captivating characters, period perfect details, and the whimsy of a charming hotel. I loved how the author intertwined our heroines stories expertly and allowed the mystery to unfold in perfect time.”

-Amanda Nixon

“In her debut novel, Jennifer Merschdorf skillfully delivers a poignant yet uplifting tale of love, loss, resilience, and redemption, which will have you quickly engaged in the compelling life stories of four remarkable women from different generations. Most notably, however, Wild Rose highlights the transformative power of sisterhood, which binds her finely rendered characters and eventually raises their spirits. Be prepared to feel deep emotions and possibly ponder about the mysteries of life and beyond.”

-Daniella Maaze Merschdorf

“This book kept me captive with it's original story line, mysterious twists and compelling characters. I can't wait for the next one!”

-Kara Green

“I loved how detailed oriented the book is. You think you are witnessing the whole story. You are trapped by it. Highly recommended”

-Rocio McKenna

“… It pulled me in from the first chapter. I loved the connection of all the characters.”

-Wendy Holley

The author unlocks your emotions as she guides you into her story. Truly captivating until the very end.”

-Roger Cockroft

“The talented and extremely creative author captures and holds our attention from page 1! A beautiful story of love, loss, tragedy, friendship and the power of connection. The resiliency of the main character, Julia, along with the other unexpected and enchanting characters, made for a perfectly wonderful read. Thank you Jennifer for your inspiring work and for sharing your gifts!”

-Carol Lettko

“…This story takes us through grief not skirting around it. It carries a lovely reminder of Ram Dass saying “we’re all just walking each other home.”

-Jean Rowe

“I just finished reading Wild Rose.

I enjoyed reading it so much, I didn’t want to put it down. It touched my heart.

Thank you for writing it! I can’t wait to read your next book.

I know it takes much time and lots of effort to write a book, and so little time to read one… but the reader is changed by what you write, an adjustment is made. In my case the adjustment was self-forgiveness and the knowingness that we are not alone.”

-Gail

“I absolutely loved your book. I was bereft when I had to bid adieu to the wonderful characters you created. The transitions between past and present were smooth and believable. Women helping women - loving, losing and healing. Superbly orchestrated. The roses, oh, the roses. I could smell each one - all the different colours- each telling its own story - a precious link between the living and the passed.

The Wild Rose - if you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down until you have read every single page.

Congratulations, Jennifer. Will there be a sequel? There are a lot of rooms in that hotel.”

-Pat Taylor