The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd {Book Review}

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"How foolish to think she'd be safe in this little Penwythe refuge, 

with its idyllic seashores, rolling orchards, and ancient gardens.

She'd lost sight of how the Greythornes would stop 

at nothing to get their way."

CORDELA GREYTHORNE is no stranger to hardship and heartache. Forced to leave her home in Cornwall three years ago after being blamed for her husband's death, she began a new life as a governess to five children in Yorkshire. Though suffocated by secrets, she tried to bury herself in her work. It was the only way to escape the fear of her mother-in-law's parting warning and curse spoken against her. 

Unfortunately, Cordelia finds her life in upheaval again when her employer suffers a fatal riding accident. She gives her word to a dying man and promises to stay with his children even though it means returning to Cornwall. Will she be able to keep her secrets and remain unnoticed, or will she be putting her life and possibly others' lives in danger?

JAC TWETHEWEY longs to restore Penwythe Hall to its former glory. While busy trying to revive the once-thriving apple orchards, his plans are interrupted when his distant brother's children, along with their governess and tutor, arrive unexpectedly. 

Determined to be a good guardian, Jac spends time getting to know the children of his deceased brother. However, it's not only the children he's growing attached to. Despite the mystery surrounding Delia and her past, Jac can't help but be drawn to the governess. He desires to provide for and protect her in any way he can. If he only knew how. When betrayal and disaster threaten his financial security, he wonders if he'll be able to continue providing for his new charges.

Unfortunate circumstances brought Jac and Cordelia together, but will secrets, danger, and betrayal tear them apart? 

The Governess of Penwythe Hall is Sarah E. Ladd's latest regency romance and is the first book in the Cornwall series. 

My Thoughts

I like novels set in England's early nineteenth century, and I like governesses as main characters too. The Governess of Penwythe Hall has both! I'm already familiar with and fond of Ladd's writing style, so I figured this would be a wonderful story to abandon myself to each night before bed. The apple orchard setting captured my heart right away! I love apple trees and desperately miss having my own.  

Besides the lovely apple trees, I liked getting to know the main characters Jac and Cordelia, or Delia as she's called in the book. The main focus is on them: Delia trying to make a new life but having to deal with her dangerous past, Jac trying to revive his estate and dealing with the unexpected responsibility of having to provide for his nieces and nephews, and of course the possibility of a budding romance between the two. I don't remember their faith being mentioned a bunch, but it is there subtly woven throughout the book.

The plot was predictable but in a comfortable way. I wasn't bored at all. I looked forward to finding out about Delia's secrets and how everything would play out. Mystery and threat of danger kept the pages turning. Though I had a feeling the end would turn out how it did, I wasn't disappointed.

It's always fun to start a new book series, but I sure wish I didn't have to wait until January 2020 to read the sequel to this lovely book! If you like good, clean, and wholesome English historical romance novels, The Governess of Penwythe Hall is worth the read.

Book Rating:  5 stars

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”