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The Branwell Chronicles #2

Romance of the Ruin

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The ruined manor promised her romance, but its master was maddeningly elusive...

Prey to Gothic sensibilities, Miss Lenora Breckinridge is smitten with the air of tragedy and romance surrounding an abandoned mansion. Convinced that she is fated to become its mistress, she sets out to find the master, secure in the belief that he will fall madly in love with her and they will use her fortune to restore the manor together.

Mr. James Ingles is disillusioned by the short hand fate has continually dealt him, but goes to be caretaker to the ruined mansion in a last effort to seek his fortune. When he discovers Miss Breckinridge's fascination with the ruin, however, he recognizes an opportunity to get the better of fate, if only he can play his cards right.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2021

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189 people want to read

About the author

Judith Hale Everett

11 books70 followers
Judith Hale Everett writes tongue-in-cheek traditional Regency romance in the immersive style of classic authors, with special emphasis on delightful language, historical accuracy, and no forays into the bedroom.

As one of seven sisters, Judith grew up surrounded by romance novels. Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen were staples, and formed the groundwork for her lifelong love affair with the Regency. Add to that her obsession with the English language and you've got one hopelessly literate romantic.

You can find her at JudithHaleEverett.com or follow her on:
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5 stars
126 (37%)
4 stars
111 (33%)
3 stars
75 (22%)
2 stars
17 (5%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Pauline Ross.
Author 11 books366 followers
September 26, 2021
Judith Everett is one of the most original authors I’ve come across in the Regency genre. This one lacks some of the freshness of the first book in the series, Two in the Bush, which is inevitable in a second book, but it’s still a terrific read, beautifully written and awash with interesting characters - and a romantically abandoned house.

Here’s the premise: Miss Lenora Breckenridge is now living with her mother Genevieve and new stepfather, Sir Joshua Stiles (the heroine and hero of the first book) in Sir Joshua’s country estate, Wrenthorpe. Her mother is thrilled to have escaped poverty at last and have a well-ordered house with an army of efficient servants. Lenora is less than thrilled, because what could be duller and less romantic than a house with no ghosts or secret passages or the slightest hint of disorder? She’s learnt her lesson about allowing her love of Gothic novels to infuse her real life, but, frankly, real life leaves her bored to flinders.

Only the gloomy Home Wood inspires her, and there she spends many a happy hour, allowing her imagination full rein. But one day, while enacting an encounter with a suitably romantic prince, she comes across the decidedly unromantic, and thoroughly drunk, James Ingles. Now, I’m going to be perfectly honest, drunken characters just don’t inspire much affection in me, especially when they’re as outwardly unappealing as this one. There was a long spell where Lenora, with her mother’s help, nurse him back to health and sobriety, and even though it’s obvious that this is going to be our hero (after a thorough wash and brush up, and a good shave), I took a long time to warm up to him.

But James has one incomparable attraction to Lenora - he’s the caretaker of a romantically abandoned mansion, Heldon Hall, stripped of all its valuables by its previous owner in a fit of vengeful pique, and still empty, now that he’s dead, while the heir is found. James lives a hand-to-mouth existence in the lodge, but he eventually agrees to show her round the manor house, which she thinks is wonderful, despite the dilapidations. And so, although she likes James well enough, it’s the house that Lenora actually falls in love with, and imagines herself as mistress of. Which means, of course, that she will just have to marry the new Lord Heldon, whoever he is.

And so to London, where Lenora tries impatiently to find out something - anything - about Lord Heldon. I confess to a degree of impatience myself at this point, as the story seemed to be treading water for a while, but once Lord Heldon makes his appearance things move along more swiftly. I don’t entirely approve of the secrecy surrounding his identity, but since the secret is revealed fairly swiftly, and his reasons are sound, I can let that pass.

The story is beautifully written, but there are a couple of things that I think would have made it even better. One is to have more interaction between the two principals. There were long spells without any meetings at all, and those sections of the book were of lesser interest to me. It’s not that there was anything wrong with the peripheral stuff, but I really wanted our hero and heroine onstage together.

The other point is a technical one. Given the precise circumstances of James’s background, it might have given the story more depth not to have the hero’s point of view at all (apart from the opening chapter, perhaps), but to see everything from Lenora’s perspective. It would have added a layer of mystery which is entirely absent when we know pretty much everything that’s going on in the hero’s thoughts. But neither of these is particularly critical, they’re just things that I personally would have preferred.

This doesn’t (for me) quite rise to the heights of the first book in the series, but that was a very high bar, and it’s partly because this book features several of the same characters, so the novelty is somewhat lost. Many readers will doubtless be pleased to see familiar faces again, so for them, this will be a plus. In some ways it’s rather a shame that the stars of the first book, Genevieve and Sir Joshua, have so much screen time in this book, since I found them more interesting characters than Lenora and her hero. This story was somewhat uneven in tone, too, with long spells that felt quite slow. Again, a personal opinion only, not a criticism. However, the author evokes the Regency beautifully, and the language feels authentic without being stilted. I noticed a very few Americanisms (a sprinkling of gottens, which didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all). Four stars.
Profile Image for Judith Hale Everett.
Author 11 books70 followers
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March 5, 2022
In my first book, Two in the Bush, Lenora Breckinridge discovers that Gothic romance isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but she can’t help being attracted to it still.

In this book, I wanted to fulfill some of her longings while still allowing her to grow from shallow teenager to thoughtful young woman.

I wanted a mysterious hero for her, so I chose a man whose past is shadowed and whose actions could be widely interpreted, but whose sense of humor and honor make him attractive.

And, of course, there’s the ruin, which brings them together in the first place, and cements their bond in the end.

It’s kind of a realistic Gothic romance, with all the mysterious darkness colliding with real life, and ending up being perfectly romantic after all.
Profile Image for Joe.
98 reviews11 followers
April 22, 2022
This is a worthy follow up to the author’s excellent first book. While continuing with familiar characters, it tells a completely new story that feels less like a sequel and more like a standalone novel. The ruin is delightfully romantic as we see it through Lenora’s eyes and you can’t help rooting for her to fulfill her dream of rescuing it and it’s elusive heir. Another winning combination of excellent period writing with a fun and romantic story.
Profile Image for Jane Porter.
Author 547 books2,051 followers
May 11, 2023
Charming and satisfying

I am thoroughly enjoying this series, and have only one regret – that it was a little longer! I would have loved one more chapter, or perhaps an epilogue to allow me to wallow in the happy ending, but even without it, Romance of the Ruin is a wonderful story and I can’t wait to read more by Judith Hale Everett.
Profile Image for Megan.
601 reviews16 followers
January 17, 2026
First half was excellent. Loved the MCs’ interactions and banter. Once the FMC goes to London for the season the pace slowed, and it got less interesting to me. Still a cute read, well-written and researched, with a nice HEA, thus the rating.
Profile Image for Courtney.
253 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2022
So so so so cute!!! I liked this one more than the first but I think that's because Lenora and I share a piece of the same soul. We live for the d r a m a.
667 reviews7 followers
May 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun story. I liked the main characters. Our heroine's suitors were terrible and I did have trouble understanding why she was so willing to spend so much time with them and consider them as friends, but of course that helped there to be more to the plot. I have not yet read the first book but would love to read more books by this author. Also, there is no sex or foul language which I appreciate.
82 reviews
May 22, 2022
What would you say of a story where the heroine falls in love with a delapidated mandion rather than with its caretaker?

This is a gothic Regency love story with an unusual beginning. Miss Lenora is compassionate enough to take care of a troubled gentleman and nurse him back yo health, but the man itself is likeable enough though not as appealing as the myterious place he calls home. Mr. James tries to find his way around his acursed fate. His meeting with the lovely Lenora seems to be the answer to his prayers. A deep wounded male character and a clever compassionate woman whose love for mysteries will eventually save him. A well written story with enough twists and turns to keep you entertained till the end.
819 reviews7 followers
April 17, 2022
The story centers on Miss Leonora Breckinridge, who still has a lovely imagination (see Book 1: Two in the Bush), seeing a Gothic side in nearly everything. So when she comes along the neglected Helden Hall while out on one of her wanderings, her imagination again takes off. Finding the new Lord Helden becomes her quest.
The story had me grinning at times and I enjoyed the unusual storyline and the language. It is not overloaded with characters, but we are treated to peek into Leonora's family life, with her brother Tom checking in on his sister regularly in a supportive - not dictatorial - manner.
A very enjoyable read.
I received a free copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Inés.
409 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2025
If I had to use only one word to describe my feelings while reading this book it'd be joy. It certainly kept me smiling from the beginning to the end.

It is a traditional regency in the best sense. It's witty, very romantic and agile. Also, it's written to provide the right historical feeling; it's clear that the author has carefully researched the period, the style of writing is a beautiful tribute to Heyer and I love that the characters do not behave nor talk like 21st century people on long robes. A special mention should be made to the character arc of the female protagonist, Miss Breckenridge, who evolves from adolescence to maturity and learns the difference between romance in her cherished gothic novels and romance in real life. And she finds someone really worthy of her romantic feelings in the hero, another great character.

The author notes in the end, together with the links she provides for the interested reader, provide an added bonus to a great historical romance.

Finally, the story is independent from the previous book and, as such, can be read as a standalone, but I believe one will enjoy it better if the books are read in order, as here we encounter many characters from the previous book and, I suspect, the beginning of future stories in this series.
Profile Image for Flo.
1,158 reviews18 followers
March 28, 2022
In her 2nd regency romance, Judith Hale Everett returns to the family of Mrs Breckenridge and her daughter, Lenora, who is still enamored by "romance" and falls in love with a run down ruin of a mansion, Heldon Manor, close to the home of her mother and stepfather. She meets the caretaker, James Inglis, who is drunk, unshaven and unmannerly, twice. The 2nd time he is lying in the road, no one caring for him. She moves him to his home and with her maid and her mother, they manage to bring him back to health. He shows her and her maid around the mansion and she at once wants to do something, anything to bring the mansion back to its previous glory. But there is a mystery regarding the new Lord Heldon, and although Lenora does her best to find out who he is, she cannot forget the caretaker's warm brown eyes. A lovely romance. Judith Hale Everett knows the language, has done the research and written an enjoyable regency.
4,265 reviews23 followers
September 4, 2022
Ms Everett is a new-to-me author and I was excited to try this book. I was not disappointed. It's a lovely combination of a love story woven into some beautiful period writing. This is the second book of the series, so I missed out on the first book, but I could still read this as a standalone. That's not to say that I won't go back and read the previous one, because I certainly intend to!

This is a lovely gothic Regency story that was well-written and Ms. Everett does a nice job of pulling you into the story of Lenora and James. Lenora wants to know more about the Lord of the Manor but cannot keep her thoughts from wandering to James. A creatively written story with twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to read it!

I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Profile Image for Chaos.
3,684 reviews119 followers
September 9, 2023
I still very much like the writing of this story. It's perfect for the time period, while also flowing from one chapter to the next. My biggest issues with the book have to do Lenora herself. I found her annoying. While I understand she's still young, her actions and her inner thoughts got on my nerves. Her youth honestly was a huge hindrance. I feel that she should have grown up a bit more before being with James. She didn't learn from her actions from the first book and made it harder to get through. I absolutely adore James and the other characters! James' story made this book so interesting, and I loved the mystery surrounding him. Honestly, I get why Lenora fell in love with him! Also, Genevieve and Joshua were so cute, and I'm so happy they are happy and doing well together
Profile Image for Elizabeth S.
798 reviews17 followers
February 18, 2026
Melodrama follows Lenora and her romantic sensibilities. Bored at her new step-father's country home, she discovers a derelict mansion and its drunk caretaker. Fulfilling all her Gothic fantasies, she embarks on a journey that takes her from caring for a sick and wounded Mr. Ingles, to her second Season in London, where she is assailed by fortune-hunters and society gossip.

Judith Hale Everett's prose is music to my eyes. Such a beautifully written story, with well-developed characterizations. This is a series, so some of them will get their own novel. At first I thought Book 1 was better, but I soon realized that Book 2 is every bit as enjoyable. Another cleverly-collaged cover by the author's daughter. The covers on the books in this series are works of art in themselves.
Profile Image for G Victoria Jerome.
61 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2023
can be read as a stand alone

Read this book first - enjoyed the start: characters, descriptions, etc. It does make one want to back track and read book one. I do not like spoilers in reviews but i will say that the way the main character Lenora behaves in the second half of the book - where there is more interaction with other male characters - is really a bit beyond belief. I can’t imagine anyone continuing to spend time with or be friends with someone who had already proven several times to be dishonest or downright mean. Nevertheless, i persisted and made it to the “hea” part.
600 reviews5 followers
June 13, 2023
A little wordy, but excellent story

I couldn't find definition for some of the words, probably slang, in this book, but the meaning was mostly clear for them. It took a lot of words to tell the story. But it was worth the read. I especially enjoyed Tess, whose melodrama was very humorous. I also enjoyed the antics of Lord Ratherton & was surprised at the connivance of Lord Dowbridge toward the end to Lenora's heart. I DO wish the author had explained Lenora's debacle from the previous London season. It was alluded to several times, but not explained. Still ... this was an excellent story.
Author 2 books2 followers
August 31, 2024
The Branwell Chronicles are interesting reads. Book 2 involves the problems during a time when it was difficult to prove heredity. The story is a sweet story of a determined and head strong female. She was not easily fooled, which is a strong storyline for the Regency era when women were easily duped by arrogant men. Both our hero and heroine were likable from the start and the villains thrown in the mix were well developed. The language is true to the time period and may put off a modern Regency reader. However, it is one of the things I seek in reading the era. Ms. Everett brings authenticity to the story through her use of the language and historical research.
380 reviews
October 31, 2025
Enchanting

Wonderfully entertaining book. Loved the characters … they feel authentic and realistic. Loved the dialogue. The author makes an effort to infuse the dialogue with some regency vocabulary. There are some Americanisms but not an egregious amount. Unfortunately, there are quite a few typos; I suggest more stringent editing. I was disappointed in the ending. I would have loved to witness the courtship, the wedding, etc. The book ended too abruptly. But it was very enjoyable reading.
47 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2026
Really enjoyed it

I recently discovered Ms. Hale Everett’s books. Romance of the Ruin is the 3rd book of hers I have read and I really enjoyed it. It has every aspect of a romance - a kind heroine, an abandoned mansion, a lost heir, even a buried treasure; but with a practical explanation for each. It is a fun romance and the Bramwell Chronicles are a very enjoyable series. I am looking forward to Tom’s story in Book 4. I just hope that the sequels have answers - Did Lenora’s mother have a safe delivery? How goes the refurbishment of the hall?
2,415 reviews6 followers
April 17, 2023
sweet romance

This book shows our heroine to be obsessed with an old manor let go to ruins along with it’s interesting caretaker. Not all is what it seems and she finally gets all truth sorted out from the rumor That then leads to her hea
I enjoyed reading this story while thinking/feeling it just took too long to get to it’s obvious ending and hea. The humor and characters helped you to keep going but still I feel it was still to wordy
1,332 reviews2 followers
April 12, 2023
Determination

A young lady fascinated with gothic books, and haunted castle. When she stumbled upon a young man in his cups, she discovered he lived near a castle. What she didn't know was he was the owner of the run down ruins. And her life and his suddenly had meaning.
Thank you ❤️
Profile Image for Alice.
1,190 reviews38 followers
April 23, 2023
Lenora gets her Gothic Novel

Book 2 of the Branwell Chronicles follows daughter Lenora into several gothic plots which should thrill her but instead lead her to desire loving relationship instead. Well written with various plots, misunderstandings and secret identity throughout. Highly recommended, I will be following this Author.
Profile Image for Amy.
308 reviews4 followers
December 28, 2025
I was surprised that I liked this book as much as I did, because the daughter was a bit of an annoyance in the first book, so I didn’t think I would like her being the leading character in this book. But it was such a departure from normal storylines, that she fell in love with a property alongside the man. Also still love the authenticity of the read, so much like Georgette heyers style.
225 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2022
Love these books!

I love this book. I was afraid that this second book would not be as good as the first one, thank goodness, I was wrong. This book was delightful, I can't wait to find more by this author.
271 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2022
This book was hard to get into at first but I enjoyed it after I did. The writing style reminds me of classical literature. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of the characters.

I received an arc for my honest review.
205 reviews
May 15, 2023
A fun read

Lenora loves romance novels and although she tries to be practical her imagination takes her off on romantic journeys. The author introduces interesting characters and some the reader will become disgust with but the tale held my interest to the end.
20 reviews
May 28, 2025
romantic

So romantic, but so very long. I would reread a shortened, condensed version but not this one again. I am a sucker for the happy ending, but was tired of reading 2/3 of the way thru.
43 reviews
July 19, 2023
Entertaining

This book brought to mind Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. There was much tongue-in-cheek dialogue and ridiculous situations. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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