Book Synopsis:
Discover bestselling author Nicola Cornick’s brand-new heart-breaking historical tale of unforgettable courage, hidden secrets and lasting love, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Philippa Gregory and Christina Courtenay.
1715: With the country on the brink of rebellion, Dorothy Forster’s life at Bamburgh Hall is ruled by the men in her life – her feckless brothers stirring up trouble at court, her elderly father with his dangerous secrets and the man she loves who the world seems determined to keep her apart from. As tensions grow, Dorothy finds herself caught between the warring factions, danger everywhere. Then Dorothy discovers her family are the keepers of the legendary Rose, the talisman both sides believe will guarantee them victory in this deadly conflict. Now Dorothy will have to risk everything to keep the Rose safe; the fate of the country and the men she loves rests in her hands.
Present Day: Hannah Armstrong has returned home to Bamburgh Hall for work but when she discovers that her stepmother Diana has been keeping worrying secrets, her focus shifts to getting to the truth. Their family home once belonged to heroic Dorothy Forster, whose portrait graces the walls and whose spirit lingers in her home, but soon Hannah learns that there was much more to this formidable woman. Because Dorothy left behind a mysterious legacy and it’s not long before Hannah realises it’s one people are willing to kill for. Now Hannah is in a race against time to unravel the secrets of the past before danger arrives at their door.
Two women divided by time but bound by a centuries’ old mystery. Bestseller Nicola Cornick is back with a brand-new thrilling adventure, a heartbreaking love story and the unforgettable story of how the courage of one woman can save a family and even save a nation.
My Review:
The Secrets of The Rose is an absorbing, thrilling read from one of my favourite dual timeline authors.
The book is told in two timelines. In the past timeline we follow Dorothy Foster a strong, independent lady whose brother’s get caught up in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 to restore Prince James Stuart to the throne. She discovers that the women in her family are keepers of a mythical talisman that both sides of the rebellion think will help them to win. In the present day we follow Hannah Armstrong a historian who has finally returned home after a number of years to research Grace Darling- a Victorian lady who saved her family and others from a shipwreck. Once there she finds it difficult to deal with the tension in the household cause by her stepmother keeping secrets from her and her brother Brandon who is trying to find a missing portrait of Dorothy Foster and the rose. I enjoyed both timelines equally and enjoyed finding out about the Jacobite Rebellion as well as more about Grace Darling’s heroic actions as I hadn’t heard much about either of them before. I always love it when a book teaches me something new and I lost lots of hours googling the events to try and find out more.
I thought the book had a great pace to it and I was quickly absorbed into the story. The two women were amazing main character’s and I soon found myself to be completely on their side, cheering them on from my sofa. There was lots of action that ensured I kept reading as well as lots of twists that took me completely by surprise which I always love. There was a supernatural side of the book which was really well done and I enjoyed finding out more about the mysterious rose’s powers. I’ve read pretty much every book that this author has written and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are a fan of dual timeline mysteries then I highly recommend this book. I’ve just bought myself a physical copy as I need to share it with my family and friends.
About The Author:
Nicola Cornick is a historian and author who works as a researcher and guide for the National Trust in one of the most beautiful 17th century houses in England. She writes dual time novels that illustrate her love of history, mystery and the supernatural, and focus on women from the footnotes of history. Her books have appeared in over twenty five languages, sold over eight million copies worldwide and been described as “perfect for Outlander fans.” Nicola also gives writing and history talks, works as a consultant for TV and radio, and is a bookseller at the Wantage Bookshop.
Her new dual time novel, ‘The Secrets of the Rose’ is set during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 and features the Northumbrian heroine Dorothy Forster, whose family owned the mighty Bamburgh Castle. ‘The Secrets of the Rose’ will be published by Boldwood Books on 7th February 2025 in all formats and is up for pre-order now!
Nicola loves to chat to readers about history, reading and writing.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Fab review glad you enjoyed it x
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I have been interested in the Jacobites for a while after first having heard of them in a book or three!
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