Windsong Manor

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.

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!

WINDSONG MANOR by JULIE WRIGHT is a most enjoyable Regency novel with some unforgettable charcters and a solid plot.
Eleanora Coventry, married at sixteen to an overbearing and bad tempered baron who was much older than her, moves to Windsong Manor with her ten year old son Edward and the baron’s illegitimate daughter Amelia, a year after his death. She wants to give the children a better life in the country.
Ridley, who works in the stables, befriends the children and has a really good influence on Edward in particular. As Nora watches their riding lessons and the way they interact with Ridley, she is drawn to him. Unfortunately there is the nasty stable master Mr Daw, together with the overbearing Mr Ashby, her late husband’s sollicitar, who is threatening to take Edward to train him up to take up his inheritance as the new baron, and there are also secrets about Ridley’s past that threaten to destroy their budding relationship….
I love to see Nora’s strength as she fights for her children and for her own freedom, not only as the baroness but also as a womam. I also enjoy the horses.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
This is a lovely read and one I can easily recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Romance and a little mystery, beautifully written! Nora a young widow trying to discover who she really is while struggling to raise two kids, a son, the new baron who is one angry bee and a newly acquired daughter she wasn't planning on raising. Ridley works in the stables on the estate but there is a secret he has been keeping. Ridley helps Nora, Edward and Lia discover they are a family even among the brokenness. The journey in this book is truly a beautiful thing. The romance between Nora and Ridley is so sweet! You won't want to miss out on this book!!

Windsong Manor was such a well weaved story. Nora and Ridley were great characters and both really likable. I loved how the story had some mystery to it and you didn't really know who Ridley was exactly. I am happy that Nora got to find some happiness and peace in her hard life. The story was so well written and I was sorry to see it end. One of my favorite books I have read this year.

I enjoyed this story. It’s different than a lot of the regency romances I’ve read, and I liked the freshness of that. I also always appreciate a clean read. I will say I would have liked more time with the main characters together. In my opinion, that would have given the romance more depth and given it more of a natural progression.

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.

Oh my goodness I seriously loved this book so much! Everything from the plot, to the characters, to the perfectly swoony romance was absolute perfection.
Nora’s struggles were believable and made me like her more. She tries her hardest and makes the best of the circumstances she finds herself in. I also greatly admire her fierce love for her children, she’s a mom and I thought that was portrayed beautifully.
Ridley is the absolute perfect book boyfriend and his quiet, gentle manner just made him more endearing. Hiding from a hard past he makes the most of working and being a gentleman in his position. Plus he is absolutely adorable and so wise with the children.
These two characters were some of my favorite main characters I’ve ever read. The way they grow individually and together was endearing and probably my favorite part(s) of the whole book. They both come to find an inner strength and power from being true to themselves. Their love only makes them stronger as they become each other’s sounding board and friend.
I truly did love this book from beginning to end. A beautiful regency romance that sweeps you away into an engaging plot and heartwarming love story.

I loved this book by Julie Wright, such a beautiful story with amazing characters. I would highly recommend!

I just reviewed Windsong Manor by Julie Wright. #WindsongManor #NetGalley
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What a beautiful tale of losing one’s identity and then finding one’s self through the love of another. Julie Wright is a brilliant! This story captured me from the very beginning. I was so wrapped up in the lives of Eleanor and her stable master, that I found myself reading into the wee hours of the morning!

I loved this so much!!
I felt all the feels and was so invested! That scene when Nora walks into the storm-I got goosebumps and felt so many emotions!
Now I’ve got to go back and reread Julie Wright’s other books (specifically A Captain for Caroline Gray-also soooo good!,)

I LOVED this story! Julie Wright's writing is engaging and interesting. I didn't want to put it down!

Nora has always done what she was told. She even married the horrible man she was supposed to and bore a son. However, her obedience was not respected. Her baby boy was ripped from her arms to be raised to be a baron, like his horrible father. On her husband's death bed, she learns of an affair of her husband's and a child which, according to his will, she must now raise as her own. Finally able to get her son home from school, she runs to the country estate, hoping to return her bratty boy to the sweet boy she knows he is.

Ridley loves his job as a stablehand at Windsong Manor, he just hates the stable master, a man who does absolutely nothing but drink all day. However, Ridley has his own secrets and is desperate to outrun them. When the mistress and children arrive at the manor, he easily falls in love with her.

I enjoyed having a front row seat as Nora and Ridley discovered their happily ever after.

Moving to her country home, Windsong Manor, is exactly what Nora and her two children need after the death of Nora’s husband. The country brings fresh air, a chance for her children to bond and grow, and a connection to the very handsome stable master, Ridley. Despite their differences in station Ridley and Nora quickly become friends. Can they find a way to be together or will a secret from Ridley’s come between them?

I enjoyed this story very much. It was full of friendship, romance, secrets, and hard things that mothers often have to deal with. Nora is an excellent mother and I love the way she fights for her children throughout this book. And Ridley is the dashing hero who takes Nora and both of her children under his wing, helping each of them in their own way to discover their true potential and who they are. I loved watching that growth throughout the story.

The pacing was a little slow for me, but nothing that made me want to put the book down. Overall it was a very enjoyable book and I would recommend.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Regency romances, this one is an empowering widow daring to make her way and fall in love again. So good!
I just reviewed Windsong Manor by Julie Wright. #WindsongManor #NetGalley
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A sweet and clean tale of two bruised souls searching for the something extra that always seems just beyond their grasp. Add in a touch of intrigue and you have Windsong Manor, a book that is as lovely as the place for which it is named. Ridley Ellis and Eleanora Coventry are both wonderful characters, though I was enamored of Ridley from start to finish. He is not the type of hero I would usually call a favorite, yet he is possessed of a calm quality (in addition to strength) that I found quite endearing. He is really quite easy to fall in love with, and it understandable what Eleanora sees in him, and he in her. The romance grows softly and sweetly, and stays true to the appropriateness of the characters in their time and setting.

There is more to the story than what the description offers, so the reader is in for a surprise or two.

A charming and enjoyable tale that kept me engaged, I'd recommend Windsong Manor to any reader who likes to escape to Regency England with a clean read.

What a lovely story that was a pleasure to read!

Eleonora's circumstances change when her husband dies. She decides to move to the countryside with her children as a way to rebuild herself and her relationship with them. At the country estate she meets Ridley who works at the stables and is excellent with horses.

I agree with other readers about the children's age (revealed too late) and the titles not being handled properly. I'd have liked for Ridley and Eleonora to have spent more time together, but it's understandable given their social status.

I liked that this Regency story was not spent in ballrooms, like so many are. The setting was refreshing.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Windsong Manor is a very enjoyable read. It's unputdownable.

Nora is a very inspiring heroine. She's no damsel in distress. She discovers herself slowly when she removes her family and herself from London. She has been living too long as a daughter, a wife, and a mother. In Windsong, she allows herself some moments to be just herself, just Nora. By being herself she learns to fall in love. Even so, she does not neglect her duties as a mother and also as the mistress of the house. The people who work for Nora love her and that speaks a lot about how well she treats them.

Ridley has some secrets that come as a surprise to me, it was one of the plot twists that I do not anticipate. Ridley is generally likeable, and the relationship between Nora and Ridley does seem complicated at first. I love seeing how their relationship is not all about themselves but also about caring for people who are dear to them, one of those people is Nora's children.

The story is very fresh, is very unlike any other historical romance that I've ever read. I highly recommend this to someone looking for sweet clean romance.

My only wish is to get more glimpses of their initial meeting at Devon. Can we have this as a bonus scene?

Lastly, many thanks to Julie Wright, Shadow Mountain Publishing , and NetGalley. I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A gentleman or a gentle man there is a difference . This is the premise of the Windsong Manor.

I Really enjoyed this book ! I couldn’t put it down.

Nora is wife to a dying baron who treats her poorly. Her young son is in boarding school and she finds out her husband had an affair and his daughter is to live with them.
Wow that’s a lot . Nora feels like finally she can live her life when her husband dies . Then her hands are more than full with a snobby mean young son and a new daughter who is bewildered by her new life .

Ridley then enters the story as a stable hand who takes her children in by teaching them how to ride horses and teaches them how o have character .
I loved that Nora had memories when she saw Ridley about when she was a child dancing with a boy who loved horses .

I enjoyed learning more about Nora. She found herself by listening to Ridley talk to her children and to her. She found that she could be much more than a wife to someone but someone .

I appreciated their love story. I appreciated that Nora fell in love with the gentle man not the gentleman. I think you will really enjoy this book.

I saw a couple people complained about titles in this book . It’s interesting I’ve read thousands of books and it didn’t bother me at all because it’s fiction . I just enjoyed immersing myself in a fabulous read !

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow mountain publishing company for the download in exchange for my unbiased review.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book and came in with no expectations. Nora is strong and independent but also is such a relatable character as she struggles to figure out who she is. Also who doesn't love a kind hero? I'm here for it.

Windsong Manor is a deeply emotional and engrossing historical romance set in England in 1820. This is the first book I’ve read by Julie Wright, and I am impressed. There were so many things to love about this book, from the themes of identity, love and acceptance to the well-developed characters.

The book opens as 26-year-old Baroness Eleanora (Nora) attends her husband’s deathbed. Any relief she may feel at the impending loss of this over-bearing, dismissive man who has routinely demeaned her, is lost when she learns that he’s devised a way to control her life after death. She must raise their son, Edward, to the role of baron in an “appropriate manner” which will be regularly assessed by his sycophantic solicitor, Mr. Ashby, AND she must raise the baron’s illegitimate and now orphaned young daughter, Amelia (Lia), as her own. Adding to her difficulties, Edward, who was taken from her at a young age and sent to Eton, returns after his father’s death a changed boy; he has the makings of being every bit as horrible and brutish as his father.

Ridley Ellis is a kind, hard-working stable hand (later promoted to stable master) at Windsong Manor, who is intensely private as he hides his real identity. There are hints to the reader that he hides very distressing secrets, as well. The two characters meet when Nora moves from London to Windsong Manor with her children, hoping to heal them and herself and to find some kind of happiness together. The story follows Nora’s search for her own identity, her struggles to mother two troubled children, and her attempt to hang on to custody of her son. She finds an unlikely ally in the similarly aged, Ridley, who has work-worn hands but the demeanour and speech of a gentleman (providing a bit of mystery to the plot). The two forge a bond based on compassion and commiseration that grows into a deepening mutual attraction.

Despite a few errors with the handling of titles and the frustration of not learning the children’s ages in the story (although we do eventually learn that Edward is 10 years-old), there is much to enjoy in this book. I like that the relationship between Nora and Ridley develops as the result of their growing knowledge of each other’s characters. They genuinely see each other and understand one another in a singular way. The emotional tension builds as the two become closer, and as the attraction grows between them, so do the risks, all making the novel hard to put down!

I particularly liked the way Wright portrays the struggles of motherhood in this book, especially Nora’s effort to make Edward a kinder more humane baron. Nora’s journey of self-discovery is sensitively handled and adds to the growing feelings she has for Ridley. There are well-rendered villains in the book that add to the tension. Mr. Daw, the indolent and odious stable master, who tries to knock Ridley down at every turn, becomes an increasingly malicious force as the story unfolds. Similarly, Mr. Ashby, the overbearing and insolent solicitor, adds a menacing tone to the story and makes Nora’s fears for Edward’s custody very real.

I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy “love outside of social class” and “secret identity” tropes, a clean romance (not my usual preference, but I loved this book), swoony kisses, well-written and developed plot and characters, a more serious and tense story, and a happy ending. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was lovely. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing. I highly recommend this beautiful telling of the power of love. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I know historical inaccuracies can plague a book…and I’m going to be honest, there are some. BUT. The romance in this book is really sweet and honestly, I can overlook everything else for the sake of Eleanora and Ridley.

Eleanora is trying to be the best single mum she can be to a rather bratty 10 year old son who thinks he’s the bees knees and a sweet little girl who was her husbands by-blow…but so, so loveable! Ridley has a HISTORY and wow, is that a twist in the tale…but he is honestly a cinnamon role and must be wrapped in cotton wool because they don’t be making men like that any more.

Yes, sometimes the kid is irritating to the point of me genuinely wanting to throw something at him…but even he gets a lovely redemption arc by the end. And I love that even though Eleanora gets her happy ending, it’s made clear that her children are the most important thing in her life.

Do it. There will be things that make you cringe, but the next page will fill you with so much warmth, it’ll be worth it.

I'm not someone who regularly cries about historical accuracy when there are little errors in books with an historical setting, but it was very hard to read this because of a preponderance of errors. If writing a book where inherited titles are the main factor in two of the storylines, you have to get the titles and language right. For example, the son and daughter of the main character, a widowed Baroness, are repeatedly said to be a Baron and Baroness. While the daughter could inherit that title if her brother was dead, she wouldn't have the Baroness title if her brother was still alive.

The son, the new Baron, is ten years old. His dialogue is that of an arrogant adult. His character truly tested the bounds of belief.

The premise was great. The writing was simple, which is perhaps what the audience for the book will want, but I wish there was some charm or wit here. With five months until publication, perhaps there is a chance to do some editing to smooth out the many rough points.

I was provided a free advanced copy via NetGalley for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I really liked the deviation of the typical Regency hero. Even though Ridley ended up being a Lord and heir to a Dukedom, for most of the book he was a stable hand. The majority of Regency books are focused on peerage without much regard to the working class (even though this still ended up being the case in this story, there was the illusion of a deviation). Ridley was calm and stable and supportive, just what the little trio of a family needed. As other reviewers have stated, however, there are some historical innacuracies that make the story unbelievable (yes, I realize this is a work of fiction).
I’m a fan of the author but this isn’t my favorite book of hers.

I was recently introduced to Julie Wright after reading "Lies Jane Austen Told Me" and "Love, Lies, and Breakfast at Tiffany's." After swooning over those books, I was thrilled to try one of her historical novels as well.

I wasn't sure what to expect while reading "Windsong Manor." I've read so many regency novels that you never know if one will feel repetitive or not. However, I loved "Windsong Manor." Elenora's relationship with her children was one of my favorite parts. It was heartbreaking at times and beautiful at others. As for Ridley, his mysterious past kept me curious and turning pages.

"Windsong Manor" is the story of Eleanora's attempts to navigate life after becoming a widow at twenty-seven. With the memory of her cruel husband weighing down her and her two children, Eleanora is desperate to keep her children in her custody and to prevent them from becoming callous and cold like her husband was.

In order to achieve these goals, she retires to her country estate, Windsong Manor. However, with her husband's steward threatening to take her children away from her if she doesn't prove to be a suitable caretaker, she can't afford any distractions. Especially not Ridley, the handsome stable hand. Even if seems to be the only person who really understands her.

Overall, I loved the story and it easily earned five stars for me. I would happily read it again, and can't wait to read more books by Julie Wright.

Windsong Manor is a work of historical fiction that focuses on the early widowhood of a young mother and the life and path of a man estranged from his family and the paths he chooses to take once he leaves their protection. This book, while not groundbreaking in its premise, presents an interesting and enjoyable tale of love, family, betrayal, and forgiveness. The book’s heroine, Eleanora struggles with her newfound independence in ways that are as familiar to a historical heroine as they are to the modern woman of today. Her slow burn romance with Ridley is beautiful and heartbreaking. The ways in which the men in her life continue to control her from the grave both infuriates and strengthens her resolve to succeed in a world made for men. Ridley does not diminish, discourage, or save her, but instead acts as the man behind the woman. My only criticism is with some of the language used in the book. Some phrases are entirely too modern. Overall, a very engaging story that kept me on the end the of my seat and sighing for the romance of it all.

I loved going back in time to early nineteenth century London in Julie Wright's Windsong Manor. It is definitely well worth reading. Five plus stars.

"Windsong Manor" is a thought-provoking Regency Romance. With her brat of a son and her husband's natural daughter, heroine Eleanora Covington flees London after the death of said cruel spouse. What follows initially appears to be a romance between two people of unequal stations, yet it's immediately apparent it's not. Enigmatic stable hand Ridley Ellis has secrets. He is articulate and incredibly gifted with horses.

Nora struggles to find her adult self, and out of all the characters, her growth into a mature and capable woman is the most profound. Curiously her son has an arrogant, demanding and condescending attitude one might find in an adult, not in a child of ten. However, a controlling elder (his father) can foster that behavior. Nevertheless, Ridley effects a most positive change in the boy. Ridley is steadfast, compassionate, and a perfectly wonderful hero. Lia is a delight, and the villains are reprehensible.

I very much enjoyed this story. Julie Wright is a talented author; I loved her other Regency work, "A Captain for Caroline Gray". This book is clean and Wright has a lovely way with words. However, there is a jarring historical inaccuracy regarding how one character is addressed. This is an ARC review, and hopefully this error is fixed, as it won't change the story. 4 stars, but would be 5 without this glaring mistake.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this engaging tale.

That was so so good!!! I loved the characters so much!! Each one grew and leaned and changed throughout the book and I loved watching it! I loved the emphasis the author put on how important the job of being a mother is. Eleanora fought so hard to be a good mother without having any good role models to show her how. She loved her children and learned to stand up for them and to persevere. Ridley was such an amazing father figure to the children and he show Eleanora the kindness she had been denied for so long. The children acted very grownup for their age but I know kids like that so it didn’t bother me at all!!

I received an eARC from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Nora has had a difficult marriage. Married at 15, and to an abusive man, her life has been a series of difficult situations. When her husband dies, she moves to the family estate to try to raise her son and her husband's illegitimate child, all while being "watched" by her late husband's solicitor to make sure she is raising her son correctly.

Ridley has secrets, a past he doesn't want known. But what a character! He is handsome, kind, humble, and willing to teach the young baron what morality and good governing are, unlike what his father did. As a groom in Nora's stables, the two are living in different worlds.

The characters were well developed. Ridley is an awesome character, even with his flaws. Nora tries so hard to do the right thing, to raise these children in love and give them a moral compass.

A good read!

Eleanora had a difficult marriage. Now she's a widow fighting to keep and raise her children -facing resistance and interference from her husband's will and her husband's solicitor. The stable master has proven to be an unexpected help in teaching riding to her kids and becomes one of her closest allies. When his secret is revealed and her worst nightmare unfolds, she faces a very uncertain future.

Clean, historical fiction.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I loved 'Windsong Manor'! I experienced all kinds of feelings at the plight of Eleanora and Ridley. Issues as a child of parents, as a wife at 16, as a mother, a stepmother, an employer and a woman were explored with sensitivity and enlightenment. There was a tension always because of a mystery within the story because of some well drawn villains. Overarching was the redemption of love and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was a very unique regency romance!

Nora, young and recently widowed, escapes to Windsong Manor with her children hoping to develop a better relationship with them now that her husband is no longer around to control everyone and everything. She agrees to let the children take riding lessons and cannot help but notice how patient and kind (and handsome!) the stable hand is.

Ridley enjoys working in the stables at Windsong Manor and finds himself drawn to the widowed baronness. But even as their feelings for each other grow, he knows that his secrets - and his past - make a future together impossible.

What to expect:
Regency era
Dual POV
Forbidden love
Different stations
Sweet romance
Secret pasts/hidden identity
The horseback rides
Ridley's patience with Edward and Amelia
The first kiss

I enjoyed the unique setting of the book and that most of the story did not take place in ballrooms or over afternoon tea. Not that those are bad - it was just fun to have something different!

The plot was well-paced even if a bit predictable, and the romance was very sweet. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked but that is me, not the writing or the plot. Fans of sweet regency romance will enjoy this book!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

I loved Ridley Ellis. He is so kind, knowledgeable and just what the Coventry family needed. Nora is struggling to find her place and balance as she tries to keep her little family together and moving forward with kindness and strength after her husband passes away. There was no love in her marriage and very little kindness. Ridley Ellis works in her stable with the horses. But he seems familiar. She doesn't know whom to trust in her new responsibilities.
I love the growth that takes place in Nora, Edward and Lia with the help of Ridley's influence and friendship. I would highly recommend this book. It is a sweet romance.

This was an interesting take on a regency romance. I ended up really enjoying it in the end. I’ve actually always wanted to read a book where the lady has a title but the man does not because those stories often don’t get told. Women during the regency period don’t often marry below their rank.

**Review will be published September 28th on my site and socials**

MORE THAN A ROMANCE.

That was what a friend said to me before I read it and she was absolutely right and it warmed my heart 100x over reading this book. I LOVED IT.

I absolutely adored both main characters. Nora was passionate and incredibly strong and trying her best as a young mother to keep a hold on a situation out of her control. I felt all the emotions with Nora and looooove her as a character so much. And RIDLEY, what a swoony hero!! He made me melt many times. That man has a way with words, but also with his gentle presence. When I realized what was potentially happening with his character arc I flipped, very much a, PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN moment.

This book is filled with so much. Children growing up, a single mother doing her best, a man running from his past and antagonists with devious plots. The pacing is perfect, the romance is swoony and the larger story will squeeze your heart.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: brief physical altercations, loss of a parent

I loved this book. It is a sweet romance between a young widow and a man she thinks is a stable master. Great story and an easy read.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and it had such likable characters. The good characters were wonderful and the bad ones were just horrid. It had just the right amount of romance to hold my attention and keep me happy. It was clean and ended happily!

I really enjoyed this book. Ridley’s words of advice were great! I loved reading how he gently mentored and supported Nora and her kids. I also enjoyed how the story showed Nora’s growth as she came to learn who she was and how to stand up for herself. Overall a great book. I highly recommend it.

Nora is a Baroness who is called to her husband’s deathbed. He informs her that he has an illegitimate daughter that he is claiming and since her mother is deceased he wants Nora to raise her as her own. Nora’s husband dies and she now has her son and new daughter to take care of. Nora is also threatened by the fact if she doesn’t make sure her son is getting the proper training to be a Baron he can be taken from her. Her son is having major anger issues, her daughter is very upset and Nora doesn’t know how to help them. They move to the Windsong Manor estate and there they meet Stablehand Ridley who seems to be just want the family needed. Nora and Ridley become friends even though she has a title and he doesn’t which is frowned upon but is the relationship worth the risk?

I really loved this story! Not only for the romance between Nora and Ridley but for the entire family dynamic. The way Ridley interacts with the kids is heartwarming and in turn how Nora learns how to help her kids and for them to be a family. It’s really beautiful! I really liked how much the kids were involved in the story! Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

4.5 If you're a fan of proper romance stories - you will swoon for this tale.
Nora, or Baroness Coventry, is a widow and struggling with her own sense of identity. She has been taught to and expected to focus on titles and the expectations of society.
Ridley, the confident and handsome stable master, has run from his past and hides his true identity from those around him.
Lessons in finding value in ones true self, protecting those we love, finding our inner strength, forgiveness, and treating others with respect -really give the story value. It's an enjoyable read with main characters that you want to be friends and neighbors with.
I had a couple of confused moments with the ages of the children- at times they seemed very childlike, and they quickly matured and their voices felt like those of young adults.
Favorite quotes:
"A tree is beautiful because of its bends and twists. It proves that it has persevered through heat and rain and lack of light. Those hardships shape every branch.
Without the wind driving clouds across the sky, the sun setting would be rather unremarkable. It is the colors and clouds that make it an orchestra in the sky. These things are not beautiful because they are perfect.
They are beautiful because they endure."
"If your word means nothing to you, that is what it will be worth to others.
This great story will be published in October 2023, and I appreciate Net Galley for the chance to read it and give my opinion. I recommend it whole heartedly.

I enjoyed this book. It had a bit of a slower start to it but once I got past that, it was much more intriguing. I loved the different storyline. It’s not often that I read a regency novel with a widower with children. It was a refreshing change.

I thought the storyline was great and I thought the author did a good job of not letting things drag out for too long. I loved Mr. Ellis and I loved his relationship with the kids. I’m glad we got to experience that part of him.

I somewhat expected the plot twist with him but it was enjoyable to discover anyway. The ending was exactly what I wanted and sometimes it’s nice to read a book with that kind of ending.

Windsong Manor is a sweet Regency Proper Romance book about a forbidden romance between a baroness and a stable hand. This title is the first book I've read by Julie Wright, and the book summary immediately caught my interest because I love most of the books in the Proper Romance line by Shadow Mountain. This book was a quick and easy read, with an unexpected twist and an original plot compared to other Regency stories.

The primary reasons I didn't rate the book higher was because the book was anachronistic and had significant historical terminology errors. For example, although the cover art is beautiful, a baroness would never wear her hair down outside during the day. Phrases in the book like "hear me out" were used and were jolting as those phrases are not authentic to the time period. Further, a daughter of a baroness would not be called a baroness, and a Viscount's title is not "Viscount of X" it's simply Viscount X. I'm not a professional historian, but I've read enough books in this genre to have a working knowledge of the peerage and customs and I believe most readers would also find these inaccuracies difficult to overlook.

As a side note, I also wished the children's ages were explicitly listed at the beginning of the book instead of three-fourths the way through the book; not knowing their ages made it difficult to visualize the characters.

Someone with no knowledge of Regency England might enjoy this book as-is, but I recommend these errors be fixed before publication to improve the book for a wider variety of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and ShadowMountain Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book to review. My review is honest and is in no way influenced by the publisher or author.

This story was fun though a little angst filled. The characters are likeable enough and the story moves well. It leads to the expected happy ending and doesn't leave you bored along the way.

I loved this book. This is one of the best proper romances I've read in a long time. I finished it in a day and throughly enjoyed the whole story. It was captivating and interesting and it actually helped me through a rough time with some of the quotes in it. I do wish on some of the letters in the book that we actually got to see what some of them said, but other then that it was amazing.

4.5* I enjoyed Wright's new story. The sense of self the heroine developed though the story arc was empowering. I loved the little bit of back story that was teased and the way the characters interacted. The hero's bits of wisdom he passed on and his confidence were nicely juxtaposed with the little family who were each struggling to find themselves. This was a satisfying story to read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

My Thoughts:
This was an emotional but nice historical romance that’s set in the 1820s. The romance between Eleanor and Ridley is one of someone with a title and the other one doesn’t so in a world where privilege and title means everything do they risk everything for love