These timeslip/dual timeline stories are becoming one of my comfort reads - I love the comfort and relatability of modern-day life but also am fascinated by the history and stories of those from the past. Cornick melds both of these well into an engrossing story with themes of strong women, love, family, and a complex and well-spun-out mystery.

I was fascinated by the topic as I had not associated Bamburgh with Jacobite activity, so it was interesting to learn more about the Forster family and, notably, Dorothy’s role in the events of 1715. The history was told through a relatable and engaging story, blending history and story well.

It’s evident that the author has a strong connection with Banburgh too - through her descriptions and attention to detail. Also, big up the reference to The Last Kingdom - another reason why it is a place I want to visit, more so after reading this story!

Overall, a compelling and intricate mystery, rich in history and plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

Nicola Cornick writes dual-period novels about unjustly forgotten women where both narrative strands compel equally, which doesn’t happen often. Fans of Mary Stewart (Touch Not the Cat in particular), Anya Seton’s Devil Water, and Susanna Kearsley’s 18th-century epics will relish her latest, which tells the parallel stories of purported Jacobite heroine Dorothy Forster and a modern biographer who grew up in Dorothy’s family home.

Hannah Armstrong returns to Bamburgh Hall in Northumberland with plans to research local heroine Grace Darling but gets more intrigued by Dorothy, especially after finding Dorothy’s enigmatic portrait at the Hall, surrounded by Jacobite motifs. Hannah’s stepmother, Diana, initially encourages her interest in Dorothy but oddly changes her mind later. According to legend, Dorothy took a late-night ride to London to liberate her Jacobite brother from prison and held a fake funeral for him, abetting his escape, and Hannah wonders if this daring adventure was true. In 1715, Dorothy, who oversees her ill father’s household, gets fed up with male power games after learning about a planned Jacobite rebellion that has her eldest brother, Tom, among the plotters. She foresees only disaster and fears retribution. A touch of mysticism enhances the rich atmosphere. In her youth, Dorothy shared a telepathic bond with a boy whose identity she never knew. Possibly it was the Earl of Derwentwater, her charming near-betrothed, or maybe it was blacksmith John Armstrong.

Various layers of Bamburgh’s thrilling history reveal themselves here, dating from periods before Uhtred’s Bebbanburgh through the present. Among other sites, we get to visit the imposing castle and rocky coastline, with gorgeous views of the Farne Islands in the distance. Both protagonists have haunting, slow-burning love stories, but the 1715 Rising itself is not romanticized. Rather, Cornick demonstrates the courage of women forced to confront turmoil caused by foolish men.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

- interwoven dual timeline stories ⁣⁣
- well researched history⁣⁣
- slow-burn clean romances ⁣⁣
- inspired by real characters in history ⁣⁣
- Jacobite rebellion ⁣⁣
- mysterious jewelry ⁣⁣
- a page-turner⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The stories of 1715 Dorothy Forster and present Hannah Armstrong are intertwined around Bamburgh Hall, England and a secret rose necklace. Nicola Cornick masterfully brings to life the history of Dorothy Forster and her role during the Jacobite Rebellion. I have always loved seeing history come to life during this period, especially in the countryside of England. ⁣⁣I really enjoyed this one! 4.25✨

Present day, Hannah Armstrong is working on a book about Grace Darling. Visiting her stepmother she comes across a portrait of a young woman name Dorothy Forster. Hannah wants to know more about Dorothy. 1715, Dorothy Forster at Bamburgh castle with her father and brothers and the Jacobite uprising is about to unfold. Both woman are connected and who is the keeper of the rose.

This is the third book now I've read by this author. All have been in the same vain, a dual timeline that connect the past and the present.

Until reading this book I had never heard of Dorothy Forster. She was known as The heroine of the north as she ride to London to help her brothers. So it's always nice to read about somebody in history that I don't know anything about.

I found the book interesting at times and the story did hold my attention until the end. Like the previous books I've read by the author I did find the story at times a little sugary.

I had a nice time reading this book and would consider reading more by the author in the future. Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the book to review.

When I sit down with a Nicola Cornick novel I know I’m in for a treat. And this was once again true as I read this captivating and intriguing story. Very well written and entertaining.

The latest dual-narrative historical-fiction, from a new favourite author of mine, about two women bound together by a centuries' old mystery at Bamburgh Hall: Jacobite heroine, Dorothy Forster in the 1700s, and biographer, Hannah Armstrong in the present day. A gripping tale of family, love, treason, secrets and betrayal, with a touch of the supernatural, but it didn't quite grab me as much as Cornick's previous novel: The Other Gwyn Girl.

Full review to come soon.

Nicola Cornick writes the most captivating fiction novels! I loved how beautifully this dual POV story between different timelines came together. The past of Dorothy Forster was intricately woven with the present storyline of Hannah Armstrong. The characters in this were vividly brought to life, and the history was rich and intriguing. I can't wait for her next book!

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

Nicola Cornick is at her most captivating with her sweeping new novel, The Secrets of the Rose.

1715 and England is on the brink of rebellion. Dorothy Foster lives at Bamburgh Hall and she is constantly at the mercy of the men in her life. With her father having dangerous secrets that could imperil them all, her trouble-seeking brothers getting up to mischief at court and the man she loves seeming out of her reach, Dorothy has nobody to turn to. Caught in the middle of warring factions, there is danger everywhere she looks. Discovering that her family is in possession of a talisman called The Rose which both sides believe could lead them to victory, Dorothy needs to tread carefully as the fate of the country and the man she loves rests in her hands.

In the present day, Hannah Armstrong has just returned to Bamburgh Hall for work, but her stepmother Diana is giving her cause for concern. What secrets is Diana keeping? Their family home once belonged to Dorothy Foster and Hannah is intent on finding out more about this courageous woman who left a mysterious legacy behind. With dangers from the past impacting upon the future, Hannah has her work cut out for her as she must vanquish old ghosts and unravel centuries-old secrets before deadly jeopardy arrives once again at Bamburgh Hall.

I’m a huge Nicola Cornick fan having read all of her books and she just continues to get better and better with every new release. The Secrets of the Rose is a spellbinding tale full of passion, danger, drama and emotion that kept me in its thrall from the first page until the very last word. With a strong historical setting, layered and complex characters, a page-turning plotline, nail-biting action and touching romance, The Secrets of the Rose is the latest in a long line of outstanding historical novels from Nicola Cornick.

In this fantastic dual timeline historical fiction novel, readers explore Bamburgh Hall amidst the chaos of 1715 and in the present day, and the Hall, in both timelines, has secrets of its own. In 1715, Dorothy Foster’s life is ruled by her troublemaking brothers, her elderly and secretive father, and her greedy uncle, and her chance at happiness with the man she loves grows dimmer. As the rebellion nears Bamburgh Hall, Dorothy must take on the duty of protecting the Rose talisman, the men she loves, and the country’s fate. Hannah Armstrong, in the present day, has returned to Bamburgh Hall only to discover that her stepmother Diana’s worrying secrets are becoming more dangerous and Dorothy’s mysterious legacy is something worth killing for, so Hannah must discover Dorothy’s secrets to keep danger away for a second time. Both Hannah and Dorothy are competent and capable heroines whose struggles will truly test them and their loyalty, and they are both well-written and complex figures. The atmosphere and world-building is particularly fantastic, and readers will love the dual mysteries present in this brilliant new release. Engaging, immersive, and high stakes, historical fiction fans will love this new story and the two clever women who inhabit it from Nicola Cornick.

1700s, Dorothy Forster's life is plunged into turmoil when her brothers become involved with the Jacobite rebellion. Present day, Hannah heads to her childhood home to research Grace Darling for her new book. But she discovers the legend of Dorothy and is keen to find out more...
The Secrets of the Rose is a dual timeline historical novel about two brave women fighting for their families.
Siblings, eh?! Dorothy and Hannah are both facing trouble and danger due to their brothers. Dorothy's brothers are preparing to commit acts of treason to put a pretender on the throne while Hannah's brother is stealing from the family. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between past and present sibling drama, and the links that emerge to connect the two timelines.
Luckily Dorothy and Hannah both have other people they can count on. I liked the gently developing romances in each timeline as well as the support Hannah receives from her stepmother. There are some great 'baddies' who we can love to hate, and this made me root even more strongly for the women who stand up to them.
At the end of the book there is a link to the author's previous book about Nell Gwyn's sister (reviewed on my blog) and I liked being reunited with these characters again. The style of writing is easy to read and both timelines felt equally well developed. I found the mystery of the Rose to be engaging, bordering on the supernatural, which added another dimension to the plot.
The Secrets of the Rose is an enjoyable dual timeline book about a pair of strong women divided by the centuries.

I just finished The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick and here is my review.

Hannah is back at Bamburgh hall for work and she doesn’t expect to find a family secret.. A legacy started centuries ago and someone killing to kill for it.

I was so excited when I got this book. I am a big fan of Nicola Cornick and this book did not disappoint.. The book is told through dual timelines but I felt more inclined to the present day. The past felt slower paced than the present day.

We follow Hannah in the present day and Dorothy in the past. The past covers the civil war and Dorothy's brothers played in the coup of trying to put the Scottish king on the British throne. I love history and this is a civil war I know about.

The writing is phenomenal. The 2 POV interchanges really well and flowed from time to time with ease. I never felt lost or bored. The author did a really solid job of the imagery that was depicted in the book of the Bamburgh Castle. It made me miss the beaches back home so it made me nostalgic. The historical elements were well researched and I really love historical fiction that takes care with history.

I highly recommend this book.

5 stars

Set in two timelines of 1715 and present time.

In 1715 Dorothy Forster is living in Bamburgh Hall in Northumberland. Her brother Thomas is heavily involved in the participation of a future uprising by his fellow Jacobites.
Dorothy is fearful of what these rebellions will cause.

Present time.
Hannah Armstrong returns to her childhood home Bamburgh Hall to work from there for a little while.
Hannah reacquaints herself with Bamburgh as she delves into secrets of the past and present.

This is the first book I have read from the author, and now I long to read more.
It was a very interesting and well written book, as I live not far from Bamburgh I am familiar with the areas beaches, but not of Dorothy Foster.
It was great to read about Dorothy and do some research myself at the end of the book.
Next time I am in Bamburgh I will be looking at it with fresh eyes.
A book I will remember.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

This is a fabulous story it is a long time since I have read one of Nicola Cornick’s books and I am so glad I picked this one up, set over two time lines centuries apart in the same home and town we meet Dorothy Forester during the Jacobite Rebellion and Hannah Armstrong in the present, the story is intriguing, so well written and it was hard to put down.

1715 the country is on the brink of rebellion, Dorothy Forester lives in Bamburgh Hall with her ailing father, her older brother, Thomas is away at parliament in London and younger brother Nicholas is as Oxford, but trouble is brewing and Dorothy gets caught between the warring factions, all she want is to keep her family safe and then there is the mystery of The Rose a talisman that is hundreds of years old and it is said that her family is the keeper of The Rose and she knows she must keep it safe from falling into the wrong hands. The local blacksmith John Armstrong is there to support and help Dorothy and they get closer throughout the trying times.

Present times Hannah has returned home to Bamburgh to write a biography on a local hero Grace Darling but when she arrives she finds that her step-mother Diana is not well and that she has kept things from Hannah about her brother Brandon and Hannah is determined to get to the truth and this brings her to researching Dorothy Forester another local heroine during the Jacobite Rebellion and the more she digs the more she seems to think that there is a lot more to this myth about The Rose and is there a chance that somehow she is linked to The Rose as well and then danger arrives and like in her past there is someone there to save her Aaron her teenage crush, will they find the answers to the myths and secrets that abound around The Rose?

Nicola Cornick has researched and come up with a story that is intriguing, magical and has the reader thinking about myth, legend and facts, the characters are so very good and I felt a connection to them from the start, well most of them there are some that show their true self and I have no problem highly recommending this one to any reader and lover of a good historical story with a touch of everything in it. I loved it.

My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books

Before you even open The Secrets Of The Rose, take a moment to admire the utterly gorgeous cover. It is one of the loveliest I’ve seen in recent times. Between the covers, you’ll find an intriguing and entertaining story that was hard for me to put down. Nicola Cornick has done a masterful job of weaving a plausible plot around some fascinating strands of history to create a fascinating story. Told in two timelines that eventually connect through the rose, this book is set almost exclusively in the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland.
In 1709, we meet Dorothy Forster, who has escaped her family home for the evening to attend the Midsomer Fair. Her life at this stage is full of pleasure, however change is foreshadowed, and in 1715 we see that coming into effect. By this stage, Dorothy’s father is ill, her mother has been dead for a long time and her older brother Thomas, not the sharpest tool in the shed, has embraced the Jacobite cause, putting the rest of his family in danger, including her younger brother Nicholas, who is fired up with the glory of it all.
Dorothy is a steadfast woman, well-loved by her family retainers and the villagers, and torn between trying to protect them all from the horrors of war. She’s both endearing and admirable, able to strongly refute unwelcome offers of marriage that seem to come often, and also capably running her brother’s estate for him. I cheered her as she faced one difficulty after another. Bamburgh blacksmith John Armstrong is also a strong character in this timeline, a staunch supporter of Dorothy and clearly in love with her if she would only recognise it. When danger comes, it is always John who steps in to sort things out.
In the present day, Hannah Armstrong has returned to Bamburgh Hall, her family home, to write a biography of local heroine Grace Darling, who helped her father rescue survivors of a shipwreck in 1838. While working on this, Hannah also indulges her fascination with Dorothy’s history. Meanwhile, her brother Brandon is a somewhat sinister character in the background, and Aaron Salter, her teenage crush, is newly single. While the attraction between these two is patently obvious and provides a nice secondary thread, it is by no means the driver of this story. I loved watching Hannah unravelling the mystery of the rose, including discovering exactly what it was. A cast of secondary characters, most notable among them Hannah’s stepmother Diana, add interest to the story.
The characters in both timelines are all superbly crafted and realistic, some of them easy to like and others very easy to loathe. The balance is very well done. This story had me racing from cover to cover and then regretting not having taken the time to savour the unfolding plot.

I love Cornick's novels that include the present and the past. They are skillfully written, well-researched, and have compelling characters. Fans of Diana Gabaldon should check these out.

Another winner from Nicola Cornick. As with many of her other books, this is a dual timeline novel that takes place in present day and in the 1600's. It is a story of Hannah, a writer who is doing research on Grace Darling, and Dorothy Forester, the sister of rebels. Both storylines had me entranced from the first. I had read about Grace Darling before so I knew her story, but the author gives you enough information so you will know what happened to her. I especially liked how Nicola weaved the two timelines together. This is one of my favorites by this author so far. If you like historical fiction, you will love this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early read of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Nicola Cornick has won me over with her last books, and so I bought this one blindly. Okay, maybe not that blindly, because hey, isn't that a beautiful cover? Flowery, romantic, and yet somehow mysterious.

The author remains true to her tried and tested pattern in her new novel: there are two time lines, one in the here and now, one in the past; but we are based on one place, namely Bamburgh Hall, an old estate in Northumberland. In 1715, Dorothy Forster lived here with her family - and two of her brothers were actively involved in the Jacobin rebellion. Dorothy's family have long been secret guardians of the rose - the rose, a jewel that is passed down from every mother to the eldest daughter; a talisman that offers protection in deadly political conflicts, a precious piece of jewelry that everyone is after. But can Dorothy use the rose to protect her brothers? And can she prevent the planned high treason? And then there is love, and this is where it gets really romantic, because Dorothy's chosen man is not really of her social standing - but he is a man with an extraordinary amount of courage and a sense of honour.....

More than 300 years later, we are also at Bamburgh Hall with Hannah Armstrong. Hannah is an author and has returned to her old home for research purposes. She is actually supposed to write about a local heroine, but she is interested in Dorothy Foster, and so we readers are actually following two historical women whose lives Hannah is researching. Yes, Dorothy, whose portrait hangs in Hannah's room and with whom she feels a strangely intimate connection. Dorothy with her rose, which is still highly sought after today, a now ancient treasure for which some people are prepared to commit crimes.... and Hannah also has romantic entanglements when her old childhood friend Aaron appears....

So, 2 strong women, 2 exciting stories, interwoven with each other about the legendary rose - all in all a wonderful story that captivated me from the start. Ms Cornick knows how to write vividly, to write in a thrilling way, and to bring history to life. The two heroines convinced me. A credible cast, not only of the main actresses, but also of the supporting protagonists.

I once again found the setting convincing, and everything historically very well researched. For me as a foreigner, the author always takes up periods of English history that are rather unknown to me. The Jacobite Rebellion is historically new territory for me as a German, so I found it enriching and exciting.
Oh and Dorothy and her love story, that was really heart-warming :-) . I liked it soooo much :-) A tough young lady who doesn't come across as all that extraordinary, but takes her life and love into her own hands. I was really completely immersed in the historical timeline while reading :-)

If you want to read an exciting dual-timeline novel with believable heroines, a touch of mysticism and lots of action and drama, this book is highly recommended! I liked it, I give it all the thumbs up and look forward to Ms Cornick's next books!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy!

It has been a while since I was so spellbound by a historical fiction, as I was with this one. It was billed as a historical fiction with elements of romance, with romance not typically being a genre I’m interested in. However, I was pleasantly surprised by The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick.

The characters were wonderfully written with depth, real emotions, and development. The two stories between the main character, Hannah in the present time and the alternating character, Dorothy in the 1700’s was incredibly enjoyable to read. It was very clear that Nicola Cornick did her research on historical elements of the time period and wove a beautiful and haunting account of the Jacobite rebellion and the aftermath affecting those involved and the families outside of the rebellion.

I loved the imagery that was depicted in the book of the Bamburgh Castle, the beaches of the coastal town, homes repurposed or remodeled to be used in the present time linked to historical figures/events, and the research Hannah does in museums and in the small town. I found myself immersed in the scenery and wanting to traverse all the locations to view for myself.

It was an excellent read and I found that I didn’t want it to end!

Absolutely love this book, it was written superbly and for once, I didn’t find myself preferring one narrative over the other when it came to the dual-time narrative. I enjoyed both immensely! In both, Bamburgh almost takes on a role as character itself, and perhaps that’s being a fan of the area myself but I felt it really set the scene and intrigue for the storylines. I enjoyed the mirroring of the protagonist’s stories and will definitely recommend this book to friends or fans of historical fiction.