📖 Blog Tour ~ The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick

Boldwood Books
7 February 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book
and to Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

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…

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.

About the Author

Nicola Cornick is the international bestselling and award-winning historian and author of over 40 novels featuring women from the footnotes of history. Translated into 25 languages and previously published by HQ, her first book for Boldwood, The Other Gwyn Girl, set in the time of Charles II, was released in March 2024.

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