Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Nicola Cornick for giving me an arc copy of The Other Gwyn Girl to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ve been reading Nicola Cornick for a long time since I accidentally discovered one of her Historical Romance Mills and Boon titles in a holiday cottage in Devon. I loved a book so much; that I asked the owner of the cottage if I might be able to keep it (I was a very polite and honest soul as a teenager). Thankfully the nice lady said OK (the book got left behind by another guest and added to the bookshelf in the cottage for future guests).

Nicola’s writing always brings the past to life in a vivid wonderful way, she weaves the past and present together seamlessly with the dual timelines portrayed in Jess and Rose’s stories. Her historical romances are always so evocative and atmospheric – I almost could hear the Merry Monarch’s voice (he surprisingly sounds like Sam Neill). The plot is full of political intrigue, mystery, and secrets to uncover from the history of Fortune House and an attempt on the Crown Jewels that went horribly wrong. The romances Rose and Jess find are sweet, redemptive and brought to life with the gentle, tender love they both needed after being bruised by their past husbands/lovers.
The characters are lavishly detailed and well-developed – both female protagonists, Rose and Jess, and relatable – we have all been in their shoes with bad life decisions for love and bear the scars. I thought Nicola wrote with great sensitivity and care on some of the topics of grief and loss. As someone who has been in Rose’s shoes myself, I felt the scenes were written with great empathy and understanding of the mental state of losing a child.

The colourful sibling dynamics were quite interesting to view – I think Nicola captured how sisters can be with great accuracy. How things can divide a wedge between sisters, how parents treat you differently (even though they say they don’t), and how at the bleakest of times no matter what has come between you or the state of your feelings you will be there for each other. No one is allowed to execute Nell’s sister but Nell! Jess and her famous sister Tavy have a similar relationship, though I think Tavy treats Jess more as a handy family assistant than a sister, but she is there to give Jess a place to live and a job when she needs it.

A great time-slip story delving into the unknown past of Rose Gwyn’s life and the riveting historical events of Charles II’s rein and showing the dynamics of the relationships between sisters who have famous siblings in the spotlight.

A wonderful book that deals with the dual timeline in an easy to read way. The story of Nell's sister is intriguing and I loved the way the old house and the duality of the current sister's is used to discover the history. A well written book.

This is a fascinating dual timeline story of the lesser known elder sister of Nell Gwyn, Rose.

I was particularly drawn to Rose’s story and the historical aspect of the narrative, although I did like the present day parallels between Jess and her sister Tavy.

It’s a period of history I know little about and I definitely found myself immersed in the period and wanting to discover more.

I also really enjoyed the dynamics between Jess and Ethan and how they seemed able to connect to the past.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

17th Century London and Rose Cassell is in prison awaiting her fate or the whim of her infamous sister Nell Gwyn, implicated in a plot to steal the Crown jewels Rose's life is forfeit. However fate brings Rose to Becote Manor near Oxford where she finds contentment and love. Modern day London and Jess is trying to lie low after a scandal involving her ex, that's not easy when your sister is a TV celebrity. however Tavy does offer Jess a lifeline, to act as housekeeper at Fortune Hall, the mansion she is restoring.
This is a very lightweight novel which does have historical background but which wears history very light. For that reason I didn't love it as much as like it. The plot is simple and the characters endearing enough, I could even cope with the slight hint of supernatural visions etc. It's a perfectly pleasant way to spend a few undemanding hours.

It's always such a treat to read a new Nicola Cornick novel ! The Other Gwyn Girl transports us to the 1600's where we are immersed in the lives of sisters Rose and Nell. Although they are family, their lives couldn't be more different. Rose is down on her luck and facing serious issues and needs her sister, Nell, who is a favorite of the king to come to her rescue.
Fast-forward centuries and we are introduced to another set of sisters who are polar opposites: Tevy and Jess. Although their story is set in modern times, their situations have many parallels to their long ago counterparts, Rose and Nell.
Throughout it all, another character in the story shines through... the location! The manor, Fortune Hall, is the center of both timelines and holds many mysteries and secrets!
As with all of her previous books, Nicola weaves her stories in such a way that you feel like you are actually there with the characters. I love how she takes snippets in history and makes them come alive as she does in The Other Gwyn Girl.
I loved this book and highly recommend it!

The Other Gwyn Girl is the story of Rose Gwyn, the sister of famous Nell Gwyn, actress and mistress of King Charles II (aka the Merry Monarch), set in London in 1671. Raised in poverty, Rose marries a feckless (and not very successful) highwayman, but quickly discovers that he's not what she thought, and the marriage is a mistake. When her husband gets involved in a plot to steal the crown jewels it Rose who ends up in prison. Desperate to get out, she reaches out to her sister Nell to save her. It's Rose's story that makes up the book, revealed to us from Rose's perspective, and that of Jess Yates, a librarian and history lover in the present day. Jess has secrets of her own including a criminal ex-husband, so she heads off to England to see her sister and get away from the hoopla surrounding her ex. Like Rose, Jess's sister Tavy is famous, and Jess finds that the quiet retreat she thought she was headed to, isn't so quiet. Also like Rose's sister Nell, Tavy has secrets of her own to hide.

The dual story lines weave Rose's story together and drew me so deeply into her story that I couldn't put it down. A fabulous book!

1671, Rose Gwyn faces execution for her part in a plot to steal the Crown Jewels. Desperate to save her unborn child, she writes to her infamous sister Nell. Present day, Jess' life is in tatters as her husband is imprisoned and she leaves her job. She turns to her celebrity sister for a home and job...
The Other Gwyn Girl is a dual timeline novel set in the 1670s and present day.
Poor Rose has not had the easiest start in life and now she is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Her husband coerces her into joining a madcap scheme to steal the Crown Jewels but she is caught. Her only hope of surviving is her sister Nell, the mistress of King Charles II, but Nell has her own fears and needs Rose's help in return. I loved this timeline and how the life in the seventeenth century was depicted. The characters felt authentic and the danger seemed to really loom over them.
The juxtaposition of the two pairs of sisters is interesting to watch unfold. In the present day Jess' husband has gone to prison and she feels tainted and guilty by association. Her sister is a celebrity and needs a housesitter for an old manor house she is restoring. Jess agrees to help out as a means of escape and uses her time to explore the house and its contents which establishes the link with the Gwyns.
I was a little less interested in the present day timeline. Jess seems more of a passive character than her sister or the Gwyns. Rose's perspective had danger and passion and her vivacity brought her character to life. There are elements of supernatural and mystery which develop in the present day as Jess explores the setting.
The Other Gwyn Girl is a fascinating interpretation of life in the seventeenth century and I loved Rose's character.

I have come to love reading through Nicola Cornick’s books and was excited to be apart of Boldwood’s book tour for her newest book! ⁣⁣
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Dual-timelines:⁣⁣
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- 1671: Nell and Rose Gwyn. The story focuses on Rose, the unknown sister of Nell who was mistress to Charles II. ⁣⁣
- modern day: Librarian and history buff Jess Yates and her tv star sister Tavy work on renovating the old manor Fortune Hall. ⁣⁣
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These two sets of sisters and storylines complement one another, as well as, connect together at Fortune Hall and missing Crown Jewels. I loved the book and was kept fully engaged. There is also a bit of enemies-to-lovers romances. ⁣I also listened the audiobook and the narrators were terrific. ⁣
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• Boldwood Books - March 7, 2024⁣⁣
• historical fiction & contemporary, based on a person from history, set in London and the countryside, stolen Crown Jewels, romance ⁣
• 4.75 ⭐️ ⁣⁣
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🗣️ very mild⁣⁣
🌶️ a closed door scene

The Other Gwyn Girl is an evocative and lyrical tale of a little-known historical figure whose story is full of danger, passion and political intrigue. Rose is the elder of the Gwyn sisters, who spent much of their young lives in deprivation and poverty. Whilst Nell caught the eye of the King, Rose's husband is not what she expected and leads her into a life defined by abuse and crime. Jess's partner is also a fraud, and she is forced, like Rose, to turn to her estranged sister for help. The dual-time stories share a believable connection with echoes of the supernatural. They are engaging and immersive and reflect the politics and society of the seventeenth and twenty-first centuries. The storytelling draws you into the women's world, and you invest in them. The vivid historical details bring the characters and events to life, and the contemporary story reflects the current-day obsession with celebrity and social media. I enjoyed both stories and found the characters engaging. The plot is well-written, and the connections between the past and present resonate. I particularly like the gentle romance the stories share.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

What a great introduction to Cornick's writing style - here's to reading more of her books, soon.

The Other Gwyn Girl was a huge hit with me and I devoured it across
two sittings.

The authors writing style is rich and descriptive, capturing the Restoration period and the Stuart monarchy perfectly.

Blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/03/07/blog-tour-the-other-gwyn-girl-nicola-cornick/

I want to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced reader copy of this book.

Brief Summary: Jess Yates and Rose Gwyn are connected in more ways than one.

In the days of the Merry Monarch, Rose is viewed as the scandalous sister of Charles II's favourite mistress, Nell Gwyn. However, when a plot to steal the crown jewels draws the Gwyn sisters together they must set aside their past disagreements and work together to avoid imprisonment in the Tower or worse.

Jess Yates is trying to escape the scandal of her last boyfriend stealing millions of dollars from unsuspecting business investors, many of whom are retirees who lost everything. However, she's seeking the help of her famous influencer sister, Tavy, and Jess' plan to lay low and avoid the spotlight does not go according to plan. Working as Tavy's housekeeper Jess discovers in the library that Nell Gwyn might have had a sister. As Jess attempts to learn more about the mysterious Rose Gwyn and avoid her sister's celebrity, she seems likely to stumble into her happy ending.

Thoughts: This was such an engrossing book. I loved Cornick's writing and how Jess and Rose were distinct characters but had such underlying similarities that you could see how the two stories were intertwined.

Rose and the historical timeline were more enjoyable to me as that is what I was looking for when I picked up this book. I loved how Cornick was able to take a real woman who has left little mark on the historical record and bring her to life again. I also appreciated how Cornick made Rose feel like a woman living in the seventeenth century, with the vulnerabilities around being trapped in a marriage because you're viewed as your husband's property and the fear and sorrow of childbirth.

Although Rose's relationship with Nell does feature a lot in this book I did wish that there was a bit more interaction between the two sisters. Cornick was likely trying to depict how their relationship truly was as Nell was often preoccupied at court, but it was a little sad that they did not get more time together on the page. That being said, Cornick's characterization of Nell made her a fascinating character, which she likely was in real life, and I have ordered a biography of her to learn more.

Jess was an endearing character, but I felt a lot of the time that I pitied her. She had so much happen to her in such a short amount of time and she was not given a break throughout the book. I think it is a testament to Cornick's writing that I felt so deeply for Jess, but I do wish that her character arc would have been as clear-cut as Rose's was on the page. I was also a little frustrated that a lot of Jess's story happened off-screen, such as the first get-together with friends. Also, I am desperate for more of her and Ethan.

I did not find Tavy as redeemable a sister as Nell and I am not sure if that is because there is a difference in personality or the modern technology with which Tavy was able to create her celebrity. Her actions at the end of the book made my jaw drop. I fully had to put the Kindle down and take a breath.

That being said mothers are the heroes of this book.

This is a good read if you want some historical fiction, mixed with mystery, mixed with romance, mixed with celebrity culture pick up this book, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Self harm, Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Classism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Sexual content

I absolutely enjoyed this read.
Using Nell’s more obscure sister as the protagonist was a clever idea.
This was such a fun Historical tale.

I like nothing better than to time slip into one of my favourite periods in history. In The Other Gwyn Girl we are taken back to the time of Charles II and whilst his relationship with Nell Gwyn is well documented little is known about her older sister, Rose. This story sets the record straight and in a beautifully imagined story we follow the tumultuous events of Rose Gwyn's life and of her alleged involvement in the daring attempt to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671. The differences between Nell's life as the darling mistress of a King and Rose's life as the wife of a feckless thief couldn't be more different and so it is these stark differences which make the story all the more interesting.

In the modern day Jess Yates has been offered sanctuary in Fortune Hall where her celebrity sister Tavy renovates the medieval hall for her social media channels. Mirroring the discrepancy in the fortunes of two very different sisters The Other Gwyn Girl is an interesting story of siblings especially when one is more successful than the other and of their influence on each other's lives. I particularly enjoyed the similarities about events in Stuart England, whilst, at the same time, being comfortable about what was happening in the modern day story with Jess and Tavy.

Written with an authenticity which brings everything vividly to life, the author weaves past and present really well, blending them so seamlessly that I could well imagine spending time at Nell's house in Pall Mall or supping ale with Rose in The White Hart Inn in Covent Garden. I was equally fascinated by Jess as she begins to unfold the ancient history of Fortune Hall and reveals the long buried secrets of the past.

The Other Gwyn Girl by Nicola Cornick is a dual timeline story. The past is London 1671 with Nell Gwyn's older sister Rose. Rose has had a hard life - been in and out of prison, trying to survive and married initially to a really bad character. He's involved with the theft of the crown jewels and is murdered. Rose eventually ends up with a fantastic man named Guy Forster.
The present storyline is woman named Jess, who is currently living on the property where she thinks Nell Gwyn used to own. She meets Ethan, a historian who helps her in her investigations.
I was really invested in both Rose and Jess' characters and I wanted them to find love and just be happy. Rose's story is especially emotional. My only tiny quibble is I wish it had been open door. But this was my first book by this author and perhaps that is her writing style.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I am reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a book tour for Rachel's Random Resources.

I was interested in this book because I read a previous book by this author and enjoyed it.

This is a dual timeline novel, with one narrative in the present day, and one in the 1600s. What I found interesting was that although I identified more with Jess and the other characters in the present, I felt a stronger emotional connection to Rose in the 1600s. I felt the author portrayed some of the characters in the historical narrative as a little enigmatic and mysterious. I find it interesting to read this type of book and see the contrasts between the characters, and to find out how the the characters involved in the two narratives are somehow intertwined. I found this light enough to read in one sitting, and it was a little bit like reading two stories in one, so I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

The Other Gwyn Girl is another fun historical time-slip of what if’s by Nicola Cornick. I have loved all her time=slips and this one was no exception.

This is a book about sisters, the good, the bad and the straight up annoying. The Other Gwyn Girl is Rose Gwyn older sister to the infamous pretty, witty Nell, orange girl, actress and lover of King Charles II. Rose and Nell were raised by their mother in poverty and have gone their separate ways as adults, but the theft of the Crown Jewels and other shenanigans have brought them together again. Rose is marrried to a ne’re-do-well named John Cassells who conspires with Captain Thomas Blood to steal the Crown Jewels. Rose is reluctantly drawn into the plot as is her sister Nell. Then enters Sir Guy Forster a spy for Lord Craven who hinders and helps Rose in equal measure.

In the present Jess is recovering from the scandal of her ex-boyfriend’s conviction for fraud. She goes to visit her tv show star sister Tavy at her new manor house Fortune Hall, formerly Becote Manor. Tavy is a lifestyle reality star who is renovating the hall for her show. Jess hopes that it will be a good place to hide and lick her wounds. Not so easy when your sister is a drama queen. Jess finds some hints that the hall may have once belonged to the Gwyn sisters. With the assistance of the former owner’s grandson Ethan, Jess starts investigating. With a few supernatural incidents and the discovery of two bodies, the adventures never end.

I enjoyed the story and found both the historical and the present day stories riveting, I was pleased to see cameos from characters from some of Ms. Cornick’’s other books make an appearance. All in all another great story from Ms, Cornick

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

It's been some time since I last read a time-slip novel and Nicola Cornick's latest offering did not disappoint. The story is told from two perspectives; in the past, it is a first person narrative told from the perspective of the other Gwyn girl herself, Rose Gwyn. Or as the reader is introduced to her Rose Cassells. The older unknown sister of Charles II's famous mistress, Nell Gwyn, and she is caught in the middle of an extremely dangerous situation. Colonel Thomas Blood's attempt to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London in 1671.

In the present, the story is told as a third person narrative, with the reader following Jess Yates, a twenty-something librarian with an interest in history who finds herself in need of a fresh start after she discovers that her now ex-boyfriend has been engaging in fraudulent activities and has dragged her into his mess. Although separated by time, Rose and Jess, find themselves turning to their younger, celebrity sisters for help. Something that will lead both women to Becote Manor (Fortune Hall in Jess' time). While Rose finds herself tasked with saving her sister from potential ruin. Jess finds herself researching Nell but finding Rose.

This is a book that draws you in very quickly and keeps your interest throughout. Having the narrative switch between first and third person helps to make the time shifts feel seem-less. It's not difficult to like Rose and Jess, or to sympathise with them. Both women are pragmatic in their way of dealing with the situations they find themselves in rather than spending time wallowing in self pity. Although both women start the novel with the wrong men, the story arc in each case leads them to finish the novel with supportive partners who help them to move forward and do not judge them for past mistakes.When we first meet Rose in the prologue; and frankly, it was the prose in one particular paragraph that had me instantly hooked to this read. She is looking back to an incident when she was five years old and the point at which she notes that her once happy life "when it had been summer" had changed with the loss of her father. Now everything joyful in her life has disappeared and been replaced by " perpetual winter". You can almost feel the colour and happiness drain out of her life. Nicola Cornick is very good at drawing you into the settings, so you're able to envisage places and scenes. Cornick's background not just as a historian but as someone who clearly has an understanding not just of the time period, it's key players, and her own research into the Craven family, and Ashdown House, also add to the appeal of this book. I particularly found it interesting to learn a little about the spy network that operated in the latter half of the 17th century, and how it may have functioned. Having studied the importance of coffee houses in relation to the public sphere and the spread of information at this particular time period, I certainly found the reference to activities of Charles' spy network in public houses of interest. Fans of Barbara Erskine and Christina Courtney will not be disappointed in this book. It will also appeal to people with a general interest in historical fiction set in the Early Modern period. This is a book I will definitely be picking up again. Although I read this as an ebook, I think my re-read will definitely be a physical copy.

This is a dual timeline story and my favourite part was the story of Rose Gwyn. Rose hadn’t had an easy life and when her story begins she is in Marshalsea jail. Rose was certainly resourceful and feisty. Her relationship with her sister, Nell was fractious at times but they did care about each other. There is a mystery concerning the Crown Jewels and a possible romance. The present day story featured another two sisters, who were the complete opposites. Jess and her sister, Tavy, who was a tv star. I enjoyed the research that Jess did but the sister didn’t hold my interest, probably because I’m not interested in ‘celebrities’. Jess was the studious sister, who didn’t recognise her own worth. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining read and I enjoyed the way the two stories tied together. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found a new favourite author!! I enjoyed this novel so much I have already ordered two of her previous books If that isn’t a recommendation then I don’t know what is!! I love books by Barbara Erskine, Phillipa Gregory and the older Lucinda Riley books. If you have similar taste then you will love this. The dual timelines are equally well written and intriguing. I wasn’t aware before this that Nell Gwyn had a sister so this made the book especially appealing to me. I felt totally immersed in both timelines and the characters in each and their relationships were equally well drawn. I am so pleased to have discovered a new author that I enjoy so much. My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for allowing me access to an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.