If you have not read any of the other books in this series I did a review for the second book which you can read here.
Summary
Willowgrove Hall is full of secrets, but soon everything hidden is brought to light.
Cecily Faire has a secret—and she intends to keep it. But when she arrives at Willowgrove Hall to serve as a lady’s companion, she comes face-to-face with the only person who knows the truth about her past.
As the steward of Willowgrove Hall, Nathaniel Stanton is dedicated to serving those around him. Nothing escapes his notice—including the beautiful new lady’s companion. He is certain the lovely Miss Faire is hiding something, and he determines to uncover it. But Nathaniel has a secret of his own: he is the illegitimate son of Willowgrove’s former master. Falling in love was not part of his plans . . . until he meets Cecily Faire.
When Willowgrove’s mistress dies, everything changes. Fear of exposure forces Cecily to leave under the cover of darkness, embarking on a journey to finally find her long-lost sister. When the will is read, Nathaniel’s inheritance makes him question his future plans. Cecily and Nathaniel are forced to make decisions that will change the course of their lives. Is their love strong enough to survive?
My Thoughts
There is something magical about reading books set in England in the 19th century. It must be my inner child reminiscing the years of reading Jane Austen and Louise May Alcott (yes I know she's American, but still) during summer vacation. I really liked Ladd's second book in this series so I was excited to read this one. She likes to write about secrets that are big, and they just happen to be fun to read. Win, win.
I love how Ladd incorporated her previous books into this one. This writing choice is something I really like when a author writes a series with different characters but still has it all connected. We as the readers don't have to say goodbye to the characters we fell in love with, and instead we get a slight glimpse of them again, which is better than nothing.
As for the characters in this book I liked them. Cecily was a bit sensitive at times, but she was a good listener and had improved from her father disowning her. Nathaniel was very attentive to Cecily and cared for his family well, how could you not like a guy like that? I felt that both were given their roles due to the choices made by others and how both Cecily and Nathaniel responded to those choices. There were defiant affects to both their lives, so they could rather please others or follow what they knew was right for themselves. For Cecily that was finding her twin sister she was separated from, and for Nathaniel it was moving away to claim land that was his. Throughout the rest of the story we see them both struggle and fight for the choice they want to make instead of let past choices chose their life.
The relationships in this book were endearing, respective, loving, and full of humor and laughter. I really like when characters are invested in more than one person's life. Cecily had a connection with most of the characters rather it be for good or for bad. I also loved the theme of forgiveness and moving forward that Ladd incorporated. This happened for Cecily and Nathaniel but also for Mrs. Trent (read and find out!). It was a great development in the characters and helped the story come full circle.
This book is perfect to cuddle up in bed with a cup of hot coco or to read at school while passing time. The secrets are enough to speculate on that will keep you turning from page to page.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for a honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.
About the Author
Every word has a melody.Every sentence has a rhythm.
This truth has intrigued me since my early years. Even before
I fully understood the meaning behind many of the words, I devoured literature and consumed poetry.
Austen, Alcott, Wordsworth: I left no piece of literature untouched, left no author unexamined. I continue to see magic in how a word is transformed by the word next to it and how written thoughts can incite emotion and evoke change.
In addition to a lifetime of writing and exploring fiction, I have more than ten years of strategic marketing and brand management experience, including five years of marketing non-fiction books and three years of marketing the musical arts. I live in Indiana and am blessed to share my life with my amazing husband, sweet daughter, and very lovable Golden Retriever.
Link to Authors: Facebook, Website, Twitter and Goodreads
Purchase her book: Amazon, B&N, ChristianBook
Award-winning author Sarah E. Ladd examines how to escape the clutches of a tainted past in the final installment of her Whispers on the Moor series. A Regency-era novel, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall cleverly shows that even though our pasts may be shameful or painful, God can take the darkest personal histories and turn them into the brightest futures.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd
Taylor Reid
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