I love a good Regency story filled with intrigue, suspense, great characters, dastardly characters, struggle, dreams, hope, healing and love (and I could probably add several more words to that list but I'll refrain). And let me tell you, this one has it all! I've been hooked on Sarah E. Ladd's books since I came across the second book she had published at my public library. The cover was gorgeous and I just had to read it. After that I've picked up every one of her books that I can to enjoy. But this one is going to have the privilege of being my favorite of her books so far!
I couldn't put it down. I read and read and read. Luckily (but not really luckily) I hadn't been feeling well and not sleeping well at night, so I had this lovely gem to keep me company in my sleepless state. It was wonderful. While I was reading at night I kept imaging and picturing myself there in Cornwall with these characters. It starts with a bang and ends with a bang! All the little things happening throughout the book, the little details, watch for those and see if you can figure out who the thief is and why. Very intriguing. I had my guesses. I was right on some and slightly (but not really) surprised on others. Read it and you'll understand.
There is a bit of a love triangle...kind of. It's complicated. Kind of. Do I have you confused? I can't clarify because then I'd give away information that you have to read the book to figure it out all on your own. Piece it together if you will. Which characters are really as they seem? Which characters aren't? Well, just so you know, there are some surprises waiting for you in that regards because you might not believe your eyes. There are some vexing characters too. *cough, cough, the aunt or mother figure* (Is that really all that surprising? They do tend to get a bad rap sometimes, what with having the vapors and all and tremors and needing to take to their beds, it's all too much for them to handle because of their delicate constitutions. Ok, not all of them are that way but you get my gist.)
I found the mining aspect of the story very interesting. Learning a little bit more about the history of mining in the Cornwall area (or rather in that time period because there were similar mines in other locations than Cornwall). I've read many books set in Cornwall, mostly all focused on smuggling, so it was great to read about another industry there (a non-illegal industry).
I hope you enjoy this one if you pick it up. And just a heads up, if you are a fan of Sarah E. Ladd's and read the first book in this series, you'll discover that the main character in this book was one of the young charges in the first book. That was a fun connection and it meant that we saw just a little glimpse of the main characters from the first book.
Content: Clean. Some moments of peril and suspense but nothing graphic. Nothing more than a few sweet kisses.
I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!