Title: The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall
Author: Syrie James
Genre: Historical Gothic Romance
Book Blurb:
She vowed to solve a murder.
Now she’s in danger of losing her heart … and her very life.
Diana Taylor, a bright and spirited governess who has sworn off love, is sent to Pendowar Hall in Cornwall to honor a pledge. She vows to teach her godmother’s niece and to find out who was behind the suspicious death of the former baronet. But her new charge is also a mystery, as is the man who inherited the ancient coastal estate—the charismatic but brooding Royal Navy Captain William Fallbrook, who is home on leave to recover from an injury.
As Diana investigates, her feelings for the enigmatic Captain Fallbrook blossom, and her guard goes up. Pendowar Hall is brimming with secrets as well as a frightening legend about a Mermaid’s Curse. What is behind the mysterious footsteps in the night? Is there more to the story of the tragic deaths of the former baronet’s wife and son? What secrets is Captain Fallbrook hiding? Can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?
He looks to be entranced by Diana, even though her determination to dig up the past seems to get on his last nerve. Soon, Diana’s bold quest to unmask his uncle’s killer leads her into terrifying danger, for someone is determined to end her life before she can discover the truth.
The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire
Book 1 - The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall
Book 2 - The Secrets of Thorndale Manor
Book 3 - Danger at Darkmoor Park
My Review:
Diana is sent to Pendowar Hall under the guise of governess but she’s investigating murder. The deeper she delves into the past, the more danger she’s in. Will the curse of Pendowar Hall do her in or will a flesh and blood killer silence Diana forever?
The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall is a breathtaking historical gothic romance. Fans of gothic romance will be enthralled by this tale. The eeriness of the setting and narration set the mood while the characters play their parts. The plot is complex with a few mysteries to solve. The romance is a mixture of tropes which all stem from the gothic plot. But it’s the characters which make The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall come alive.
Let’s talk about these characters. Diana is the heroine and she’s such a well-written one. Her character, poise, curiosity, and courage combine to make Diana a vibrant heroine. I connected with her on so many levels.
Captain Fallbrook is our reserved hero. He’s mysterious, that’s for sure. He runs his household in the same manner as he did aboard his ship. Orderly. But then Diana upends his house and everyone in it, including himself. What’s a hero to do? I liked him and connected with him.
If you love gothic romance, drop what you’re doing and read The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall. You’ll be glad you did.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Grab your copy for only 99 cents or free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mysteries-Pendowar-Hall-Historical-Sisterhood-ebook/dp/B0DQVMCF1S
Author Biography:
The international, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author of numerous critically acclaimed novels of historical fiction and romance, Syrie James loves All Things English and is obsessed with the Victorian and Regency eras. (Fabulous gowns! Men on horseback! Country manor houses! Tea and finger sandwiches! Scones and jam! Sign me up please!)
Syrie loves to write about strong, brilliant, adventurous women who are ahead of their time and will stop at nothing to achieve their dreams, and the bold, irresistible men who crash headlong into their lives and turn everything upside down forever. A research and story structure maven, Syrie is committed to writing page-turning books and taking her characters on challenging journeys of growth and discovery.
After writing several romantic novels about Jane Austen and the Brontës (Syrie’s favorite classic authors), a passionate and sexy version of Dracula, and a sizzling hot Victorian historical romance trilogy, she has followed a long-held dream and gleefully turned her pen (okay, her computer) to writing historical romance murder mysteries set in the English countryside. Writing The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire mystery series has been so much fun! Her work has required many research trips to England, the best perk on earth.
A member of the Writer’s Guild of America, JASNA, the Historical Novel Society, the Dramatist’s Guild, and Sisters in Crime, Syrie has sold numerous scripts to film and television and her work as a playwright, including the smash hit comedy “Jane Austen in 89 Minutes,” has been produced across North America, in New York City, and in Australia.
You will often find Syrie dressing up in one of her many Regency frocks and dancing the night away at a Regency ball or performing on stage as Jane Austen herself. When she’s not writing or reading, Syrie loves to take long walks, eat delicious food, attend movies and the theatre, play board games, and hang out with family and friends. Syrie lives in Los Angeles a stone’s throw from her brilliant grown children and her awesome grandson.
Social Media Links:
Website https://syriejames.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/syriejames/
Reviewed by: Nancy