Two women. Two periods of time. Both facing danger and difficult decisions. Bound together by a mysterious talisman entrusted to their keeping.

It took but a few pages to pull me into this book. Nicola Cornick used historical facts, a superbly detailed sense of place, intriguing characters, and life or death events to immerse me into 18th century Northumberland and the lives of Dorothy Forster, those who supported her, and those who meant to use her for their own gains. I was immediately invested in this woman and eager to discover the entirety of what actually happened to her all those years ago.

Equally compelling is the present-day character of Hannah Armstrong. Growing up in Bamburgh Hall, the very same home in which Dorothy lived, Hannah has always been fascinated with this historical character. A writer, Hannah has been contracted to write a biography about another historical woman in the area but she keeps being pulled back to Dorothy. As the stories of both Dorothy and Hannah unfold in alternating chapters of this book, it begins to become evident that they have more in common than Hannah would ever have guessed and that just as Dorothy faced peril at the hands of those closest to her, so too may Hannah.

Cornick brought these characters, events, and places to life in vivid detail that immersed me into their worlds and kept me there until the final page. The secrets of the rose are slowly unveiled as the story progresses, bringing with them a touch of magic that transcends the centuries. The romantic elements also are slowly developed organically and believably, allowing friendship and love to grow at its own pace. The danger in both centuries kept me glued to the pages, fearing for those in whom I was already invested while trying to guess which characters - in both eras - are friend or foe. And, the hall, the castle, the village, and the shoreline of this corner of England have me itching to book a trip and go exploring.

I enthusiastically recommend The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick. It ticked all of my happy reading boxes.

ARC received from publisher.
Fair and unbiased review.

Writer Hannah Armstrong has been commissioned to write the story of Grace Darling, a Victorian heroine who became famous after performing an amazing history following a shipwreck off the coast of the town of Bamburgh in north eastern England. For Hannah, this is a chance to come home for a while to spend time in the town she grew up and with her stepmother Diana. However, Hannah has never really been that enthralled with the tale of Grace Darling. She is much more interested in the story of Dorothy Forster, sister to a rebel Jacobite general, but she has a job to do, and she will do it. When she sees a portrait of Dorothy on the wall in her family home she is enthralled by the picture, and by all the Jacobite symbolism.

What she doesn't expect when she arrives at Bamburgh is to find that Diana has been keeping big secrets from her, and it means that she will need to spend more time in town than she first planned. It turns out though that there are many secrets, and as Hannah researches both stories, she begins to find more and more threads that link directly to her, and somewhat disturbingly that lead to some uncomfortable truths about her brother, Brandon.

Whilst this is a dual timeline, in effect we are getting three stories for the price of two. We find out more details about Grace's story as Hannah researches and writes. We get to see Dorothy Forster's story as it unfolds in the past. Dorothy is the person who keeps their household running. Her father is mentally absent most of the time and is very unwell, her older brother is mixed up in all sorts of trouble, including the Jacobite rebellion which aims to return Prince James Stuart to the British throne at the expense of King George I. Her younger brother Nicholas is away at Oxford studying, so Dorothy is most shocked when she finds out that he too is involved in the Jacobite conspiracy. Her uncle, Lord Crewe, is determined that the family name will not be tainted in any conspiracy as he knows that there is a risk that they will all be implicated, and he is prepared to use Dorothy as a marriage pawn if he needs to, much to her dismay.

As both stories progress, there is an echo through the generations, both in terms of the difficult familial dynamics, the feelings that Dorothy and Hannah have for men that they don't believe that they could or should have. Dorothy was also the keeper of a talisman, known as The Rose. The talisman has been lost to history, but as Hannah researches it becomes clear that someone believes in the power of The Rose and will do anything to have it.

I first became interested in Jacobite history after reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, but it really caught me once i read a number of Susanna Kearsley's books, starting with The Winter Sea. There were parts of this book that really reminded me of Kearsley's stories in terms of there being an almost mystical connection between some of the characters. Reading this book made me wish I had time to reread some of my favourites from her, or maybe I should just read her latest book! Either way would work for me I think!

I liked this book because it told the story of English Jacobites rather than just focussing on the Scottish history. We were in Scotland last year and we heard a lot about the Jacobites. We even visited the famous Glenfinnan monument to them, which is handily located right near the famous viaduct that the Harry Potter train crosses over!

Very early on in the book there is a passage about some glassware. Many years ago now, the National Gallery of Victoria had an exhibition of Jacobite glassware which I spent ages looking at. Some of these were meant to be used to communicate hidden political sympathies, and others were more overt. I couldn't help but think of that display when I read this passage.





"I can't tell you how lovely it is to have you staying for more than just a few days," Diana said later, over dinner of shepherd's pie accompanied by some of the expensive red wine Hannah had brought with her. Diana had served the meal on the 'good' china with some antique crystal glasses she had bought in an antique shop in Alnwick.

"As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have them," Diana had told her when Hannah had commented on them. "They came from a house clearance over at Adderstone. You remember the old manor house there? It's been derelict for years, but apparently its being turned into holiday flats now. The antiques dealer said these were quite a find."

"They're beautiful," Hannah had said truthfully, but in fact they were so fragile that she felt nervous to touch them. Hers was engraved with a circle of entwined oak leaves and Diana's had a rose on it. In the cupboard on the wall, Hannah could see the rest of the set sparkling in the light, each with a different motif - a butterfly, sunflower, crown and rosebuds. The symbols were the same as the ones in the portrait of Dorothy Forster in the hall.


You can some of the symbolism in the image below from the exhibit. It wasn't the easiest to take photos of, but it does give you an idea.



I had not previously read Nicola Cornick before. Looking at her backlist there are a number of her older books that I would like to read at some point!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge when I host here. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

Once again, Nicola Cornick creates a dual-timeline novel that captures the imagination as well as your heart, making THE SECRETS OF THE ROSE simply unputdownable.

With two strong, intelligent female main characters, we are drawn deeply into a story that is emotional and compelling.
In the present day, Hannah has returned home to Bamburgh Hall to focus on her work but it soon becomes obvious that there are secrets hidden in the hall's depths and her stepmother knows more than she is letting on.
​Bamburgh Hall is also the setting for Dorothy Forster but as it is 1715 Dorothy is living a much different life to Hannah. Restricted at every turn, Dorothy is fighting to protect those she loves and the Rose, a legendary talisman, that both sides of a dangerous rebellion will do anything to get their hands on. But can she make it through when the odds are heavily stacked against her?

With a stunning setting and characters that genuinely make you care about them, THE SECRETS OF THE ROSE by Nicola Cornick is a wonderful read from beginning to end. History is effortlessly interwoven with elements of danger, love, and the formidable strength of women, making Nicola Cornick one of the best dual-timeline writers ever. A must-read in every way, THE SECRETS OF THE ROSE needs to be next on your reading list for 2025.

I like Nicola Cornick’s books because you always know what to expect from them, but at the same time each one is different and has something new to offer. With The Secrets of the Rose, I got exactly what I knew I would get: a dual timeline narrative, strong female protagonists, a search for an historic relic that has found its way into the present, cameo appearances by characters from other Cornick novels, and hints of the supernatural. However, I also had the opportunity to learn about a woman I’ve never read about before – Dorothy Forster of Bamburgh Hall.

In the present day, we meet Hannah Armstrong, an author working on a new book about Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter who became a 19th century celebrity after helping her father to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck. In order to research the biography, Hannah has returned to Bamburgh, the village on the Northumberland coast where she grew up and which she can use as a base for visiting the Darlings’ lighthouse in the nearby Farne Islands. Unfortunately, Hannah is finding that she has very little interest in Grace and her life – the woman she really wants to write about is another local heroine, Dorothy Forster.

Dorothy’s story unfolds in 1715, the year of the Jacobite Rising when supporters of the exiled James Edward Stuart attempted to restore him to the throne. Dorothy, who is living at Bamburgh Hall with her ailing father, is alarmed when she learns that her two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas, have been persuaded by one of the Jacobite leaders, the Earl of Derwentwater to join the rebellion. As the nephews of Lord Crewe of Bamburgh Castle, not only will their involvement put their own lives at risk, it could also leave the whole family in danger. Then Dorothy discovers that the Forsters are the keepers of the Rose, a legendary talisman that both sides in the conflict believe could be the key to victory. Can Dorothy hide the Rose from their enemies and keep her brothers safe?

These two storylines start to come together when Hannah goes to stay at Bamburgh Hall, her stepmother Diana’s home. As is often the case with dual narrative books, I found that one storyline interested me more than the other and this time it was the Dorothy Forster one. There were a lot of things I liked about Hannah’s story as well, but Dorothy’s was more exciting. Legend states that Dorothy rode to London on horseback to rescue her brother Thomas from Newgate Prison after the failed rebellion and Cornick does incorporate this episode into the novel, but also shows that there’s a lot more to Dorothy’s story than that. The Jacobite aspect of the novel plays out mainly in the background, far away from Bamburgh, so the focus is more on Dorothy’s personal life and her relationships with family and friends.

I thought the novel was interesting enough without the magic talisman element and I’m not sure if it really added much to the plot. Still, Nicola Cornick’s books do usually have some supernatural touches and they’re not as strong here as in some of her others. I did love the setting – although I wouldn’t say I know Bamburgh well, I’ve been there a few times and enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of Hannah and Dorothy in two different centuries. And I was intrigued to find when I read the author’s note that Dorothy’s uncle, Guy Forster, and his wife also appear in Cornick’s previous book, The Other Gwyn Girl, which I haven’t read yet. The relationship between them is fictional, although they share the Forster name, but I do want to read that book anyway.

I really enjoyed The Secrets of the Rose, then, and would probably rank it in my top three Nicola Cornick novels so far, along with The Last Daughter and The Phantom Tree.

Terrific dual timeline story by Nicola Cornick! Dividing its time between 18th century and 21st century England, The Secrets of the Rose follows Dorothy, whose family is split between King George and the Stuart King residing in France. Dorothy Forster is caught between her uncle who is solidly on the side of King George, and her brothers who are on the side of the Stuart king across the water. Dorothy's father is ill, and sometimes confused, and her uncle has essentially taken over all of the Forster estates for himself. A secret talisman is involved, there are villains galore and politics abound!

In modern times, Hannah Armstrong is in Bamburg on a project to research and write a book about another female hero, but she finds her assigned hero much less interesting than lesser known Dorothy. As she researches one, she is more and more drawn to the other, and soon parallels between Hannah's life and Dorothy's life begin to emerge. And just what is the Rose, and what is the secret? You have to read the book to find out, but it's definitely worth it!

Hannah Armstrong returns to Bamburgh Hall, in the North East, once her childhood home, in order to do some research for a work assignment and in doing so finds that she is strangely drawn to a mysterious portrait of a beautiful young woman. Dorothy Forster, is the indomitable young woman, who lived at Bamburgh Hall in the early eighteenth century, and it is her portrait, and her combined story that we follow in this cleverly controlled time slip novel.

With careful attention to detail and in beautifully written alternate chapters we move seamlessly between the modern day and Hannah’s complicated family dynamics, her concern for her stepmother, who is struggling, and the uneasiness which surrounds her brother, Brandon. Back in 1715 we follow Dorothy as she worries about her two brothers who are caught up in the events leading to the first of the Jacobite rebellions and as these events spiral out of control so we follow Dorothy on a treacherous path to keep her family safe.

Bringing the past to life is what this author does best. Her fine attention to detail brings not just the eighteenth century to life in all of its periodic detail, but we also get to spend time in modern day Bamburgh, with its looming castle, and windswept beaches, which helps to create a lasting impression. Slipping back through time, Dorothy’s story, once the stuff of legend comes alive, and I found the Jacobite connection absolutely fascinating, especially the importance of the rose talisman which Dorothy discovers has such a powerful meaning to both her family, and the Jacobite cause.

Beautifully written, and researched, The Secrets of the Rose,with its hint of magical realism and a touch of tender romance, gives a fascinating glimpse into the dangerous events of the past, bringing alive a story which is rich in historical detail and alive with intrigue.

Based off the cover and the description, I was really keen to read this book. It seemed really inciting. I have been reading a lot of historical fiction with dual POVs and I thought this one was great! I really liked Dorothy and Hannah, they were both unique and their own timelines were really well written. I also loved the setting, Bamburgh Hall was really well brought to life. I was drawn to this book because I have excavated at Bamburgh with the Bamburgh Research Project. I absolutely loved how this author brought the town and history to life. This village is really close to me and I loved this book.

I liked this story and would recommend it.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a timeslip mystery, and I was really excited to read it, as I remembered enjoying some previous books by this author. There are two narratives - one following Hannah and the present day, and the following Dorothy in 1715. Hannah is writing a biography about a local heroine, but it's Dorothy’s story that interests her the most. Hannah learns of a mysterious talisman called The Rose, and Dorothy knew about it too. Why is The Rose so important, and what secrets does it hold?

The author brought Bamburgh Hall to life in my mind, and it provided me with an escape. I found that I connected with both protagonists in different ways, which is usually the case. I identified more with Hannah, but there was something about Dorothy and her demeanour that I admired, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

What I love about this type of book is that there are essentially two stories for the reader to escape into, and once you become invested, it's hard to stop reading until you've finished. Nicola Cornick was one of the first authors that made me feel drawn to books like this. This was a captivating mystery with a hint of romance, and it sparked joy to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I really loved the way the author brought history to life in this absorbing read – her descriptions are stunning, with all those wonderful small details. And the characters were exceptionally well drawn, the writing so strong that I felt drawn into their lives.

In the present day, Hannah is back home in Bamburgh to research her next writing commission, a book about Grace Darling’s life – but she finds far more fascination in the life of Dorothy Forster and her involvement with the Jacobite cause around the time of the 1715 rebellion. But she’s also found that her stepmother is struggling with her health – well supported by her new partner, but influencing her decision to stay around rather longer than she’d originally planned. Meeting up with former friends, she finds that her absent brother might have ruffled a few feathers (putting it mildly…) – his planned return becomes something she’s rather dreading, and with good cause.

And then we have the story of Dorothy Forster herself – caring for her ailing father, her older brother a leading light for the Jacobite cause, her younger brother becoming far more involved than she’s comfortable with. And she’s promised in marriage to a vehement opponent of the cause, a match arranged by her controlling uncle who lives at the castle, when she’s already found a perhaps far less suitable man (in the eyes of others) who’s offered her his kindness and support.

I won’t tell the story, but I very much enjoyed the way it unfolded – the stories mirroring each other with their romantic elements and complications caused by errant brothers, the transitions between past and present smoothly handled, both narratives equally engaging. There’s plenty of well-written drama, twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, the mystery about the Rose and its significance at the book’s centre, and a touch of old magic that only enhanced the gripping story. The romantic elements are beautifully done, both relationships I really believed in, with the perfect emotional touch. And the historical detail was impeccably researched, used lightly to bring the past vividly to life – I felt entirely present at a time in history that I previously knew little about.

This is the first time I’ve read one of the author’s books, and I’ll certainly be reading more – and I’m really looking forward to my forthcoming visit to Bamburgh, with new insights into Dorothy’s compelling story. This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed, and would very much recommend to others.

The Secrets of the Rose is another great dual time period novel from Nicola Cornick. I have enjoyed all her previous dual time novels and the way she weaves historical facts with a touch of the supernatural.

1715 and Dorothy Forster lives at Bamburgh hall with her ailing father. She has two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas. Thomas is a ne’er do well member of Parliament and a secret Jacobite. Nicholas is an 18 year old student at Oxford. Then both are pulled into the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. Dorothy using her wits, attempts to save at least her younger brother Nicholas from their folly. With the help of the local blacksmith John Armstrong and her more than capable housekeeper Mrs. Selden, Dorothy attempts to mitigate the destruction that her foolish brothers bring down on the family, Dorothy also has the assistance of the Rose, a talisman that has been handed down through the generations of her family, a talisman that will protect the wearer as long as they do not try to use the Rose for nefarious gains.

In the present, Hannah Armstrong, a writer goes back to her family home, Bamburgh Hall to research a book she is writing on the plucky Victorian heroine Grace Darling. Not being a huge fan of Grace, Hannah finds herself distracted by the story of Dorothy Forster. After finding out that her step-mother Diana is battling cancer, Hannah decides to stay and assist her step-mother while researching Grace’s story. She reconnects with her childhood crush Aaron and together they uncover the mystery surrounding Dorothy and her supposed heroism during the Uprising, Hannah also has a ne’er do well brother, Brandon, who seems to have malicious plans of his own. Hannah may be in more danger that she knows.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

This book is too slow-paced for me, meandering and directionless. There are a lot of characters to keep track of with nothing to cement them in my memory. Obviously, others enjoy it, but it’s not for me. DNF.

I loved this story and I especially liked the character of Dorothy in the earlier period ( 1715). She was a very capable woman but was held back by the men in her life, thinking that women weren’t capable of intelligent thought and she confine their abilities to the domestic areas. There are also some very dangerous people who Dorothy needs to thwart and maybe a romance. In the present day, Hannah has returned home to Bamburgh for a writing assignment and she has to face up to seeing an old love plus finding out what her brother is up to. I loved the setting of Bamburgh and having visited there a few times, the descriptions brought back happy memories. Both women are strong characters and I enjoyed the way the stories linked together. There is a paranormal element to the story that I wasn’t expecting but did enjoy. I received a copy of this book and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. However, I did preorder my own copy.

I found both strands of this dual timeline novel enjoyable and it was interesting to spot the similarities in the lives of the two women. Before reading "The Secrets of the Rose" I didn't know much about the 1715 uprising whilst, obviously, the '45 features in the Outlander books. The setting of Bamburgh is great as I have visited the village and walked on the sand and dunes below the castle, making it easier to visualise some of the events. I will be looking out for more novels by Nicola Cornick.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The Secrets of the Rose" by Nicola Cornick is an awesome historical fiction book that cleverly mixes two different time periods. It features Dorothy Forster in the 1700s and Hannah Armstrong in today's world.

In 1715, Dorothy faces a ton of struggles dealing with the wild politics of the Jacobite rebellion. She finds out her family is in charge of this legendary talisman called the Rose, and both sides think it’ll lead them to victory. Dorothy has to put everything on the line to keep the Rose safe and protect the guys she cares about.

In the present, Hannah heads back to Bamburgh Hall to tackle a writing project. But things take a turn as she starts digging into her family's past and uncovers some hidden secrets. The deeper she goes, the more she sees that Dorothy's legacy is way more important and risky than she thought.

Nicola Cornick’s writing is packed with historical details and colorful descriptions that really pull you into each time period. The two timelines blend together perfectly, creating a gripping story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The characters are well-crafted and relatable, making their journeys both touching and motivating.

All in all, "The Secrets of the Rose" is a mesmerizing story about bravery, hidden truths, and enduring love that will really stick with you. If you’re into historical mysteries with a hint of romance, this book is definitely a must-read!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I loved getting to know the characters as the story progressed, and how the two different timelines were interchanging, but didn’t confuse you.

I loved reading about Hannah and Dorothy..

I highly recommend this book.

I'm sorry that I didn't finish this book sooner.

It was a really fun and quick read. The characters grew as the plot went along and it felt adventurous to read. I liked how you have the two different timelines and the interchanging between them was smooth. Hannah was my favorite character because her timeline was in the present. But Dorothy was also fun to read about.

There weren't many mistakes and the writing flowed nicely. And the history made sense too.

Thank you to the publisher and author for sending me this copy.

A wonderfully written sweeping story told in dual timelines. I loved the setting in England, the strong characters and the history. Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and to the author. My review opinions are my own.

The Secrets Of The Rose tell a fascinating story first dating back to the Jacobite revolution. A daughter with a strong idea of her future trying to avoid being forced into marriage by her poor family. A story with dual time lines, both involving women fighting against male members of the family and tradition for women. The first in 1715 with the pending Jacobite rebellion. Dorothy is standing on her own against tradition forced on women of her time. She is to be the keeper of a rose symbol that has kept her family safe and protected during rebellion times. As she emerges into her own the story of her relation and responsibility to the rose comes to light. The present day time is the story of Hannah who is hired to write a story of a local woman but finds herself captivated by the story Of Dorothy. She soon finds out the story of the Rose and is continuing her own journey to tell Dorothy's story. She finds herself studying the Jacobite rebellion and its relation to women of that time.

I loved the dual timeline, Each woman is a strong character standing on her own merits. The well crafted historical and present day were so well written to each point in time. A excellent fascinating read.

Hannah Armstrong heads to her hometown of Bamburgh to investigate the local heroine Grace Darling for her next book, but once there she discovers that her stepmother Diana is hiding some secrets and her childhood friend Aaron is no longer speaking to her twin brother Brandon. While looking into Grace's story, she becomes enchanted by a portrait of Dorothy Forster. In the 18th century, Dorothy discovers that two of her brothers want to support the Jacobite rebellion, and she desperately tries to keep her family together in times of war and unrest.

Nicola Cornick always writes books about two female heroines living in different eras, with a touch of magical realism. For 'the secrets of the rose', she chooses a very interesting historical perspective: that of Dorothy Forster during the Jacobite rebellion in 1715. I didn't discover until very late in the book that there was a link to Guy and Rose from Cornick's previous book 'The other Gywn girl' (although that link is a fictional one).

I always find the Jacobite cause interesting, but I have to admit that I sympathized even more with Hannah in the 21st century. Unlike in some of Cornick's earlier books, her struggles and those of her family and friends felt very real. Cancer, divorce, envy, a village full of gossip….

As always, the parallels between the two women are a bit too overdone for my taste, but that doesn't bother me. The magical element surrounding “the rose" was quite nicely done. Cornick writes so smoothly that you fly through the chapters.

The secrets of the rose is definitely one of my favourite Nicola Cornick novels. Bamburgh, with the castle looming on the wild coast, comes to life. In two different centuries. And there's even a reference to Uhtred Of Bebbanburg :).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

My rating:

Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical Fiction


Review:

This is my first book by this author and I must say it doesn’t disappoint. The writing is very full of atmosphere and creates a vivid picture of the scenery. I got absorbed pretty quickly and it was hard to put the book down. The book is based on real historical facts and people and takes place in a beautiful part of England. The historical facts are interesting I have read other books about the Jacobite Rebellion but they were all based on the Scottish perspective. This book is based on the English perspective which made it different and therefore interesting. The characters were well developed and their actions felt natural as they were explained well.

Overall:

A well written dual time line story, that captures you, has nice characters that appear realistic with the right amount of mystery and suspense and a satisfying ending.

Set in Northumberland, this dual-timeline novel tells the stories of Dorothy in 1715 and Hannah in the present day. The Jacobite rebellion threatens everything Dorothy loves, and she shows exceptional courage in the face of adversity. It evokes the early eighteenth century with tangible hopelessness, menace and unrest. Hannah's immediate family is also facing uncertain times, and not just from outside forces. Hannah's life shares a believable connectivity with Dorothy's. Love defines this story in both timelines, and the romance is conflicted and gentle. I like the complex characters you invest in, the evocative settings, the supernatural touches, and the storytelling, which makes it hard to put down.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.