THE ORCHIDS OF ASHTHORNE HALL (Proper Romance), by Rebecca Anderson, Shadow Mountain, April 2, 2024, Paperback, $16.99 (young adult/ new adult/ adult fiction)
A young botanist finds herself at the center of a ghostly mystery in The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall, a new proper romance novel by Rebecca Anderson.
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. —Synopsis provided by Shadow Mountain
The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall is an ode to the great Gothic novels. The central isn’t Hyacinth or Lucas. It’s not even the ghost Hyacinth keeps seeing.
It’s the home itself.
As you read, you can’t help but think of Thornfield Hall (Jane Eyre), Misselthwaite Manor (The Secret Garden) or Manderley (Rebecca). Like the large estates listed above, Ashthorne is sweeping in scope with locked doors and forbidden wings. It seems safe, somewhat beautiful even in the light of day, but at night, strange sounds and shadows seem less than harmless.
The book wouldn’t work without this world that author Rebecca Anderson has curated. And it’s against this backdrop that readers get to know Hyacinth. The story unfolds from her point of view with mysterious laments interspersed between chapters. Hyacinth is a fairly benign character with flashes of excitement here or there. The romance between her and Lucas feels a bit rushed, especially with the secrets he’s keeping from her.
Nonetheless, The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall is a romance mystery that moves quickly and is full of atmosphere.
As with all Proper Romance novels, The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall is a sweet romance that is appropriate for age levels, young adult and up.
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