Roses Are Red: A Romantic Thriller | An Orleans Mystique Novel (The Orleans Mystique Collection)

They say every rose has its thorn, but in New Orleans, the thorns are deadly. Olivia Moreau, a dedicated librarian, stumbles across a cryptic note hidden in an ancient book about heirloom roses. The note hints at a conspiracy tied to New Orleans' dark past—a tangled web of corruption and secrets centered around the city’s rarest and most coveted blooms. Drawn into a world far removed from her quiet life, Olivia’s pursuit of truth leads her to Alex Desmarais, a sharp-witted lawyer with a shadowy history and ties to the dangerous heirloom rose trade. As Olivia and Alex uncover the threads of a modern-day cartel exploiting the city's historical legacy, they find themselves delving into the forgotten horrors of Rue Royale’s infamous rose auctions—where beauty once masked the brutal trade of human lives. But the deeper they dig, the more enemies they make. Betrayals, threats, and a kindled passion between Olivia and Alex blur the lines of trust and survival. Now, with a conspiracy that spans centuries unraveling around them, Olivia must decide whether to risk everything—including her heart—to expose the truth. But in a city where beauty and danger bloom side by side, some secrets are meant to stay buried. Suspenseful, romantic, and steeped in the rich mystique of New Orleans, Roses Are Red is a gripping tale of forbidden love, deadly conspiracies, and the fight to preserve history—no matter the cost.