The Book of Lost Stories

by Trisha Ashley

A lost journal. A long-buried secret. A story waiting to be told.

Cleo Finch has loved gothic literature all her life. She’s spent years researching and writing her thesis on the works of one gothic novelist in particular, Orlando Browne, and is determined to prove that Browne was the pen name of a female author, Alys Weston.

But as her best friend Tris never fails to remind her, she still hasn’t succeeded in finding concrete evidence that proves this to be true.

That is, until Cleo’s Uncle Ambrose unknowingly gifts her Alys’ very own journal, forgotten in a stack of first-edition gothic novels.

As Cleo begins deciphering Alys' diary entries, she finds herself utterly absorbed by Alys' vivid descriptions of the people in her own life - particularly the rakish Lord Rayven - and the challenges Alys faced trying to keep Orlando’s true identity a secret.

And so, newly inspired, Cleo sets aside her thesis to pen a gothic novel of her own . . .




Previously published as Lord Rayven's Revenge. This edition has been updated with new material from the author.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2025

About the author

Trisha Ashley is now a full-time novelist, but she has been known to work for stained glass makers and/or plumbers. She likes to paint, eat, drink, and read literary biographies. Her previous hobbies included getting divorced and packing to move. She claims to have once actually eaten Bronte burgers at the Branwell café, but her publisher declines to verify this. She lives in North Wales.

Reviews

[Coral Marlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

ugh. the prologue and epilogue really did not add much to the story. like, i get that the concept was cool, but i kinda just hated reading both sections. they took me out of the story, and reminded me that i wasn’t reading a gothic story.

perhaps i might have preferred the original without the prologue and epilogue (which i assume were added for the new edition). but even then i didn’t entirely enjoy reading the main story.

i think alys repeating that she didn’t want to get married and no one taking her seriously, while probably realistic, was a bit overkill. i think that there was too much emphasis and repetition on how independent alys was. heroines in gothic novels from way back when were independent, but i don’t remember it being mentioned quite so often.

idk, i think i was just annoyed by being taken out of the world each time her independence was mentioned. and i’m probably soured by the presence of the epilogue immediately after the conclusion…

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

light modern comedic spin on the gothic romance, brought back memories of Georgette Heyer's novel Sylvester. Very enjoyable.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Spending time in ‘Trishaworld’ but this gothic novel was different to her usual style. I liked the characters and the way the book was written. A good read that kept me turning pages and burning the midnight oil to finish it.

[Sarah Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this felt like a book within a book.

The book begins in modern day York in July 2024, ending with an epilogue in August of the same year.

In between, the story focuses on Regency, England of 1808 - 1812.

The characters are believable and the situation surrounding them is portrayed well within that era, especially with the Gothic scene introduced.

An interesting read.

[Vicky Sp · Rating 4 out of 5]

molto bello davvero, recensione in arrivo

[Yvonne Bull · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. I usually really enjoy Trisha Ashley's stories but this style did not hit the spot with me.

[Barbara McCallum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Trisha Ashley’s books. I think I have read everyone she has written. But I am not a Regency or Gothic genre reader so was disappointed.
I am though excited about reading her next Christmas book.

[CJ Mahaffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

stunningly fun read

I don’t know if I am Trisha Ashley’s biggest fan—there must be so many of us that devour her novels—but I do think I’ve read all them at least twice. This book might be my favorite. It is a story inside a story. What great fun! It has the gothic reference with the interior storyline.

The main character, Cleo, is finishing her dissertation for a PhD focusing on the true identity of a prolific gothic novelist. Through a turn of events she discovers a journal that not only confirms her research but inspires her to write her own gothic novel. Both stories—Cleo’s and the writer of the historic journal are told with much entertaining detail. Sadly, this book was so good that I couldn’t put it down and now it is over. I will just have to read it again while I wait for the next Trisha Ashley.

[Sarah Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book and so different for this author to write a 'gothic' novel.
It gripped me from the start which is set in our time period and then goes back in time for the most part of this book set in the Regency period. I just couldn't put it down.
Now I don't give spoilers but if you are thinking about buying this book do, Trisha is such a great story teller and this book is no exception.
Such wonderful characters, some felt a bit like spoof characters as the baddies were truly bad, ( or deranged?), and the good characters, not that there were many were light and fluffy. There were more unhinged and dastardly ones than good ones and it was a great romp.
If you want well written entertainment I strongly suggest you give this book a read.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always wanted to read this book, so was excited that it was republished.

Very enjoyable, with two fun main characters, and lots of humor included in the entertaining take on gothic romances. I was so lucky this weekend to have 2 new to me books to enjoy, both with competent, matter-of-fact, take no prisoners heroines! Alys knows how to make lemon from lemonade and is no helpless waif! Competent and intelligent non-drama-llama heroines are so rare, and I treasure books with them. This was a romp to read. It's not exactly a spoof of gothic romances, but it was definitely an unconventional spin on them, and I really enjoyed the author's playing around with the genre.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Lost Stories by Trisha Ashley is an easy to read book, which part of which follows the storyline of the Geogette Heyer novels. The gothic type novel that Cleo Finch loves and she finds a copy of a long forgotten journal in a desk her uncle gives her for her birthday that tells the story of Orlando Browne, the female novelist writing under the pseudonym name of Alys Weston.
There follows a story of Alys Weston’s life and her love for Lord Rayven, which’s entertaining and ends with Cleo Finch herself following the script of the novel and finding true love.
Recommended

[Pat Stearman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new revised edition of Lord Rayven's Revenge. ( which I don't think I've read even though most of her older works were kicking around in Large Print in the library).
The internal novel is a Regency Romance in the Georgette Heyer line ( and I've been reading those for over 50 years) & has the perfect feisty young woman, tall dark & brooding hero, well drawn minor characters, villains & friends alike.
At either end we have the modern day Cleo who finds the journals from which she creates the internal novel.
It all makes for an exciting & great read.

[Charlotte_booktok_lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trisha Ashley writes historical fiction! What next?!?!
I was blown away by this book, a fantastic, first person, easy read.

Starts of contemporary and light then gets straight into historical fiction. This was a page turner for me and I'm so pleased to have had the time to sit and finish of the second half of this book in one straight sitting.

A lady writes a story about a journal and the lady in the journal also writes stories but in the controversial times when ladies didnt write novels and because of this it causes a whole load of commotion!!

[Mrs S Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Unusual Mix of Past and Oresent

The bulk of this, astonishingly, is a Regency tale.
Not a genre I would choose but it drew me in and I could not put it down! Hilarious in places but also showing how lucky ladies are these days and how free.
Beginning in the present times it slips seamlessly into the Regency tale and finishes back in 2024 with a twist.
I definitely recommend this (although was not sure at first), thoroughly enjoyable and worth every penny!

[Susan Pugsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic Amazing

As usual, I haven't been able to put this book down until I got to the very end. 13 hours (with a few minutes off for meals and a visit to the doctor). I got very invested in Alys getting together with Lord Rayven. Not the usual Trisha Ashley story but we'll worth reading.

[Jan Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little different to the usual TA novel. I preferred the modern day bits but it was mostly set in the Regency era and told the story of the diary that present day Cleo found after being convinced that Gothic horror novelist, Orlando Browne, was really Alys Weston.
Look it’s an ok book but I missed the usual humorous parts.

[Patricia Lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never able to track down Lord Rayven’s Revenge so very pleased to find this new iteration. Completely different from previous Trisha Ashley novels but nonetheless kept me interested throughout. Interesting end bringing the past and present together.

[Rosalinda Cicio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro all'interno di un altro libro e il finale ritornati al presente è stato geniale; una storia che ho gustato piano piano :) L'unica cosa che mi ha rattristato è stato non sapere il segreto che celano le 7 famiglie che si tramanda ancora.

[Anne Libera · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded up - it's out of Ashley's normal sphere (and in fact it's a rewrite of an earlier book). I liked it --a little gothic a little humor, a good companion while I lie on the couch with early fall COVID.

[Karin S Openshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trisha Ashley’s Novel “the Book of Lost Stories “ was very different, and very well written. I really enjoyed it spanning generations in a totally different way .

[Jan]

Dnf

[Ginny Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book, love all her books 😃

[Sue Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best from this author

[Snowy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry but I didn’t enjoy the book. I’ve read all of Trisha’s other books, but this one seemed too far fetched. I didn’t like the characters and am not a fan of the Gothic era.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the innocence, passion and detail that the author creates in her characters. A different timeline adds to the alure of the story within a story. An old fashioned romance. A wonderful read

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story , rather different style of fiction from Trisha Ashley.

[Linda Wallis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I didn't enjoy this as much as other Trisha books.
Guess Regency novels aren't my thing.
As usual, it's well written...I just got bored.

[Maharet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Niente di nuovo, solita trama che deve attirare chi ama i libri attirando con la classica libreria (ovviamente con gatto) l'amore per i libri e bla bla bla, nessuna sorpresa, emozioni bah

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a lovely and unexpected story

[Jane Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while to get into the book but did enjoy it.