This novel wasn’t too bad.
I had most of it figured out once all the characters were laid out. The romance happened a bit quickly for me and I had hoped for more hauntings but all in all the story came together really well.
This is an easy read.
I finished this novel in a day so I recommend this book for anyone looking for something that’s not too complex.

This is the perfect Gothic Historical Romantic Suspense book I've read in a long time. Of course it's srlet in Cornwall in England. Of course it has a big old creepy mansion and a ghost with a handsome caretaker. This was so perfect for a rainy day. It was atmospheric and I loved every word of it!! Definitely a 5 star read. I can't stop thinking about it!!
I just reviewed The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson. #TheOrchidsofAshthorneHall #NetGalley
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The book was a bit slow with a little too much description of surroundings and not enough dialogue. I did enjoy the mystery and that kept me reading. The romance could have used more development.

"Orchids and ghosts and romance. What more could any woman want?"

I've read a couple of Rebecca Anderson's books before and I thought the cover of this book was completely captivating and as an orchid lover myself, it peaked my curiosity.  I loved the beginning of the story, and the Cornwall setting.  It was atmospheric, and laid down the foundation for a gothic vibe mystery.  However,  I felt the romance overshadowed the mystery, which I figured out pretty easily, and I found it to be VERY quick to the point of being unbelievable. It's odd, because that usually doesn't bother me but this time it did. The FMC seemed immature to me, she had herself practically married to the MMC the moment she clapped eyes on him.  Apparently I'm not a believer of love at first sight.  The romance was clean, kisses only. I really enjoyed the references to my fellow orchid friends and I liked how she talked to the plants and even need them.  I would have loved if the mystery took a more prominent role and the gothic vibe had deepened to a greater degree as the story progressed.  I liked the inclusion of the match girls and their plight but also wished that thread had been explored more in the story. 

I can't see this book being re-read for me.  Maybe my expectations were too high.  If you enjoy Joanna Davidson Politano or Abigail Wilson there is a good chance you will enjoy this book.

Thank you, Rebecca Anderson and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love all proper romance novels so went into this with expectations and they were met. I loved the botanist aspect and this book made me want to buy an orchid. Not so much a mystery that it needed to be released in October which I appreciated. It is definitely atmospheric though so reading in the fall time would be fun!

In the atmospheric and haunting tale of "The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall," author Rebecca Anderson crafts a mesmerizing narrative set against the rugged Cornwall coast in 1887. The story revolves around Hyacinth Bell, a determined botanist with a passion for orchids, who becomes entangled in the mysteries surrounding Ashthorne Hall. The ghostly rumors surrounding the estate add an eerie backdrop to the blossoming romance between Hyacinth and Lucas Harding, the charismatic caretaker with a hidden past. As Hyacinth delves into the strange occurrences within the halls of the estate, the novel takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with unexplainable noises, mysterious disappearances, and the specter of a woman in white.

The author skillfully combines elements of romance, mystery, and the supernatural to create a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Hyacinth's independent spirit and determination to uncover the truth add depth to her character, while Lucas's enigmatic nature adds layers of intrigue to the plot. This is a captivating blend of historical fiction and ghostly mystery, offering a gripping tale of love, secrets, and the dark shadows that lurk within the hidden corners of a ghostly estate.

I wanted to love this book, but it was just okay for me. The characters were a little too good to be true, the romance between Lucas and Hyacinth moved incredibly fast -- too fast to be believable -- and the story itself was by turns confusing and then a little too trite. The concept was good, but I didn't love it.

I am in love with this cover; it perfectly matches the vibes of the story! I enjoyed the intelligent heroine with a unique set of skills, the mystery of the "ghost", the spooky and suspenseful elements ( that gave me goosebumps more than once, and the underlying theme of social reform. I am so glad a romance was included but it was a little too much on the insta love side of the line (as opposed to insta attraction) for my liking. I also wish the main characters would have communicated more and the heroine definitely made some questionable choices, though admittedly, they did move the plot along and brought further conflict into the story. I would recommend this one to any fan of gothic romance.

Extremely slow moving story of an orchid expert who is hired to care for the flowers on a remote estate while the family is away. Not much in the way of suspense and the ghost is far from scary.

Hyacinth Bell is a well known botanist in the area of orchids and accepts what seems to be an ideal position tending them while the family is away in India. Very quickly she hears about the ghost that inhabits the hall and not all is at appears. I was curious about the noises Hyacinth hears, the glimpses of a woman in white she sees, and what are the secrets that Lucas and the housekeeper are holding onto?

I liked the laments that are at the end of the chapters. They lend an eerie and gloomy sense to the story. You also get the sense of the emotions of the person who wrote them. I also was interested in the historical portion of the Industrial Revolution and was thankful that the author had notes afterwards. I love when I read a historical fiction book and learn something

I’m not a big fan of love at first sight, so I felt the romance was a bit rushed. I would like to have seen more interaction and development in the relationship between Hyacinth and Lucas. There are only kisses, so this can be read by all ages. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Bonus- There are discussion questions for a book club or a buddy read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Hyacinth has taken a job as an orchid gardener for an estate in Cornwall. Do ghosts come with the large, empty estate? It seems that they do, there is a mysterious woman in white, howling in the night, items left in her room.
And then there is Lucas, the handsome caretaker. Can we add romance to ghosts and mystery? The answer is yes!
This is a fun, gothic type story. I loved it. It kept my interest, I couldn't wait to find out how it would resolve. And it brings with it a historical detail I knew nothing about.

This book is a mix of mystery, thriller, and romance. Although at first, I thought this would be regency romance spiced with a little bit of thrill, I found myself thrown into a mystery with a scientific and botanical background. I loved the flow of the book as it was thrilling to meet all the characters and find out the cause of the mysterious phenomenon. I only hated two characters but in my opinion, every good book needs a villain, so all is good. I can only recommend this book to romance readers who love a little bit of a mystery.

Filled with suspense, mystery, & love, this story drew me in from the beginning. I was touched by the instant attraction between Hyacinth and Lucas and it warmed my heart to see that attraction grow by leaps and bounds culminating in great joy together. The “haunting” of the manor added intrigue which I was glad to see resolved in such a satisfactory manner. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, I received a free ARC copy. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5/5 stars

I really was looking forward to this book based on the summary, but sadly I wasn’t 100% satisfied with what I read. So while I did enjoy this book, it wasn’t my absolute favorite.
Strangely enough I kept questioning Hyacinth and Lucas’s first meeting and relationship, it seemed too easy and dare I say, a bit flat. It seemed like their whole relationship was based on the physical, like smiles, small touches and light flirting.
From the start Rebecca sucks the reader in with her remarkable imagery of the Cornish coast. While her descriptions were fantastic, there were large sections of descriptions that seemed to go on for a bit. This part is hard because it was both a plus and negative for me.
But there things I did enjoy that made the book memorable and recommendable. Mystery, suspense, action, romance, ghosts, a brilliant heroine and a sweet hero, what else does a book need? I also really enjoyed the insight into the wrongdoings of the factories at this time, and the resulting consequences. It added another layer to a good story. I also liked how until certain things were revealed I wasn’t able to figure them out, which is a big plus in my book (normally I can piece all the pieces together quite a bit before the “big reveal”).
Overall, I would recommend this book to others, and it wasn’t my cup of tea, I’m sure others will love it.

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson beckons readers to 1887 Cornwall, unveiling a tale of mystery and romance centered around Hyacinth Bell, a spirited botanist with a love for orchids. The gothic ambiance of Ashthorne Hall, rife with rumors of pirate treasure and ghostly apparitions, sets the stage for a slow-paced narrative that, while lacking in the anticipated thrills, paints a vivid picture of Regency London's opulence and the eerie grandeur of the manor. Hyacinth's character, a delightful blend of independence and innocence, navigates a lukewarm romance with the enigmatic caretaker Lucas Harding. Despite the plot's pacing issues and a somewhat superficial exploration of the working conditions of certain characters, the book weaves superstitions, science, and danger into an intriguing tapestry. Ultimately, The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall offers a gentle, uncomplicated read for those enchanted by the allure of haunted estates and Regency romance.

Set in 1887 in Cornwall. Hyacinth Bell has been hired to care for the wide array of orchids grown at Ashthorne Hall. The family is away and they need a caretaker for that time. But things become sinister at the mostly empty home rather quickly and before she knows it, her life is in danger and she is determined to figure out why.

This one was an overall good read. I am in awe of anyone that can keep orchids alive and well, so it was interesting reading about the plants. But the story did drag a bit at times. While I have heard about the match girls and the horrible things that happened to them, this one really brought it to light and it was so sad! A fairly good mystery with a clean romance mixed in.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Set in 1887 in the estate Ashthorne Hall on the Cornwall coast, our protagonist is botanist Hyacinth Bell, who specializes in the care of orchids. Her mother having died while she was young, Hyacinth was raised primarily by her father, a viscount and respected botanist. She arrives at Ashthorne Hall, having been hired by a fellow orchid enthusiast to safeguard his collection while he and his family travel to India. Hyacinth is excited by the prospect of a gloomy castle and openly hopes to find a ghost story. Unsurprisingly, she does, along with a mercurial housekeeper and a dashing young caretaker. But is the staff hiding secrets from her? Can she solve the mystery of Ashtorne Hall? Rather unsurprisingly, yes. I felt there was a great deal of suspension of disbelief required for this novel- in 1887 titled English ladies did not seek employment, nor travel alone (at least while their titled father’s lived), and they did not immediately view caretakers as marriage material. The happy acceptance of a ghost is met with little fear nor questioning. Not to offer spoilers, but I felt the ghost’s story was far more interesting and was disappointed that is was given such brief treatment. However, for someone who is looking for a clean romance with a gothic flair, this will suit the bill. I was given an advanced reader of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson

DNF @ 31%

I’m really striking out on my spooky reads this year. The dialogue feels very clunky and doesn’t flow well, the romance is way too insta (like, laughably so), and nothing is really happening. It started out atmospheric and spooky, but I’m getting really tired of reading about this lady talking to her orchids like they’re friends.

A very Gothic cover that completely points to a deliciously Gothic story.

When Hyacinth arrives at Ashthorne Hall to care for the orchids, she finds a mansion full of secrets and becomes surrounded by intrigue and suspense. She meets Lucas, the caretaker, and they become friends, despite his keeping secrets from her.

A delightful, entertaining read!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the last handful of books that Rebecca Anderson has put out, this was only okay for me. It was well done, and a unique story with some amazing historical background that I was so glad to learn about from her book (which then lead to more researching for me). It just wasn't a storyline that I connected with.

I am glad I finished it. I didn't feel like it was a DNF at all, and if I had, I would have missed my favorite part with the historical bits. This was just one that was hard for me to suspend my disbelief enough to dive in fully.

If ghosts are your thing, this would be a good read for you.
2.75