I'll be reviewing online about 30 days ahead of publication. I have posted the link where the review will appear.

I really liked Locke...strong, solid guy with a good sense of protective instinct toward the ladies in his life. Initially skeptical about Annabelle's motive, but quickly coming to see her as a woman of character...the early scene with the pickpocket was a good show of both characters.

Annabelle was an enjoyable young lady. She knuckled down and got to work, despite having no prior experience and being used to a life of ease, and not stopping to whine.

The side thread of mystery was a nice bit to add to the story to keep it from being all about the romance. All in all, a pleasant read. I especially liked it that the romance was subdued and not all throbby and hiccup-y...it felt natural instead of sensationalized. The writing style is easy to read and the editing well done, which is always a huge plus for me.

Come be whisked away to England. Our journey begins in London, the year is 1819. From the hustle and bustle of London to the peaceful countryside. With vivid imagery and dynamic characters, this book is sure to find its way into your heart.

Annabelle Thorley has lost everything important to her, and in the face of a future that she doesn’t want, she escapes to the quiet village of Fellsworth, to an uncle she hasn’t seen since she was a small girl.

Owen Locke is a widower and focused on making a better life for his daughter by working hard and earning enough to purchase land that will not only help to secure his future but restore what was lost.

I appreciated the vivid word imagery and felt like I could hear the birds singing, and the leaves rustling in the emerald dappled breezes. The characters were well written and realistic. I enjoyed the thread of mystery woven into the story and enjoyed the storyline. While God was mentioned in the story, I didn’t feel like he was a deep part of the lives of the characters, only more of an afterthought.

A Stranger at Fellsworth was a good read, but not my favorite Ladd book. This one had a hint of mystery in it though. I liked that Annabelle was not a "victim" but tried hard to change her circumstances. And although her maid turned out be someone other than what she thought she was, she got her just deserts, and Annabelle was good about it. Not vindictive.

Good read.

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

A great story and I enjoyed it very much,the writing was good,with great attention to detail.
characters where well worked out,storyline was captivating.
4 stars here and on goodreads

I've long enjoyed Sarah Ladd's books, since her very first, in fact. She continues to do wonderful writing. This one is my very favorite and I think it's her best ever! She creates such wonderful scenery, making me feel as if I were actually walking through the forests with her characters. And the characters...they are fleshed out so well they seem real. Her hero in this one, Owen Locke, was very vividly created. I loved every single minute. And the mystery was just a bonus!

Sarah Ladd writes a different kind of regency novel. She delves under the surface and looks at issues of the day while adding a bit of mystery, intrigue and faith to her romance.

A Stranger at Fellsworth is the third book in the Treasures of Surrey series, but can easily be read as a stand alone novel.

In this novel we see a glimpse of both the privilege and vulnerability of women in this era. Annabelle has been raised to a life of luxury and expectation. When all of that promise goes away she finds herself at the mercy of a brother who would use her as a bargaining chip and an abusive man. Annabelle’s story is one of choosing courage and the struggle to adapt to an entirely new life rather than submit to a life as a pawn to be mistreated. It’s a story of naivety, reality and growing in discernment.

Owen’s story is one of redeeming past regrets and finding new hope.

In this novel Ladd presents a layered, captivating and dramatic regency tale.

I received a free galley of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read A Stranger at Fellsworth in one sitting! Once I got started I had to finish it. Sarah Ladd has created a wonderful story of loss, love, betrayal and ultimately happily ever after. The main character, Annabelle, is used to a life of ease and comfort. But a life of luxury comes at a price she refuses pay. Annabelle flees to the only place she can think of to find peace, her uncle's school at Fellsworth. There she is welcomed with open arms, but feels inadequate in her new teaching duties.

Owen Locke is the gamekeeper at a nearby estate. He is an outdoorsy man, and devoted to his young daughter. As he and Annabelle's paths continue to cross, their attraction for each other grows. I think the author has written just the right amount of romance between Owen and Annabelle without being overly dramatic.

This book is an interesting look at the social classes of England. This book had likable characters and a good plot. I enjoyed reading this historical romance.

Castles, dukes, lords, ladies, conspiracies, dangers, mines and geese are all part of The Noble Servant! Author Melanie Dickerson has written an exciting tale with interesting characters and twists! You will enjoy this medieval story. I read an early copy of this book through Net Galley. This is my honest opinion.

Great descriptions, characters you could really visualize as you read, just enough suspense to surprise you and yet suit the Regency-era story. I was disappointed, however: I had no problem putting it down for a couple days mid-read. I wanted to be so deep in this story that I couldn't possibly put it down till "The End," but that didn't happen. Could be this book just isn't quite my cup o' tea; others might love it so much they read it wearing Regency costumes!

*Read my full review at scribblesandsomedays.wordpress.com 4/19/17.

This book was so well written. Sarah Ladd has a wonderful ability to take the reader back into the regency time period. I loved the maturity of the main character Annabelle as she transforms from an insecure and fearful aristocrat to a fearless and confident woman.

The lovely cover will make you pick up this book, but the story will not let you put it down. This book does not come out until May, so I generally try to read them closer to the time of publishing. However, this one was irresistible Once I started it, I could not put it down. The story where the heroine found herself facing forced marriage because of money was very common in those times, and escape was not always something that was possible. The hero and heroine both, faced abuse, and yet persevered.

The spiritual elements in this book were quite open and keen, where this is not a book you might pick up and wonder if it was a Christian book. If you are not looking for one, don't pick this one up. I found the message to be heart warming and encouraging.

I completely enjoyed this book!

"A Stranger at Fellsworth" is available for preorder through Amazon and through other book sources. The release date is May 16, 2017. Generally the price is better before it is released and I highly recommend you order this one.

Wow, for a Regency era tale, this had a faster pace with more action and the romance was believable. It wasn't all balls, gowns and tea cups like many are, although there was a little. Well, it wouldn't be Regency without it, right? Well-written with interesting characters. Move over Jane Austen!
Regency era romance fans will enjoy this one!

A new favourite from Sarah Ladd! I loved to recommend Sarah's series 'Whisphers on the Moors'. In fact everyone that came into the book store looking for a historical fiction, I placed one of those books into their hands. She was a little known author to our customers, but there is something about Sarah's writing that draws you deep into the period, the story. However, I have felt a little disconnected to the more recent books by Sarah Ladd, and I have missed the ability her earlier work had to pull me in to a well developed plot.

If you ever could literally feel like a fly on the wall, this is it. You feel like you are right there, living, breathing with the early 1800s going on its daily life around you. That's what I love about this book. I was there in London, while Annabelle was receiving the shut down by the society that had been her friends. I was there as she fled in fear for her future. I was there as she looked about in resigned acknowledgement of her new attic room that she was to share with 3 other servants of Fellsworth School. Life would never be the same for Annabelle Thorley. Attempting to escape and hide from her brother and his attempts to marry her to Mr Bartrell, she comes to accept that her new life may not be what she had dreamed and hoped for. She is free, and with that she starts to reconnect with the memories her mother left behind - of that of her faith. Remembering her mothers prayers, she steps into an unfamiliar path of hope.

With her reuniting with her Uncle & Aunt there is the chance to feel what family should represent. Of course, the new acquaintance of Mr Owen Locke, gamekeeper at the nearby Bancroft Park - develops at a natural pace. Owen has suffered a loss of his own, and knows only too well the cost of scandal that can come to a person.

Unhurried and well descriptive, I enjoyed every page of this book. The minor characters are such a compliment to those who feature more widely, and there was nothing predictable in the plot.

I was touched by this line, a discussion between Annabelle & Owen. (Paraphrased) 'Peace is not determined by your circumstances... Peace is dependent upon where you place your faith.' I truly believe that no matter how we long for our environment or situation to be 'just right' it's false thinking that those things will bring you a measure of true peace in life. Where we place our faith, that is what will carry us through life. Through the darkness as well as the light.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson & Netgalley for the complimentary copy. This is my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/30649388-a-stranger-at-fellsworth

A Stranger at Fellsworth is an intriguing Regency romance by Sarah E. Ladd. Annabelle is a young woman who is used to having fancy clothes, going to balls and being served by a lady's maid. But she is miserable, knowing her brother was throwing her to the wolves or more specifically to the wolf known as Mr. Barton. She must make a choice and she bravely does just that. After a chance meeting with Owen, a direct and self-assured gameskeeper in an area where her estranged uncle lives, she trades the life she knew for another one yet unknown. With a plot full of dark motives, poaching, kidnapping, murder, and a strong thread of faith in a God of second chances, the author definitely keeps the reader's interest. The characters, the good ones and the bad ones as well, are believable, flawed yet vibrant and evocative. The Stranger at Fellsworth is a great concoction of a fascinating setting, compelling conflict, and a sweet romance reminding readers they each have a purpose and life is about finding that purpose and following it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.com. A favorable review was not required and the opinions are my own.

There is something about Sarah E. Ladd's writing that grips my attention. She knows how to create unforgettable stories with enjoyable characters. I know her stories are Regency novels, but I am drawn to Ladd's ability to tell a story and capture my imagination. Every book she has written has done just that.

The writing is clear and concise. I really enjoy how much attention Ladd takes with her settings. In A Stranger at Fellsworth, she took the time and energy to bring Uncle Edmund Langsby's cottage and the school of Fellsworth to life. I could see the community with the students and the teachers who mingled with the garden and blacksmith shop. Inside of telling me that the time of the year was late summer, Ladd allowed Annabelle, the heroine, to show me by allowing her to wave a painted fan and comment on the stifling heat in the room. The attention to detail drew me into the setting as I observed the key points through Annabelle's perspective.

Annabelle is a woman who I could totally relate to. No I haven't had a bunch of scandals that followed my name, but I understand what it is like to not belong somewhere and wanting to run for the better of oneself. I could feel Annabelle's struggle while she lived at home in London, not wanting to follow the path her brother had laid out for her. Her demise and triumph poured from the pages. While the spiritual life of Annabelle really wasn't important to her, she did find comfort in the prayers of her prayer warrior mother.

Owen Locke, the game warden and the hero, vowed to protect women and not allow another one to die if there was a way to protect them. Ladd used Owen's promise to turn him into a hero for Annabelle who needed protecting. Owen is a loyal man who protects the woods, his daughter, Hannah, and Annabelle. I found him endearing and worth rooting for. What woman doesn't honestly want to be protected? As for spiritual matters, Owen does claim a faith in God, even if he did spend a lot of time questioning his faith after the death of his first wife.

The pace of the novel moved just right. There was a heavy romance thread through the novel, but it is a historical romance novel. The emotions between Annabelle and Owen weren't forced, and I felt they flowed quite naturally from them. As for the plot, it held an element of mystery with poaching and a gunshot early in the book. The story does reflect quite a bit on the poaching element and brings the betrayal to light at the end. To be honest, Ladd did a nice job of weaving in the mystery with the historical romance part. I applauded her for that.

A Stranger at Fellsworth is an original and predictable novel, but I really enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to see what Ladd comes up with next. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance and mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of Sarah E. Ladd's A Stranger at Fellsworth from Thomas Nelson publishing, and the opinions stated are all my own.

For some authors, the writing seems to flow naturally from their pens. The era, the characters, the settings, and the plot movement seem like an organic function of their craft. Such is the case for Sarah E Ladd. I've read several of her books and her plot devices never seem to grow old. I must say, though, that with A Stranger at Fellsworth, she was a bit predictable. We have a heroine who is being bartered to a slimy man in repayment for a debt. We have a hero who helps her escape such a terrible fate and falls in love with her. We also have skulduggery, terrible accidents, and feats of derring-do.


There were some surprises in the book, though. Annabelle has a few significant trinkets from her mother that are quite valuable, and she has to share a room with three other women and her things don't get stolen. There are suspicious characters whose interactions with Annabelle don't really have a bearing on the movement on the plot. Those are extremely minor criticisms on the book, it's still a very enjoyable book and quite an easy read. Definitely worth four stars!

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.

Sarah E. Ladd is one of my favorite authors! I was only introduced to her writing in the last year, but since discovering the grace with which she weaves story I eagerly anticipate her newest release. A Stranger at Fellsworth is her newest release in the Treasures of Surrey series.


In this story Annabelle, a young lady who has lost virtually all prospects due to her father and brother's inability to protect the family fortune, seeks help from an essentially unknown uncle, her mother's brother. He willingly helps her escape a dangerous situation and create a new life for herself. While settling into her new way of life she frequently runs into the gameskeeper, Owen, a man who was integral in helping Annabelle escape her old life. It does not take long for Annabelle to realize she is not as safe at Fellsworth as she assumed she would be.


As with the first two titles in this series (The Curiosity Keeper and Dawn at Emberwilde) I could not put this book down! The characters are delightful and believable. I love how the ideas of faith and following God are seamlessly woven into the story. The characters grow and develop naturally as the story unfolds. I appreciate how effortlessly Ladd changes from the perspective of the heroine to the hero. She has a gift for conveying emotion without directly stating it. I hated to see this novel end!


I highly recommend this series as well as all other written by Sarah Ladd. You will be delighted by her ability to craft an intriguing story often filled with mystery and danger. She easily weaves her faith throughout her stories without it sounding forced. I'm so happy to have found her books and I think you will be to!