#BookReview: The Poppy & the Rose by @ashleelcowles #NetGalley

Synopsis: 1912: Ava Knight, a teen heiress, boards the Titanic to escape the shadow of her unstable mother and to fulfill her dream of becoming a photographer in New York. During the journey she meets three people who will change her life: a handsome sailor, a soldier in the secret Black Hand society that will trigger World War I, and a woman with clairvoyant abilities. When disaster strikes the ship, family betrayals come to light.

2010: When Taylor Romano arrives in Oxford for a summer journalism program, something feels off. Not only is she greeted by a young, Rolls Royce-driving chauffeur, but he invites her to tea with Lady Mae Knight of Meadowbrook Manor, an old house with a cursed history going back to the days of Henry VIII. Lady Knight seems to know a strange amount about Taylor and her family problems, but before Taylor can learn more, the elderly woman dies, leaving as the only clue an old diary. With the help of the diary, a brooding chauffeur, and some historical sleuthing, Taylor must uncover the link between Ava’s past and her own….

A rich and intriguing tale, The Poppy and the Rose will appeal to readers of Jennifer Donnelly, Libba Bray, and Kate Morton.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Review:   I was so excited to read this when I heard it was a Titanic story. I was hooked from the beginning. This story had so many great things in it from a different perspective on the Titanic, espionage, crazy characters, a murder mystery, and a surprising twist at the end. 

 Taylor sets off to England to study abroad and visit the place where her father was seen in a mysterious photo. Immediately on her arrival, she is met by Nathaniel who invites her to tea with her benefactor Lady Mae Knight. Lady Knight leaves her a journal that draws Taylor into the life of Lady Ava and her father aboard the Titanic and the secret mission that has the potential to prevent World War I. 

 The twists in the story kept me engaged the entire time, just when I would think that I had it figured out something else would happen that would have me guessing all over again. 

I'm usually not a fan of dual POV but the way that Ashlee Cowles writes the transitions made them seamless and easy to keep up with. I definitely recommend this to anyone that likes YA historical fiction.  

About the Author

Ashlee Cowles is the author of BENEATH WANDERING STARS, winner of the Colorado Book Award. She wishes time travel was real, but until that happens, writing books is the next best thing. Raised in a military family without roots, Ashlee spent her teen years in Europe and enjoys traveling the world almost as much as she loves telling stories. Ashlee is represented by Shannon Hassan of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

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Posted in: 4 Stars, HeatherR, Netgalley, Review, Young Adult