Cover Image: The Light at Wyndcliff

The Light at Wyndcliff

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The Light at Wyndcliff is my second Sarah E. Ladd book. I have to say, I liked it more than The Thief of Lanwyn Manor.

The Light at Wyndcliff provides romance, mystery, and an engaging tale from start to finish. Liam is a relatable hero from the beginning with his eagerness to begin a new life. Evelyn’s devotion to her grandfather is well-explained. That helped me still relate to her when I began to dislike her grandfather.

The romance between Liam and Evelyn was well-developed. I loved their interactions and the slow build of their romance.

The mystery presents itself fairly early in the story, with bits and pieces appearing until the major problem arises. I loved the hints Ladd dropped throughout the story. The stakes keep rising as Liam and Evelyn both try to figure out what’s going on.

I have to say, the story never got boring. I stayed up way too late reading. But I don’t regret it. It was worth finishing the story and seeing if my hunch was correct.

Overall, The Light at Wyndcliff is a great story romance and mystery lovers alike will enjoy.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

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Another wonderful trip into the rich history of Cornwall. Sarah Ladd is thorough in her research of the area. This story is about a young man, that was set to inherit the coastal estate, Wyndcliff Hall, at the young age of 22. I was impressed how well he handled all of the obstacles that came at him. Liam was a kind, hardworking young man and he wanted only the best for his Tenants and surrounding area. He had a plan to use the moors for mining China Clay. It was interesting learning about China Clay and what it was used for. But what he walked into was, a manor in disrepair, shipwrecks, angry townspeople, a steward that was reluctant to turn his power over,, and a beautiful young women living on his property. Evelyn was always waiting on her mother or grandfather, for her next chapter in her life. Could she take control of what would happen next? She was honest and had a heart of gold, always thinking of others. The story is full of intrigue, suspense, deceit, and sweet romance. The characters are well defined. The story is one, you don’t want to stop reading, but not ready for it to end.
Thank you to the Publisher and Net galley for a copy of this book. This review is my own honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of interesting information about shipwrecks and how the people who owned the shores could profit from them.
My only complaint is that it was hard to get into it in the beginning but then it picked up and held my interest.
The main characters were great but I had a hard time loving the last name Twethewey (although it’s probably a historically accurate name).. That being said I enjoyed reading it so I will give it 4 stars.

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This was a captivating read with a number of interesting characters. Oh my! what had Liam got himself into when he becomes master of Wyndcliffe Hall. So much happened in his first week. There was his surly steward, Rupert Bray, ( a man who still liked to think he was in charge ), a shipwreck and all that entailed, survivors to care for and the excise men to talk to. As he got to know Evelyn Bray, so he became attracted to her. Evelyn was also attracted to Liam but her loyalties to her family tore her in two ways. Evelyn was grateful to her grandfather for his care but she began to resent being told what to do and being treated as a child. Liam wanted to do the best for his land and tenants but forces are against him. This just had me engrossed from beginning to end. I enjoyed this author’s style of writing and I will look for more in this series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Liam Twethewey, a young and determined new landowner arrives at Wyndcliff Estate, eager to lay claim to his newly inherited estate. He also arrives lacking in experience in estate management and the ways of the Cornish people. He is an honorable and good man who wants to establish a china clay pits to shore up his estates and to help the local workers. His steward, Rupert Bray, who once was a landowner himself, but lost his estate, lives in a small cottage on the estate with his grand daughter, Evelyn Bray. Evelyn, dreams of the day, when her newly married mother will call her to Plymouth to come live with her new husband and stepsisters.

As Evelyn Bray begins to suspect, "something is not right in the fabric of their little village." Things are not as they appear at Wyndcliff; there are secrets and when they are uncovered, loyalties will be severely tested. Sarah E. Ladd kept me wanting more and questioning more and that caused me to keep turning pages to find out what was going on at Wyndcliff. There is a lot of action and adventure -- shipwrecks and smuggling. Let me just say that I did not anticipate the surprising ending.

I was provided an ARC copy of this book by #NetGalley. The reviews expressed here are my own.

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(4.5 stars) - Best yet...

... and my new favorite!

Book 3 in the Cornwall Novels is Liam's story. There are some mentions of characters from the previous books & a guest appearance by his brother, John, but the story stands alone readily.

Liam arrives at Wyndcliff to take charge of the estate he inherited from his great-uncle. The story, set along misty moors & a rocky shoreline, has a moody atmosphere. Many little odd things build the suspense. Something's clearly going on, but we're not sure what.

There are ships that frequently wreck along the coast of the estate, and they rescue a woman & child from the wreckage of one such casualty. Evelyn is aware that things are shifting around her, but not quite certain why. She helps tend the two survivors, and things begin to take to take some frightening turns.

The story immediately grabbed me & pulled me in. The tension was done well - not too much, with a natural sort of ebb & flow. The denouement managed to be exciting but still believable.

The relationship development between Liam and Evelyn could have used a little more build up to the romance, but it was still quite good & I really enjoyed it. The ending is happily satisfying!

*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

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Thank you NetGalley for introducing me to this author whose work I've never read!

I love All Things English and have great memories of a visit to Cornwall, which is why I requested this novel. The characters felt real and I loved the prose and descriptions of the setting. I enjoyed the story, which features secrets, mysteries, shipwrecks, love, trust, and betrayal. It's like a mix of Bronte, Austen, Poldark, and Daphne du Maurier, all favorite authors of mine.

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Ladd's latest installment in her Cornwall series is delightful. William (Liam) Twethewey is now a grown man and has come into his inheritance of the Wyndcliff Estate, for which he has big plans including the mining of China clay. Evelyn Bray has lived in Wyndcliff Cottage with her grandfather most of her life, while he served as estate steward. She thought she knew her community well, but Liam's arrival has caused her to question much of what she thought she knew, and it has caused Liam to wonder what nefarious activities have been going on since his uncle's passing.

Shipwrecks, smuggling, betrayal, and mysterious comings and goings, this book is filled with intrigue and suspense, not to mention romance. For the historical fiction fans, there is the fact that the story is set in the 1820s, a bonus indeed. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Light at Wyndcliff from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Sarah E. Ladd has such a gift for writing incredible stories. Her characters are well written and very believable. William “Liam” Twetheway is the star of this show and my favorite character . He has inherited his great uncle's estate, property and title when a young lad. He has had years to imagine what it would be like, once he became of age. In just his first week at Wyndcliff manor Liam faces all kinds of trying situations. ( I hate spoilers so I will not give details.) Needless to say his reception was not as he expected.
Love, redemption, sacrifice and loyalty are all woven throughout this story. If you like historical romance, you will love this book.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own

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The Light at Wyndcliff
by Sarah E. Ladd
Back of the Book: “In the small Cornish village of Pevlyn, secrets are as treacherous as the rocky English shores.
Cornwall, England, 1820
Raised on the sprawling and rugged Wyndcliff Estate near the dangerous coast of South Cornwall, Evelyn Bray lives with her grandfather, a once-wealthy man now reduced to the post of steward. Evelyn is still grieving her father’s death and her mother’s abandonment when a passing ship is dashed against the rocks.
Liam Twethewey is a mere two and twenty when he inherits Wyndcliff Estate from his great uncle. His optimistic plans of opening a china clay pit to employ the estate’s tenants meets unexpected resistance, and rumors of smuggling and illegal activity challenge his newfound authority.
Brought together by troubling questions surrounding the shipwreck, Evelyn and Liam uncover even darker mysteries shrouding the estate. But as they untangle truth from deception, their loyalties separate them—and their budding love might not be strong enough to overcome the distance.
This latest Regency romance from Sarah E. Ladd evokes the captivating worlds and delicious dramas of Jane Austen, Daphne du Maurier, and Winston Graham.
Impressions: This reminded me a bit of Poldark. Which I think is a good thing as I found it to be a wonderful series.
Liked: I enjoyed the romance but also the mystery and conflict on the Wyndcliff Estate. There was clashing of the classes, shipwrecks, and family drama. It was a very exciting story.
Disliked: I didn’t care for Evelyn’s mother. She added to the back story but popped in and out at the end as needed to make the story work.
Learned: Being honest and trustworthy in character pays off.
Quotes: “After all, this is nothing like what you have been through.” “Your journey is not mine, and mine is not yours.” – I feel like it is so easy to get sucked into comparing ourselves with others. Not only is it not healthy but it makes no sense. We are all so diverse and have experienced different events throughout life. We are never going to be able to fully compare ourselves to one another in an equal fashion, yet this is what we try to do. Be confident in yourself and what you’ve experienced in life.

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I love reading about Cornwall! This book had all the elements to make me keep turning the pages: family drama, wind blown moors, shipwrecks, a bit of mystery and a romance between the new owner of Wyndcliff Hall and the steward’s granddaughter. The book transports the reader back in time to Regency Cornwall, a nice escape.

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Liam was left Wyndcliff Estate by his great-uncle when the man died, but could not inherit until he turned 22. Thus, when he comes to live at his new property, he has to deal with a steward who's been largely doing his own thing for several years - and who has a beautiful granddaughter, Evelyn, whom he instantly makes clear is off-limits. Liam arrived with long-held plans for mining china-clay, but soon finds that things are not to be as straightforward as he had hoped. Shipwrecks are common in his cove, and Liam ends up feeling caught in the middle between the excise men and his steward. When a wreck leaves on his doorstep an injured woman and her young daughter, Evelyn necessarily spends more time at the Hall to nurse them - which throws Liam and Evelyn together more, much to her grandfather's displeasure. As Liam begins to suspect that something shady is going on on his land, will he be able to figure out what it is and stop it before anyone gets hurt?

Definitely not your typical Regency story. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Instead, we get introduced to the rugged coast of Cornwall, completely with smuggling, shipwrecks, and mining. I never knew that one could (or did) mine for china clay, so that was interesting. The characters are people one can enjoy spending time with - at least the good guys. The bad guys one would prefer to steer well clear of! The writing is also good, though I felt like the usage of the terms 'free-trading', 'smuggling' and 'wrecking' was a little confusing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story, though it probably wasn't my favourite by the author - perhaps a little dark? Though part of a series, this makes only infrequent references to the main characters of previous books, and can easily be read as a standalone story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This was much more atmospheric than I was expecting, and the words were beautifully woven together. I'd never read anything by Ladd before, and I knew I was taking a risk by jumping into the third book in an established series. That risk paid off. Not only can this be read as a standalone, but now I also want to read Ladd's entire backlog!

This story has a heartfelt romance, a mystery, and several good female friendships. Liam is a great hero because, while he's a very good and kind man, he's also flawed. But he learns from his mistakes and apologizes for them. While I wanted Evelyn to see my reasoning when she was making decisions I disagreed with, ultimately I could see why she makes those decisions. She has such a warm and forgiving heart. These two form a bond that is rooted in friendship and respect, and I really appreciated reading their story. Mary and Elizabeth were unexpected delights, and I loved watching women looking out for other women in this book.

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Evelyn Bray, granddaughter of Rupert Bray, the steward of Wyndcliff Hall. She has lived with him since he lost his fortune; however, Evelyn has always held onto the dream that her mother will return for her. Yet since her mother’s recent marriage, she has begun to wonder if she will ever return. It is when Liam Twethewey inherits Wyndcliff Hall that they both begin to question the mysteries surrounding a shipwreck and its survivors.
The amazing cliffs of Cornwell are vividly described and provide the amazing backdrop to this sweet romance. Both Liam and Evelyn are two well developed characters with their own set of insecurities and fears. This is more than just a romance, with the suspense and mystery, adding greater depth to the story. I found myself caught up in the complexity of the storyline and enjoying the multitude of secondary characters. The ability to intertwine so many components to the story, made for a great read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Having previously read books by Sarah Ladd and specifically the previous books in her Cornwall novels series The Governess of Penwythe Hall and The Thief of Lanwyn Manor, I had some insight into what to expect in reading The Light at Wyndcliff and was not disappointed. Ladd continues to create strong female characters who defy both the social conventions of their day and their positions to do the right thing even when it means going against their family. In The Light at Wyndcliff, Ladd gives more attention to the male character who also is willing to do the right thing even when it is not what his expected of his position and status. Individuals who have read the previous novels will recognize family names that are continued. While having read the previous books is useful, this novel stands on its own as well. All in all an enjoyable story for a light relaxing read.

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This is the third Regency romance in Sarah Ladd’s Cornwall series. But if you haven’t read them in order, it won’t matter. The only thing that might happen is that it will spark a desire to read more of her stories. The time frame is intriguing and perfect for this type of mystery and romance.

When William Twethewey shows up unannounced at Wyndcliff Hall, the costal estate that he has finally inherited, since he had to reach a certain age for this to happen, it surprises everyone. As he nears his estate he stumbles upon Evelyn Bray, who is in the middle of a most unusual predicament. As Twetheway helps Evelyn, she is totally unaware of who he is.

I have heard some compare this book to well-known books by Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë. I won’t say that I totally disagree. The property and characters are easily imagined. And the story gently draws you in. However, the characters in some respects aren’t quite as developed.

When the new owner, Liam Twethewey, comes to the estate with plans to open a china clay pit on the moorland plans are slowed down. Shipwrecks on the coastal waters of his estate begin to concern him and cause further investigations.

Meanwhile Evelyn Bray, the steward’s granddaughter, continually dreams of joining her mother, who basically abandoned her to lead her own life and search for a new husband. When she reads that her mother has remarried and now has two step-daughters, she grows more and more anxious to leave her grandfather and join her mother.

This book was easy to keep turning pages. Though at times it might be considered somewhat predictable, it was well written and quite enjoyable.

What Concerned Me
Actually, not much concerned me. But if I were to search for something, I think I would have liked a little more in the way of character development.

What I Liked Best
The writing was descriptive without becoming long and disrupting the story.

I would not hesitate to read more of Ladd’s writing.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed only my opinions..

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Evelyn has been living with her grandfather, Rupert Bray at Wyndcliff for years as he is the steward of the estate. Liam Twethewey comes of age and come to Pevlyn and Wyndcliff to take over ownership. Tensions abound between him and Bray, but Evelyn softens the hard edges of her grandfather. Some others we meet are townspeople, Jim Bowen, Jenna, Charlie Potts; and Wyndcliff staff, Marnie, Todd and Bertie, as well as his visiting brother John round out those staying at Wyndcliff. Mrs. Williams and her daughter Mary add a nice touch to the story, and Captain Hollingswood is the main excise man. An old estate, a new clay pit mine and shipwrecks along the coast keep the story hopping and a fair amount of guessing as to what is going on and who Liam can trust. Evelyn is dealing with her mother leaving her for Plymouth, and anxiously awaiting when she will return for her, but also has come to love the moorlands. Both Liam and Evelyn are strong characters and the story’s minor characters add a lot of depth and mystery to the happenings throughout.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Oh the beauty of the windswept rocky coastline and cove beaches of Cornwall, how is it possible to not imagine yourself wandering the cove, scouring for sea glass and shells, with the gentle tide lapping on the shore. The contrast, on other days, of the angry sea crashing against the rocks with a biting wind to match. This is the way of life for those living along the Cornish coastline and it’s every bit as beautiful as described. A place of so many legends, it’s the perfect location to set this book, and this series.

There is a basic comprehension as to who will inevitably be the playmakers here for the illegal activity in Liam Twethewey’s cove. Shipwrecks and smuggling. He’s newly inherited and has grand plans for his new home of Wyndcliff. What he didn’t expect was the fully established notorious activity that’s been going on on his land for far longer. Suspicions arise fairly quickly, though much to the frustration of Miss Evelyn Bray, who has grown up in the shadow of the Hall, in the Stewards cottage. She came here as a child, and sees Wyndcliff as much a part of who she is, despite the hurt of being left behind by a mother who appears to have too many broken promises, and a loyalty to her Grandfather, the one who has shown care and devotion to her most of her life,

These two characters are so well suited, neither overbearing or forceful. Both compassionate to the needs of those in their care. United in their fear of the constant shipwrecks, and an honorable desire to make things right.

You’ll be cheering for them both from the very start.

I received a eARC from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

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The Light at Wyndcliff is a slow, but sweet romance. The first half of the book introduces Evelyn’s, granddaughter of Wyndclif manor’s steward, life on the moor. When the new Lord of the manor arrives and her world turns upside down, she must decide if she will take the path that was chosen for her or if she will follow her heart. The first half of this book is rather slow and hard to get through, but the suspense picks up some in the latter half. The romance is sweet but a little shallow. A cute read, but would probably not pick up on my own. 3.5 stars

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I really enjoyed this book. And I did not know it was a part of a series. So you could read this book As a stand alone. The book has it all, a mystery , romance, and friendships. I would highly recommend this book

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