Sarah E. Ladd: The Thief of Lanwyn Manor

By Kelly Bridgewater

In Regency England an advantageous match could set up a lady for life. Julia knows Matthew Blake, copper mine owner and very eligible bachelor, is the gentleman she should set her eyes upon. But why can’t she steal her gaze away from his younger brother, Isaac?

Cornwall, England, 1818

Julia Twethewey needs a diversion to mend her broken heart, so when her cousin invites her to Lanwyn Manor, Julia eagerly accepts. The manor is located at the heart of Cornwall’s mining industry, and as a guest Julia is swept into its intricate world. It’s not long, though, before she realizes something dark lurks within the home’s ancient halls.

As a respected mine owner’s younger son, Isaac Blake is determined to keep his late father’s legacy alive through the family business, despite his brother’s careless attitude. In order to save their livelihood—and that of the people around them—the brothers approach the master of Lanwyn Manor with plans to bolster the floundering local industry. Isaac can’t deny his attraction to the man’s charming niece, but his brother has made clear his intentions to court the lovely visitor. And Isaac knows his place.

When tragedy strikes, mysteries arise, and valuables go missing, Julia and Isaac find they are pulled together in a swirl of strange circumstances, but despite their best efforts to bow to social expectations, their hearts aren’t so keen to surrender.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd is a Regency mystery. The characters of Julia and Issac are fantastic and enjoyable. The characters do have their predictable happily-ever-after moment by the end of the novel, but I still enjoy watching the character interact in this world. I really liked the hunt for the mystery of the stolen jewels and silver. I liked hearing about the curse on the house. Even though I wish Ladd would have spent more time talking about the curse and the past owners. It was hinted at a couple of times by certain members of the community, but I felt that it wasn't truly flushed out for the readers to grasp. I think it would have made the mystery elements a little more intriguing. Even though the mystery element left me begging for more explanation, I still found myself delighting in the plot and enjoyed Ladd's writing style.

I received a complimentary copy of The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Thief of Lanwyn Manor

Sarah E. Ladd: The Governess of Penwythe Hall

By Kelly Bridgewater

Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.

Cornwall, England, 1811

Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.

Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Sarah E. Ladd does it again. With her newest tale, The Governess of Penwythe Hall, Ladd created a story filled with intrigue, mystery, and Regency charm. Right from the beginning, I was wrapped up in Cordelia's world and wanted to know more. The romance took a while to develop, which is completely realistic to me, and I loved that aspect. I enjoyed the plot. I kept wanting to know more about the heroine's past, even though Ladd wouldn't come right out and tell us. Don't worry. Ladd does explain everything before the ending. The novel moved at a good pace and kept me engrossed in the plot. Overall, The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd is a delightful Regency novel with a hint of a mystery twisted around the characters. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and want more from Ladd. 

I received a complimentary copy of Sarah E. Ladd's The Governess of Penwythe Hall from Thomas 

Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period -- the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would've looked like in era. It wasn't until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. (Taken from Amazon.)