—Abigail Wilson, author of In the Shadow of Croft Towers
“The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a delightful and emotionally gripping tale that will tick all the boxes for any Regency lover: romance, history, and enough unpredictable intrigue to keep you up past your bedtime.”
—Kristi Ann Hunter, author of A Defense of Honor
“Lovers of sweet and Christian romance alike will fall in love with Delia’s strength amid the haunting backdrop of her tragic past and the Cornish coast. Throw in a handsome leading man willing to turn his life upside down for the children in Delia’s charge, and you have a story you can’t put down.”
—Josi S. Kilpack, Whiney Award–winning author of the Mayfield Family Series
“Absolutely captivating! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put down The Governess of Penwythe Hall. This blend of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, and Jamaica Inn has it all. Intrigue. Danger. Poignant moments. And best of all a sweet, sweet love story. This is by far my favorite Sarah Ladd book. Don’t hesitate to snatch up this title!”
—Michelle Griep, Christy Award–winning author of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
“Ladd continues to write refreshing Regency romance with a spotlight on the working-class countryside life as opposed to the ballrooms and bustle of London . . . The Romeo-and-Juliet-esque romance between Kate and Henry is perfectly paced and dimensional. Gender discrimination, childhood labor, work conditions, and a rapidly changing society make this a compelling read as much as it entertains.”
—RT Book Reviews, 41/2 stars, TOP PICK! for The Weaver’s Daughter
“Ladd’s plots are tight with tension, drama, and well-researched historical details . . . [The Weaver’s Daughter is a] sweeping tale of violence, romance, and above all, hope for the future.”
—CBA Market
“Loyalty, love, and forgiveness all have their place in this story, which is rich with historical detail. Readers will sympathize with the characters’ inner struggles as they face the difficulties that come when a way of life must transform.”
—BookPage for The Weaver’s Daughter
“A strong choice for fans of historical fiction, especially lovers of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. It will also appeal to admirers of Kristy Cambron and Tracie Peterson.”
—Library Journal for The Weaver’s Daughter
“A gently unfolding love story set amid the turmoil of the early industrial revolution. [The Weaver’s Daughter is] a story of betrayal, love, and redemption, all beautifully rendered in rural England.”
—Elizabeth Camden, RITA Award–winning author
“Once again, Ladd delights readers with a skillfully plotted, suspenseful page‐turner. As always, her characters jump from the page, each one a realistic and achingly human assembly of merits, flaws, doubts, and faith. Like all superior novelists, Ladd doesn’t default to pat endings, offering even her villains a potential happily‐ever‐after by putting her faith (not to mention the characters’ and the readers’) in God’s abiding mercy.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars, for A Stranger at Fellsworth
“This novel reads well and fast; its vivid imagery and likeable characters fill the pages. The well-crafted metaphors and tight sequences make for an absorbing read. Though set around the Regency period, the style is fresh and the voice genuine. The spiritual aspect of the novel does not overpower; it is woven into the plot and provides a graceful way to unite the beliefs and morals of Annabelle and Owen Locke. I want to read more in the series.”
—Historical Novels Society for A Stranger at Fellsworth
“[A Stranger at Fellsworth] can easily stand on its own, but readers who enjoy this book will want to devour the trilogy.”
—Library Journal
“With betrayals, murders, and criminal activity disrupting the peace at Fellsworth, Ladd fills the pages with as much intrigue as romance. A well-crafted story for fans of Regency novels.”
—Publishers Weekly for A Stranger at Fellsworth
“Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and populated by engaging and realistic characters, The Curiosity Keeper is Regency romantic suspense at its page-turning best. A skillful, sympathetic, and refreshingly natural author, Ladd is at the top of her game and should be an auto-buy for every reader.”
—RT Book Reviews, 41/2 stars, TOP PICK!
“An engaging Regency with a richly detailed setting and an unpredictable suspenseful plot. Admirers of Sandra Orchard and Lis Wiehl who want to try a romance with a historical bent may enjoy this new series.”
—Library Journal on The Curiosity Keeper
“Ladd’s story, with its menace and cast of seedy London characters, feels more like a work of Dickens than a Regency . . . A solid outing.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Curiosity Keeper
“A delightful read, rich with period details. Ladd crafts a couple the reader roots for from the very beginning and a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the end.”
—Sarah M. Eden, bestselling author of For Elise, on The Curiosity Keeper
“My kind of book! The premise grabbed my attention from the first lines, and I eagerly returned to its pages. I think my readers will enjoy The Heiress of Winterwood.”
—Julie Klassen, bestselling, award-winning author
“Ladd proves yet again she’s a superior novelist, creating unforgettable characters and sympathetically portraying their merits, flaws, and all-too-human struggles with doubt, hope, and faith.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars, on A Lady at Willowgrove Hall
“This book has it all: shining prose, heart-wrenching emotion, vivid and engaging characters, a well-paced plot, and a sigh-worthy happy ending that might cause some readers to reach for the tissue box. In only her second novel, Ladd has established herself as Regency writing royalty.”
—RT Book Reviews, 41/2 stars, TOP PICK! on The Headmistress of Rosemere
“If you are a fan of Jane Austen and Jane Eyre, you will love Sarah E. Ladd’s debut.”
—USAToday.com on The Heiress of Winterwood
“This debut novel hits all the right notes with a skillful and delicate touch, breathing fresh new life into standard romance tropes.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars, on The Heiress of Winterwood
“Ladd’s charming Regency debut is enhanced with rich detail and well-defined characters. It should be enjoyed by fans of Gilbert Morris.”
—Library Journal on The Heiress of Winterwood
Also by Sarah E. Ladd
The Cornwall Novels
The Governess of Penwythe Hall
The Thief of Lanwyn Manor (available January 2020)
The Weaver’s Daughter
The Treasures of Surrey Novels
The Curiosity Keeper
Dawn at Emberwilde
A Stranger at Fellsworth
The Whispers on the Moors Novels
The Heiress of Winterwood
The Headmistress of Rosemere
A Lady at Willowgrove Hall
Copyright
The Governess of Penwythe Hall
© 2019 by Sarah Ladd
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Published in association with the Books & Such Literary Management, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, California 95409-5370, www.booksandsuch.com.
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected].
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, charac
ters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ladd, Sarah E., author.
Title: The governess of Penwythe Hall / Sarah E. Ladd.
Description: Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, 2019. | Series: The Cornwall novels ; 1
Identifiers: LCCN 2018050105| ISBN 9780785223160 (softcover) | ISBN 9780785223177 (epub)
Subjects: | GSAFD: Love stories. | Regency fiction. | Christian fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3612.A3565 G68 2019 | DDC 813/.6--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018050105
Printed in the United States of America
19 20 21 22 23 MG 5 4 3 2 1
The Governess of Penwythe Hall Page 31
