This was a great read. I liked the intrigue and the path the main characters took to each other. Would definitely recommend!

Garden of the Midnights is a story with broken and flawed characters which makes it all the more beautiful. Hannah takes you into a different era and enchants you with her poetic way of writing.
I love the beautiful message throughout the book on what the characters worth is and where it comes from, its not what we have but who we are. The two main characters William and Isabella balance each other out well, and seem to bring out the best in one another. I loved seeing Isabellas growth and Williams heartbreaking journey to finding himself after losing so much. The story moves along beautifully and had me guessing from start to finish.
Hannah has a elegant way of story telling that will enchant you from the first sentence. I loved this book and the characters in it, I highly recommend it.

This is a review for Hannah Linder's upcoming book called Garden of the Midnights that will be released on October 1. I received a copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review. I absolutely loved this story! It hooked me from the beginning, and I literally finished it in one day, as I couldn't put it down! The story was exciting, unpredictable, and heart stopping at times, mixed in with some romance, hard times, great characters, that all made for a great story with an amazing climax that made me not want the story to end! I highly highly recommend this book, and Hannah Linder is fast becoming a favorite author of mine, and I really enjoyed her latest book! I rate it a 5 stars out of 5 stars, and really am excited to tell others about it!!

William Kensley, a man who has been raised as a gentleman, and is led to believe he will inherit Rosenleigh Manor very soon, finds himself in a situation where his life is being threatened. He seeks answers from the only man he feels he can trust at Rosenleigh, his friend Shelton, the gardener. So William goes in search Shelton to find some answers, but he finds his friend Shelton has been mortally wounded. Right before he dies, Shelton whispers one name, viscount Edward Gresham, the name of the man who William believes is his father. Searching for his father, and the truth of real heritage, will lead William down a path that will end up turning his whole life upside down, and changing everything he thought he knew about himself. That very path will lead him to the viscount's door, and into a very special friendship with the viscount's daughter, Isabella Gresham, and they both will find that friendship tested and tried in trials of scandal and danger, things that threatens to tear them both apart! But you will have to read the story to find out what happens to them, as I don't want to spoil it!

But I highly recommend this book, and really enjoyed reading it! I can't wait to read more from Hannah Linder!!

Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder was a truly stirring tale, the opposite of rags to riches. Losing everything to find the true values of life: kindness, compassion, forgiveness and, of course, love. The characters were so engaging and well-written. I was so moved by this story, I wish to revisit them in a sequel. Bravo, Hannah!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Their romance was forbidden. First, because they thought they were siblings, then because her father declared it so. And herein lies the dilemma, how do you go on without the one who makes you feel whole?

I'm so glad I discovered Hannah Linder last year when her first novel, Beneath His Silence debuted. I liked Garden of the Midnights almost as much as Beneath His Silence and more than When Tomorrow Came (audiobook). This story has gothic elements, but wasn't entirely a gothic novel. The part I did consider gothic, I enjoyed very much and I wished it had taken up more of the plot.  It was a welcome change from the balls, picnics, tea parties and horseback rides that often fill most novels of this genre. This story had plenty of those things too, so you won't be missing any of the facets readers tend to love in a historical Regency romance. I even found myself tearing up at some points, which doesn't happen very often! I love when authors make me cry! The acceptance of others in all social classes is a theme that runs through the story as Isabelle learns to accept those beneath her and William learns to accept himself. Poor William, I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything.

Read this if you like:
Clean romance
Gothic vibe
Valiant heroes
Complicated relationships

Thank you, Hannah Linder, Barbour Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Once again, Hannah has delivered a beautifully haunting Gothic mystery!

The atmosphere is tangible. The writing stellar and poetic. The themes of worth, forgiveness, and treating others well regardless of status were poignant and stirring.

The romance was very sweet, and you can’t help rooting for William and Isabella. While forbidden love and allll the angst aren’t exactly my cup of tea, it was still a delightful tale!


*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

The cover and title immediately drew me to this book, and I don't regret picking it up as "Garden of the Midnights" is a great Gothic-style Regency romance.

William Kensley's world is turned upside down when he becomes the repetitive target of attempted murders, that ends with a faithful servant being killed to prevent him from revealing a secret to William. On the run, he meets Isabelle Gresham, a happy and naive young lady that he befriends. But their time together is cut short, and William has to leave again...

The story can clearly be cut in different sections: first, a little dark and dramatic, then much more peaceful and sweet, then the dark plot twist...

I regretted that Isabella's big plot twist kinda came out of the blue, and did not actual contribute much to the plot. It definitely adds a drama element, but if we removed it, the book would still make complete sense because that scene is like a parenthesis that had little repercussion on the rest of the story (as at no point was Isabella's ruined reputation even hinted at), nor did it seem to affect the characters' emotions—they more centred on their love for each other emotions than the terrible thing they lived through. That, for me, was a big fault in the plot, but it did not prevent me from enjoying the book overall.

The first half of the book is not a romance, as the characters believe they are blood relations, but they build a friendship that credibly evolved into more towards the second half of the book. I enjoyed William and Isabella's time together, their dialogues, and I wished we'd had a bit more of it, rather than ellipsis saying that they spent together and their attachment kept growing.

As it is a Gothic novel, I understand the need for dark elements and drama, but I thought it was a bit too much to be even vaguely realistic. In addition, some aspects of the story were too quickly/too easily/not well resolved, in my opinion, such as regarding William's family. Also, when William's secret was revealed, I was really confused as to why the "murder headmaster" did not want to secret to be divulged at this point in their lives? And how where they so good at tracking William? It was uncanny...

Although I had some issues with the plot, I found the book well written and compelling, and I enjoyed the characters-building aspect, with most of them undergoing some kind of change as the story develops. William is an inspiring, honest and vulnerable protagonists, while Isabella goes from a naive, sheltered young lady to a headstrong, resilient woman.

Last point, though I love the title and cover, I don't think they represent the story particularly well.

*I received an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

When a man finds out that he is not who he thought he was, he goes out on his own, leaving the people who love him wondering what is going on.

The beautiful cover and title drew me to read this book. I had never read Hannah Linder before. I liked the way she wrote right off. And her characters were interesting and a bit unusual and I was enjoying it.

However a little over halfway in I began to get bothered by the what I would call overly dramatic scenes between Isabella and William.
But I stuck with it (and you should too) because good grief I had no idea what was coming! Wow, did this story take a turn to the wild side! I won't spoil it but ' intense' would be one way to describe it.

I really liked that this was not your typical story about a Lord and an inheritance and a girl who must wed.
It is indeed Gothic Regency. And poor William was such an honorable man and he was the 'star' of the book!

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Hannah Linder has become one of my favorite authors. This book solidified that fact. I enjoyed this Regency, gothic tale. The novel is suspenseful, mysterious, and has a forbidden love story. After the last page, I had a very satisfying book hangover.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. This is my honest opinion.

"Garden of the Midnights" is a romance set in 1809 in England. This story started out a little weird because we know William and Isabella are the romantic couple, but William believed Isabella to be his half-sister. Happily, they're not, but that's what ended up pulling them apart. Initially, they grew close spending time together and getting to know each other while thinking of each other as siblings. Isabella felt challenged to be a better person by William's words and actions toward others. Isabella's father wanted her to marry a wealthy, respectable young man that she didn't like. William and Isabella's love burned so strong that they couldn't be happy without the other. It got a bit melodramatic by the end.

The story was enjoyable, but some details just didn't make sense to me. Like a fortune in money seems to just disappear. William's aunt was blackmailing Isabella's father for 5,000 pounds a year, which is a huge amount (about £516,697 or US$651,136 today). Isabella's father didn't seem even remotely inconvenienced by losing this amount and had 2,000 pounds in bank notes kept at the house yet he acted like Isabella had no dowry or expectation of money and would depend solely on her future husband. William's aunt didn't live like she had a lot of money beyond her modest estate. The robbers, who took off with rich people's jewelry and money, lived in abject poverty. Money just seemed to show up or disappear on the author's whim.

Through difficult circumstances, William learned to take a poor widow woman's advice to forgive even deep wrongs rather than turn silent and bitter. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this unrealistic but enjoyable historical romance.

Garden of the Midnights
by Hannah Linder
Pub Date: 01 Oct 2023


Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder.

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh Manor, he pleads for the truth of his past from the only man he can trust—until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William’s world is tipped into destitution, leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant friendship and love of Isabella Gresham. If he does not have their nonsense at the seashore, their laughter, their reckless adventures, has he anything at all?

He should have known that would be ripped from him too. When a hidden foe arises from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella’s life, William may be the only one willing to risk his life to rescue her. But even if he frees Isabella from her captors, will he still have to forsake her heart?

Some sacrifice everything for love. Others sacrifice love for everything else. In this haunting tale of rigid social prejudices and heart-aching regrets, the greatest decision of their life will be determined in the garden of the midnights.

**Review will be published on October 5th as part of a tour!**

GENUINE ENJOYMENT.

This one took me by surprise. And as it’s Hannah Linder’s third novel I can see how much her writing and story telling has grown. Not for one minute was I ready to speed read and move on. I loved this story and the truths it held throughout.

The romance had this forbidden layer to start out that was worked out before things got weird. I loved the slow progression between William and Isabella and how fate pulled them together. William was an incredible MMC and his ability to constantly have to turn and make a new move was inspiring. I felt a lot of his anger and disappointment towards his fortune and I loved the honest way the subtle faith elements played into his character.

This is definitely a darker book and I was surprised at the layers of mystery that unfolded as truths were revealed. There were continual things to unpack and the pace of the plot remained steady as I was grasping to know what happened next. I enjoyed the drama. I loved this story and I look forward to Linder’s next book.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Suspense + Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gun violence, physical & weapons violence, loss of life, loss of loved ones, kidnapping, torture, harassment, blood/gore depiction

This is the 2nd book I've read by Hannah Linder and enjoyed it even more than the first. I could not put this book down! I loved the character of William; his strength, sensitivity, steadfastness, and loyalty. Isabella was a great heroine - sweet, kind, and courageous. The plot was intriguing and fast-paced and kept me wanting to read the next page.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to review. All opinions are my own.

Hannah Linder has created a novel with characters that draws the reader into the story. Garden of the Midnights has so many heart-wrenching twists for William and Isabella. Will they ever have a happily ever after?

A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the first part of this book, as friendship grew between William and Isabella. The author did a lovely job of setting the stage....which then, suddenly turned into a gothic, Withering Heights style story!

The drama, with kidnapping and torture and whatnot was just a bit over the top for me! BUT, the story certainly maintained forward momentum, and DID have a happy ending! So there's that! I think many people will really enjoy this story, but it was just a bit too melodramatic for me!

This book was clean, both language and content, though the kidnapping situation has some very unsettling elements.

I received a free arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion!

Riveting... There was danger and drama at every turn! Twists and turns that I did NOT see coming!
Fairly fast paced, which was challenging for me, but I'm a slow reader.
Interesting storyline. Very well written characters.
My heart just broke over and over again for William! So much hurt, suffering and misery, but he persevered.
Isabella was sweet and naive, but learned a lot about life in a very short time.
There are some disturbing, physical trauma type situations, shootings, beatings, etc. They are not overly graphic, but add to the drama and gothic nature of the story.
I was given an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
My review here is honest and states my own opinions.
If you are looking for a gothic regency, with lots of drama and clean romance, then I highly recommend this book!

Hannah Linder's Garden of the Midnights unveils a captivating Regency world steeped in danger, romance, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of Rosenleigh Manor, the deliberate accidents that unfold propel English gentleman William Kensley into a web of peril, unraveling secrets and scandal that shatter his world.

Linder's characters resonate with authenticity, as emotions such as anger, jealousy, love, and satisfaction come alive. The gradual intensification of the plot mirrors the increasing tension, weaving together danger and longing until the reader is wholly captivated. Beyond the intrigue, themes of societal norms, authenticity, and faith add depth to the narrative.

Linder's skillful narrative orchestration, well-paced dialogue, and balanced characterization create a harmonious tale. While some resolutions may be predictable, and an aspect of the romance may challenge personal sensibilities, Garden of the Midnights remains a noteworthy Regency work, inviting readers to explore the transformative power of love and honor.

This is one ARC that I would purchase 1000 times!

William and Isabella came to life in Garden of the Midnights by new-to-me author Hannah Linder. I initially grabbed the story because of the intriguing title. Most importantly, I am a fan of Christian suspense. I can’t recall the last time I read historical suspense.

My heart broke for what William endured at the hands of his aunt—a deplorable woman who, even on her death bed, couldn’t be gone soon enough. The other villain in the story showed his true colors throughout, and when he finally fully revealed himself as the monster that he was, I screamed at the eReader. This story twisted my emotions, and the sweet parts between William and Isabella truly showed how love should be. They made such good friends! The suspense built toward the climax, so I could hardly read the pages fast enough.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

read this one so fast, Linder’s writing sucks you right in by focusing on each character substantially and really getting us familiar with the leading characters separately and together. The first half feels like a classic regency novel with budding friendships and family politics. But the second half takes a turn into a high stakes drama with dark and suspenseful tones, which I loved and made the book unputdownable. I liked the dynamic between William and Isabella, how their relationship started as a (mistakenly) cute brother
sister friendship and then more as the mystery unfolds. The epilogue made me smile seeing them and their future family; so cute!

I will be reading everything Linder writes from here on out, since her stories are gripping and always have compelling characters and plots.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc. All opinions are my own