This was a fun read. I love a story of growth and this was full of growth for many characters. Good writing and a well paced book. I recommend it.

There haven't been too many books that make me wish it were longer so I could stay in the story forever, but Windsong Manor was definitely one of those. Julie Wright has done such an amazing job weaving this tale of Nora and Ridley. The complexities of their own relationship, relationship with others, and with themselves was so well written. It was all believable and I loved seeing the change of them as individuals along with the others in their family. When kids are added to the mix it just adds to the depth of the story and I love when they are part too. I wouldn't change a thing about this book and loved every minute. No language, plenty of swoony kisses, and such a wonderful story from start to finish. I could not say enough great things about this book and I would totally rank it as one of the top ones to be released this year!

A tale of struggles, fears, and growth against the odds
A great story of two people struggling with things in their lives that they had no control over, how they adjust cope and most especially grow. Nora was married just after turning sixteen to a man much older than her but he was a baron so her parents saw it as a wonderful choice. She hoped for a future of happiness and some control over her life but soon found that she, if anything was more controlled and ridiculed than before her marriage. After giving birth to a baby boy her hopes of at least having her child to raise were dashed as her husband sent him to Eton and away from her. Now her husband has died and her hopes of some autonomy are dashed again when she learns that she would be watched and critiqued by her husband’s solicitor and he will remove her son from her custody if she does not meet his ideals. She has also been tasked to raise the illegitimate daughter of her husband as her own. With a move from London to the family estate, Windsong, she meets an ally in a most unlikely place, the stable. Ridley is a stable hand who is functioning, very successfully, as the stablemaster. He has been offered the position of stablemaster but has always refused, not wanting to be seen in more public settings. He needs to be invisible. But after meeting Nora and her two children, Ridley cannot help being drawn into their sphere to help not only the two children struggling with all the change but also their mother who he feels drawn to. But secret plans and secret fears stand in their way of plans and goals. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

It's been a while since I couldn't put down a book: This book delivered! Ridley was my favorite character. The depiction of his of character was presented in the most subtle ways. His quiet lesson to Edward, Lia, and Nora were my favorite parts. I loved that the description of this novel did not give away the many other layers to the book. The bo9k could have kept going for another 100 pages and I would have loved every minute of it!

Nora, a young widow struggles with raising her bratty boy and her husband's daughter, while juggling her attraction to a stable hand and finding herself. Look, I don't usually quibble about errors of titles or that sort of thing , but this one grated, Amelia would be neither a Baroness nor called Lady Amelia. Normally I ignore these errors, but it was so frequently mentioned, I couldn't ignore them, and they baffled me, was the Baron supposed to be an Earl originally? And she was supposed to be passed off as a legitimate child? How? She's not a newborn. Would former friends not know Nora hadn't had a daughter? I don't get it. I'm all for a suspension of disbelief, but it has to be at least credible. And how old are these kids supposed to be? The boy cannot be more than ten at the outside, neither of them talk like children, at one point they converse about Greek mythology, and was Edward even old enough to attend Eton? The villains are one note here, Daw, Ashby, and Edward when he was a mean brat. Ridley's secret was no real surprise. I don't know, I hate giving negative reviews, but this stretched credulity and the Lady Amelia bit grated every nerve. I have nothing against Julie Wright, I've enjoyed her modern books, but this is a no for me. Sorry, but I give honest assessments and that is my honest opinion. I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.