Nicola Cornick
Author of The Heart of Christmas
About the Author
Series
Works by Nicola Cornick
The Love Match (Notorious Duke/ Cupid Goes to Gretna/ Rake's Bride) (2002) — Contributor — 53 copies
Together by Christmas (The Unmasking of Lady Loveless / Christmas Reunion / A Mistletoe Masquerade) (2009) 37 copies, 1 review
Regency Brides Bundle (The Rebellious Bride / The Viscount's Bride / The Penniless Bride) (2007) — Author — 7 copies
The Regency Lords & Ladies Collection Vol. 23 (One Night of Scandal/ Rake's Mistress) (2008) 6 copies
The Regency Lords & Ladies Collection Vol. 01 (Larkswood Legacy / Neglectful Guardian) (2005) 6 copies
The Regency Lords & Ladies Collection Vol. 29 (Miss Verey's Proposal/ Rebellious Debutante) (2009) — Author — 4 copies
The Fourth Queen 3 copies
Regency Christmas Vows: The Blanchland Secret / The Mistress of Hanover Square / An Earl Beneath the Mistletoe (2023) — Author — 2 copies
The Season for Suitors 2 copies
Historical Saison Band 06: Mitgiftjäger wider Willen / Das Geständnis der verlorenen Braut / Stürmische Herzen im Herbst / (2011) 2 copies
MYLADY SOMMERBAND Band 01: EIN GEFÄHRLICHER CHARMEUR / EIN LIEBESLIED FÜR LORD YORK / (2011) 2 copies
In het geheim 1 copy
Lord Ravensden's Marriage | An Innocent Miss | The Reluctant Bride | A Companion of Quality (2002) 1 copy
A Mistletoe Masquerade / Wayward Widow / The Wicked Gift / The Unmasking of Lady Loveless (2010) 1 copy
Maskers af 1 copy
Historical Saison Band 04 : Bitte heiraten Sie mich, Mylord! / Lord Carltons heimlicher Eheschwur / (2011) 1 copy
Heimelijke hartstocht 1 copy
Amor interesseiro - A senhora do castelo (Ómnibus Harlequin Internacional Livro 11) (Portuguese Edition) (2025) 1 copy
Historical Lords & Ladies Band 39 - Wenn zart die Liebe erwacht / Alle lieben Baron Ruthven (2013) 1 copy
Intriganti sospetti 1 copy
Nobili passioni 1 copy
Associated Works
Christmas Keepsakes: A Handful of Gold / The Three Gifts / The Season for Suitors (1998) — Contributor — 121 copies
The Penniless Bride — Original Text — 1 copy
Miss Verey's Proposal — Original Novel — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1964
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of London
Ruskin College - Occupations
- university administrator
- Organizations
- Romantic Novelists' Association
- Relationships
- Word Wenches (writer collective)
- Short biography
- Nicola Cornick was born in Yorkshire, England, within a stone's throw of the moors that had inspired the Bronte sisters to write Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. One of her grandfathers was a poet. With such a background it was impossible for Nicola not to become a writer.
Nicola studied history at London University and has done a variety of jobs, from sticking price tags on shoes in a factory to serving refreshments on a steam railway. She lived for seven years in a cottage haunted by the ghost of a cavalier. It was here that she wrote her first historical romance for Mills & Boon. Since then she has written more than 15 novels for Mills & Boon (reedited by Harlequin), and been nominated for a number of awards including the British Romance Prize by the Romantic Novelists' Association, and RITA by the Romance Writers of America, and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice award. She is a Membership Secretary for the RNA and critique manuscripts for aspiring authors via the RNA's New Writers' Scheme, and also for the RWA Beau Monde mentor scheme. - Nationality
- England
UK - Birthplace
- Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Oxfordshire, England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
The Winter Garden is a classic sort of multi-strand mystery novel with a long-ago problem being rediscovered and investigated in the present day. The long-ago part of the novel focuses on the Gunpowder Plot, but not in the usual way. This isn't a novel of men determined to destroy one another for the glory of their faith. Instead, the two women in the Elizabethan strand of this novel are mother and wife to one of the plotters, worried about the impact his decision to pursue violent action show more will have on the family through the generations.
In the present-day, Lucy, a concert violinist and rising musical star, has had her life forced to a halt because COVID and a long-term pulmonary infection have left her without the stamina needed to continue pursuing her musical career. Lucy is staying at the home of her Aunt Verity, who worked in Bletchly Park during WWII and is now a demolition expert. (Bletchly and demolitions don't really play a role in the novel, but those details are too good to leave out).
Aunt Verity's home, parts of which date back to the Tudor era, is the site of a present-day archaeological investigation of its grounds, which show signs of once having featured a magnificent garden. The archaeological aspect of the story adds two more threads to the plot: the head of the dig is a) a romantic interest for Lucy and b) mourning the sudden death of his brother who had also been working on the dig.
And for good measure, Lucy finds herself bring haunted by Catherine, the wife of the gunpowder plotter.
The thickening plot is neatly constructed and provides the kind of read that, while not remarkable, is quite engaging and satisfying. If you like historical mysteries, "women's fiction" (a label I find irritating, but appropriate here), budding romance between characters who have intellectual and personal connections, as well as an attraction to one another, or cross-century paranormal activity—you'll find The Winter Garden a pleasurable read.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own. show less
In the present-day, Lucy, a concert violinist and rising musical star, has had her life forced to a halt because COVID and a long-term pulmonary infection have left her without the stamina needed to continue pursuing her musical career. Lucy is staying at the home of her Aunt Verity, who worked in Bletchly Park during WWII and is now a demolition expert. (Bletchly and demolitions don't really play a role in the novel, but those details are too good to leave out).
Aunt Verity's home, parts of which date back to the Tudor era, is the site of a present-day archaeological investigation of its grounds, which show signs of once having featured a magnificent garden. The archaeological aspect of the story adds two more threads to the plot: the head of the dig is a) a romantic interest for Lucy and b) mourning the sudden death of his brother who had also been working on the dig.
And for good measure, Lucy finds herself bring haunted by Catherine, the wife of the gunpowder plotter.
The thickening plot is neatly constructed and provides the kind of read that, while not remarkable, is quite engaging and satisfying. If you like historical mysteries, "women's fiction" (a label I find irritating, but appropriate here), budding romance between characters who have intellectual and personal connections, as well as an attraction to one another, or cross-century paranormal activity—you'll find The Winter Garden a pleasurable read.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own. show less
The best type of historical fiction novels blurs the line between fact and fiction so well that you take breaks from reading to research what is true and what is poetic license. Given how often I was on Google look up Elizabeth Stuart, William Craven, and Ashdown House while reading House of Shadows, I would say Nicola Cornick knows how to blend the two together extremely well. Even her fictional characters of history are eerily realistic. While aspects of the story are pure fantasy, the show more opportunity the novel affords readers to learn more about this relatively obscure queen and of her life engages readers as much as the story does.
House of Shadows bounces around between three different periods in time following three very different women. Each of the women’s characters are developed at different strengths. We get to know Elizabeth from her earliest days to her very last, but the huge time jumps between her scenes require a reintroduction to her character as we play catch up on the trials and tribulations that occurred since we last saw her that have changed her. She’s called the Winter Queen because she rules briefly for a few months in winter; the rest of her life was spent in exile trying to raise funds and allies to fight for her son’s hereditary rights. In other words, she doesn’t actually do much. While her story kickstarts the other two women’s stories, hers is also the most stagnant. It is still interesting but not necessarily the best of the novel.
At the other end is Holly’s modern-day story as she tries to find her missing brother. Hers is interesting in that she uproots her life for her brother, and we watch her struggles to do so. Whereas Elizabeth grows bitter and more selfish as her story progresses, Holly blossoms. We see her come to grips with her past, find her future, and settle her present all while becoming more confident and independent. Her search through the past to unravel the mystery of her present provides a nice connection without overdoing the coincidences.
Taking place between Holly’s and Elizabeth’s stories in time, Lavinia’s story is the only one told through epistolary means. For all that, she is by far the most vibrant of the three women. Unapologetic, pragmatic, and brutally honest, her story is what makes the entire novel sing. Hers is the connection between past and present, and the threads woven by her story prove to be most fascinating. In fact, so realistic and interesting is her story that when I searched online to find out if she was real, the disappointment I felt at discovering that she is fictional was great. Without Lavinia, the story would waffle between two women who are strong in their own fashion but ordinary in their actions and opinions. Lavinia adds the spice to an otherwise bland narrative.
Overall, Ms. Cornick’s latest novel is a fantastic blend of fact and fiction that piques your curiosity and forces you to take a greater interest in the characters than you might normally be wont to do. It is romantic enough to stir the heartstrings and filled with mystery as well as a hint of otherworldiness. In short, it has a little bit of everything to please most readers. And pleasing it is. While not award-worthy, House of Shadows is still entertaining and enjoyable enough to warrant recommendation for a wintry day read to anyone interested in history, romance, and mystery. show less
House of Shadows bounces around between three different periods in time following three very different women. Each of the women’s characters are developed at different strengths. We get to know Elizabeth from her earliest days to her very last, but the huge time jumps between her scenes require a reintroduction to her character as we play catch up on the trials and tribulations that occurred since we last saw her that have changed her. She’s called the Winter Queen because she rules briefly for a few months in winter; the rest of her life was spent in exile trying to raise funds and allies to fight for her son’s hereditary rights. In other words, she doesn’t actually do much. While her story kickstarts the other two women’s stories, hers is also the most stagnant. It is still interesting but not necessarily the best of the novel.
At the other end is Holly’s modern-day story as she tries to find her missing brother. Hers is interesting in that she uproots her life for her brother, and we watch her struggles to do so. Whereas Elizabeth grows bitter and more selfish as her story progresses, Holly blossoms. We see her come to grips with her past, find her future, and settle her present all while becoming more confident and independent. Her search through the past to unravel the mystery of her present provides a nice connection without overdoing the coincidences.
Taking place between Holly’s and Elizabeth’s stories in time, Lavinia’s story is the only one told through epistolary means. For all that, she is by far the most vibrant of the three women. Unapologetic, pragmatic, and brutally honest, her story is what makes the entire novel sing. Hers is the connection between past and present, and the threads woven by her story prove to be most fascinating. In fact, so realistic and interesting is her story that when I searched online to find out if she was real, the disappointment I felt at discovering that she is fictional was great. Without Lavinia, the story would waffle between two women who are strong in their own fashion but ordinary in their actions and opinions. Lavinia adds the spice to an otherwise bland narrative.
Overall, Ms. Cornick’s latest novel is a fantastic blend of fact and fiction that piques your curiosity and forces you to take a greater interest in the characters than you might normally be wont to do. It is romantic enough to stir the heartstrings and filled with mystery as well as a hint of otherworldiness. In short, it has a little bit of everything to please most readers. And pleasing it is. While not award-worthy, House of Shadows is still entertaining and enjoyable enough to warrant recommendation for a wintry day read to anyone interested in history, romance, and mystery. show less
If you like a really engrossing dual timeframe novel then Nicola Cornick is your author. This is the second of hers that I have read and both have the two interlinking stories but they also have a little bit extra, something that adds another dimension to the story.
The Forgotten Sister is set in the present day and in the 1550s. The Tudor story concentrates on Amy Robsart, the wife of Robert Dudley, best known for being the favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. I really enjoyed reading about her, show more her life, her marriage and her feelings at being cast aside for the woman who would become Queen. The present day storyline is one of parallels and discoveries as Lizzie Kingdom is drawn into the affairs of a current day Robsart family. I liked spotting the similarities between the two separate threads.
Interestingly, when I read The Phantom Tree I said that I usually prefer the contemporary story in a dual timeframe novel but that I thought I had preferred the historical story more. I feel similarly with The Forgotten Sister and in fact when I started reading it I wasn't at all sure I would gel with the present day story, whereas I was engrossed in Amy's life. However, I soon found myself drawn into Lizzie's celebrity lifestyle and her realisation that her life wasn't quite what she wanted it to be. Nicola Cornick has a very absorbing writing style.
This is a perfect blend of historical fact and fiction, and I thought the author did a great job weaving that into the present day story, adding a sprinkle of the supernatural too. There isn't a great deal that is known about Amy Robsart but I found Cornick's interpretation entirely possible. I couldn't turn the pages of this book quickly enough. show less
The Forgotten Sister is set in the present day and in the 1550s. The Tudor story concentrates on Amy Robsart, the wife of Robert Dudley, best known for being the favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. I really enjoyed reading about her, show more her life, her marriage and her feelings at being cast aside for the woman who would become Queen. The present day storyline is one of parallels and discoveries as Lizzie Kingdom is drawn into the affairs of a current day Robsart family. I liked spotting the similarities between the two separate threads.
Interestingly, when I read The Phantom Tree I said that I usually prefer the contemporary story in a dual timeframe novel but that I thought I had preferred the historical story more. I feel similarly with The Forgotten Sister and in fact when I started reading it I wasn't at all sure I would gel with the present day story, whereas I was engrossed in Amy's life. However, I soon found myself drawn into Lizzie's celebrity lifestyle and her realisation that her life wasn't quite what she wanted it to be. Nicola Cornick has a very absorbing writing style.
This is a perfect blend of historical fact and fiction, and I thought the author did a great job weaving that into the present day story, adding a sprinkle of the supernatural too. There isn't a great deal that is known about Amy Robsart but I found Cornick's interpretation entirely possible. I couldn't turn the pages of this book quickly enough. show less
In London, 1765 the philandering and abusive Lord Gerard becomes so enraged at his wife, Lady Isabella that he commissions a beautiful gold gown meant to kill her. When his plan fails, Lord Gerard enlists his Moonraker pal and Lady Isabella's maid, Constance to destroy the dress. However, both Lady Isabella and Constance become so enraptured with the dress that the task is never completed. Lady Isabella decides to escape the city and convalesce in Lydiard, away from her husband. The dress show more calls to her though, possessing Lady Isabella. In 2004, Fenella Brightwell takes a school trip to Lydiard. Fen has kleptomania tendencies and when she walks into a small room at Lydiard, she sees a drunken man in time period clothing staring at a golden dress. Fen is spooked, but before she goes the golden dress calls out to her- take me. Years later, Fen is out of an abusive relationship and has created a stable life for herself. Then, she gets a package in the mail. The golden dress has made its way back to her life with a strange message- danger.
The Woman in the Lake is an enchanting dual-time mystery that pulled me into the story just as the dress made its way into the character's lives. From the beginning I was engrossed with the puzzle of who the woman in the lake was and the importance of the dress. The narrative switched between Isabella, Constance and Fen's point of view tying together their experiences with the pull of the golden dress. While the dress enhanced the worst traits in all of the woman, the dress also seemed to make it possible for the women to rid themselves of an even bigger problem, the men in the lives. As Fen investigated the history of the dress, the similarities between herself and Isabella became apparent with a love of art and a knack for falling for abusive men. Constance was a very interesting character to me as it was not apparent as to where her loyalties lied, however, she was definitely the most clever. The golden dress was a character in itself; as I read about the qualities of the dress, I felt possessed myself as I felt the need to continue to read in order to unravel its mystery. I would have loved to know how exactly the power was created. Overall, a captivating story mixing history, mystery and a touch of magic.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less
The Woman in the Lake is an enchanting dual-time mystery that pulled me into the story just as the dress made its way into the character's lives. From the beginning I was engrossed with the puzzle of who the woman in the lake was and the importance of the dress. The narrative switched between Isabella, Constance and Fen's point of view tying together their experiences with the pull of the golden dress. While the dress enhanced the worst traits in all of the woman, the dress also seemed to make it possible for the women to rid themselves of an even bigger problem, the men in the lives. As Fen investigated the history of the dress, the similarities between herself and Isabella became apparent with a love of art and a knack for falling for abusive men. Constance was a very interesting character to me as it was not apparent as to where her loyalties lied, however, she was definitely the most clever. The golden dress was a character in itself; as I read about the qualities of the dress, I felt possessed myself as I felt the need to continue to read in order to unravel its mystery. I would have loved to know how exactly the power was created. Overall, a captivating story mixing history, mystery and a touch of magic.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 94
- Also by
- 8
- Members
- 3,789
- Popularity
- #6,690
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 150
- ISBNs
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