On Aug. 11, Golden Orb Press released a promising premiere for the new Haunted Hearts Legacy series by A. G. Howard. The Architect of Song is a Gothic romance written for a modern audience and it truly sings.

Juliet has been deaf for most of her life and has resigned herself to the fate of a spinster. After her mother dies, loneliness weighs upon her heart. Her soul feels broken and she longs to be with her mother. When she sees a mysterious man have a fit over a grave, she steals the unique flower that lies on top. With its petals she finds she can converse with an attractive ghost named Hawk. They set off to discover the manner of his death, leading them to his brother. How is he involved? As Juliet falls for both men, will she ultimately choose to live or die?

Unlike Howard’s other novels, this one is written for adults. It has a bit of erotica mixed into the love story, so it’s not appropriate for younger teens. As an adult, I really enjoyed the love story as well as the mystery. It had me guessing who the killer was for most of the book. I went back and forth wondering which of the brothers to trust, if either. It was a fun novel and I thought it read pretty true to the time period it was set in. I love Victorian books with spunky heroines, so I enjoyed Juliet’s story thoroughly. The book wasn’t overly dark, but just creepy enough to keep you reading.

If you enjoy stories set in Victorian England or romances with stubborn, intelligent heroines, you’ll want to give this book a try. Howard makes the switch from YA to New Adult seamlessly. If you liked the paranormal ideas from her Splintered series, but want a more grown-up story, this is the book for you.