Tour Review - - The Secrets of the Rose

The Secrets of the Rose

by Nicola Cornick

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Release Date: February 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

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.

PJ's Thoughts:

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.