They say two lovers were found sealed within the walls of the Castillo de San Marcos. But legends are often built to hide the truth. In present-day St. Augustine, novelist Janice Dalton arrives searching for inspiration-but what she uncovers is a story that refuses to stay buried. Drawn to the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, she discovers fragments of a past that feels disturbingly unfinished. A hidden journal. Letters never meant to be read. And a history that doesn't match the legend she's always been told. In 1839, Dolores Martí arrives at the Castillo as the young wife of a powerful Spanish colonel. Surrounded by tension, secrecy, and the quiet suffering of imprisoned Seminole people, she begins to question the life she's been given-and the man she's married. As her world darkens, Dolores is pulled into choices that will echo far beyond her lifetime. As past and present begin to intertwine, Janice realizes the truth has been carefully rewritten-reshaped into something more palatable, more convenient. But the Castillo remembers. And some stories refuse to stay silent. Blending dual timelines, Southern Gothic atmosphere, and historical suspense, Of Roses, Blood & Stone is a haunting exploration of buried truths, moral courage, and the cost of rewriting history. Perfect for readers who love: • Dual timeline historical fiction • Gothic atmosphere and haunting settings • Hidden histories and untold stories • Emotional suspense with lasting impact Because some legends are told to preserve the past... and others are told to hide it.
