The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick
After finding an old portrait, of Anne Boleyn, in an antique shop, Alison Bannister is convinced that it is not of Anne Boleyn, but of Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr, last wife of Henry VIII.
Thus begins a fascinating story, weaving threads of the past and present. For Alison, the portrait might be the key that unlocks a secret in her past, and in the process of unravelling the mystery, she meets up with a past love, who has written a book, based around the portrait being that of Anne Boleyn. What is the connection between Alison Bannister and Anne Banastre, and why is it important for her to re-connect with her past?
A well written and exciting story, with an intricate plot, evocative sense of place and full of intrigue and mystery. I was hooked from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was my first book by Nicole Cornick. It was highly entertaining and kept my attention throughout. It was fast-paced, and I liked the twist of a character traveling forward in time, rather than back. Sometimes the characters used language that was far too modern for their time period. I noticed this with Mary a lot, and it could be jarring at times. I also thought that all the revelations at the end came too quickly and too close together, which drew the story out longer than necessary. Other than that, it was very enjoyable, and I'm happy to discover this new (to me) author.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#The Phantom Tree#NetGalley
By: Nicola Cornick
The story starts in modern time with Alison Banestre, a contemporary of the 1500's, finding herself in modern day London, while fleeing from her uncertain fate at the hands of the unscrupulous lord of the manor. This man impregnated Alison, then whisked the baby away. Allison's goal is to return to the past and find her baby
Her cousin, Mary Seymour, daughter of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII last wife, has supernatural powers. Mary leaves clues to the baby's whereabouts.
The story alternates between the distant past and the modern world. Both time periods hold your attention. The portal to the past and future is well done. A well written and well researched tale that will hold your interest to the satisfying end.

Historical Fictional fans rejoice!
Give a round of applause for The Phantom Tree!
For those who are as obsessed as I am with the Tudor court, for those that love the anything to do with 16th century England, this book is for you.
This is my first Nicola Cornick book and I have to say this, her writing style was beautiful!
The way she described scenes were detailed and you couldn’t help but imagine it vividly. The Phantom Tree is haunting and filled with mystery.

To be honest, this book had a little bit of everything: romance, probability of fear and wonderment, mystery, a sense of danger, time travel, hurdles of a woman in that era.

I will say this, this is not the best historical fiction out there but I absolutely enjoyed Nicola’s writing style. The way she has written this book, it was like she had woven a spell on readers..making you feel like as if the Fictional ‘facts’ were real and genuine.

I admit I Googled the hell out of the people who inspired the characters that were mentioned in this book.
The Phantom Tree is primarily a romance novel, and by the end I honestly felt a sense of bitter sweet contentment.

Highly recommend it!

Most books that involve time travel can't come anywhere close to The Time Traveler's Wife or Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, but The Phantom Tree does just that. It's the perfect blend of historical fiction with just the right amount of fantasy (i.e. the time travel). Inspired by a real character from history, Mary Seymour (daughter of Katherine Parr and Tom Seymour) The Phantom Tree takes us from 16th century England to current day England.

Alison Bannister sees a newly discovered portrait of Anne Boleyn...except its not Anne Boleyn, it's Mary Seymour. And to make it more complicated, the portrait was found by her ex, who is not at all eager to hear that it's not what he thinks it is. And just how does Alison know that it's Mary Seymour and not Anne Boleyn?

The Phantom Tree tells the story through both Mary Seymour's and Alison Banestre, alternating in time between present day and the 1550's. Alison is feisty, but also insecure and afraid to have a relationship...in the present day. Her focus is on one thing only, and that is to find her missing son.

Mary Seymour is a neglected ward, who is passed from one Seymour relative to another. She's essentially penniless but as the daughter of Henry VIII's last queen, she can't just be disposed of. Eventually she falls into the hands of a guardian who's evil wastrel son has a plan to get his hands on Katherine Parr's assets which should rightfully belong to Mary...

How are Mary and Alison connected? Will Alison reconnect with her ex? Will she find her missing son? I loved this book, and loved learning the answers to these and other questions. The Phantom Tree is romance, mystery, and history all rolled into one...although it's called historical FICTION for a reason, as Mary is the only real person in the book, and Nicola Cornick has imagined a life and death for her, as there is little known about her. It's a jolly good read as they say; pick it up, and you won't put it down until you are done!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

This was a good one. A well-spun mixed genre fiction with rich characters. The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick is a beautifully crafted story of the gossamer-like connection between humans, strong yet fragile. It is about one woman's relentless search for her missing child. And another's simple wish for a life without the stain of witchcraft, something that means persecution and certain death in the 15th century.

At first, I disliked Alison Banestre, the mother who was stuck in present times trying to find her way back. I understand that real-life people are flawed and you can't always have cookie-cutter perfect characters so, I gave the book a chance to redeem itself. And redeem itself it did! As you read through The Phantom Tree, you witness the blooming of the characters as they grow. Told in alternating POVs of Alison and Mary, taking place in two different times AND one in first person POV while the other in third person, Nicola Cornick is one heck of a talented writer. The transitions between all these were so seamless I didn't even notice the POV had changed from first to third until almost halfway in!
Even though the reader has access to facts in the present day, Cornick has withheld just enough that you won't know everything that happened in the past UNTIL she wants you to. Slowly but satisfyingly, you watch the events in both timelines unfold until they come full circle, albeit with some bittersweet consequences.

Surprisingly, I found myself rooting for Mary and her love interest. Although, on further reflection, I see why. Because Mary was a more likeable person and you instinctively want to protect her and wish for her a happily ever after. Alison, on the other hand, can look after herself in her own selfish fashion. Mary's telepathic connection with someone she's never met was quite sweet and enjoyable to read. (It reminded me of another story where the protagonist was a disabled girl who could speak telepathically with a boy in another country. I forgot what it was called. If anyone has read it please let me know, I loved that book and wish to read it again since I've forgotten enough for me to enjoy re-reading it.)

The story started out slow but a third into it I found myself devouring each chapter, wanting to know what happened to Mary Seymour and whether Alison finally found her long-lost son.

The Phantom Tree is a moving story of promises and deception, friendship and enmity, and love that transcends time.

(Phantom Paper Blog version of review will be up nearing the publish date.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin - Graydon House Books for the digital galley of this novel.

This is my first foray into a novel featuring time travel. I think I have the writing skills of Nicola Cornick to thank for my enjoyment of this story because she managed to efficiently address all the niggle bits for me before they had fully blossomed into niggle bits.

The story concerns two orphan girls in the mid-sixteenth century who were sent away from court to be raised in obscurity. One was the daughter of a queen and the cousin of another queen. It made no difference to Mary Seymour's future. The girls were being banished even further into the countryside because of the actions of Alison Banestre when Alison found a time slip. Now Alison Bannister is looking at a portrait of Mary Seymour which has been wrongly identified as Anne Boleyn. What's more important to Alison is that the portrait contains a secret message from Mary. Alison must find the clues to a sure way to travel back in time to Mary to unlock the message.

This is a time travel, romance and mystery all rolled into one. I did enjoy the book quite a bit, but not enough to want to seek out more novels along these lines. Cornick did a good job with this novel and it is sure to please readers who are familiar with her work or who particularly enjoy these themes in the novels they read.

I received The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick from NetGalley for an honest review.
This is the first book by Nicola Cornick that I have read but it won't be my last. The Phantom Tree is a cross of many genres; history, fantasy, romance and mystery. It is a time-travel book where the main character, Alison, travels from the 16th century to the present time. Alison notices a portrait in a museum that someone claims to be Anne Boleyn. Since Alison is from the Tudor 16th century, she immediately recognizes the portrait to be Mary Seymour, who was orphaned at Wolf Hall along with her. How does she explain to them that she knows they are wrong without indulging her secret?

Meanwhile, Alison is trying to travel back to the 16th century as she needs to find out what happened to her son when he was taken from her as a baby. She has no idea how to travel back to ask Marry Seymour if she has found any information about her son. When Alison does finally find the way back, she discovers that Mary Seymour has disappeared.

What I like about Nicola Cornick's writing is that she has taken a historical fact about Mary Seymour's disappearance and has woven a fictional story and has given us a scenario of what might have happened to Mary. Her descriptions of the past and present make us feel like we are right there along with the characters. I found The Phantom Tree to be the perfect escape novel which takes you to an interesting period of history with twists and surprises that keep the pages turning. I would highly recommend this novel to those who would like a romantic adventure with plenty of history.

The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick
Source: Netgalley
My rating: 5/5 stars

Y’all know I’m not the biggest fan of time travel books, but there is just something about the way Nicola Cornick puts it all together that just sucks me in and creates a great sense of pleasure. Here’s the skinny on The Phantom Tree:

Premise: The entirety of this book revolves around Alison Bannister trying to discover the fate of her infant son who was taken from her more than 400 years ago. Inexplicably, Alison is a time traveler who just so happens to be stuck in the 21st century. With no means (yet!) of getting back to the 16th century, Alison has dedicated her present life to tracing history in the hopes of discovering what became of her beloved son.

Characters: The Phantom Tree is filled with a wide range of characters from both the 16th and 21st centuries with the emphasis being on Alison and Mary Seymour. As children, Alison and Mary were certainly acquainted with one another, but not exactly friends. Until Alison loses her son, she has little interest in the younger Mary. It is only after her son is taken and Alison realizes Mary can help her, that Alison has the time for or an interest in Mary. While 16th century Alison isn’t easy to like, 21st Alison is a bit more palatable. On the other hand, Mary Seymour, with her royal lineage and “gifts” is likeable from start to finish. Mary’s story plays out alongside Alison’s and the two are, from beginning to end, entangled. The entanglement, in many ways drives each character, for better or worse, and informs their actions and decisions. Each character, even those beyond Alison and Mary are full-bodied, engaging figures who hold the reader’s interest. More than one character has a secret which makes them far, far more interesting.

Pacing: I must admit, The Phantom Tree is a bit of a slow starter, but once it gets going, it moves like the wind. In fairness to the author, there is a great deal of ground work and backstory which must be established before the “real” work can begin. It is critical to the overall plot and the characters to understand their history, their place in one another’s lives. Getting through all that information takes time and made the first part of the read a bit slower in its pacing. With that being said, once the personalities, the problems, and the histories are dealt with, the pacing picks up considerably and the last part of the book seems to fly by.

Surprises: Yeah, this book has a surprise or two up its sleeve 😊 From characters to plot twists, The Phantom Tree holds secrets that can only be uncovered by reading every last word and page. There are a few things and people who really did take me by surprise, and I like knowing, even after all the books I have read, an author can still surprise me.

The Bottom Line: Far and away, my favorite part of The Phantom Tree are the chapters set in the 16th century. I’m just such a huge fan of well-written historical fiction, and Nicola Cornick understands what it takes to bring the past to life for a reader. Though there isn’t much, historically speaking, related to Mary Seymour, she comes alive in this book and ties everything, past and present together. Mary provides a backdrop for Alison’s quest, an anchor in time which drives Alison’s inquiries. With every new detail related to Mary revealed, Alison comes one step closer to solving the mystery of her lost son. As I said, the two women are entangled, and it is this entanglement that provides so much enjoyment. Apart from the slow start, I found no fault with this book. In fact, once I hit the half-way mark, I couldn’t put this book down. There is something for everyone here, but The Phantom Tree will especially appeal to lovers of historical fiction.

I had a really hard time with this book. The author jumped in as if it was a sequel, leaving out important details and facts straight from the beginning. The book quickly turned bizarre, and not in a good way. Unfortunately, I did not finish this one. Since I did not finish this book, I do not intend to publish a review.

Last year, I read another novel by Nicola Cornick and found myself eager to try The Phantom Tree when I saw it listed on NetGalley. I was awarded the book about a month ago and scheduled it for this week. If you've never read something from Cornick, think of it as a combination of historical fiction, fantasy, romance and mystery. All four elements are usually incorporated into her style and provide a very intense and sometimes Gothic read. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from her.

This story takes place in two different time periods in the UK -- the mid 16th century and modern times. In modern times, a ~30ish woman named Alison has re-connected with a former boyfriend who has announced a discovery that he's found a portrait of Anne Boleyn, a rarity. Alison knows this is really a painting of Mary Seymour, the daughter of Queen Katherine Parr (Henry VIII's last wife) and her second husband. But how does she know? And will she and Adam reunite or will the reasons they separated a decade ago still keep them apart? In the 16th century, Mary and her cousin are teenage girls dealing with the potential of forced marriages and interested lovers. One becomes pregnant. Another seems destined to be a witch. But then something odd happens, the girls are separated, and the child is lost seemingly forever. How are the stories connected? Who's related to whom in the current day? It's quite a fantastical story, but one I really adored.

My favorite aspects of Cornick's novels are her writing style. Pages will describe a scene or a setting and you are immediately transported there. It's lyrical and haunting at the same time. Occasionally it can be a lot to handle (I'm often a plot guy), but it's breathtaking to just read a few paragraphs from time to time. You'll know how writers live in their heads coming up with something so detailed they can't help but want to share it with their readers.

I also really connect with the historical truths in the books. Mary Seymour was thought to have died quite young and disappeared, but some feel she actually survived. Cornick takes that notion and runs with it in this book, and while parts are fabricated, it's woven in such an endearing way, you like the fictional components. It draws you in and gives you a fair balance of story and facts. That's the kind of read I enjoy!

Normally, I don't do novels that deal with historical "what if's" AT ALL. I find them annoying. But I was intrigued by this one because it isn't often that I find a novel about Katherine Parr, so I figured I'd give it a try. I thought the writing was engaging and the story held my interest well enough, though I don't think it is a book I would rush out to buy. I love fantasy, but I generally can't suspend m,y disbelief very well when it comes to timeslip novels for some reason. I do keep trying...

I received a free copy of this book via #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait in an antique shop. The picture features Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows her better as Mary Seymour. Mary knew Mary lived in Wolf Hall with Mary about 400 years ago.. Mary was presumed dead after going missing as a child.

The painting of Mary holds the key to help Alison find her past life, Unlocking the secret can help send Alsion back to her time to when she and Mary were childhood enemies. The 2 had made a pact years ago and now it must be fulfilled.

I am not sure this book was my kind of book. It was good but I just found myself getting lost in the book and could not keep my mind on it. Over all it was a good book but not for me. That is why I am giving this book 3 stars.

Life in the time of Alison and Mary was not good. With the death of their parents each has become an orphan living with unwelcoming and terrorizing relatives who would just as soon see them dead.

This was a time when women were owned by their fathers, husbands, guardians. Double standards abound. While the men bed anything they want, the women are then left damaged and in desperate straits. 

When Alison runs away and ends up in modern-day London, she plans to go back and find her infant son, taken from her. Mary is to try her hardest to find the child and leave her clues.  However Alison ends up stuck in modern times, trying to find any clues to where Mary might be as well as the baby. 

By chance she walks by a gallery and immediately recognizes a small portrait of Mary Seymour. Although it is labeled as Anne Boleyn,  Alison knows that the A.B. on the box in the portrait belongs to her and that Mary has left her clues in the painting.

But how can she get back? Maybe with the help of the gallery owner and his godson. 

We read this book from alternating points of view, Mary and Alison, past and present.

This was one of the best slip time historical books I've read. Nicola has such a readable style to her writing, it was easy to keep up with who was who and where everyone was. It is one of those books for us history lovers that you fall in and cry with the characters because you know what is going to happen to at least one of them.

A must read this year! Well Done!

NetGalley/ September 1st 2018 by Graydon House

Behind a great fan of the time slip genre this book made promises of which it did not disappoint.
Set in the present day and Elizabethan England it tells the story of Alison Bannister who has by a fluke found a way to travel through the two era's.
It is a well researched book making the characters truly believable on the historical side and also a great love story.
A book that once you have started you will not want to put down.

3 1/2 stars. Set in modern day and Elizabethan England, Alison Banestre finds a way to move through time. When she gets caught in the future, she must look to clues in the past left for her in the 1560's by Mary Seymour in order to find a beloved child. An intriguing time travel historical fiction mystery.

I am a fan of Australian writer Kate Morton so a cover promo line on The Phantom Tree advising that "Fans of Kate Morton will enjoy this gripping tale" had me pretty well convinced of the story's pedigree before I'd even opened it, and it didn't disappoint. I found it hard to put down again, which I guess is the best endorsement you can have for a time travel mystery!

Alison Bannister is a reluctant exile from the mid sixteenth century,and Wiltshire's Wolf Hall, on the run from an unscrupulous scion of the Seymour family when she slips through time into the 21st century.. She a "reluctant exile", because although her time slip is a very effective escape from desperate circumstances back in Tudor times, she has compelling emotional reasons for wanting to return, that are soon revealed and best are not shared until you've read the story!

It's a fascinating set up - a beautiful young woman stuck in the 21st century, desperate to return to a bad situation in Tudor times, and unable to find the key to time travelling back. This period of Tudor history has been very thoroughly mined by both popular and "literary" historical novelists in recent times - Hilary Mantel made 'Wolf Hall' famous and Philippa Gregory has written extensively of the great families of the time, but Nicola Cornick is right up with them in the riveting historical narrative she delivers.

I don't pretend to be anything of an expert on the period, but I found myself fascinated enough to keep "Google checking' various characters as they came into the story - in particular Alison's mysterious cousin Mary Seymour, the real life daughter of Henry VIII's last wife Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour - the husband the former Queen married after the King's death. The story weaves so seamlessly between the imagined world and the historical facts as they are known that I was completely captivated, burning the midnight oil to see it through to it's satisfying end.

So - convincing Tudor history, intriguing narrative, some complex and interesting characters, a real sense of how grim life in the upper echelons of Tudor society could be even for those who had wealth and lands - and and several romantic sub plots to keep us enthralled - The Phantom Tree is another "winner" from an author who is already an international best seller with books in 26 languages.. Just the "escape" busy 21st century readers of the genre can relish.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am a big fan of historical fiction, especially set in Britain, and this book was just a really satisfying read. The story involves a time travel element, which can easily backfire, but it is done so well here and really adds an interesting element to the story. Recommended!

I have to say that this book was more than what I was expecting, I am not sure what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed this read.

This story is about two women, Alison and Mary, who are both orphans and end up meeting at Wolf Hall. This story is about time travel so if you like that then this is your book! I will say that the time travel grew on me. It was easy to keep up with the story unlike some others time travel books I have read that confuse you about where you are reading about.

This story line is definitely altered because there are no records of Mary's life after the age of two, when she was considered to be dead, in history books. It is unknown what happened to her after the age of two, but no records can be found.

Mary and Alison both share the common bond of being unwanted. These two young girls are not very fond of each other, but they have learned to tolerate each other for the sake of others. When Alison becomes pregnant with her son, she is sent away in disgrace and her son is taken from her. Alison finds a door to the present (future for us) and thinks this is her way out with her son, but when she gets there, she finds the door closed and she is stuck in the present. What is Alison going to do now without her son. Before she left, Alison made a pact with Mary that she would send her a message somehow on where to find her son, now she just has to wait on that in hopes that Mary will not let her down.

While Alison is waiting on the clue from Mary, she runs across this old portrait that is thought to be Anne Boleyn, but she knows that it is Mary. The owner of the portrait ends up being none other than someone that Alison has had a relationship with, but he is adamant that he knows who is in that painting. Is this the clue that Alison has been waiting on? Maybe this is her clue, but Alison knows that she is going to have to open herself up to Adam and she is not sure if she wants to do that just yet. Yes, she wants her son back, but she is living in a place and time that she is comfortable with because everything is new and unknown to her. Is she willing to take this risk to get her son back?

You will have to read this one to find out what happens to Mary and Alison. The characters are very well developed and the story line will keep you guessing as to what is going to happen. I enjoyed this read for something very different than what I am used to always reading. I look forward to what Nicola Cornick has in store for us readers next!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of this book, but this did not influence my opinion of the book one way or the other.

Thank you Nicola Cornick and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
I love a good historical fiction and was excited to read my second book from Nicola. What a great story being told. I loved every word of it.