Blog Tour: 'The Phantom Tree' by Nicola Cornick!

“My name is Mary Seymour and I am the daughter of one queen and the niece of another.”
Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait – supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better… The woman is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child.
The painting is more than just a beautiful object from Alison’s past – it holds the key to her future, unlocking the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance, and the enigma of Alison’s son.
But Alison’s quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbours secrets in its shadows…
I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for author Nicola Cornick's latest release 'The Phantom Tree' today! I had the pleasure of reading her novel 'House of Shadows' last year, which was a really intriguing and enjoyable time-slip novel set in the 17th and 19th century and present day. Back then I was already keen to read more of Nicola's work, so I was really glad when I was asked to be part of this blog tour and said 'yes' straight away. I also have a great guest post from Nicola herself to share with all of you, so be sure to scroll down to also check that out, as well as the links of all the other blogs taking part in this tour, in case you'd like to read a bit more about the book!
Alison Bannister has been searching for her lost son Arthur for a long time already, but her time and place are making it quite difficult for her to trace him. Alison grew up during the sixteenth century, but now finds herself trapped in modern times, with no idea how to get herself back. Then she stumbles upon a portrait of what is said to be Anne Boleyn, but Alison immediately recognises as her cousin Mary Seymour. Mary promised to help Alison with the search for her son, so the portrait might include some clues to help Alison in the right direction. But will Alison be able to be helped by Mary, despite the time difference, and can she finally find what she has been looking for all this time and go back to where she believes she belongs...?
I love reading a good historical fiction book every now and again and I have to say Nicola Cornick is becoming one of my historical fiction authors to turn to. Her 2016 novel 'House of Shadows' was a great read and her latest release, 'The Phantom Tree', is another intriguing and well-written novel I thoroughly enjoyed. Time travel takes on an important role in this book, and while this is a topic that has always fascinated me, it's also a topic that needs to be approached in a particular way for it to be done well and convincingly. Nicola Cornick definitely managed to do that, and Alison's story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it until the last page. There was quite a bit going on in the story; more than enough to keep me guessing about the details and what would happen to all the characters.
I'm not a particular fan of the Tudor age, but this story really fascinated me. I love how the author actually used an existing person, Mary Seymour, to play a significant role in this book and decided to fill in some of the gaps herself. It really gave the story that special touch, if you ask me. If I have to give one point of critique I'd admit I didn't really warm to Alison that much, but perhaps this also has to do with the struggles she's facing which reflect on her behaviour and actions. However, overall, Nicola Cornick has definitely convinced me once again with her writing and I already can't wait for her next novel. 'The Phantom Tree' is a well-written, intriguing and convincing historical fiction novel, and definitely one I can recommend to anyone looking for their next read!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest Post by Nicola Cornick

I'm both honoured and excited to welcome Nicola Cornick herself to the blog today to celebrate the release of her latest novel, 'The Phantom Tree'! Below you can find a special guest post from Nicola herself in which she tells us a bit more about one of the main characters in her novel, Mary Seymour!

The Theories, Myths and Stories surrounding Mary Seymour
Mary Seymour is the ultimate mysterious historical heroine. The known facts of her life are so few that she is a gift for an author who enjoys filling the gaps in research with historical imagination. I was drawn to tell Mary’s story because lesser-known historical women appeal to me. I want to bring them into the light.
Mary Seymour was born in August 1548 at Sudeley Castle. That much we do know. She was the daughter and only child of Thomas, Baron Seymour, brother of the more famous Jane, and Katherine Parr, the sixth wife and widow of King Henry VIII, who had married the previous year. Katherine died only five days later as a result of complications arising from childbirth leaving all her fortune to her husband. Less than a year after that, Thomas was executed for treason and his estates confiscated, leaving Mary a penniless orphan before the age of one.
It is a curious thing that no one in either of Mary’s extended families, the Seymours or the Parrs, was prepared to give her a home. Instead she went to live with the Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, who had been a close friend of her mother. However the destitute Mary was a drain on the Duchess’s financial resources and one of the few references we have to her is when Katherine complained that she received no payment for looking after the “late Queen’s child.”
Mary disappeared from the historical record in 1550 and after that, myths and theories abound as to her fate. Author Agnes Strickland claimed that Mary had survived into adulthood and married Sir Edward Bushell, a courtier in the household of Queen Anne of Denmark. However, no evidence has been found to support this. Similarly, the idea that Mary was sent to Ireland to live with a family called Hart, a band of pirates who had known her father, is colourful but not proven. An epitaph in a book written by Katherine Parr’s chaplain in 1573 could refer to Mary but no grave has ever been found. She remains an intriguing mystery.
The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick is out now (£7.99, HQ) 

Blog Tour: 'House of Shadows' by Nicola Cornick

London, 1662: There was something the Winter Queen needed to tell him. She fought for the strength to speak. ‘The crystal mirror is a danger. It must be destroyed – ‘ He replied instantly. ‘It will’.
Ashdown, Oxfordshire, present day: Ben Ansell is researching his family tree when he disappears. As his sister Holly begins a desperate search, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to an ornate antique mirror and to the diary of Lavinia, a 19th century courtesan who was living at Ashdown House when it burned to the ground over 200 years ago.
Intrigued, and determined to find out more about the tragedy at Ashdown, Holly’s only hope is that uncovering the truth about the past will lead her to Ben.
When I was contacted about author Nicola Cornick’s newest release ‘House of Shadows’, I immediately knew this was a book I definitely wanted to read (and not just because of the gorgeous cover!). One of the things I love most is visiting old country houses. Whenever I go on a trip to the UK I try to plan in as many visits to National Trust estates as I can, and I have actually visited Ashdown House, where ‘House of Shadows’ is set. Nicola Cornick volunteers as a guide and local historian at this National Trust property and I love how it inspired her to write ‘House of Shadows.’ The book will be released by Mira on November 5th and I am really excited to be part of the blog tour for the novel today, with not just a review but also an interview with Nicola herself, so be sure to scroll down and have a read! 
Holly Ansell finds herself travelling to Oxfordshire in the middle of the night when she receives a frantic phone call, revealing her brother Ben has suddenly gone missing. Holly’s gut feeling tells her something is going on, because Ben wouldn’t just leave his family without letting anyone know. After a bit of research, Holly discovers Ben was actually in the middle of some research into Ashdown House and its inhabitants and history. A mysterious crystal mirror eventually leads Holly to the stories of 19th century courtesan Lavinia and Elizabeth Stuart, also known as the Winter Queen, who lived in the 17th century. In a way, Elizabeth, Lavinia and Holly are all connected to one another and it’s up to Holly to discover what that connection is and hopefully bring back her brother Ben…

‘House of Shadows’ is a fabulous time-slip novel which intrigued me from start to finish and a read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The book is set in three different time periods: the 17th century, the 19th century, and the present day, with three female characters at its core. I loved the fact that the story of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, is actually based on factual history. Lavinia, the 19th century courtesan was a fascinating addition with her tale, and main protagonist Holly brought it all together. While I didn’t really warm to Holly as much as I would have liked (there was just something a bit distant about her as a character), I was interested by the story and didn’t want to put the book down until everything had been solved; it really kept me guessing until the last few chapters.

I love historical time-slip novels and this is definitely a great one with topics such as power struggles, an intriguing mystery and a nice touch of romance as well. However, one of the definite strengths of the book is its setting. I think it probably helped that I actually visited Ashdown House myself, but it’s a gorgeous country house and it suited the story so well; I loved it and it really added something special to the novel for me. The book is quite long with around 450 pages, but I do think this length was needed to explain everything and provide the reader with enough detail to understand everything. Overall, I thought ‘House of Shadows’ is a real page-turner; a captivating historical romance with a fascinating element of mystery added to it. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it to any historical romance fans!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Interview with Nicola Cornick!
I'm so excited to be part of the blog tour for 'House of Shadows' today and next to my review, I also have a special interview with Nicola Cornick herself to share with all of you!

Can you tell us something about your novel, ‘House of Shadows’? House of Shadows is a historical mystery laced with intrigue, romance and the supernatural. It’s an epic story across three hundred and fifty years of history but it’s also the intensely personal story of three women dealing with the challenges of their time. Where did you get the inspiration for your novel? The main inspiration for the book was the fascinating relationship between Elizabeth, the Winter Queen, who was the sister of King Charles I, and William Craven, a gallant cavalier to whom she may have been secretly married. I came across the story when I was researching the history of the Craven family and it intrigued me. Can you tell us a bit more about the main characters in the book? Holly is the main character in the contemporary strand of the book. She is on a desperate quest to discover why her brother Ben has disappeared. It forces her to step outside of the comfortable life she has built for herself and question the things that are truly important to her. Elizabeth, the Winter Queen, has to fight for what she believes in after the death of her husband Frederick, and be strong in order to secure the future of her children. And Lavinia, a Regency courtesan, is challenged by the conflict between love and self-interest.   One of the most important settings in the book is Ashdown House in Oxfordshire, a National Trust property where you volunteer as a guide. Why did you decide to use this house as the setting of your novel? Ashdown House is one of those places that enchants people. We have visitors who come to look round and are completely swept away by its beauty and the history behind it. In my case I was intrigued by the love story of William Craven and Elizabeth: Did they marry in secret? Were all the rumours that swirled about their relationship true? The combination of Ashdown’s stunning appearance and the Elizabeth and William’s story was totally inspiring to me. Do you have a favourite spot at Ashdown House which you’re willing to share with us? My favourite place at Ashdown is the grand staircase, which sweeps up through four floors to the roof terrace. I have indulged in the occasional daydream of dressing up in a 17th century gown and pretending to be Elizabeth! One of the things I love about the stair is that William Craven, being a soldier, had it built wide enough to stage a sword fight on it. The 17th century was a politically unstable time and he knew there was always the chance he might have to defend his house by force. We staged a re-enactment a few years ago and it was terrifying! The novel is set in three different time periods. Why did you decide to do this and why did you pick these particular periods? I originally started with dual time periods; Holly unravels Elizabeth and William’s story in the present as part of her quest to find her brother. Then I thought it would be fun to have part of the story in the form of a diary or memoir, which is where Lavinia came in. I have a very soft spot for Lavinia. Her character is based on that of the famous courtesan Harriette Wilson, who was the mistress of the 7th Lord Craven. I have always enjoyed writing Regency-set stories and so I loved telling Lavinia’s story in her own words. Elizabeth, Holly and Lavinia are all bound together through time and destiny and it was huge fun – and a huge challenge – to bring their stories together across the 17th century, the 19th century and the present. Can you perhaps tell us something about your future plans? Are you perhaps already working on a next novel? I am! My next book is similar in that it is a historical mystery with romance and the supernatural mixed in. This one features two time periods, the Tudor era and the present. It tells the story of Mary Seymour, daughter of Queen Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour. The official records of Mary end when she was a child and I wanted to write about what might have happened to her in her adult life. I love taking a real-life historical mystery and speculating on what happened next! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I would always encourage aspiring writers to believe in themselves and to keep writing even if they suffer knock backs on their road to publication.  It took me 12 years to get my first book published. Writing requires determination and application as well as imagination! What is the last book you read that you’d like to recommend to others? One of my “keeper” books that I read and re-read is Daphne Du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek. For me, she is the queen of historical mystery and intrigue. It was Daphne Du Maurier who started me off on a reading journey that led to Barbara Erskine and Susanna Kearsley and the love of timeslip stories I have today! And last but not least, if you had to describe ‘House of Shadows’ in just three words, which words would you pick? Romantic, atmospheric and intriguing!

Thanks so much, Nicola!