Whispers of Shadowbrook House

 

About the Book

In the crumbling Shadowbrook House, governess Pearl Ellicott and heir Oliver Waverly unravel a haunting mystery while confronting their growing forbidden love.

London, 1880

Pearl Ellicott dreams of falling in love and having a family of her own. Until then, she is content working as a governess for young Maxwell, tending to his education and fragile health. Together, they explore the mansion’s empty rooms and secret passageways in search of the haunting violin music that seems to come from nowhere.

Oliver Waverly is young and independent, with plans to sell the run-down mansion once he inherits. But his strained relationship with his reclusive uncle, Arthur Ravenscroft, complicates matters when Ravenscroft refuses to relinquish Shadowbrook House without explanation.

As they spend more time together, Oliver slowly becomes enchanted by Pearl’s wit and love for Maxwell, and Pearl finds herself irresistibly drawn to Oliver’s passion and resolve. However, the social gap between the heir and the governess makes pursuing a relationship difficult.

Oliver must decide whether to follow his heart or adhere to his family’s expectations, while Pearl grapples with her fear that if Shadowbrook House is sold, she will lose her job, her found family, and her chance for long-lasting love. Will the lovers part ways or choose to be together despite the odds? The answer lies within the walls of Shadowbrook House and the echoes of its haunting past. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic type story. The house itself, Shadowbrook, completely captivated me and I wanted to explore it myself. There are so many twists and turns, along with hidden door ways and mysteries, that my imagination ran wild. Pearl is a dear character who is steadfast and determined to protect those she loves. As a strong heroine, her exchanges with the sweetest little boy, Maxwell, make this story complete. Oliver I didn't come to fully love, and the romance side of things fell a little flat for me. There is also a medium that shows up in the plot that I was not a fan of reading. I don't think it was necessary and it took me out of the story a bit. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the overall plot and mystery gothic vibe. The ending took a small twist that I wasn't expecting and that is always a delight! 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall Review

 

About the Book

 A ghostly estate. A handsome caretaker hiding a secret. And the intrepid Hyacinth Bell who is set on solving the mystery of both.

1887, the Cornwall coast

For years, rumors have flown through the village of Suttonsbury about Ashthorne Hall—that its occupants hoard pirate treasure, that a ghost walks its halls—but botanist Hyacinth Bell only cares about the estate’s extensive, one-of-a-kind orchid collection. As an independent woman, she is eager to focus on her career, even if it means waiting to pursue a romantic relationship. After all, love—like an orchid—must be nurtured and tended before it can bloom.

What she doesn’t expect is to be swept away by Lucas Harding, the manor’s caretaker, upon their first meeting. He is handsome and charming, and the connection between the two is nearly instantaneous. Hyacinth is certain this autumn will be the season that everything good in her life takes root.

But then strange things start happening in the seemingly empty halls of the estate: unexplainable noises, items appearing then disappearing from her room, threatening messages, and glimpses of a woman in white who vanishes into the dark. Lucas dismisses Hyacinth’s worries, insisting that there is no ghost at Ashthorne Hall, but she suspects he is withholding information and decides to investigate the mystery herself.

Armed with little more than her instincts and her courage, Hyacinth must venture deep into the shadows of Ashthorne Hall to uncover the truth Lucas is keeping secret before she herself falls victim to the dangers hidden in the estate. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I was not expecting this book to be a gothic romance and I was THRILLED when I realized that the author really went for an eerie mystery. I love the cover of this book as it is perfect for the plot that it holds. Hyacinth is a quirky fun character that is not your typical heroine. She is all about her plants and taking care of orchids and her overall personality is like a breath of fresh air. Lucas is an okay hero but overall Hyacinth really made this story shine. I don't really care for the romance trope of "love at first sight" so I will say that I enjoyed this book much more for the gothic mystery than the romance side of things. Hyacinth starts working at this big estate and there are noises and strange gifts and a possible ghost. Spooky late night investigations and a decent mystery keep you flipping the pages eagerly. I enjoyed this book and the conclusion came together nicely and in a way that wasn't entirely predictable. 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Art of Love and Lies Book Review

 

 

A free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michelangelo painting

Manchester, England, 1857 

Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families of Manchester.

When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in Manchester opens, Rosanna attends, excited by the chance to sketch such famous works. When she meets the handsome Detective Martin Harrison, who is head of security for the exhibition, she is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and canvas-worthy good looks. The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.

The couple’s blossoming summer romance takes a strange turn when Rosanna recognizes her own works on display in the exhibition hall. Someone is stealing paintings and replacing them with her parlor version reproductions. When the evidence casts suspicion on her, Rosanna must convince Detective Harrison of her innocence and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.

It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michelangelo’s Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Detective Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to rekindle their romance and paint their own happily ever after. (Goodreads)

 

 

Releases August 8th! Pre-Order Here!

My Thoughts

 

 This is an interesting book. The main character is Rosanna and she is a delightfully unique character. Her attitude and personality I did like quite a bit. I really enjoyed this first part of this story and getting to know Rosanna. Her painting skills might be a tad far fetched it did take me out of the story a little bit. I know this is all fiction, but I REALLY changed my thinking on this one to just have fun with it and use my imagination because so much of it was unrealistic. I had a really hard time loving Martin and to be honest this was just a tough book to finish. The first half I was fully invested but as the story continued it seemed a bit disjointed. The romance seems very rushed and thrown together and the mystery part of it didn't really draw me in. This simply was not the book for me. I know others will enjoy it! 

Three Stars. 

" I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."