Hyacinth Bell is a botanist specializing in orchids. She's beyond excited when Mr. Whitbeck invites her to Ashthorne Hall to care for his orchid collection while he and his family are in India. Hyacinth is not prepared for a storm on the last leg of her long journey, the warnings she receives about not wandering Ashthorne Hall and it being haunted by spirits, or the unwelcoming housekeeper.

Despite the eerie winds whipping off the Cornwall coast at night and being admonished to avoid locked doors and never enter the north wing of the house, Hyacinth finds a couple of bright spots while settling into her new life at the Hall: the hot house, where she cares for the orchids she loves and her developing friendship with the caretaker, Lucas Harding.

I haven't read a Gothic novel in quite awhile and this one got me in the mood right away: a storm across the moors, a night arrival to a large estate with only one window alight, long dark hallways, the howling wind, and weird sounds at night. It reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and the mystery had me turning pages quickly! This story is not all dark and gloomy though, I liked the lighter moments such as Hyacinth talking to the plants in the hot house and her growing relationship with Lucas.

I don't want to spoil the mystery but I really liked how the author took a real event in history and wove it into this wonderful spooky story. I found the author's notes at the end informative and there are also discussion questions if you chose this book for your book club.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Dnf at 30% just wasn’t invested and didn’t find the story compelling enough to finish. Also didn’t love the characters.

While I enjoyed the entries at the beginning of each chapter I didn't really care for the rest of the story. I thought the ghost concept was odd and it just wasn't for me.

WOW! This book is INCREDIBLE! Every time I picked up "The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this moving, gripping, intriguing, haunting, atmospheric, and romantic story.

Firstly, this cover is so haunting and stunning!

Rebecca Anderson's writing is so visceral and detailed. The world she brings to life within her story jumps right off of the page, and each and every moment is written in such a clear way. Her storytelling had me turning the pages into the early hours of the morning (I stayed awake to finish the book until 3:30am) to see what was going to happen next, and I found myself pulling for a happily-ever-after from the first moments.

Hyacinth is an amazingly strong, brave, intelligent, determined woman, and an incredibly talented botanist who cares deeply for the plants she takes care of. Lucas is such a kind, loving, protective, hard-working man, who is the caretaker of Ashthorne Hall. Never could either Hyacinth nor Lucas have imagined how their initial meeting will change both of their lives, as well as the lives of those they care about most.

(Possible Spoilers!)
Oh my goodness! Hyacinth and Lucas truly bring out the best in one another. They bring one another so much joy, and as they begin to open up and their relationship deepens, their love story continues to blossom.

I do not want to say too much about other aspects of the plot itself due to major plot-point spoilers, but, I will say, this novel truly has so much in it: history, mystery, love in different forms, secrets, and a house and setting that becomes a character in its own right. Many moments throughout this novel had me on the edge of my seat not knowing what could come next, many absolutely broke my heart and had me in tears, and many were so incredibly full of hope and powerful themes that are so important. There is extremely important history throughout, and I learned so much and it broke my heart. I absolutely plan to do more research on my own time as well.

If you enjoy Historical Romance, I highly recommend this book! I so look forward to reading what Ms. Anderson writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC of this book, and to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a physical ARC as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hyacinth Bell comes to Ashthorne Hall to study the storied collection of rare Orchids, but she finds more than she bargained for when she meets its charming caretaker, and stumbles upon a spinetingling mystery.

An engaging historical novel that swept me away to the coast of Cornwall, as Hyacinth is drawn into the mysteries hidden within Ashthorne Hall. Hyacinth is an intelligent young woman, with a passion for botany. I loved how she and Lucas become friends while working on the estate together, and he is instantly likable despite the secrets hidden behind his eyes. They have great chemistry, and the plot was gripping and well paced.

Overall, a highly enjoyable read with excellent characters and a well executed plot that kept me guessing and rooting for the main characters to the end. A wonderfully atmospheric clean romance, great for fans of regency romance with a gothic touch.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A perfectly delicious gothic romance. With a house full of secrets containing a personality as thick as Manderley and a heroine every bit as adventurous and imaginative as Catherine Morland it made my skin crawl in the best ways.

I’m not sure what I loved more the incredible descriptions that added to the eeriness, the well placed ebb and flow of tension or the way she was able to leave me completely swoony over a simple brush of rose petals.

The character development is done subtly so even the nature of each character is a mystery to unfold.
The setting and the powerful ending left me thoroughly delighted.

A great story with Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast vibes. Hyacinth travels to Ashthorne Hall to care for a gentleman’s orchids while he’s away. Love and ghosts abound and she unravels a mystery surrounding the estate. It’s also a story of the stepping from the darkness and fear and standing up for those who are suffering.

Just delightfully creepy and sweet and fantastically done! It has elements of hauntings, love, mystery and intrigue! I loved every page! The FMC talks to orchids, her inner dialogue is hilarious and she is so open! I loved it so much!

“Hyacinth stilled, her breath coming in short, silent gasps. The figure turned.”

I was quickly drawn to the mysterious atmosphere of this book. The cover is absolutely perfect and so fitting. The mansion itself was a character, as well as the beloved orchids. The author does a great job of setting the tone for a spooky page turning mystery.

Hyacinth is such a strong, determined character. I loved her knowledge and expertise. Then enters Lucas and I enjoyed the way their relationship grew. There are many twists to the story that I enjoyed and how the mystery developed, I was not able to turn pages fast enough.

Thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley approval. All views and opinions expressed were my own.

A fantastic Victorian gothic novel! I read this delightful story in one sitting!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

If you love gothic tales this one’s for you!

This takes the gothic feels of books like Wuthering Heights and mixes it with wholesome, easier-to-digest romance!
There’s some mystery. There’s some intrigue.
I loved that this wasn’t gruesome or scary, and instead told a story with a different flair than you usually read. Fantastic story!

A ghostly mystery and clean romance

Hyacinth studied botany and is hired to care for the orchid collection of a family living out of the country for a while. The manor is said to be haunted but surprisingly that makes her excited instead of afraid. She keeps catching glimpses of a white figure and items mysteriously appear in her locked room.

This is set in England in 1887 so it is unusual that Hyacinth is educated and works with plants. The housekeeper is Mrs. Carter, and her nephew Lucas is the caretaker. He plays piano but Hyacinth doesn’t. A lot of things in this book are the opposite of most books set in this time period, so I kept thinking it was a little more modern.

It bothered me that Hyacinth thought it was ok to snoop around the manor and pick locks to look in rooms she was specifically told to stay out of. Also, it is love at first sight, but I couldn’t feel the romance between them. I liked that the story was unique, had a strong heroine, and was clean. I loved that Hyacinth has a beloved orchid named Eleanor that she treats like a best friend or maybe a pet. I also liked learning about a medical condition I wasn’t familiar with. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to use for my review.

I had no idea what to expect starting “The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall” by Rebecca Anderson. To say I was surprised in the best way puts it best. From the first page, I was intrigued and the suspense kept up until the end.

I normally love a dual point-of-view, but this is told entirely from Hyacinth’s perspective. I loved it. Hyacinth is bold, strong, and brave! Reading this book is a treat, especially if you love strong female leads.

I don't want to give away the story, but I really loved the time period and certain events of the time the book focuses on. The author wrote an intriguing story that brings more light to some of the horrors people went through to take care of themselves.

“The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall” is the perfect read for those who love Gothic Victorian reads, romance, and mystery.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy. These opinions are my own.

This book has all the makings of an intriguing gothic historical! The author did a great job of setting the tone and atmosphere for the reader right from the start with descriptive imagery of the coastline and estate. However I was left wanting a bit as the descriptions were numerous and I felt as though it really slowed the pacing of this novel. I had a difficult time liking the heroine. She was cheerful which was a bright spot in this book, however she came across a bit silly and somewhat juvenile at times. I am never a fan of instant love in a story and this happened so quickly I almost didn’t trust that it was real. The air of mystery was lost in pages of tending plants and wordy details . I was hoping this book would be more mysterious and chilling and it just didn’t deliver. Overall if you are looking for a slower paced mystery that eases you into the story you might enjoy this one!

Consider me intrigued.
Haunting cover? Check. Gothic setting, complete with a foggy seaside estate and a ghost? Check. Mystery and romance? Check and check.
This is my kind of book.

Normally I will savor a 300 page book over the better part of a week. Surprisingly, this was a super quick read -- I finished it in one evening. The female main character is both sweet and savvy, and she approaches life with such a beautiful, innocent passion. The joy she finds in her orchids even evokes a little envy -- if only we all found that level of fulfillment in our careers!

There is a coziness to this story. It takes place almost entirely on a single estate- one that has been closed while its owner travels abroad. The only individuals present are the skeleton staff members required to care for the property in his absence. Ms. Anderson does an excellent job of fleshing out this small cast of characters, and there was enough complexity that I found myself side-eying at least a couple of them, curious if they would turn out to be malevolent rather than friendly. Speaking of complexity, I appreciated the unpredictability of Ashthorne Hall's plot progression. We begin with a heroine carrying on a conversation with her beloved ... orchid. Yes, her orchid. Then a few pages later we find ourselves in a delightful mystery, which segues straight into events rooted in history. While there is romance, it mostly takes a backseat to the other plot elements. If I have any criticism of this book, is that it moves quite quickly, and I would have enjoyed learning a few more details along the way.

Regarding the romance, no surprises here: it was wholesome and sweet, capping out at kissing.

This one was a joy to read. The historical elements piqued my curiosity, and I want to know more about those events -- and that, friends, is the mark of a successful book. Thank you, author and publisher, for an advance copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an enjoyable book to read. I loved Hyacinth's fun quirky personality. And how the book had some fun surprises in it. All in all it was a great gothic novel and would recommend it as a fun, clean read.

I loved learning about the historical events partly recounted in this novel and really connected with the characters involved. However, I wish these were the main characters rather than our protagonist and her love interest because they did not feel as fleshed out as the others. In addition our protagonist seemed to contradict herself since she seemed to be a grounded woman focused on her work, yet fell in love almost immediately. This made for a disappointing romance since there was almost no build up. Overall it deserves 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I recieved a free EArc copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5* I struggled to connect with these characters. Hyacinth was sweet and interesting, but I couldn't connect with her. I struggled to like Luke. I understand his reticent, but I still didn't trust him. This was an interesting tale with suspense and intrigue, but for some reason I can't explain, it just didn't resonate with me.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5

Let’s take a moment for this GORGEOUS cover! Never judge a book by its cover…but…I mean…it’s absolutely what drew me to pick this one up. I have read one of Becca's RomCom novels and loved it – I couldn’t wait to give her gothic romance a try.

If you’re a plant person, this book is a MUST read for sure. The moments spent with the orchids, who all get a name, personal conversations exchanged with said flowers…and the greenhouse. Oh goodness, this story is a plant lover's dream come true.

The year is 1887. Hyacinth Bell’s mother has passed away and she is traveling with her beloved orchid, “Eleanor”, to take a position of employment at Ashthorne Hall along the Cornwall coast. Hyacinth is dreaming of a fresh start to a new life, caring for Mr. Whitbeck’s prized orchids at the manor while he’s away in India. Things immediately feel a bit “off” upon arrival at Ashthorne. Mrs. Carter, the housekeeper, warns Hyacinth that she’s never to enter the north wing. She finds a mysterious locked cabinet in her room and frequently sees images of white scampering off in the halls at night. Ghostly noises intrigue Hyacinth and don’t at all seem to rattle her nerves. Against the housekeeper’s wishes, she sets off to explore the haunted halls on more than one occasion even after being warned of lurking spirits.

Lucas Harding is the estate’s handsome and charming caretaker. He and Hyacinth strike up quite an immediate connection. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, doubting who can be trusted throughout this entire read. What is truth, what is real…who or what is this woman in white that Hyacinth keeps seeing? I loved seeing how all of the dots connected at the end.

A great read that I'd be happy to recommend to others.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the spooky, gothic vibes in the story. I loved how the ghost wasn’t who we expected. I loved Hyacinth and her bravery. I loved her and Lucas’ relationship. I liked how they feel in love almost from the beginning but there was a bit of strain because Hyacinth could tell he was hiding something. I liked how the story got resolved and I enjoyed the characters.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.