Book Summary:
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.
My Thoughts:
Sarah Ladd has written another beautifully descriptive Regency novel! The Governess of Penwythe Hall had a different feel from other Sarah Ladd books that I have previously read. It was a more slow paced, character centered book I felt. The relationships between the orphaned children and Deila as well as Jac really made this story rich. I loved that Jac was a man who labored alongside his workers, it made him more approachable and I respected him for it. Deilia’s past is filled with such heartache that you are anxious for her to get a happy ending. I felt that there was more emphasis placed on winning the children’s affections and making them feel secure than on the pursuit of romance between the characters. I didn’t mind that a bit! It showed a great deal about Jac and Deilia in the way that they cared for the Tretheweay children. Delia’s vaugue past adds a bit of mystery and the hint of danger is always lurking. As with all Sarah Ladd books there was a bit of suspense and some danger as the story concluded! No spoilers! I was happily satisfied with the ending!
If you would like to purchase a copy of The Governess of Penwythe Hall or learn more about Sarah E. Ladd, visit the links below!
Amazon: The Governess of Penwythe Hall
*I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
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