About the Book
Book: The Governess of Penwythe Hall
Author: Sarah Ladd
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: April 16, 2019
In the first of a new series from beloved Regency romance author, Sarah Ladd, Delia, a governess to five recently orphaned children, would risk anything to protect them . . . even her heart.
Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.
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.
Click here to purchase your copy.
My Review
Timing is everything. Sarah E. Ladd’s Governess of Penwythe Hall has an orchard-setting cover, filled with soft spring colors. This beautiful book with nature’s long-awaited colors of olive, grass green, lilac, rose, and pink releases during blossom time here where fruit trees are abundant. Score for Thomas Nelson publishing.
This was the first novel I had read by Sarah Ladd. Ladd is quite the anglophile and quickly makes the reader want to visit the moors and marshes, or at least the craggy seacoast. I do wish mightily for a map, which may be included in the final copy.
This story had all the ingredients I needed for a very enjoyable tale. A young, attractive governess; a passel of children who depend on her and whom she loves; a rather unwilling, handsome guardian; and enough secondary characters to help steer the tale into interesting and dangerous waters.
Besides Delia and Jac, Jac’s aunt is my favorite character. She is very insightful. She seems to understand Delia’s struggles, she loves the Lord, and she understands the importance of relationships over things or business.
In short, The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a great choice if you are looking for a Regency novel of faith, fear, learning to open one’s heart to others, and facing down the giants from the past that would threaten the future. Delia especially has to figure out which relationships to build and which to cut off and how.
Notable quotables:
“Sometimes, whether we like it or not, things do not happen the way we think they should.” How true. We must then rise to the occasion in maturity.
“…walls alone do not make children feel safe. People do.”
“People, ah, people. That’s where the real success lies.”
“Fear knew no bounds and came in so many forms…”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. This in no way affects my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.
My Rating
About the Author
Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of
marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky golden retriever. Visit her online at SarahLadd.com; Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor.
More About The Governess of Penwythe Hall
5 things to know about Cornwall, England:
- Throughout its early history, Cornwall’s inhabitants called the country Kernow.
- Early inhabitants largely spoke their own language known as “Cornish,” which became nearly extinct in the 1800s
- The country has a long and rugged coastline and there were frequent shipwrecks.
- Fishing was a major industry, with herring, mackerel, and sardines being common catches.
- In 1870, novelist and poet Thomas Hardy called Cornwall “the region of dream and mystery.”
Imagine yourself in The Governess of Penwythe Hall with these pictures of 19thCentury life in Cornwall
Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/cornish_nation_01.shtml
https://www.maritimeheritage.org/ports/Cornwall.html
Blog Stops
Back Porch Reads, April 11
LifeofLiterature, April 11
Moments, April 11
Genesis 5020, April 11
Maureen’s Musings, April 12
The Power of Words, April 12
Mary Hake, April 12
To Everything A Season, April 12
KarenSueHadley, April 13
EmpowerMoms, April 13
For the Love of Literature, April 13
Inklings and notions, April 13
The Avid Reader, April 14
Blogging With Carol, April 14
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 14
Rachel’s Back Talk, April 15
Wishful Endings, April 15
Simple Harvest Reads, April 15 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Kat’s Corner Books, April 16
All-of-a-kind Mom, April 16
Daysong Reflections, April 16
The Becca Files, April 16
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 17
Blossoms and Blessings, April 17
Remembrancy, April 17
Worthy2Read, April 18
By The Book, April 18
Texas Book-aholic, April 18
Just the Write Escape, April 19
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 19
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 19
Babbling Becky’s Book Impressions, April 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20
For HIm and My Family, April 20
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 21
Inspiration Clothesline, April 21
Pause for Tales, April 21
Through the Fire Blogs, April 22
Bigreadersite, April 22
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 22
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 22
Inspired by fiction, April 23
A Reader’s Brain, April 23
Hallie Reads, April 23
Henry Happens, April 24
Connect in Fiction, April 24
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 24
janicesbookreviews, April 24
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away a grand prize of a finished paperback copy of The Governess of Penwythe Hall!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/de80/the-governess-of-penwythe-hall-celebration-tour-giveaway
I love learning about Cornwall! The idea that it has its own little subculture is so fascinating to me! I hope to visit someday!
LikeLike
I hope you get there some day, Karen! Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike