Do you like to hike / walk / visit forests or woods? I grew up near a pine woods and I always love wooded areas. The nearby Point Beach State Forest is a place where my family likes to camp and hike.

Eliza Ellis has grown up in the Balfour Forest with her father, the Captain, and her loyal Beagle, Merrylad. One day, a stranger, Felton Northwood, enters her home and kidnaps her. He takes her away to what he says is her home and tells her that her name is Miss Eliza Gillingham and that her father is a viscount. Felton has returned her to her home as he believes she is the only person who knows who murdered her mother. Felton’s own father has lived under the shadow of suspicion since the murder. Who really murdered Eliza’s mother? Why did the Captain take Eliza to the woods to raise?

My thoughts on this book:

• I loved that Eliza’s dog, Merrylad, was a beagle. The cute beagle on the cover of the book looks a lot like my beagle Daisy. Daisy said this book is beagle approved and that Merrylad is a lot braver of a beagle than she is.

• I felt bad for Eliza in this book. She led a simple life in the woods reading and listening to the Captain’s tales. It was hard for her to make the adjustment from that life to life in society. Her memories return little by little and have a great impact on those around her.

• The Swabian beats Felton early in the book and his shadow looms large over the book. Who is this evil character and what does he have to do with the Captain, Eliza, and Felton?

• The suspense in this novel was engaging and kept me enthralled until the last page.

• I really liked the characters of Eliza and Fenton. It took me a bit to warm up to Fenton after he kidnapped Eliza at the start of the novel, but I eventually really liked him and also felt sorry for him. I enjoyed the sweet romance between them.

• I also enjoyed the friendship between Fenton and Lord Gillingham (Eliza’s father).

• This novel was set during the Regency time period which is one of my favorite time periods to read about.

• This story has beautiful themes of redemption.

• This is a clean read.

• This book is perfect for Gothic romantic suspense fans of Mary Stewart or Victoria Holt novels.

Overall, The Girl from the Hidden Forest is a beautifully written Regency romantic suspense novel. It’s a great story that will keep you up too late in the night to find out the ending. I highly recommend this novel.

Book Source: Review copy from Barbour Books as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was one of those I-forgot-I-signed-up-for-it reads!

And it had me on the edge of my seat! I was so unsure of how the story would go. So many twists and turns, and unexpected events! There were times where I thought I knew what the connections were between Eliza and the antagonist, but I was kept guessing until the end and the connection was rather shocking!

I was rooting for Felton and Eliza from the beginning. At times I wondered if maybe Miss Haverfield was in on the attempts on Eliza’s life. I think Felton was the character with the most growth, and Eliza and Lord Gillingham experienced the most freedom.

This is my first Hannah Linder book, so I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been eyeing the book due to the beautiful cover, and I liked the blurb. It was very well done, and I will gladly read another of her books!

I was delighted to read an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

I could not get into this book and struggled through the first half over a two week period. I never felt connected to the characters or cared about what was happening. When it said Christian Fiction, I think I was expecting a deeper connection to God and just a deeper story overall. I'm sure big fans of regency mystery would enjoy the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for access to this arc.

The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder is an enchanting regency mystery and romance. Eliza Ellis Gillingham is the daughter of a viscount who has been hidden in the forest for many years. She disappeared after her mother’s death. Felton Northwood is trying to clear his family name and brings Eliza back from the forest to her father. But that is when things begin to get so much more complicated.

This was such an intriguing story filled with romance, mystery, and beautiful themes of redemption. I could not put this story down and was wondering right up to the end who was the culprit. I was able to deeply connect with the characters and loved the depth of the story. I truly felt transported to another world and did not want to leave. This is a beautiful story!

The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder is a delightful story filled with intrigue, romance, and themes of forgiveness and redemption. I enjoyed it greatly and stayed up way to late reading to find out what happened next. I highly recommend.

I was a given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

This was a fun historical and mysterious read! Eliza has been raised in the forest by Captain, she has learned to live and rely on him and the land. She knows there is danger out there and that day has finally come. The danger has come for her and everything she remembers and has known is now called into question. Eliza is taken and returned to her real father, but this isn't her life, this isn't her. She just wants to go back to her forest, back to Captain where things are safe and they were living their lives quietly. Eliza does all that she can to try and escape but until she remembers what happened the night her mother was murdered, she is bound to this forsaken place. She is the only one who holds the key to that night, and has the truth of who murdered her mother. Felton knows that Eliza is the only one who can free his father, the one who was accused of the murder. He knows his father is innocent and wants that truth out before it's too late. But it appears that someone doesn't want the truth to come out and now Eliza's life is at risk and she is questioning her nightmares and the bits and pieces that are coming back to her from that night. Can she remember what happened that night, and will Felton's father finally be freed of this accusation? This was such a good read. I loved the mystery, the history and the twisted storylines that all come together in the end. Thank you to Barbour Publishing for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

This is a very good book. It is my second book by Hannah Linder and I think she is great with Regency suspense, adventure, and romance. I like how her characters are real and flawed people. No cookie-cutter heroes or heroines. Her villains are really evil and a bit scary at times. Her writing is very descriptive and poetic. This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review.

One of my favorite tropes is a hero rescuing a damsel in distress. This one has a little twist because Felton first kidnapped Eliza to take her back to her father. Eliza has been hidden away in a remote forest for fourteen years. She knows little of the outside world except what she reads in books that Captain, her guardian, has supplied her with. She uses books to imagine what the world could be like. “She was the princess, the mermaid, the fairy- and he was the noble rescuer who had entered the forest and changed her life.”
Full of secrets, danger, suspense, a fight of good versus evil, and a nightmare that would not yield answers, this book was a feast of words. Eliza was a naive and innocent girl who cried out to God in prayer. Felton was noble, loyal and fought to right the wrongs done to his family and Eliza.
Another superb Gothic, Regency tale from Hannah Linder to savor for its complexity and foreboding plot.
*I read an ecopy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

3.5 ⭐

While this book may not have left me completely blown away, I found it to be an engaging read. I loved Linder's "Garden of the Midnights" so much, and maybe that's the problem - I was spoiled. The Girl from the Hidden Forest was a little too dark for me, and I didn't really understand all the murderous plotting. While Linder's writing style was engaging, the characters were well-developed, and the romance was sweet, I think this storyline was just not my cup of tea. However, I do appreciate the effort put into crafting this novel and would recommend it to readers looking for a solid read.

Eliza has always had nightmares, but Captain has always helped them go away. But what if those nightmares hold truths from Eliza’s past? This book had so many twists and turns! The author keeps you guessing in the best way. I’d call it a regency mystery/romantic suspense, but unlike any other I’ve ever read. I was absolutely glued until the last page.

I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher. This review is my own honest opinion.

I loved the descriptions and felt a deep connection with Eliza from the first page. I was worried about her! Hannah Linder managed to paint a word picture and make this character someone I cared about right away. Eliza is sweet and has a kind heart. Felton Northwood was also an interesting character. His focus made him a bit unaware of Eliza's plight at the beginning of the story, but he grew and changed as the story progressed, and I came to like him. The romance was well done.

The mystery kept me guessing, and the danger kept me worried about the characters. Some Bronte vibes. Romance. Gothic Regency. Suspense. Fast-paced.

In some parts, especially near the end, the story took a surprisingly dark turn and may be more gritty than some readers of books labeled as Christian or inspirational fiction expect. Edgier and darker than I expected for the genre.

Content warning:
Murder, violence, kidnapping, torture, abduction with intent to harm

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5⭐The Girl from the Hidden Forest is a Regency Fiction filled with suspense, mystery, danger, adventure, and romance.

Eliza spent her childhood living in a forest, away from the rest of the world. One day, her worst fears became a reality when she was kidnapped. Her captor eventually returned her to her father, but she only had a vague memory of him. The story revolves around the mystery of her mother's death and Felton's selfish desire to clear his family's name, which leads him to make impulsive and harmful decisions that affect his treatment of Eliza.

Hannah Linder's writing style is captivating and poetic, with a plot that keeps you hooked. Her first book is one of my favorites, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much. The lack of Christian content is apparent, and I didn't connect with Eliza throughout most of the book. The gothic elements were not as strong as in her first book. However, the romance was well-written, sweet, and clean but full of longing.

Those who are looking for stronger Christian themes or more developed characters may find it lacking. However, the story is beautifully drawn with more mystery than suspense. Things were very twisted and not what I expected...lots of instances where things were not what they seemed.


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

This book is my favorite from Hannah Linder, so far! The suspenseful plot and unraveling mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. Eliza and Felton's relationship was so tumultuous and so sweet. Felton is every inch the dreamy Gothic hero. I really enjoyed it!

Intriguing from the get go. A girl spends 14 years in a forest, believing that is her home, only to be told that she was stolen away. A young man on a quest to prove his father is innocent of a crime of murder he's supposed to have been involved in. The only person who can help him is a girl who's been missing for 14 years and is haunted by nightmares. Who can Eliza trust, who's telling the truth, and who's trying to kill her? Answering these questions might help the nightmares go away but does she really want to know? Both characters grow and change over the course of the story, making it believably written. I kept wanting to not out it down.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I think this might be my favorite (or my second favorite) of the author's books yet. The Girl from the Hidden Forest was deliciously gothic, full of I'm-on-the-edge-of-my-seat plot twists, and a heartwarming romance. Initially, I felt the story jumped in too quickly, so it was hard to connect with the MCs; however, a few chapters in, I was invested. The author has a writing style that draws you in and holds your attention. I loved the characters, the storyline, and the themes--so well done!


Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Girl from the Hidden Forest. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

This is a murder mystery wrapped up in a Regency romance. Maybe I don't read enough of these to understand the characterizations, but I found some of their actions and reactions puzzling. I didn't connect with Eliza for most of the book, and I found the villains over-the-top, almost caricatures. The romance was well-written, and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Lord Gillingham and Felton. And Merrylad is an awesome name for a dog.

This is Christian fiction so expect a lot of sentence prayers throughout.

Overall, this is a decent book, and lovers of Regency romances will enjoy it.

Family friendly though scenes of danger and some violence may be too much for some readers.

Wow! I think this is my new favorite Hannah Linder book. Packed with mystery, suspense, loyalty, betrayal, and a generous sprinkle of romance, I couldn't put it down. Oh, the plot twist!!
The villain was extremely despicable and I couldn't wait for them to be caught.
I loved Felton!! Kidnapper, friend, protector, lover. He was so commanding but not in a 'I want to slap his face' way. His struggle to see he's falling for Eliza and eventual acceptance of it was touching.
Eliza was so sweet and compassionate. She just wants her nightmares to go away! The way she compared her forest and imaginings based on Captain's stories to her current situations at the manor made me smile. I loved how Eliza was drawn to Felton and his commanding ways even when she wasn't completely sure she could trust him.
I was given an ARC copy of this book by the author. The rating and opinions are all mine.

4.5 stars!
“The Girl from the Hidden Forest” was my first book by Hannah Linder and did not disappoint. I definitely was intrigued until the end. There were plenty of twists that had me surprised.This was a little more on the dark side but was a clean regency suspenseful book. This book will keep you up at night to get until the end of the story.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley. I was not required to write a review.

The Girl from the Hidden Forest is a cleverly plotted, brilliantly written, captivating story. It kept me turning pages to see what happened next, and what happened was usually not what I expected! Beautifully crafted characters drive the story. I love Eliza and Felton. Felton’s impetuous, determined nature with underlying gentleness made him a very realistic character. Eliza is delightful and engaging. I enjoyed how she grew as she learned to navigate the real world after having been secluded in the forest most of her life. Their unique relationship is an intriguing twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope. An authentic Regency setting and suspenseful mystery along with the wonderful characters and sweet romance combine to make a touching, entertaining read.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After reading The Girl from the Hidden Forest, I have found my new favorite novel from the talented author, Hannah Linder. I loved the chemistry between Eliza and Felton. Their story involved danger, suspense, adventure, romance, and mystery. It was one that was easy to predict and I had to keep turning the pages to see what could possibly happen next. I thought it was a fabulous novel to read.

The Girl from the Hidden Forest deserves five stars. I have no doubt fans and lovers of clean Regency romance with a touch of mystery will love it as much as me. As always, I will be looking more releases from Hannah Linder in the near future.

I received a paperback copy of Hannah Linder's The Girl from the Hidden Forest from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

I am continually impressed by Hannah’s ability to craft such hauntingly romantic gothic fiction. One would never know she is so young, when her writing is so well constructed and presented. Her talents seem endless, and her well of story ideas bottomless.

The Girl from the Hidden Forest was perfectly mysterious and well paced. Never lulling or losing the reader’s attention. Her gothic style is gritty, yet not overdone. The romance is clean, but so full of longing. And the mystery was just that a mystery until the very end. Each time I thought I had finally figured out the bad guy, a new potential candidate was revealed.

Hannah has a bright and long future ahead of her.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.