The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: The Cloverton Charade

Author:  Sarah E. Ladd

Narrated by:  Jude Mason

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Length: Approximately 9

Source: Thank you @sarahladdauthor @thomasnelson @austenprose for the physical review copy and @netgalley for the audiobook review copy.

Do you collect antiques?  I love antiques.

Olivia Brannon works at her late father’s shop and evaluates rare antiquities.  Her uncle currently runs the shop, but she dreams of someday being able to travel the world in search of antiquities herself.  One day, she is invited by Mrs. Milton, a wealthy widow and former client of her father’s, to attend a house party at Cloverton Hall.  Mrs. Milton’s nephew, Mr. Wainbridge, has inherited Cloverton Hall and all the antiquities that her husband has collected, but Mrs. Milton hopes to be able to sell her own antiquities.  Mr. Wainbridge, meanwhile, has invited his own antique dealer, Lucas Avery, to the house party to evaluate Mr. Milton’s antiquities.  He wants to sell them to try to make the estate solvent.  When Lucas and Olivia discover that some of the antiquities are fake, they are thrust into a mystery.  Will they be able to discover who is replacing the antiquities with fakes and will they also find romance along the way?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I really enjoyed the audiobook.  The narrator, Jude Mason, was excellent.  Mason was pleasant to listen to and had good voices for everyone.

·       I really enjoyed this unique Regency story.  I don’t think I have read a Regency novel before that involved the collecting of antiquities.  It was so interesting.  I know that collecting antiques was very popular during this time period, so it was great to learn more about it and have it as a plot device in this novel.

·       The mystery was intriguing as well with a great conclusion.

·       I love the romance between Olivia and Lucas.  It was a Romeo and Juliet type story with them being from rival antique companies.

·       I love Regency house parties and it was fun to read about this one.  I enjoyed that both Olivia and Lucas could move around in the world of high society, but being in business, they were not truly part of it.

·       The plight of Mrs. Milton and of Olivia herself, made me ponder again the limited choices that women had during the Regency time period.  Mrs. Milton could not inherit her husband’s estate where she had spent her lifetime, while Olivia could not inherit her father’s business, even though she was more qualified in antiquities than her uncle.

·       I read this one quickly as I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

·       This was a clean read.

Favorite Quote: “For what it’s worth, you say you don’t belong here.  But I believe you are the rival of any woman in the room.  And I daresay you are infinitely more interesting.  There is something about a woman who can think for herself that is quite intriguing.”

Overall, The Cloverton Charade was an engaging Regency romance novel with a wonderful romance and great mystery involving antiquities.  I highly recommend this novel.

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

A long-held family feud reignites when two rival antiquities brokers arrive at the same house party in Regency England.

Olivia Brannon knows her goals are unconventional. As a young woman in Regency England, her best bet—according to society—is to marry well and secure a steady future for herself. But Olivia has never been interested in convention. She’d prefer to follow in her deceased father’s footsteps and journey to foreign lands in search of rare and valuable antiquities.

Eager to make a name for herself in the antiquities world, Olivia jumps at an invitation to join a wealthy widow at the famed Cloverton Hall to evaluate her private antiquities collection. Secrecy of the task is vital, and in order to conceal her efforts Olivia must pretend to be a house party guest to avoid suspicion and to explain her presence.

Lucas Avery, whose father was a rival of Olivia’s father, has also arrived at the Cloverton Hall house party, hired by the new master of Cloverton Hall—the widow’s nephew—to appraise the renowned Cloverton Hall collection. When Lucas discovers Olivia masquerading as a party guest while covertly conducting her own assessment, he’s keen to renew the family rivalry. But as their paths frequently cross, he’s unprepared for the effect the refreshingly honest—and beautiful—Olivia has on him.

Yet all is not as it seems. Both Olivia and Lucas are shocked by the astonishing discovery of counterfeit pieces, and when the unexpected occurs, everyone is a suspect . . . and Olivia and Lucas both must choose whom they will trust. Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.

Sweet Regency romance set in the same time period as Bridgerton

Part of the Houses of Yorkshire series but can be read as a stand-alone novel

Book length: 83,000 words

Includes discussion questions for book club.

AUTHOR BIO

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who 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 she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has released several novels set during the Regency era. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. She lives in Indiana with her family. Visit Sarah online at SarahLadd.com

In The Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd

 

Title:  In the Shelter of Hollythorne House

Author:  Sarah E. Ladd

Narrated by:  Jude Mason

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 49 minutes

Source: Purchased from Amazon.com on Audible, physical copy won from a Bookclub Giveaway from TLC Book Tours, e-book from NetGalley

Do you like second chance romance novels?  Do you have any favorite romantic tropes that you love or hate?

Second chance romance is one of my favorite romantic tropes.  I was happy it was part of this novel.  Charlotte Grey and Anthony Welbourne fell in love as teenagers, but Anthony left for war in the United States.  Their fathers were enemies, and they knew that their love could go no further.  While Anthony was gone, Charlotte married Roland Prior.  Their marriage was not a happy one, but she did have one son, Henry, whom she adores.  When Roland dies, Charlotte returned home to Hollythorne house with Henry for a chance to live life on her own terms.  Her brother-in-law sent guards to watch her and Henry due to unrest in the mills after Roland’s death.  One of the guards is none other than Anthony.  Will the two be able to live with their new roles in life, or will the spark of love return?

I found this story to be very engaging.  I liked both Charlotte and Anthony and their second chance at romance.  I also liked how there was a mystery and adventure in the story.  I also thought there were hints of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte in this story with the mysterious widow living on the moors after an unhappy marriage.

My JASNA Northwoods Book club won editions of this novel from the TLC Bookclub Giveaway, which was very exciting.  I handed them out at our last meeting in October and we discussed it today.  Most members liked the book, and we had an interesting discussion of marriage during the Regency time period and how women were trapped in unhappy marriages.  We also discussed that Charlotte’s father left a good marriage settlement on her which really helped her out after her father’s death.  Not all women had this.

I listened to the audiobook of the novel while following along in my physical copy.  Jude Mason was a good narrator, and it was an engrossing story to listen to.

The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd (TLC Book Tours)

 

Evelyn Bray’s life was turned upside down when her grandfather lost his estate through his gambling and poor management.  Now as a young woman, her mother has left her alone with her grandfather as her mother starts a new life in Plymouth.  Her grandfather is the steward on an old friend’s estate, Wyndcliff, in Cornwall.  Life changes again when Liam Twethewey inherits the estate at just twenty-two.  Liam has great plans for improving the estate and the lives of the tenants by opening up a china clay pit.  Once he is at the estate, he discovers rumors of smuggling and illegal activities.  After a tragic shipwreck, Evelyn and Liam discover many mysteries of the area.  What mysterious activities are happening and who is involved?

 I enjoyed this book.  The characters were wonderful.  I love how both Evelyn and Liam were fish out of water, people who didn’t quite belong in the village and had to make their way in the world.  I like that they were strong characters who stuck to their ethics even in difficult situations. 

 I loved the Regency time period in England.  This is one of my favorite time periods to read about.  There is also just something about Cornwall and its storm swept shores that captures my imagination.

 The story was great.  If you love Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and the Poldark series by Winston Graham, you may have a hint of what will happen on these rocky shores of Cornwall.  It wasn’t a surprise to me what would happen, but the how and who were interesting to find out.

 I love Sarah Ladd’s novels.  She writes great, believable characters and stories that you don’t want to put down.  I was surprised to find this novel is the third in a series, it stands on its own.  I have loved other Ladd novels and I’m going to catch up on this series.

 Favorite Quotes:

“You’d best keep your senses about you.  Keeping your good reputation is all about appearances, and you are in a dangerous position.”

 

“But broken things, with care and attention, can often be mended, can they not?”

 Overall, The Light at Wyndcliff was a delightful Regency romance with the suspense along the beautiful rocky shores of Cornwall.

 Book Source:  A Review Copy from Thomas Nelson for being a part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!  For more stops on this tour, check out this link. 

 From the Publisher:

Set in 1820s Cornwall, this Regency romance evokes the captivating worlds and delicious dramas of Jane Austen, Daphne DuMaurier, and Winston Graham.

Raised on the sprawling and rugged Wyndcliff Estate near the dangerous coast of South Cornwall, Evelyn Bray lives with her grandfather, a once-wealthy man reduced to the post of steward. Evelyn is still grieving her father’s death and her mother’s abandonment when a passing ship is dashed against the rocks. The only survivors, a little girl and her injured mother, are rescued and brought to Wyndcliff Hall.

Liam Twethewey is just twenty-two when he inherits Wyndcliff Estate from his great uncle. His optimistic plans to open a china clay pit to employ the estate’s tenants meets unexpected resistance, and the rumors of smuggling and illegal activity challenge his new-found authority. Though wise beyond his years, young Liam quickly finds himself out of his depth in this land where long-held secrets and high-stakes agendas make no room for newcomers.

Brought together by troubling questions surrounding the shipwreck, Evelyn and Liam uncover even darker mysteries shrouding the estate. But as they untangle truths from deceptions, their loyalties separate them—and their budding love might not be strong enough to overcome the distance.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

 

 

Winner of The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah Ladd

The lucky winner of The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah Ladd is traveler!  Traveler was chosen using random.org and has been notified via email.  Traveler has one week to respond with a mailing address before a new winner will be chosen.

I'm sorry I've been behind this month with the blog.  Moving, work, and kids summer sports have got me running with not much free time.  I'm still reading and will hopefully catch up soon.

To read more about The Weaver's Daughter, check out my review at this link.

Thank-you to all who entered!

The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah Ladd (TLC Tour Review and GIVEAWAY!)

Set in Regency England, a war is brewing between mill owners and weavers in a small village.  The weavers want to continue their traditional role of making cloth but are threatened by the introduction of machinery by the mill owners that will take away their jobs.  With their way of life that has been passed down through the centuries threatened, will the weavers take drastic actions to save it?

Kate Dearborne belongs to a reigning weaver family.  After the mill owner’s grandson, Henry Stockton, returns from war, Kate keeps finding herself encountering him everywhere she goes.  She’s been raised to believe that mill owners and their families are evil, but Henry Stockton seems to care about his workers more than his Grandfather. Kate feels she can help him to see the evil of the conditions of the mill.  Will these two unlikely friends become more than friends?

I enjoyed this novel.  I liked so many different aspects of it.  I like how it looked at how mechanization changed the way work had been done for centuries, but that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.  I like how the book looked at how this affected families and relationships as well.  The Weaver’s Daughter also had moments where Henry Stockton must deal with his memories of serving in combat against the French. This is a subject that Jane Austen wouldn’t touch.  It was also interesting how he had to meld back into society after being the military for so long.  I loved the characters and setting, and I liked the Romeo and Juliet type relationship between Kate and Henry.   

 

Favorite Quotes:

“Sometimes I barely recognize him.  In years past he would sit with me for hours and talk on any subject, serious or frivolous, it didn’t matter.  Now he clutches every thought so close to his chest.  He used to be an open book.  Not it seems as if his time on the Peninsula robbed him of some piece of his soul.”

“Everyone makes mistakes in their life.  It is how you respond to them and learn from them that matters.”

“Her soul felt at rest, for now she knew the true power of love, the unbending strength of loyalty, and the eternal beauty of forgiveness.”

Overall, The Weaver’s Daughter is a great regency book with a stellar romance, great characters and a fascinating look at how mechanization affected traditional workers.

Book Source:  E-book copy as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!  For more stops on the tour, check out this link.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah Ladd. If you would like to win this book, please leave a comment on what interests you about this book. Have you ever read any novels set in the Regency period?  If so, which ones did you enjoy or not enjoy?

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a Monte Carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to addresses in the United States.

The deadline for entry is midnight on Friday June 1st!

Please make sure to check the week of June 4th to see if you are a winner. I send emails to the winner, but lately I've been put in their "junk mail" folder instead of their inbox.

Good luck!