Hyacinth Bell is a well known botanist in the area of orchids and accepts what seems to be an ideal position tending them while the family is away in India. Very quickly she hears about the ghost that inhabits the hall and not all is at appears. I was curious about the noises Hyacinth hears, the glimpses of a woman in white she sees, and what are the secrets that Lucas and the housekeeper are holding onto?

I liked the laments that are at the end of the chapters. They lend an eerie and gloomy sense to the story. You also get the sense of the emotions of the person who wrote them. I also was interested in the historical portion of the Industrial Revolution and was thankful that the author had notes afterwards. I love when I read a historical fiction book and learn something

I’m not a big fan of love at first sight, so I felt the romance was a bit rushed. I would like to have seen more interaction and development in the relationship between Hyacinth and Lucas. There are only kisses, so this can be read by all ages. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Bonus- There are discussion questions for a book club or a buddy read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Hyacinth has taken a job as an orchid gardener for an estate in Cornwall. Do ghosts come with the large, empty estate? It seems that they do, there is a mysterious woman in white, howling in the night, items left in her room.
And then there is Lucas, the handsome caretaker. Can we add romance to ghosts and mystery? The answer is yes!
This is a fun, gothic type story. I loved it. It kept my interest, I couldn't wait to find out how it would resolve. And it brings with it a historical detail I knew nothing about.

This book is a mix of mystery, thriller, and romance. Although at first, I thought this would be regency romance spiced with a little bit of thrill, I found myself thrown into a mystery with a scientific and botanical background. I loved the flow of the book as it was thrilling to meet all the characters and find out the cause of the mysterious phenomenon. I only hated two characters but in my opinion, every good book needs a villain, so all is good. I can only recommend this book to romance readers who love a little bit of a mystery.

Filled with suspense, mystery, & love, this story drew me in from the beginning. I was touched by the instant attraction between Hyacinth and Lucas and it warmed my heart to see that attraction grow by leaps and bounds culminating in great joy together. The “haunting” of the manor added intrigue which I was glad to see resolved in such a satisfactory manner. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, I received a free ARC copy. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5/5 stars

I really was looking forward to this book based on the summary, but sadly I wasn’t 100% satisfied with what I read. So while I did enjoy this book, it wasn’t my absolute favorite.
Strangely enough I kept questioning Hyacinth and Lucas’s first meeting and relationship, it seemed too easy and dare I say, a bit flat. It seemed like their whole relationship was based on the physical, like smiles, small touches and light flirting.
From the start Rebecca sucks the reader in with her remarkable imagery of the Cornish coast. While her descriptions were fantastic, there were large sections of descriptions that seemed to go on for a bit. This part is hard because it was both a plus and negative for me.
But there things I did enjoy that made the book memorable and recommendable. Mystery, suspense, action, romance, ghosts, a brilliant heroine and a sweet hero, what else does a book need? I also really enjoyed the insight into the wrongdoings of the factories at this time, and the resulting consequences. It added another layer to a good story. I also liked how until certain things were revealed I wasn’t able to figure them out, which is a big plus in my book (normally I can piece all the pieces together quite a bit before the “big reveal”).
Overall, I would recommend this book to others, and it wasn’t my cup of tea, I’m sure others will love it.

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson beckons readers to 1887 Cornwall, unveiling a tale of mystery and romance centered around Hyacinth Bell, a spirited botanist with a love for orchids. The gothic ambiance of Ashthorne Hall, rife with rumors of pirate treasure and ghostly apparitions, sets the stage for a slow-paced narrative that, while lacking in the anticipated thrills, paints a vivid picture of Regency London's opulence and the eerie grandeur of the manor. Hyacinth's character, a delightful blend of independence and innocence, navigates a lukewarm romance with the enigmatic caretaker Lucas Harding. Despite the plot's pacing issues and a somewhat superficial exploration of the working conditions of certain characters, the book weaves superstitions, science, and danger into an intriguing tapestry. Ultimately, The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall offers a gentle, uncomplicated read for those enchanted by the allure of haunted estates and Regency romance.

Set in 1887 in Cornwall. Hyacinth Bell has been hired to care for the wide array of orchids grown at Ashthorne Hall. The family is away and they need a caretaker for that time. But things become sinister at the mostly empty home rather quickly and before she knows it, her life is in danger and she is determined to figure out why.

This one was an overall good read. I am in awe of anyone that can keep orchids alive and well, so it was interesting reading about the plants. But the story did drag a bit at times. While I have heard about the match girls and the horrible things that happened to them, this one really brought it to light and it was so sad! A fairly good mystery with a clean romance mixed in.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Set in 1887 in the estate Ashthorne Hall on the Cornwall coast, our protagonist is botanist Hyacinth Bell, who specializes in the care of orchids. Her mother having died while she was young, Hyacinth was raised primarily by her father, a viscount and respected botanist. She arrives at Ashthorne Hall, having been hired by a fellow orchid enthusiast to safeguard his collection while he and his family travel to India. Hyacinth is excited by the prospect of a gloomy castle and openly hopes to find a ghost story. Unsurprisingly, she does, along with a mercurial housekeeper and a dashing young caretaker. But is the staff hiding secrets from her? Can she solve the mystery of Ashtorne Hall? Rather unsurprisingly, yes. I felt there was a great deal of suspension of disbelief required for this novel- in 1887 titled English ladies did not seek employment, nor travel alone (at least while their titled father’s lived), and they did not immediately view caretakers as marriage material. The happy acceptance of a ghost is met with little fear nor questioning. Not to offer spoilers, but I felt the ghost’s story was far more interesting and was disappointed that is was given such brief treatment. However, for someone who is looking for a clean romance with a gothic flair, this will suit the bill. I was given an advanced reader of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson

DNF @ 31%

I’m really striking out on my spooky reads this year. The dialogue feels very clunky and doesn’t flow well, the romance is way too insta (like, laughably so), and nothing is really happening. It started out atmospheric and spooky, but I’m getting really tired of reading about this lady talking to her orchids like they’re friends.

A very Gothic cover that completely points to a deliciously Gothic story.

When Hyacinth arrives at Ashthorne Hall to care for the orchids, she finds a mansion full of secrets and becomes surrounded by intrigue and suspense. She meets Lucas, the caretaker, and they become friends, despite his keeping secrets from her.

A delightful, entertaining read!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the last handful of books that Rebecca Anderson has put out, this was only okay for me. It was well done, and a unique story with some amazing historical background that I was so glad to learn about from her book (which then lead to more researching for me). It just wasn't a storyline that I connected with.

I am glad I finished it. I didn't feel like it was a DNF at all, and if I had, I would have missed my favorite part with the historical bits. This was just one that was hard for me to suspend my disbelief enough to dive in fully.

If ghosts are your thing, this would be a good read for you.
2.75

I had a hard time getting into this novel. The writing was good, I just could not keep interest in it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC, these opinions are my own.

Enjoyed the historical mystery aspect of the story. Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall follows the main character Hyacinth as she goes to Ashthorne Hall to take care of the orchids and mysterious things keep happening. Are there really ghosts at Ashthorne? This story has mystery and romance set in a gothic background. It was a pleasurable read. If you enjoy historical romance novels, add this to your TBR.

This was a fast read. I enjoyed the mystery more than the romance. The romance in my opinion was too sweet, with not a lot of depth.

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of the ebook from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This was a quick and lovely read with mysteries and wholesome young romance.
The gothic atmosphere is a nice touch to the story, although rather predictable.

#TheOrchidsofAshthorneHall #NetGalley

This is an extraordinary book telling of a forgotten tragedy that taught thousands of people lessons that they didn't soon forget. It is a story of love and tragedy and finding beauty among angels

I loved this little story. I like the MC when she talked to her orchid, Eleanor. The only drawback was a slightly rough read to get into because soo much of it was in Hyacinth's thoughts. The prose was beautiful though, and the outcome was beautiful. Highly recommend this charming tale.

"The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall" is a gothic-inspired book.

It takes places in 1887 on the Cornwall coast. Hyacinth Bell, a genteel young lady but first and foremost a renowned botanist specialised in orchids, is invited to take care of Ashthorne Hall's flower collection while the master of the estate is away with his family. She is eager to care for these precious orchids, and she doesn't care one bit about the rumours about the castle being haunted. On the contrary, she's quite looking forward to meeting the ghost!

I found Hyacinth a little disconcerting. She was an independant young lady, yet she was a bit childish in some aspects. She seems to have a rather good position in society, yet acts as a gardener and is not properly chaperoned. She falls head over hells in love with Lucas Harding without knowing much about him—and his strange behaviour doesn't seem to alarm her at all.

The book is gothic inspired, and it sometimes gives slightly dark and chilly vibes, but other times not at all. The cheerful and unafraid Hyancinth Bell literally "brighten" the atmosphere and makes the book seem a lot less gothic than it could be. The romance could have been an interesting element but is rather dull and lukewarm and there is no chemistry between the protagonists. The most interesting aspect of this book — and I don't want to spoil anything — but it related to the working conditions of a certain character. I didn't know much at all about that and I found it interesting to discover a bit more about it. Had it been explored in more detail, it could have added a more sinister aspect to the book.

Overall, it was ok, but not an unforgettable read. 3 stars.

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

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall is a suspense filled historical fiction. I enjoyed it and recommend it for readers who enjoy this genre. Four and a half stars.