Caffeinated Reviewer

Sophia Rose is here with a Victorian romantic suspense. The Secrets of Thorndale Manor by Syrie James is the second novel in the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire. You’ll want to curl up and unravel the mysteries of Thorndale Manor.

She risks everything for the truth.
He guards secrets that could tear them apart.

When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at the grand and storied Thorndale Manor, she hopes for a new beginning. But the estate’s dark past quickly resurfaces when a maid is found dead under suspicious circumstances—and whispers stir of a murder committed nine years earlier, a crime for which Ian Vernon’s sister was convicted.

Athena believes the two cases are connected. Ian Vernon, Thorndale’s brooding former heir, insists she’s wrong—and warns her to leave the past buried. But Athena is as fearless as she is determined, and her investigation brings her into close quarters with the man who should be her adversary… yet soon proves to be something much more.

As secrets unravel and a killer grows desperate, Athena finds herself in terrifying danger, caught between the pursuit of justice and a powerful attraction that threatens to derail everything.

Sophia Rose’s Review

An old estate with a dark past is now home to a budding girls’ school taught by two intrepid sisters.  Murder from the past haunts the halls and if Athena Taylor can’t lay the Secrets of the Thorndale Manor to rest once and for all the ghosts might be the only occupants left.  Syrie James’ writing has been long familiar and loved.  This latest venture into Victorian Gothic mystery and romance has captivated me to the hilt.

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is the second entry in the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire.  This is a standalone romantic suspense, but readers won’t want to miss older sister, Diana’s story, either.

Athena and Selena Taylor determine they no longer want to work for someone else, but have their own girls’ school.  Finances are tight so the sisters can just afford to purchase Thorndale Manor in Yorkshire.  It’s a brooding old place and its history not only keeps the purchase price down, but might be the difficulty in acquiring paying students, too. 

So, Selena tackles their teaching responsibilities and Athena, the headmistress, plunges into the more daunting task of not only pursuing the truth behind a murder in the past, but also the possible murder of a Thorndale servant in the present.  She wants to poo-poo those niggling accidents that keep befalling her and then there is that uncomfortable tangle of feelings with Ian Vernon, the one-time heir of the property before his father’s excesses lost it to him.

Athena is determined and she won’t be intimidated by the Darkmoor Bridge gossip or the knotty truth.  She’s clever and confident and determined to steer her own course with no need for the traditional woman’s role of marriage and dependency.  In fact, her views of strong womanhood and independence are behind her conviction that the woman blamed for the past murder didn’t get a fair shake and Athena will get it for her now. 

Ian was disgruntled and broody though supportive of the school.  Athena understood that this wasn’t easy seeing his family legacy in someone else’s hands because his father lost it, but she does need his help with what he knows about the manor and the past.  Somewhere along the way, her hard stance against marriage changes as she realizes that with the right man who respects a woman and treats her like an equal partner that marriage may not be off the books for her after all.

This was a heart-felt tribute to the Classic Jane Eyre and the references are strongly scattered throughout Secrets of Thorndale Manor.  Happily, the girls’ boarding school run by the Taylor sisters is nothing like the cold, miserly place of Jane Eyre’s day.  I was glad the school girls gave a light and fun note to balance all the broody, nail-biting suspenseful atmosphere of this one.

In summary, I was supremely satisfied with this second installment in the series.  It was a one-sitting read, and I’m itching for that third sister’s book to come out soon.  Those who love a rousing romantic Victorian Gothic Suspense are in luck.  Jump on this Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke and Fire.

Amazon*

*kindleunlimited

About Syrie James

Syrie James is the USA TODAY and Amazon bestselling author of thirteen novels of historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction and romance, which have been published in 21 languages. Los Angeles Magazine dubbed Syrie the “queen of nineteenth century re-imaginings.” Syrie’s novel “The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen” sold at auction to HarperCollins in a bidding war and became an international bestseller. Her passion for love stories and the paranormal led to her critically acclaimed and award-winning novels “Dracula, My Love,” “Nocturne,” and the popular YA series “Forbidden.” Her love of English historical romance led to her Amazon bestselling Dare to Defy series.

Website

About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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