Awesome book!! I enjoyed the plot and characters. I thought the pacing was good. Sophie Barnes writes a great book.

I really enjoyed this quick read. I was pleasantly surprised by the fully developed and complex story told in such a short book.I really enjoyed the hero and heroine and their path to finding love and solving this mystery. I think you will like this book? Give it a try.

A very entertaining historical romance novella - well written. Angelica and her mother have gone to a creepy, gothic style manor house to participate in a week long house party. Turns out there are 6 young ladies and their chaperones invited, a la Bachelorette. Viscount (Randolf) is searching for a new bride after his previous wife died two years ago. Are there ghosts? Is Angelica imagining the cold, strange breeze swirling about her and the glimpses of shadowy figures. What about the attractive, yet mysterious housekeeper. Who will win the hand of our handsome hero? A fun read with a slow burn romance - or as slow burn as a novella can be. My thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in return for my opinion.

A Recluse. A Lady. A Mystery.

The Secrets of Colchester Hall is a novella by Sophie Barnes. Viscount Sterling is a man who knows his duty is to marry and pass along his title. His first wife died under mysterious circumstances and he has finally decided that it is time to marry again. He invites six young ladies to his house to be considered for his wife.

One of these young ladies is Lady Angelica. Lady Angelica is the last unmarried female in her family. If she doesn’t marry Viscount Sterling, her mother will lose her home. As Lady Angelica gets to know Sterling, strange things began to happen.

Viscount Sterling and Lady Angelica are drawn to each other through spending time together. They know that they are attracted to each other, and yet strange occurrences cause them to question each other.

Secrets have a way of being found out and truths will be revealed. Will the truth that haunts Colchester Hall be exposed before tragedy once again strikes?

This story had me guessing who or what was behind the strange happenings at Colchester Hall. It was a good paranormal novella with a satisfying end.

At only 113 pages, I breezed right through this short novella, folks. If you pay close enough attention you will likely pick up on subtle clues that reveal the actual facts behind a certain someone’s previous death before all is confirmed. I must admit I did. The paranormal element did add an intriguing touch, btw, especially when Randolph experienced a slight dose of it himself.

Inviting a pack of passed over ladies from the Ton’s marriage mart to select a bride was Randolph’s ruse of trying to play it safe. However, you could also look at it from a positive perspective that at least this guy isn’t so shallow he’s completely hung up on looks alone. I got to say at least in my mind I chose to envision Angelica, the heroine, as a lovely, breathtaking vision, at all times and not as Randolph more than once described her and the others as being not particularly pretty. At least her outspoken personality won him over first, foremost, and pretty much from the get go. His angry demeanor and lashing out when something was said or done that he didn’t like had me raising my eyebrows in concern a time or two regarding his attractiveness. Naturally, of course, he is quite the handsome, wealthy catch.

Angelica seemed to roll with the punches and everything else thrown her way. Too forgiving and quick to let Randolph off the hook even comes to mind. With how short this novella is, the author was wise not to overly complicate the plot. Claims of feelings when they really had not spent that much time together yet wasn’t overly surprising either since the clock and page count were ticking away.

It’s weird to feel the dead wife is the one who really, and I mean REALLY, got the short end of the stick here. Knowing Randolph did love her and then circumstances took the turn they did was like a tough, dry piece of cracker I had no choice but to swallow without a drop of water to help it go down. Without a doubt, he’d still been with his first wife if she’d not died. Supposedly, he did develop strong feelings for Angelica and emphatically embraced those and the notion he now loved her, even found her to be exquisite by the end. I certainly hope so, folks, was my final thought.They certainly seem happy to now be together.

All in all, I enjoy this author and look forward to future releases.

Title: The Secrets of Colchester Hall, Author: Sophie Barnes, Pages: 113, pub date: 1/12/21, short novella, stand-alone, paranormal element, widow hero looking for a bride, impulsive, outspoken, speaks her mind heroine, big reveal, OW never much of a competition, only one steamy scene. Rating: 3 - 3.5 stars

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author, publisher, NetGalley, or PR firm.)

This novella packed quite the punch. It had a great deal of information tucked into fewer pages than a normal book. However, I didn't feel as if I missed out on anything in the storyline. It felt fleshed out and complete in its story telling. I suppose that it's possible there could have been a bit more character development. Yet I didn't feel as if it took away from the story any.

Angelica is one of several eligible young ladies invited to Viscount Sterling's estate for a "bridal competition" of sorts. The viscount wants to marry again and brings these ladies there to meet and hopefully find a candidate to wed. He is instantly taken with Angelica. She quickly notices a feeling of unease at the estate and soon suspects it may be haunted. Unfortunately for her, she also finds herself attracted to Randolph (aka Viscount Sterling) which means she may have to overlook the haunted estate or find out who or what is haunting it.

Several mysteries are uncovered over the course of this short novella. It was an quick and enjoyable read. Ms. Barnes is most certainly a talented writer of historical romance. This book blended the period writing well with a touch of paranormal and it was a great combination.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I chose to voluntarily review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Lady Angelica Northbridge has been invited along with her mother, Rose, to the home of Randolph Trevarian, Viscount Sterling. He has also invited several other young ladies and their mothers for him to meet and from which to choose a bride. His first wife, Katrina, passed away some years ago. Upon arrival, each lady is shown to her room by Mrs. Essex, a lovely woman who is the housekeeper. Angelica immediately thinks something is strange about her.

Most of the young ladies act properly, but one, Lady Seraphina, is quite forceful and thinks that she already will be the one he chooses.

Randolph meets with each young lady alone to chat. He is amused to find that Angelica is quite frank when talking to him, even saying she did not care for the dinner that had been served and suggested other dishes instead.

Angelica who has always been a gothic novel enthusiast which may be why she seems to feel someone looking at her and other creepy feelings. As she gets to know Randolph better, she also learns from the housekeeper that his wife had died in a very horrific way. She can’t help but feel evil surrounding her and is sure something menacing is after her as well.

I believe this is the author’s first gothic type book I have read and it certainly sent chills down my spine. It doesn’t help that it’s also a chilly day here in Florida! As always, Sophie Barnes has written yet another delightful novel. She is definitely a favorite of mine and I hope she’s a favorite of yours as well.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I did not intend to read another Sophie Barnes book again any time soon, given my issues with her last several releases and my promise to stop faithfully reading authors in hopes they’ll be good and letting myself suffer. But The Secrets of Colchester Hall is one of those rare examples of her stepping outside her wheelhouse, and I just had to check out her take on Gothic romance, despite my own complicated feelings about the genre.

And while I’m not in love with it, as it’s still too short to be substantial and has some of the same pitfalls of other SB shorts or not having enough room to fully flesh out her high concept ideas, it’s definitely better and more interesting. While the genre is new to her, Barnes captures the Gothic atmosphere well, with a mysterious undertone that kept me on the edge of my seat.

While I didn’t find myself overly invested in the characters, I enjoyed them for what they were, finding myself in their relationship in the midst of the odd things going on around them.

This is a nice short Gothic read, capturing the best of the genre, that will appeal to ardent fans. And even if you’re not, it will scratch the itch for an atmospheric historical romance novel.

Angelica has been invited to Colchester Hall by Lord Randolph Sterling along with other eligible ladies in the hopes that one of them will become his wife.
Randolph is a widow and wishes to find a wife and Angelica Northbridge is the one who has his attention.

Overall it was a good novella that has a paranormal aspect to it. The writing was easy to follow though at times stilted.
3 Stars

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

The Secrets of Colchester Hall by Sophie Barnes is the story of Angelica Florence Northbridge and Randolph Benedict Scott Trevarian the Viscount Sterling. Randolph is a widower who has decided to move forward with finding another wife. Randolph thought to throw a house party giving him the chance to get to know the women he has narrowed it down to. When Randolph and Angelica meets sparks fly between the two. Angelica has an attraction to Randolph but something inside the Colchester Hall is causing her unease. I have always enjoyed Ms. Barnes's writing and so happy that this was another great read!

The Secrets of Colchester Hall, by Sophie Barnes. This was a good romantic suspense book. The book kept be intrigued from beginning to end. I loved the entertainment and the happily ever after moment. I was pleased about the romance between Randolph and Angelica. I found the romance to be light, not to much drama and very endearing. The writing focused on the mystery of the story, but at the same time she focused more on the romance that was growing between Angelica and Randolph. I enjoyed all the aspects of this book. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Take a stroll on the dark side of a captivating yet complicated love story. Barnes lures hearts inside of a fairytale that's as intriguing as it is heartaching. The Secrets of Colchester Hall is a mind game that is always one step ahead. Caught in a spiraling maze of twists and turns, emotions run deep and danger runs wild. Randolph and Angelica send chills down the spine as they cast a haunting spell that refuses to be broken.

I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.

"The Secrets of Colchester Hall" is the perfect size for a short story or novella. I enjoyed the plot, including the supernatural elements, which is not typically found in this type of historical romance. The novel was aptly-paced and the characters well-developed. While I did see the climax coming and the reveal of what happened to Lord Sterling’s wife, there were enough twists to keep me guessing. The plot reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. The description and imagery drew me in and I enjoyed both Angelica’s and Lucy’s dialogues.

Overall impression: I would definitely recommend this novella!

Rating: 4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book until the last chapter.

It’s like a “clean” the bachelor episode where a widowed Viscount invites 6 young ladies that have not had a successful season and he’s trying to find a suitable Viscountess for himself.

It was a good story and it was immediately clear who the bad guy is in this book.
The last chapter is like a whole book squeezed into one chapter, even though it’s still the same story. It’s where one of the ladies figures out the mystery, the bad guy caught and awaiting trail, wedding preparations mentioned as a side note, the wedding (not even a full sentence) and the quick wedding night. If this chapter could have partly been in the chapter before and then turn the rest into an epilogue, I think it would read a bit smoother and not rushed and “tightly packed”.

I received this ebook arc from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful fast read! I enjoyed reading the story of Lord Randolph search for a new bride. His first wife passed away two years ago in a tragic death and now haunts the halls of Colchester Hall. No one seems to know of her existence.
Randolph has carefully selected six women in contention to be his new wife and has invited them, along with their chaperones to a house party.
Angelica has caught his eye as a contender, and she is looking at it as a competition, even if she is not interested in marriage. But something is strange going on. She seems to be the only person that gets chills, sees something that isn’t there. The mystery of Randolph deceased wife has many questions to be answered and is her ghost helping Angelica or jealous of Angelica?  I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

Viscount Sterling has invited six women to his home with the intention of choosing one to be his wife at the conclusion of their stay. Angelica is less than thrilled with participating in this function but finds she has a good banter with the Viscount. What’s not so great are the voices she keeps hearing and the spookiness of the home. Will she get to the bottom of what is haunting the house? Will the Viscount find his match?

I was expecting a more straightforward romance when I went in, what I typically find with historical romances in fact. This novella was a nice surprise as it melded together some romance, regency and a good old-fashioned ghost mystery. The storyline kept me guessing, intrigued and waiting for the truth to come out!

Character-wise, the author was successful in getting me to feel some type of alway toward each person. I could feel the care and tenderness of Angelica’s mother, one of the other women I was hoping would get slapped, the Viscount I just wanted to shake at times. All of this helped get me invested in their futures.

Overall, I rated four stars as I enjoyed the story, characters and it was something different!

Thank you to the author and @netgalley for this opportunity. I have voluntarily read the novella and this review expresses my own personal opinion.

Series: Standalone
Publication: 1/12/21
Number of Pages: 114

Chills, shivers, and shakes will pass down your spine as you travel the dark hallways and rooms of gloomy Colchester Hall. Something sinister is there – something that is just – wrong. When you have a brooding Viscount along with six debutantes and their chaperones all contained within those halls there is a mighty chance of a haunting.

Randolph Benedict Scott Trevarian, Viscount Sterling, has been a widower for two years and has decided it is time to remarry and begat an heir. In this marriage, he’ll have a wife he can be sure of – one who won’t test his heart. He sent out six very blunt invitations to a ‘house party’ that included things like … “I am in need of a wife and your daughter could be a suitable candidate for the position.” From those six young ladies, he’d choose the most compatible for a wife. He certainly didn’t foresee the bluntly-spoken, very honest young woman who captured his attention from the first day.

Angelica Florence Northbridge is far from enthused about traveling to Colchester Hall in response to the invitation. In Angelica’s opinion, the blunt invitation wasn’t deserving of a response much less an actual visit. However, her mother, Rose, insisted they go. Angelica felt two things almost as soon as she entered Colchester Hall – she felt an immediate attraction to Viscount Sterling and she felt sinister fingers of coldness at her neck, back, and ankles. Was the Hall really that drafty?

As Angelica and Randolph are more and more drawn to each other, the forbidding coldness always seems to be at her back – it is everywhere she goes – and she has begun to have strange, eerie dreams. Unexplainable dreams – as if she is someone else in the dream. As she realizes what those dreams mean, it will turn her world upside down – along with the relationship she’s begun to forge with the Viscount.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-plotted, well-written, well-paced, and well-delivered tale. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Angelica and Randolph because they were truly lovely people and their romance was totally believable. They were perfect for each other. This book isn’t listed as part of a series, but I truly like to see Miss Lucinda Harlow (Lucy) featured in a book. I really liked her and would love to see her find her HEA with her Mr. Elliott Thompson.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It was short but it was very good. Angelica Florence Northbridge did not have a successful season. Two years ago Randolf Benedict Scott Trevarian's wife had died. He had spent two years mourning and thought he might be over her by now. Angelica was one of six women and all of them had failed seasons for one reason or another. He needed an heir so look he must. Angelica had a straightforward, honest way of speaking. Most men hated how she told them the truth of the matter. Most men did not like this. The mystery was good and kind of shocking.
The characters were great and their spending time with each other was so romantic. Her mom was a sweet woman that a daughter could love so much. It had a fast but even pace and made the tale so easy to read. It was delightful and entertaining. I recommend this sweet little mystery.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you.

Lady Angelina Northbridge and her mother have been invited to meet Randolph, Viscount Sterling, at his home, Colchester Hall. His blunt invitation stated he's in need of a wife. Two years ago his wife died under tragic circumstances. Angelina makes six debutants competing to be his wife. The first time Angelina walks into her room, she senses and then dreams of Randolph's dead wife. A fast paced, short Gothic romance, for a Viscount to find a wife and a spirit to reveal a murderer. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Is there a ghost at Colchester Hall and what are its secrets? I don’t read a lot of gothic romances and this was a nice change of pace from my other reading. The clues as to the mystery are revealed seamlessly and even though you can figure out the real villain you still need to know the whys and hows. I loved Angelica’s sense of humor, frankness and overall loveliness. Randolph could not have picked a more perfect bride to complement him. This is a great short story to while away a Sunday afternoon.