The House on Blackberry Hill, Book 1 of 5 of the “Jewell Cove Book” series by Donna Alward is an enchanting romantic mystery with a sizzle.

Abigal (Abby) Foster has inherited a mansion and a hefty sum of money from a relative she never knew existed. But then, she’s never really known family, never felt she belonged to anyone or any place. She’d been shuffled from relative to relative, finally living with a grandmother who was loving but closed-mouthed about the family’s past. Abby is an elementary school teacher now and has learned to never let herself get close to people or places. She’s better off without attachments. But now she somehow must deal with this mansion. She takes a leave of absence from her teaching job and drives from Halifax, Nova Scotia to the charming little harbor town of Jewell Cove, Maine.

Upon examination of the mansion, Abby sees that at one time it had charm, but it is in desperate need of repair. The boxes and trunks in the attic, though, obviously hold secrets. She’ll have to sort through all that stuff, too. Will those secrets bring more unhappiness, unearth truths she’s better off not knowing about? As it stands, this house is a symbol of the family who’d cast her off.

But the mansion certainly can’t be put on the market in its present state.

Tom Arseneault, contractor, comes well recommended. Well, okay, he happens to be a hunk, but one that comes with a troubled past. A local fellow, Tom has always loved this mansion and he puts his considerable skills into the mansion’s restoration.

As they work together, Abby learns about the close-knit townspeople, many of whom are Tom’s relatives. She observes how family members relate to one another, even in strife. She sees strong family bonds, strong enough to overlook faults and love one another despite differences. And against her better judgement, she finds herself attracted to Tom. But will his painful past allow him to pursue happiness with Abby?

I enjoyed The House on Blackberry Hill and found the relationship between Abby and Tom engaging. The mansion takes on a life of its own as its restoration progresses. I was intrigued by the mysterious element throughout the story. Finally, I enjoyed the small town atmosphere, its quaint shops, and the sustained loyalty shown to family and friends.