I just finished The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick and here is my review.

Hannah is back at Bamburgh hall for work and she doesn’t expect to find a family secret.. A legacy started centuries ago and someone killing to kill for it.

I was so excited when I got this book. I am a big fan of Nicola Cornick and this book did not disappoint.. The book is told through dual timelines but I felt more inclined to the present day. The past felt slower paced than the present day.

We follow Hannah in the present day and Dorothy in the past. The past covers the civil war and Dorothy's brothers played in the coup of trying to put the Scottish king on the British throne. I love history and this is a civil war I know about.

The writing is phenomenal. The 2 POV interchanges really well and flowed from time to time with ease. I never felt lost or bored. The author did a really solid job of the imagery that was depicted in the book of the Bamburgh Castle. It made me miss the beaches back home so it made me nostalgic. The historical elements were well researched and I really love historical fiction that takes care with history.

I highly recommend this book.

5 stars

Set in two timelines of 1715 and present time.

In 1715 Dorothy Forster is living in Bamburgh Hall in Northumberland. Her brother Thomas is heavily involved in the participation of a future uprising by his fellow Jacobites.
Dorothy is fearful of what these rebellions will cause.

Present time.
Hannah Armstrong returns to her childhood home Bamburgh Hall to work from there for a little while.
Hannah reacquaints herself with Bamburgh as she delves into secrets of the past and present.

This is the first book I have read from the author, and now I long to read more.
It was a very interesting and well written book, as I live not far from Bamburgh I am familiar with the areas beaches, but not of Dorothy Foster.
It was great to read about Dorothy and do some research myself at the end of the book.
Next time I am in Bamburgh I will be looking at it with fresh eyes.
A book I will remember.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

This is a fabulous story it is a long time since I have read one of Nicola Cornick’s books and I am so glad I picked this one up, set over two time lines centuries apart in the same home and town we meet Dorothy Forester during the Jacobite Rebellion and Hannah Armstrong in the present, the story is intriguing, so well written and it was hard to put down.

1715 the country is on the brink of rebellion, Dorothy Forester lives in Bamburgh Hall with her ailing father, her older brother, Thomas is away at parliament in London and younger brother Nicholas is as Oxford, but trouble is brewing and Dorothy gets caught between the warring factions, all she want is to keep her family safe and then there is the mystery of The Rose a talisman that is hundreds of years old and it is said that her family is the keeper of The Rose and she knows she must keep it safe from falling into the wrong hands. The local blacksmith John Armstrong is there to support and help Dorothy and they get closer throughout the trying times.

Present times Hannah has returned home to Bamburgh to write a biography on a local hero Grace Darling but when she arrives she finds that her step-mother Diana is not well and that she has kept things from Hannah about her brother Brandon and Hannah is determined to get to the truth and this brings her to researching Dorothy Forester another local heroine during the Jacobite Rebellion and the more she digs the more she seems to think that there is a lot more to this myth about The Rose and is there a chance that somehow she is linked to The Rose as well and then danger arrives and like in her past there is someone there to save her Aaron her teenage crush, will they find the answers to the myths and secrets that abound around The Rose?

Nicola Cornick has researched and come up with a story that is intriguing, magical and has the reader thinking about myth, legend and facts, the characters are so very good and I felt a connection to them from the start, well most of them there are some that show their true self and I have no problem highly recommending this one to any reader and lover of a good historical story with a touch of everything in it. I loved it.

My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books

Before you even open The Secrets Of The Rose, take a moment to admire the utterly gorgeous cover. It is one of the loveliest I’ve seen in recent times. Between the covers, you’ll find an intriguing and entertaining story that was hard for me to put down. Nicola Cornick has done a masterful job of weaving a plausible plot around some fascinating strands of history to create a fascinating story. Told in two timelines that eventually connect through the rose, this book is set almost exclusively in the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland.
In 1709, we meet Dorothy Forster, who has escaped her family home for the evening to attend the Midsomer Fair. Her life at this stage is full of pleasure, however change is foreshadowed, and in 1715 we see that coming into effect. By this stage, Dorothy’s father is ill, her mother has been dead for a long time and her older brother Thomas, not the sharpest tool in the shed, has embraced the Jacobite cause, putting the rest of his family in danger, including her younger brother Nicholas, who is fired up with the glory of it all.
Dorothy is a steadfast woman, well-loved by her family retainers and the villagers, and torn between trying to protect them all from the horrors of war. She’s both endearing and admirable, able to strongly refute unwelcome offers of marriage that seem to come often, and also capably running her brother’s estate for him. I cheered her as she faced one difficulty after another. Bamburgh blacksmith John Armstrong is also a strong character in this timeline, a staunch supporter of Dorothy and clearly in love with her if she would only recognise it. When danger comes, it is always John who steps in to sort things out.
In the present day, Hannah Armstrong has returned to Bamburgh Hall, her family home, to write a biography of local heroine Grace Darling, who helped her father rescue survivors of a shipwreck in 1838. While working on this, Hannah also indulges her fascination with Dorothy’s history. Meanwhile, her brother Brandon is a somewhat sinister character in the background, and Aaron Salter, her teenage crush, is newly single. While the attraction between these two is patently obvious and provides a nice secondary thread, it is by no means the driver of this story. I loved watching Hannah unravelling the mystery of the rose, including discovering exactly what it was. A cast of secondary characters, most notable among them Hannah’s stepmother Diana, add interest to the story.
The characters in both timelines are all superbly crafted and realistic, some of them easy to like and others very easy to loathe. The balance is very well done. This story had me racing from cover to cover and then regretting not having taken the time to savour the unfolding plot.

I love Cornick's novels that include the present and the past. They are skillfully written, well-researched, and have compelling characters. Fans of Diana Gabaldon should check these out.

Another winner from Nicola Cornick. As with many of her other books, this is a dual timeline novel that takes place in present day and in the 1600's. It is a story of Hannah, a writer who is doing research on Grace Darling, and Dorothy Forester, the sister of rebels. Both storylines had me entranced from the first. I had read about Grace Darling before so I knew her story, but the author gives you enough information so you will know what happened to her. I especially liked how Nicola weaved the two timelines together. This is one of my favorites by this author so far. If you like historical fiction, you will love this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early read of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Nicola Cornick has won me over with her last books, and so I bought this one blindly. Okay, maybe not that blindly, because hey, isn't that a beautiful cover? Flowery, romantic, and yet somehow mysterious.

The author remains true to her tried and tested pattern in her new novel: there are two time lines, one in the here and now, one in the past; but we are based on one place, namely Bamburgh Hall, an old estate in Northumberland. In 1715, Dorothy Forster lived here with her family - and two of her brothers were actively involved in the Jacobin rebellion. Dorothy's family have long been secret guardians of the rose - the rose, a jewel that is passed down from every mother to the eldest daughter; a talisman that offers protection in deadly political conflicts, a precious piece of jewelry that everyone is after. But can Dorothy use the rose to protect her brothers? And can she prevent the planned high treason? And then there is love, and this is where it gets really romantic, because Dorothy's chosen man is not really of her social standing - but he is a man with an extraordinary amount of courage and a sense of honour.....

More than 300 years later, we are also at Bamburgh Hall with Hannah Armstrong. Hannah is an author and has returned to her old home for research purposes. She is actually supposed to write about a local heroine, but she is interested in Dorothy Foster, and so we readers are actually following two historical women whose lives Hannah is researching. Yes, Dorothy, whose portrait hangs in Hannah's room and with whom she feels a strangely intimate connection. Dorothy with her rose, which is still highly sought after today, a now ancient treasure for which some people are prepared to commit crimes.... and Hannah also has romantic entanglements when her old childhood friend Aaron appears....

So, 2 strong women, 2 exciting stories, interwoven with each other about the legendary rose - all in all a wonderful story that captivated me from the start. Ms Cornick knows how to write vividly, to write in a thrilling way, and to bring history to life. The two heroines convinced me. A credible cast, not only of the main actresses, but also of the supporting protagonists.

I once again found the setting convincing, and everything historically very well researched. For me as a foreigner, the author always takes up periods of English history that are rather unknown to me. The Jacobite Rebellion is historically new territory for me as a German, so I found it enriching and exciting.
Oh and Dorothy and her love story, that was really heart-warming :-) . I liked it soooo much :-) A tough young lady who doesn't come across as all that extraordinary, but takes her life and love into her own hands. I was really completely immersed in the historical timeline while reading :-)

If you want to read an exciting dual-timeline novel with believable heroines, a touch of mysticism and lots of action and drama, this book is highly recommended! I liked it, I give it all the thumbs up and look forward to Ms Cornick's next books!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy!

It has been a while since I was so spellbound by a historical fiction, as I was with this one. It was billed as a historical fiction with elements of romance, with romance not typically being a genre I’m interested in. However, I was pleasantly surprised by The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick.

The characters were wonderfully written with depth, real emotions, and development. The two stories between the main character, Hannah in the present time and the alternating character, Dorothy in the 1700’s was incredibly enjoyable to read. It was very clear that Nicola Cornick did her research on historical elements of the time period and wove a beautiful and haunting account of the Jacobite rebellion and the aftermath affecting those involved and the families outside of the rebellion.

I loved the imagery that was depicted in the book of the Bamburgh Castle, the beaches of the coastal town, homes repurposed or remodeled to be used in the present time linked to historical figures/events, and the research Hannah does in museums and in the small town. I found myself immersed in the scenery and wanting to traverse all the locations to view for myself.

It was an excellent read and I found that I didn’t want it to end!

Absolutely love this book, it was written superbly and for once, I didn’t find myself preferring one narrative over the other when it came to the dual-time narrative. I enjoyed both immensely! In both, Bamburgh almost takes on a role as character itself, and perhaps that’s being a fan of the area myself but I felt it really set the scene and intrigue for the storylines. I enjoyed the mirroring of the protagonist’s stories and will definitely recommend this book to friends or fans of historical fiction.

Two women. Two periods of time. Both facing danger and difficult decisions. Bound together by a mysterious talisman entrusted to their keeping.

It took but a few pages to pull me into this book. Nicola Cornick used historical facts, a superbly detailed sense of place, intriguing characters, and life or death events to immerse me into 18th century Northumberland and the lives of Dorothy Forster, those who supported her, and those who meant to use her for their own gains. I was immediately invested in this woman and eager to discover the entirety of what actually happened to her all those years ago.

Equally compelling is the present-day character of Hannah Armstrong. Growing up in Bamburgh Hall, the very same home in which Dorothy lived, Hannah has always been fascinated with this historical character. A writer, Hannah has been contracted to write a biography about another historical woman in the area but she keeps being pulled back to Dorothy. As the stories of both Dorothy and Hannah unfold in alternating chapters of this book, it begins to become evident that they have more in common than Hannah would ever have guessed and that just as Dorothy faced peril at the hands of those closest to her, so too may Hannah.

Cornick brought these characters, events, and places to life in vivid detail that immersed me into their worlds and kept me there until the final page. The secrets of the rose are slowly unveiled as the story progresses, bringing with them a touch of magic that transcends the centuries. The romantic elements also are slowly developed organically and believably, allowing friendship and love to grow at its own pace. The danger in both centuries kept me glued to the pages, fearing for those in whom I was already invested while trying to guess which characters - in both eras - are friend or foe. And, the hall, the castle, the village, and the shoreline of this corner of England have me itching to book a trip and go exploring.

I enthusiastically recommend The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick. It ticked all of my happy reading boxes.

ARC received from publisher.
Fair and unbiased review.

Writer Hannah Armstrong has been commissioned to write the story of Grace Darling, a Victorian heroine who became famous after performing an amazing history following a shipwreck off the coast of the town of Bamburgh in north eastern England. For Hannah, this is a chance to come home for a while to spend time in the town she grew up and with her stepmother Diana. However, Hannah has never really been that enthralled with the tale of Grace Darling. She is much more interested in the story of Dorothy Forster, sister to a rebel Jacobite general, but she has a job to do, and she will do it. When she sees a portrait of Dorothy on the wall in her family home she is enthralled by the picture, and by all the Jacobite symbolism.

What she doesn't expect when she arrives at Bamburgh is to find that Diana has been keeping big secrets from her, and it means that she will need to spend more time in town than she first planned. It turns out though that there are many secrets, and as Hannah researches both stories, she begins to find more and more threads that link directly to her, and somewhat disturbingly that lead to some uncomfortable truths about her brother, Brandon.

Whilst this is a dual timeline, in effect we are getting three stories for the price of two. We find out more details about Grace's story as Hannah researches and writes. We get to see Dorothy Forster's story as it unfolds in the past. Dorothy is the person who keeps their household running. Her father is mentally absent most of the time and is very unwell, her older brother is mixed up in all sorts of trouble, including the Jacobite rebellion which aims to return Prince James Stuart to the British throne at the expense of King George I. Her younger brother Nicholas is away at Oxford studying, so Dorothy is most shocked when she finds out that he too is involved in the Jacobite conspiracy. Her uncle, Lord Crewe, is determined that the family name will not be tainted in any conspiracy as he knows that there is a risk that they will all be implicated, and he is prepared to use Dorothy as a marriage pawn if he needs to, much to her dismay.

As both stories progress, there is an echo through the generations, both in terms of the difficult familial dynamics, the feelings that Dorothy and Hannah have for men that they don't believe that they could or should have. Dorothy was also the keeper of a talisman, known as The Rose. The talisman has been lost to history, but as Hannah researches it becomes clear that someone believes in the power of The Rose and will do anything to have it.

I first became interested in Jacobite history after reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, but it really caught me once i read a number of Susanna Kearsley's books, starting with The Winter Sea. There were parts of this book that really reminded me of Kearsley's stories in terms of there being an almost mystical connection between some of the characters. Reading this book made me wish I had time to reread some of my favourites from her, or maybe I should just read her latest book! Either way would work for me I think!

I liked this book because it told the story of English Jacobites rather than just focussing on the Scottish history. We were in Scotland last year and we heard a lot about the Jacobites. We even visited the famous Glenfinnan monument to them, which is handily located right near the famous viaduct that the Harry Potter train crosses over!

Very early on in the book there is a passage about some glassware. Many years ago now, the National Gallery of Victoria had an exhibition of Jacobite glassware which I spent ages looking at. Some of these were meant to be used to communicate hidden political sympathies, and others were more overt. I couldn't help but think of that display when I read this passage.





"I can't tell you how lovely it is to have you staying for more than just a few days," Diana said later, over dinner of shepherd's pie accompanied by some of the expensive red wine Hannah had brought with her. Diana had served the meal on the 'good' china with some antique crystal glasses she had bought in an antique shop in Alnwick.

"As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have them," Diana had told her when Hannah had commented on them. "They came from a house clearance over at Adderstone. You remember the old manor house there? It's been derelict for years, but apparently its being turned into holiday flats now. The antiques dealer said these were quite a find."

"They're beautiful," Hannah had said truthfully, but in fact they were so fragile that she felt nervous to touch them. Hers was engraved with a circle of entwined oak leaves and Diana's had a rose on it. In the cupboard on the wall, Hannah could see the rest of the set sparkling in the light, each with a different motif - a butterfly, sunflower, crown and rosebuds. The symbols were the same as the ones in the portrait of Dorothy Forster in the hall.


You can some of the symbolism in the image below from the exhibit. It wasn't the easiest to take photos of, but it does give you an idea.



I had not previously read Nicola Cornick before. Looking at her backlist there are a number of her older books that I would like to read at some point!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge when I host here. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

Once again, Nicola Cornick creates a dual-timeline novel that captures the imagination as well as your heart, making THE SECRETS OF THE ROSE simply unputdownable.

With two strong, intelligent female main characters, we are drawn deeply into a story that is emotional and compelling.
In the present day, Hannah has returned home to Bamburgh Hall to focus on her work but it soon becomes obvious that there are secrets hidden in the hall's depths and her stepmother knows more than she is letting on.
​Bamburgh Hall is also the setting for Dorothy Forster but as it is 1715 Dorothy is living a much different life to Hannah. Restricted at every turn, Dorothy is fighting to protect those she loves and the Rose, a legendary talisman, that both sides of a dangerous rebellion will do anything to get their hands on. But can she make it through when the odds are heavily stacked against her?

With a stunning setting and characters that genuinely make you care about them, THE SECRETS OF THE ROSE by Nicola Cornick is a wonderful read from beginning to end. History is effortlessly interwoven with elements of danger, love, and the formidable strength of women, making Nicola Cornick one of the best dual-timeline writers ever. A must-read in every way, THE SECRETS OF THE ROSE needs to be next on your reading list for 2025.

I like Nicola Cornick’s books because you always know what to expect from them, but at the same time each one is different and has something new to offer. With The Secrets of the Rose, I got exactly what I knew I would get: a dual timeline narrative, strong female protagonists, a search for an historic relic that has found its way into the present, cameo appearances by characters from other Cornick novels, and hints of the supernatural. However, I also had the opportunity to learn about a woman I’ve never read about before – Dorothy Forster of Bamburgh Hall.

In the present day, we meet Hannah Armstrong, an author working on a new book about Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter who became a 19th century celebrity after helping her father to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck. In order to research the biography, Hannah has returned to Bamburgh, the village on the Northumberland coast where she grew up and which she can use as a base for visiting the Darlings’ lighthouse in the nearby Farne Islands. Unfortunately, Hannah is finding that she has very little interest in Grace and her life – the woman she really wants to write about is another local heroine, Dorothy Forster.

Dorothy’s story unfolds in 1715, the year of the Jacobite Rising when supporters of the exiled James Edward Stuart attempted to restore him to the throne. Dorothy, who is living at Bamburgh Hall with her ailing father, is alarmed when she learns that her two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas, have been persuaded by one of the Jacobite leaders, the Earl of Derwentwater to join the rebellion. As the nephews of Lord Crewe of Bamburgh Castle, not only will their involvement put their own lives at risk, it could also leave the whole family in danger. Then Dorothy discovers that the Forsters are the keepers of the Rose, a legendary talisman that both sides in the conflict believe could be the key to victory. Can Dorothy hide the Rose from their enemies and keep her brothers safe?

These two storylines start to come together when Hannah goes to stay at Bamburgh Hall, her stepmother Diana’s home. As is often the case with dual narrative books, I found that one storyline interested me more than the other and this time it was the Dorothy Forster one. There were a lot of things I liked about Hannah’s story as well, but Dorothy’s was more exciting. Legend states that Dorothy rode to London on horseback to rescue her brother Thomas from Newgate Prison after the failed rebellion and Cornick does incorporate this episode into the novel, but also shows that there’s a lot more to Dorothy’s story than that. The Jacobite aspect of the novel plays out mainly in the background, far away from Bamburgh, so the focus is more on Dorothy’s personal life and her relationships with family and friends.

I thought the novel was interesting enough without the magic talisman element and I’m not sure if it really added much to the plot. Still, Nicola Cornick’s books do usually have some supernatural touches and they’re not as strong here as in some of her others. I did love the setting – although I wouldn’t say I know Bamburgh well, I’ve been there a few times and enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of Hannah and Dorothy in two different centuries. And I was intrigued to find when I read the author’s note that Dorothy’s uncle, Guy Forster, and his wife also appear in Cornick’s previous book, The Other Gwyn Girl, which I haven’t read yet. The relationship between them is fictional, although they share the Forster name, but I do want to read that book anyway.

I really enjoyed The Secrets of the Rose, then, and would probably rank it in my top three Nicola Cornick novels so far, along with The Last Daughter and The Phantom Tree.

Terrific dual timeline story by Nicola Cornick! Dividing its time between 18th century and 21st century England, The Secrets of the Rose follows Dorothy, whose family is split between King George and the Stuart King residing in France. Dorothy Forster is caught between her uncle who is solidly on the side of King George, and her brothers who are on the side of the Stuart king across the water. Dorothy's father is ill, and sometimes confused, and her uncle has essentially taken over all of the Forster estates for himself. A secret talisman is involved, there are villains galore and politics abound!

In modern times, Hannah Armstrong is in Bamburg on a project to research and write a book about another female hero, but she finds her assigned hero much less interesting than lesser known Dorothy. As she researches one, she is more and more drawn to the other, and soon parallels between Hannah's life and Dorothy's life begin to emerge. And just what is the Rose, and what is the secret? You have to read the book to find out, but it's definitely worth it!

Hannah Armstrong returns to Bamburgh Hall, in the North East, once her childhood home, in order to do some research for a work assignment and in doing so finds that she is strangely drawn to a mysterious portrait of a beautiful young woman. Dorothy Forster, is the indomitable young woman, who lived at Bamburgh Hall in the early eighteenth century, and it is her portrait, and her combined story that we follow in this cleverly controlled time slip novel.

With careful attention to detail and in beautifully written alternate chapters we move seamlessly between the modern day and Hannah’s complicated family dynamics, her concern for her stepmother, who is struggling, and the uneasiness which surrounds her brother, Brandon. Back in 1715 we follow Dorothy as she worries about her two brothers who are caught up in the events leading to the first of the Jacobite rebellions and as these events spiral out of control so we follow Dorothy on a treacherous path to keep her family safe.

Bringing the past to life is what this author does best. Her fine attention to detail brings not just the eighteenth century to life in all of its periodic detail, but we also get to spend time in modern day Bamburgh, with its looming castle, and windswept beaches, which helps to create a lasting impression. Slipping back through time, Dorothy’s story, once the stuff of legend comes alive, and I found the Jacobite connection absolutely fascinating, especially the importance of the rose talisman which Dorothy discovers has such a powerful meaning to both her family, and the Jacobite cause.

Beautifully written, and researched, The Secrets of the Rose,with its hint of magical realism and a touch of tender romance, gives a fascinating glimpse into the dangerous events of the past, bringing alive a story which is rich in historical detail and alive with intrigue.

Based off the cover and the description, I was really keen to read this book. It seemed really inciting. I have been reading a lot of historical fiction with dual POVs and I thought this one was great! I really liked Dorothy and Hannah, they were both unique and their own timelines were really well written. I also loved the setting, Bamburgh Hall was really well brought to life. I was drawn to this book because I have excavated at Bamburgh with the Bamburgh Research Project. I absolutely loved how this author brought the town and history to life. This village is really close to me and I loved this book.

I liked this story and would recommend it.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a timeslip mystery, and I was really excited to read it, as I remembered enjoying some previous books by this author. There are two narratives - one following Hannah and the present day, and the following Dorothy in 1715. Hannah is writing a biography about a local heroine, but it's Dorothy’s story that interests her the most. Hannah learns of a mysterious talisman called The Rose, and Dorothy knew about it too. Why is The Rose so important, and what secrets does it hold?

The author brought Bamburgh Hall to life in my mind, and it provided me with an escape. I found that I connected with both protagonists in different ways, which is usually the case. I identified more with Hannah, but there was something about Dorothy and her demeanour that I admired, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

What I love about this type of book is that there are essentially two stories for the reader to escape into, and once you become invested, it's hard to stop reading until you've finished. Nicola Cornick was one of the first authors that made me feel drawn to books like this. This was a captivating mystery with a hint of romance, and it sparked joy to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I really loved the way the author brought history to life in this absorbing read – her descriptions are stunning, with all those wonderful small details. And the characters were exceptionally well drawn, the writing so strong that I felt drawn into their lives.

In the present day, Hannah is back home in Bamburgh to research her next writing commission, a book about Grace Darling’s life – but she finds far more fascination in the life of Dorothy Forster and her involvement with the Jacobite cause around the time of the 1715 rebellion. But she’s also found that her stepmother is struggling with her health – well supported by her new partner, but influencing her decision to stay around rather longer than she’d originally planned. Meeting up with former friends, she finds that her absent brother might have ruffled a few feathers (putting it mildly…) – his planned return becomes something she’s rather dreading, and with good cause.

And then we have the story of Dorothy Forster herself – caring for her ailing father, her older brother a leading light for the Jacobite cause, her younger brother becoming far more involved than she’s comfortable with. And she’s promised in marriage to a vehement opponent of the cause, a match arranged by her controlling uncle who lives at the castle, when she’s already found a perhaps far less suitable man (in the eyes of others) who’s offered her his kindness and support.

I won’t tell the story, but I very much enjoyed the way it unfolded – the stories mirroring each other with their romantic elements and complications caused by errant brothers, the transitions between past and present smoothly handled, both narratives equally engaging. There’s plenty of well-written drama, twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, the mystery about the Rose and its significance at the book’s centre, and a touch of old magic that only enhanced the gripping story. The romantic elements are beautifully done, both relationships I really believed in, with the perfect emotional touch. And the historical detail was impeccably researched, used lightly to bring the past vividly to life – I felt entirely present at a time in history that I previously knew little about.

This is the first time I’ve read one of the author’s books, and I’ll certainly be reading more – and I’m really looking forward to my forthcoming visit to Bamburgh, with new insights into Dorothy’s compelling story. This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed, and would very much recommend to others.

The Secrets of the Rose is another great dual time period novel from Nicola Cornick. I have enjoyed all her previous dual time novels and the way she weaves historical facts with a touch of the supernatural.

1715 and Dorothy Forster lives at Bamburgh hall with her ailing father. She has two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas. Thomas is a ne’er do well member of Parliament and a secret Jacobite. Nicholas is an 18 year old student at Oxford. Then both are pulled into the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. Dorothy using her wits, attempts to save at least her younger brother Nicholas from their folly. With the help of the local blacksmith John Armstrong and her more than capable housekeeper Mrs. Selden, Dorothy attempts to mitigate the destruction that her foolish brothers bring down on the family, Dorothy also has the assistance of the Rose, a talisman that has been handed down through the generations of her family, a talisman that will protect the wearer as long as they do not try to use the Rose for nefarious gains.

In the present, Hannah Armstrong, a writer goes back to her family home, Bamburgh Hall to research a book she is writing on the plucky Victorian heroine Grace Darling. Not being a huge fan of Grace, Hannah finds herself distracted by the story of Dorothy Forster. After finding out that her step-mother Diana is battling cancer, Hannah decides to stay and assist her step-mother while researching Grace’s story. She reconnects with her childhood crush Aaron and together they uncover the mystery surrounding Dorothy and her supposed heroism during the Uprising, Hannah also has a ne’er do well brother, Brandon, who seems to have malicious plans of his own. Hannah may be in more danger that she knows.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

This book is too slow-paced for me, meandering and directionless. There are a lot of characters to keep track of with nothing to cement them in my memory. Obviously, others enjoy it, but it’s not for me. DNF.