About The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd
In the third book of this sweet
Regency Cornwall series, one young man must search for truth among the debris
of multiple shipwrecks on his newly inherited property.
When Liam Twethewey inherits the ancient Wyndcliff Hall in
Pevlyn, Cornwall, he sets a goal of fulfilling his late great-uncle’s dream of
opening a china clay pit on the estate’s moorland. When he arrives, however, a
mysterious shipwreck on his property—along with even more mysterious
survivors—puts his plans on hold.
Evelyn Bray has lived in Pevlyn her entire life. After her
grandfather’s fall from fortune, he humbled himself and accepted the position
of steward at Wyndcliff Hall. Evelyn’s mother, embarrassed by the reduction of
wealth and status, left Pevlyn in search of a better life for them both, but in
spite of her promise, never returns. Evelyn is left to navigate an uncertain
path with an even more uncertain future.
When the mysteries surrounding the shipwreck survivors
intensify, Liam and Evelyn are thrown together as they attempt to untangle a
web of deceit and secrets. But as they separate the truths from the lies, they
quickly learn that their surroundings—and the people in it—are not as they seem.
Liam and Evelyn are each tested, and as a romance buds between them, they must
decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their growing differences
(from Goodreads).
My thoughts
When new owner of Wyndcliff Hall William, Liam,
Twethewey arrives to take ownership, he finds sinister activity on the property.
He unexpectantly bonds with steward’s granddaughter Evelyn Bray while working to
prevent danger to lives and stopping criminal activity..
This story is the third installment in The Cornwall Novels series by Sarah E. Ladd, published by Thomas Nelson in the Historical Romance/Regency/Christian genre . The story is set in Cornwall 1820 and we get to follow new owner of Wyndcliff Hall William, Liam, Twethewey as he arrives to take over the estate. His main goal is to start a china clay business, but strange happenings on the shoreline of his property need his immediate attention. The steward seems to be at the helm of a secret operation Liam knows nothing about. He gets opportunity to bond with steward’s granddaughter Evelyn Bray while working to take care of survivors from a shipwreck and figure out what the strange activity at night is all about.
Main character, Wyndcliff estate owner William, Liam,
Twethewey seems very intent on taking care of the needs of tenants and
local people to make the area prosper. I feel that describes a man with good
character who is my favorite of this story.
Supporting character steward’s granddaughter Evelyn Bray seems a bit clueless in the beginning of the story, but I feel she is a great help when the going gets tough. I was happy to see she developed more of a backbone as the story progressed.
The writing of the story was, as always, vivid
with great research to back it up.
I found the
character building very interesting; particularly the innkeeper who managed to
pose as a stand-up guy for a long time, but showed his true colors in the end.
The mystery element kept me rapidly turning pages, as I was eager to know what
was really going on around Wyndcliff estate and where the shipwreck survivors
came from.
The story reads like a standalone with hints to the
other books in series, and I am eager to see what Sarah E. Ladd comes up with
next.
My favorite part of the story was how Liam and Evelyn were thrown together by the drama following a shipwreck and sinister circumstances on the property. I enjoyed how they found time for private conversations and hand holding.
Least favorite part was descriptions of how local folk seemed to behave like vultures ripping ships apart for anything of value instead of trying to save people’s lives when a ship was wrecked. I enjoyed it as a great dramatic element.
Fans of Sarah E. Ladd will love this story. As will
readers of historical romance fiction. Similar authors to explore might be
Elizabeth Camden or Abigail Wilson.
Thank you to publisher Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for
this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions
are completely my own.
Conclusion:
this is the exciting and unique clean
romance story of a Cornwall estate owner discovering his land is used for extensive
smuggling operations. He works to stop criminal activity while unexpectedly bonding
with his steward’s granddaughter.
Rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reasons: Unique plot, beautiful writing, extensive research
Where to get hold of a copy:
Book Details:
Series: The Cornwall Novels (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 13, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0785223274
ISBN-13: 978-0785223276
Learn more about the Author
Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever. Author's web site: https://sarahladd.com/about/
