A fantastic Victorian gothic novel! I read this delightful story in one sitting!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

If you love gothic tales this one’s for you!

This takes the gothic feels of books like Wuthering Heights and mixes it with wholesome, easier-to-digest romance!
There’s some mystery. There’s some intrigue.
I loved that this wasn’t gruesome or scary, and instead told a story with a different flair than you usually read. Fantastic story!

A ghostly mystery and clean romance

Hyacinth studied botany and is hired to care for the orchid collection of a family living out of the country for a while. The manor is said to be haunted but surprisingly that makes her excited instead of afraid. She keeps catching glimpses of a white figure and items mysteriously appear in her locked room.

This is set in England in 1887 so it is unusual that Hyacinth is educated and works with plants. The housekeeper is Mrs. Carter, and her nephew Lucas is the caretaker. He plays piano but Hyacinth doesn’t. A lot of things in this book are the opposite of most books set in this time period, so I kept thinking it was a little more modern.

It bothered me that Hyacinth thought it was ok to snoop around the manor and pick locks to look in rooms she was specifically told to stay out of. Also, it is love at first sight, but I couldn’t feel the romance between them. I liked that the story was unique, had a strong heroine, and was clean. I loved that Hyacinth has a beloved orchid named Eleanor that she treats like a best friend or maybe a pet. I also liked learning about a medical condition I wasn’t familiar with. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to use for my review.

I had no idea what to expect starting “The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall” by Rebecca Anderson. To say I was surprised in the best way puts it best. From the first page, I was intrigued and the suspense kept up until the end.

I normally love a dual point-of-view, but this is told entirely from Hyacinth’s perspective. I loved it. Hyacinth is bold, strong, and brave! Reading this book is a treat, especially if you love strong female leads.

I don't want to give away the story, but I really loved the time period and certain events of the time the book focuses on. The author wrote an intriguing story that brings more light to some of the horrors people went through to take care of themselves.

“The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall” is the perfect read for those who love Gothic Victorian reads, romance, and mystery.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy. These opinions are my own.

This book has all the makings of an intriguing gothic historical! The author did a great job of setting the tone and atmosphere for the reader right from the start with descriptive imagery of the coastline and estate. However I was left wanting a bit as the descriptions were numerous and I felt as though it really slowed the pacing of this novel. I had a difficult time liking the heroine. She was cheerful which was a bright spot in this book, however she came across a bit silly and somewhat juvenile at times. I am never a fan of instant love in a story and this happened so quickly I almost didn’t trust that it was real. The air of mystery was lost in pages of tending plants and wordy details . I was hoping this book would be more mysterious and chilling and it just didn’t deliver. Overall if you are looking for a slower paced mystery that eases you into the story you might enjoy this one!

Consider me intrigued.
Haunting cover? Check. Gothic setting, complete with a foggy seaside estate and a ghost? Check. Mystery and romance? Check and check.
This is my kind of book.

Normally I will savor a 300 page book over the better part of a week. Surprisingly, this was a super quick read -- I finished it in one evening. The female main character is both sweet and savvy, and she approaches life with such a beautiful, innocent passion. The joy she finds in her orchids even evokes a little envy -- if only we all found that level of fulfillment in our careers!

There is a coziness to this story. It takes place almost entirely on a single estate- one that has been closed while its owner travels abroad. The only individuals present are the skeleton staff members required to care for the property in his absence. Ms. Anderson does an excellent job of fleshing out this small cast of characters, and there was enough complexity that I found myself side-eying at least a couple of them, curious if they would turn out to be malevolent rather than friendly. Speaking of complexity, I appreciated the unpredictability of Ashthorne Hall's plot progression. We begin with a heroine carrying on a conversation with her beloved ... orchid. Yes, her orchid. Then a few pages later we find ourselves in a delightful mystery, which segues straight into events rooted in history. While there is romance, it mostly takes a backseat to the other plot elements. If I have any criticism of this book, is that it moves quite quickly, and I would have enjoyed learning a few more details along the way.

Regarding the romance, no surprises here: it was wholesome and sweet, capping out at kissing.

This one was a joy to read. The historical elements piqued my curiosity, and I want to know more about those events -- and that, friends, is the mark of a successful book. Thank you, author and publisher, for an advance copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an enjoyable book to read. I loved Hyacinth's fun quirky personality. And how the book had some fun surprises in it. All in all it was a great gothic novel and would recommend it as a fun, clean read.

I loved learning about the historical events partly recounted in this novel and really connected with the characters involved. However, I wish these were the main characters rather than our protagonist and her love interest because they did not feel as fleshed out as the others. In addition our protagonist seemed to contradict herself since she seemed to be a grounded woman focused on her work, yet fell in love almost immediately. This made for a disappointing romance since there was almost no build up. Overall it deserves 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I recieved a free EArc copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5* I struggled to connect with these characters. Hyacinth was sweet and interesting, but I couldn't connect with her. I struggled to like Luke. I understand his reticent, but I still didn't trust him. This was an interesting tale with suspense and intrigue, but for some reason I can't explain, it just didn't resonate with me.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5

Let’s take a moment for this GORGEOUS cover! Never judge a book by its cover…but…I mean…it’s absolutely what drew me to pick this one up. I have read one of Becca's RomCom novels and loved it – I couldn’t wait to give her gothic romance a try.

If you’re a plant person, this book is a MUST read for sure. The moments spent with the orchids, who all get a name, personal conversations exchanged with said flowers…and the greenhouse. Oh goodness, this story is a plant lover's dream come true.

The year is 1887. Hyacinth Bell’s mother has passed away and she is traveling with her beloved orchid, “Eleanor”, to take a position of employment at Ashthorne Hall along the Cornwall coast. Hyacinth is dreaming of a fresh start to a new life, caring for Mr. Whitbeck’s prized orchids at the manor while he’s away in India. Things immediately feel a bit “off” upon arrival at Ashthorne. Mrs. Carter, the housekeeper, warns Hyacinth that she’s never to enter the north wing. She finds a mysterious locked cabinet in her room and frequently sees images of white scampering off in the halls at night. Ghostly noises intrigue Hyacinth and don’t at all seem to rattle her nerves. Against the housekeeper’s wishes, she sets off to explore the haunted halls on more than one occasion even after being warned of lurking spirits.

Lucas Harding is the estate’s handsome and charming caretaker. He and Hyacinth strike up quite an immediate connection. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, doubting who can be trusted throughout this entire read. What is truth, what is real…who or what is this woman in white that Hyacinth keeps seeing? I loved seeing how all of the dots connected at the end.

A great read that I'd be happy to recommend to others.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the spooky, gothic vibes in the story. I loved how the ghost wasn’t who we expected. I loved Hyacinth and her bravery. I loved her and Lucas’ relationship. I liked how they feel in love almost from the beginning but there was a bit of strain because Hyacinth could tell he was hiding something. I liked how the story got resolved and I enjoyed the characters.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

I really liked the history part of this book. It dealt with a topic I knew nothing about which was interesting. I would recommend this book to people who like mysteries that are a tiny bit on the scary side (it's not that bad unless you are listening to this book while driving in the middle of nowhere in the dark of night).

I enjoyed this book.
I had never heard of certain medical conditions (I don’t want to give things away) until reading this book. I then went down a rabbit hole researching about it- so sad. I love when a book makes me want to learn more about history.
I loved Hyacinth- she was unique and quirky. Talking to her plants and excited about the possibility of ghosts. Hearing about the Orchids was fun too.
I wasn’t a big fan of Lucas and the whole insta love stuff.

Victorian with a side of spooky. It’s not a common book combination and I was excited to try it out.

The book starts out pretty spooky. I pictured dark rainy corridors with secrets everyone side steps. How can the staff be so friendly and then so cold to Hyacinth? Hyacinth comes to the ghostly estate on the Cornwall coast to take care of the owner’s prized orchids. A lover of the flower, Hyacinth has become known for her skills to tend the plants.

The estate’s care taker, Lucas, is warm and friendly towards her, while the house keeper is anything but warm. There’s something off about the estate. Something they are hiding and Hyacinth is determined to find out what.

The mystery and spookiness was fun. I also enjoyed the bit of historical facts. I found myself searching the internet to learn more about what Hyacinth discovered.

If you like a mystery, with the side of a charming romance set in regency era, this book is for you. I loved that it was so different and I loved guessing at what the estate was hiding.

The only thing I would ask more of, would to develop the romance a little more. It felt a little shallow because he was holding back so much.

Hyacinth Bell is traveling to central Cornwall to work as the orchid botanist at Ashthorne Hall. She will be in charge of caring for the family’s vast collection of orchids while they are away overseas for some months. She learned so much from her father and after the death of her mother, she took over the lady’s expertise with orchids. Hyacinth has brought her mother’s prize orchid named Eleanor with her to care for along with the plants at the Hall. There is a large hothouse especially for growing and propagating the orchids and Hyacinth is just delighted to be working there.

The Hall is a vast place and the housekeeper, Mrs. Carter, has cautioned her that many of the rooms are off limits to her. She may stay in her room in the south side of the Hall and a few of the reception rooms downstairs but she is never to enter the north side of the residence. The woman infers that there may also be a ghost in the Hall. That doesn’t necessarily frighten her but it does intrigue her.

Soon, Hyacinth meets Lucas Harding, who is the estate caretaker while the family is away. He is also the nephew of Mrs. Carter. Hyacinth and Lucas hit it off and soon become good friends.

Before long, Hyacinth hears some noises and some flashes of white clothing in the dark areas of the Hall but she’s not convinced that it’s a ghost. When she searches down the ghost she is shocked at what she finds.

I cannot say more because that would be given out spoilers. Suffice to say that this story is completely different from what I expected it to be. I love how the author’s descriptions of the estate just made me feel like I was right there. The big secret is something from which I learned quite a lot and this is biggie. Readers will enjoy this story and I thank the author for enlightening me with her “big secret.”

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This one hit all the right notes for me! Historical fiction mixed with mystery and romance and a spooky setting to boot! Plus, it is a clean/closed-door romance, which I have been craving. I think this is a great book for the fall when you are in the mood for something with a darker setting. It's a quick read you could easily complete in a day or two. I honestly couldn't put it down!

A gothic romance with a haunted estate, mysterious characters, and hidden secrets.

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by @beccawilhite is a story about Hyacinth, a young lady charged at taking care of the orchids at a mysterious manor. It's there she finds a haunted atmosphere, hidden passages, and an unsolved mystery.

The romance was very insta-love. I thought it was insta-attraction but it quickly turned into a fast paced relationship that I didn't quite understand. Especially with all the secrets and haunted nature of the setting and storyline, I didn't really expect the FMC to easily trust someone so quickly. In turn, it made me not like her as much.

The twist in this story turned out to be a very interesting historical medical element that I found very intriguing and unique for a historical romance. I loved that piece.

All in all I think those who like gothic romance will enjoy this story. However, for a proper romance book, the romance needed more development.

Thank you Shadow Mountain for my gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

3.5stars

Ohhh, I love a good romance set in ghosty, haunted, creepy mansion out on the coast with few people around. It was so good. Had everything I could want and I couldnt wait to find out how it was going to end. Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for approving me to read and review this ARC. I cant wait to read more from this author.

This is a gothic novel, full of suspense and intrigue. I loved the questioning of Ashthorne Hall and if it truly could be haunted.

Read if you love:

💐ghosts
💐insta love
💐old haunted manors
💐mystery and suspense
💐found friends
💐education on terrible factory conditions
💐floral education
💐strong FMC
💐cinnamon roll/golden retriever MMC
💐HEA

The insta love was a little quick for my liking, but it was a fun storyline and likable characters. I did find it a little predictable as well, and felt like I kinda knew what was happening before it did.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story. It is told from the POV of the FMC only. She is developed well and is a likable character. The MMC is sweet and a bit mysterious. I didn’t mind the instant attraction between the two because it does happen. Sometimes you just know someone is right for you and it works out. The mystery kept me guessing and the revelation about a certain disease in the 1800’s was new to me. It made me want to research the subject more.