I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I did not know what to expect from this book except for the fact that this title is in demand at our library. Amish/Christian Fiction is very popular and The Governess of Penwythe Hall did not disappoint. Everyone in their own way can relate to Cordelia and the struggles she went through prior to being a governess and when her master has suddenly passed away and finds out their new guardian is in an abandoned struggling apple orchard called Penwythe Hall. As Cordelia and the children move in with Uncle Jac, things take an unexpected turn and Jac and Cordelia may grow closer than expected. Such an enticing novel with a Jane Austen like setting that made it very enjoyable to read. Our patrons are sure to love this book. I can not wait until the second installment of this series and learn more about the Trethewey family.

We will consider adding this title to our Christian Fiction collection in our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a beautifully written book about starting over. It focuses on a governess, Cordelia "Delia" Greythorne, who is governess to children that she has come to love. When the children's father dies, he makes her promise to go with the children as they go to live with his brother and be their governess there. Delia moves with the children to Penwythe Hall to live with an uncle that they barely know.

Jac Trethewey is surprised when he learns the brother that he quarreled with has died and that he has left his children to his care. Jac is busy trying to get the orchard to make a profit at Penwythe Hall. He relies on Delia to help him get to know the children and to be the guardian that they need. But while getting to know the children, he also gets to know the beautiful Delia. He sees so much in her that he likes and he begins to have feelings for her. But Delia is running from her in laws and the unlawful lifestyle that they lived. Her in laws are after her because he late husband told her a secret that they are desperate to uncover. Jac realizes Delia is in danger and promises to protect her. When Delia is called home to be at the bedside of her ailing sister, Jac is not there to shield her and protect her.

Both Jac and Delia have to decide what they want for their future and how they can live with the feelings they have for one another.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall is so well written and is filled with romance, suspense and action all set in a beautiful seaside community. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest feedback.

Family regrets, hold both Jac Tretheway and Cordelia Greythorne’s lives hostage. While Jac tries to make amends with the past by rebuilding the estate he inherited, Cordelia attempts to be content in a life of service. A surprising turn leads to Jac and Cordelia together. Can they see beyond their past to make a future together?
I think that one of the main themes I connected with was that of living with fear. I don’t think I could say it better then the author did in these two quotes:
“Fear knew no bounds and came in so many forms: Fear of what the future held. Fear of more loss. Fear of opening her heart and finding pain. Fear that if she did pray, her words would not be heard.”
“Never are we promised an easy life, but we are promised that when we rely on Him for strength, we will have what we need to face our challenges. Fear is a bitter, vile enemy- it will rob you of today's joys and steal your strength to fight for your purpose. Faith is why I don’t fear tomorrow or the next day.”
I always enjoy reading a book for pleasure that also encourages me to be greater. I don’t have to live in fear and neither do you. Let God be your peace, calm and strength.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I share here.

I enjoy Sarah E. Ladd books.

I liked the characters in this book overall. The two love interests are good, likable people and deal well (mostly) with the challenges they face. The children are real kids who grieve and stress but adapt to their situation. Takes longer for some to adapt but they are good kids.
This is not a fluff romance book. I'd say there is more intrigue and drama than romance. Their romance is a slow burn. I was about halfway through the book before I started to see evidence of budding interest in each other and real romance didn't happen until the end. The pacing of this story is slow and steady. The reader is introduced to potential problems early on and through the book but the bulk of it doesn't actually happen until the last 20%-ish of the book. It takes so long to get to the true conflict in the story that I was feeling more and more worked up and worried as I went. Something really bad will have to happen but what will it be and when will it hit? And even as it did, it didn't play out how I expected. My only real dislike of this book is that one of the "bad guys" doesn't get what's coming to him. I just have to hope that at some point karma catches up with him. ha ha.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes. not graphic
Some Christian themed dialogue.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Driven from Cornwall by her late husband's relatives, Delia Greythorne finds refuge as a governess, becoming devoted to her young charges. But when her new employer dies three years later, she finds that the children are being left in the care of their estranged uncle and that his estate of Penwythe Hall lies a mere twenty miles from the dangerous coast she has tried to forget. Upon her return to Cornwall, Delia's secrets will not let her rest in peace. Despite her overwhelming trepidation, however, she pours herself out daily for her young pupils, comforting them, instructing them, and inducing them to accept their new guardian, Jac Trethewey. But as Mr. Trethewey proves himself fair and faithful, thoughts of romance spring up unbidden--is it possible that Delia Greythorne could fall in love a second time?

Jac Trethewey inherited a millstone around his neck when he inherited Penwythe Hall, but his dogged persistence and unfailing industry may still right the floundering estate. As he seeks to finance a new cider mill and increase apple production in his orchards, he receives the added burden of his older brother's five children. Sad, angry, and bewildered by their father's death, the children look to Jac to set the tone of their new relationship. Fortunately, their governess has come along to help manage the painful transition. A far cry from a Georgette Heyer gentleman, Jac works like a common farm laborer, digging ditches alongside the hired hands. He realizes, however, that he must break from his business pursuits to form a relationship with his new wards. As Jac finds himself growing fond of his new houseguests, he finds Mrs. Greythorne becoming more and more indispensable to his own happiness as well. But among his own tenants there are whispers about the woman who bears the Greythorne family name, and he must decide whether her connections will imperil the safety of those he holds dear.

This novel combines a classic Regency with the windswept Gothic moors of a Brontë or Daphne du Maurier book. The theme of reconciliation is woven throughout this book. Delia must reconcile with her brother who has failed her so woefully in the matter of her marriage. Jac must reconcile with his eldest nephew who is convinced that Jac has robbed him of his inheritance. The theme of courage is there as well. Both Jac and Delia stand tall under pressures from the outside, refusing to break or give in. For Jac, the pressures are financial, and the risks he must take are in loans and securities. For Delia, the pressures are psychological, but the reality of physical danger is always there. Jac and Delia's romance is sweet and convincing, making this book another lovely read from Sarah Ladd. 

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

Love many books by this author and this was no different. Her characters have to overcome past fears or prejudices. Love reading through the growth and the beautiful way scripture and spiritual thoughts are woven throughout. I would recommend it for someone who is just getting interested in the historical romances.

I have previously read some of the books that Ladd has written and enjoyed them. This title is no different. I found the characters likable and the plot plausible. As the book moved forward, I couldn't put it down. While they didn't resolve the issue of the trust, they tied up everything else. This is a great story!

I loved this book, it was a great read. I love a good, clean romance and this one fit the bill! The storyline is filled with intrigue and mystery. I loved every page.

Cordelia Greythorne, newly widowed, is shown in the opening scene of this book leaving her home and her in-laws in a swirl of melodrama and tragedy. Dark secrets and dire threats are hinted at. Fast-forward a few years and she has taken a post as governess, but all too soon the children are left orphans. Their care has been assigned to their uncle, Jac Trethewey (I wish there was a pronunciation guide for this book!), and he lives, you guessed it, in the same county as Cordelia's nasty in-laws. She tries to avoid their notice, all the while fearing that the greater danger may be in falling in love with her new employer.
This book failed to intrigue me. The progression of the story was too plodding. Cordelia's tragic past never felt terribly real, and the elements of the story just seemed unoriginal and overly earnest. On the plus side, the most lively and lifelike character in the book was the youngest child, little Sophy. She had some genuinely cute moments in a book that was otherwise skimmable.

I finished reading The Governess of Penwythe Hall and it was good. Four stars. It was kind of slow in the beginning and pretty light on the romance. But it was still good.

THE GOVERNESS of PENWYTHE HALL by SARAH E LADD is an historical romance novel that takes place mostly in Cornwall in the early 1800's.
When the widower, Randall Twetherwey, is on his deathbed he alters the terms of his will entrusting his five children to his brother Jac, with the stipulation that the governess, Delia Greythorne, and Mr Simon the tutor, go with the children and care for them.
The two people closest to the children have secrets which lead to intrigue, danger, and a compelling story. I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
I enjoyed the characters and the exciting plot, and can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Sarah E. Ladd does it again. With her newest tale, The Governess of Penwythe Hall, Ladd created a story filled with intrigue, mystery, and Regency charm. Right from the beginning, I was wrapped up in Cordelia's world and wanted to know more. The romance took a while to develop, which is completely realistic to me, and I loved that aspect. I enjoyed the plot. I kept wanting to know more about the heroine's past, even though Ladd wouldn't come right out and tell us. Don't worry. Ladd does explain everything before the ending. The novel moved at a good pace and kept me engrossed in the plot. Overall, The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd is a delightful Regency novel with a hint of a mystery twisted around the characters. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and want more from Ladd.

I received a complimentary copy of Sarah E. Ladd's The Governess of Penwythe Hall from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

A stirring tale set in the Regency era, along the coast of Cornwall. Uprooted from Yorkshire following their father's accidental death, five young siblings and their governess find themselves at the mercy of an estranged relative. Mystery and adventure follow them, and a brooding uncle just may be their only hope.

"Fear is a bitter, vile enemy— it will rob you of today’s joys and steal your strength to fight for your purpose."

This was an absorbing tale that grew in depth the further it went, with characters struggling to make sense of the changes thrown at them. Grief and loss, relying on faith, and facing fears are important themes; faith is shown as the way to overcome fear, something I have latched onto as truth in my own life. The different ways people grieve is sensitively handled, especially in the children's case, and for Delia, who has endured many losses. The main characters rise to the difficult circumstances, and the scenes along the Cornwall coast bring some action and suspense to make the ending quite exciting. It reminded me a little of Jamaica Inn and Poldark,with the dark side of society adding a sharp contrast to the lovely country estate with the apple orchards and peaceful scenery. The romance is understated, but tender and worth the wait.

"Never are we promised an easy life, but we are promised that when we rely on Him for strength, we will have what we need to face our challenges."
Highly recommend for readers who enjoy clean Regency fiction with some mystery and a bit of romance.

I absolutely love Sarah Ladd's book and this was lovely as well. I'll leave the summaries to others who are better at writing them but I will say that I loved the characters (the characters I was supposed to like). Lovely development between Delia and Jac's relationships and I loved Delia's relationships with the children. I was rooting for Delia against the antagonists from page one. As always with her books, a lovely message as the story went on. Great historical setting and lovely atmospheric details about Cornwall. A must read.

Sarah Ladd has done it again! I loved The Governess of Penwythe Hall! I finished it in two days to see how it ended. It has all the elements of a great story; a pretty widow, an estate master, fun kids, mystery, heartbreak, and villains. I loved the characters, setting, and plot line.

The story centers on Delia, a widow who has charge of five children. With their mother dead, and their father's fatal accident the children are passed to their uncle, Jac. She promises to stay with the the children and continue to care for them during this difficult transition. Delia is carrying a heavy burden from being cast out of her husband's family after his death. Delia has secrets she must never reveal or they could endanger Jac and the children she loves very much.

I love it, love it! And I recommend anyone who loves Regency fiction and light romance to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you like Regency fiction, then you will enjoy The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd. The story contains everything Regency fiction should have: moors, mystery, tragedy, a love story, and a ending you'll have to read for yourself. Delia, a widow who has been driven from her husband's home and family, is now the governess for five children. Their mother died and now their father is mortally wounded from a riding accident. As he lays dying, he changes his will and names his estranged brother, Jac, as the guardian for the children. When Delia and the children arrived at Jac's doorstep before the letter informing him of his brother's death, it transforms Jac's life for the good. Then Delia's in-laws show up with a threat to both Delia and the children.

Well written, with an intricate plot, and realistic characters, The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a page-turner that historical fiction lovers will enjoy.

Hello, I will be adding this review to my Instagram, blog, and Goodreads on March 26th, 2019. The review will also be added to Amazon and Barnes & Noble on the book's publication date. Links to reviews will be added once they are public, thank you.

Title: The Governess of Penwythe Hall
Author: Sarah E. Ladd
Publication Date: April 16th, 2019
Rating: 4 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall follows Cordelia Greythorne, the governess to five children and when their father dies from an accident, she now must confront her past as her and the children head to their uncle's house which isn't far from her late husband's home.

This isn't a typical read for me as I am usually reading fantasy but I do love to read historical fiction! I guess you could say it is a guilty pleasure of mine and this book did not disappoint.

Cordelia Greythorne has a tragic past and I loved learning about it throughout the pages. She doesn't let it get the best of her even when she is confronted with it multiple times. Jac Trethewey isn't always seen in the greatest light by his nieces and nephews but I quickly fell in love with him because its hard not to. He is kind, loyal, and wants to do anything to protect Cordelia and the children.

The plot for the most part felt like a Hallmark movie and it's probably why I loved it. There isn't much romance but the relationship in the book is slow to blossom and it makes it feel authentic.

If you love historical fiction mixed with a bit of danger, a tragic past, and a man that will steal your heart then definitely check this book out!