Ella Pemberton is determined to find out what happened to her precious, beautiful sister, Lucy. Their father went to his grave trying to find out who was responsible for his eldest daughter’s death. Now Ella is following in his footsteps, and her first stop is Wyckhorn Manor, home to Lord Henry Sedgewick, Lucy’s husband. She can’t expect him to confess outright, so she’ll have to resort to cunning to achieve her goal. She’ll do whatever it takes, even if it means spending time in the home where Lucy took her last breath, working for the despicable man who took her sister’s life away.

Ella expresses herself openly without constraint. She’s been repeatedly admonished to hold her tongue, but she can’t seem to tame it. Her impertinence would shock and infuriate any proper gentleman, and yet as many times as Lord Sedgewick is astonished by the words that escape Ella’s mouth, he somehow feels a hint of admiration for the Lady’s uncharacteristic behavior and assertive spirit. The deft way in which she handles his young son hasn’t escaped his notice; neither has her beauty. Who is this woman who seems familiar to him, and why is he concerned about her welfare and comfort when he’s determined not to attach himself to another woman?

Ella has come to Wyckhorn manor with preconceived ideas of disdain and contempt for Lord Sedgewick. But why does he speak to her so tenderly? And why does she feel the need to come to his defense so readily? Is he praying with his little son? Why would a murderer waste time praying?

Things are not always as they seem. Ella’s made a discovery that sheds greater light on her sister—who she really was. But there’s a dark presence in Wyckhorn manner that may be after Ella. Can she find out the whole truth of what happened before something sinister gets to her first?

While reading Beneath his Silence I envisioned a gothic manor house full of secrets. There were secrets, but also lies, deceit, peril, adventure, redemption and finally, forgiveness. I enjoyed learning of what really happened to Ella’s sister and how tenacious Ella was in her attempts to unveil the truth. Lord Sedgewick was a brooding enigma of a man. On a few occasions I felt pity for him and wanted him to find the peace he so desperately needed and deserved. His subtle attempts to help Ella to establish faith in God was touching.

Beneath His Silence was a concoction of various elements that kept me intrigued to the final page, with a satisfying, heartwarming ending.

This had a really intriguing premise, but unfortunately I had a difficult time immersing myself in the story. The writing style felt very jumpy, like the scene would change unexpectedly and I felt like I was missing something. The characters also had little to no chemistry, and so the romance didn't feel very believable. The tone of the story was dramatic, which was at odds with the storyline - nothing was explained, so the drama was hinted at without getting the reader invested in the emotions. The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking "What happened to make you hate this guy?" I could guess, of course, but...it just didn't flow well at all. Made me thinking editing was minimal, if it occurred at all. It was very easy to put down, which is not a good sign at the end of the day.

This one was a unique debut story. I enjoyed the gothic style feel. I felt so bad for one of the main characters and the things that they went through and the guilt they carried.

Beneath His Silence by Hannah Linder is a Regency stand-alone novel. Ella Pemberton poses as a governess to gain access to Wyckhorn Manor in the hopes of exposing the man who killed her sister. Lord Sedgewick loves his son but has a burning hatred for everyone else. Will the new governess change all that? This was a great story of love and forgiveness with a little suspense thrown in. I loved Ella’s adventurous nature and her love of little Peter. This was the first book I’ve read by this author; she did a great job. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.


I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.

“The curse had settled upon the house. In dim and haunting fog, this silence had woven its cold fingers through every window and down every corridor. It had inhabited every room, every stairwell. It had managed its way to the garden, touching every bursting bloom, until the petals dried and withered. After a time, the curse had reached as far as the cliffside, where the breeze suddenly lacked warmth and the horizon lost beauty.”

Whoa, this was a story that wrapped around me in every way possible! I loved the gothic undertone and atmospheric feel tingling down my spine, causing goose flesh to spring upon my skin. This one immersed me in its pages so completely! It's truly a beautifully written, haunting tale from a debut author that I am already a fan of. Hannah Linder is one to watch for in the future!

What started out as a lady bent on revenge for the death of her sister, turned out to be a tale of mystery, adventure and a touch of suspense. Ella Pemberton only believes what her late father and the whispering gossips told of Lord Henry Sedgewick of Wyckhorn Manor; the brooding hero who was accused of killing his wife. She does the unthinkable & impossible when she poses as a mere Governess to young Peter, wanting to expose the truth her father was never able to. But as each layer is peeled away, she discovers that things begin to prove quite the opposite. Is Lord Sedgewick indeed guilty, or could there be deeper truths that remain hidden?

As I turned each page, I loved how the story deepened and became something I didn't expect! This is the kind of story that surrounds you & makes you forget the real world around you. I could have read this in one sitting because I didn't want to miss a single moment of it. As for the romance, oh my word, it developed in spite of Ella & Henry's resistance. It sizzles just beneath the surface, and when it fully blooms, wow! I also loved the faith thread that added another layer and set the tone for the theme of forgiveness and redemption only God can grant.

“If you have not seen proof of Him Miss Woodhart, I daresay you have never really looked. ~Henry to Ella”

If you are a fan of Gothic Regency novels, or stories that parallel Michelle Griep or Jaime Jo Wright's On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor then you will love this one!!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *

Woah...this is a haunting and captivating debut and I can't wait to read more from this author!

This Gothic suspense has Jane Eyre vibes and is perfect for fans of Jaime Jo Wright and Michelle Griep.

I was hooked from page one and although I figured out most of the plot early on, I believe it was intentional and didn't hinder my reading at all. Instead of wondering what was going on, I was eagerly waiting to see how the characters handled all the new twists and turns thrown at them.

Also, the faith elements were beautifully woven throughout and so well-done. I loved seeing the faith in this story and how that was where the characters were placing their hope and trust.

Linder provides plenty of suspense and a gothic feel that reminds me a lot of Jaime Jo Wright. Though there were scenes I wish had been longer, the underlying mystery kept me engrossed as I tried to unravel the truth along with Ella.

Lord Sedgewick’s relationship with his son Peter immediately endeared him to me, and I found myself as eager to see him proven innocent as Ella was to prove him guilty.

The ending was satisfying, although I did pause for a moment due to Regency restrictions against marrying in-laws. But I can’t quibble over that because Ella and Sedgewick had already proven they were perfect for one another, so such questions were set aside.

Overall, Beneath Her Silence is a compelling story with a gothic feel that will endear readers who love Jaime Jo Wright.

This book was exactly what I expected. A beautiful combination of Austen’s regency and Bronte’s gothic style. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classics, and Beneath His Silence has all the vibes…a haunted estate surrounded by the misty waves and rolling moors. But this debut author creates a unique story that will grip you to the end.

What happened to Ella’s sister? And why is she developing feelings for the alleged murderer?

Sounds amazing right? It doesn’t stop there…but to avoid spoilers I won’t say anymore. While this is a gothic-romance, it is also a Christian fiction romance. The romance grows slowly out of challenging circumstances, but is redeemed with hope and faith.

Read if you want:
🌊Enemies-to-lovers
🌊Gothic-style regency romance
🌊Mystery & suspense
🌊Christian fiction
🌊Hidden identity

I could not finish this book. I got about half way. It just dragged on and the main characters needed more chemistry from the get go.

The premise was intriguing, and I enjoyed the gothic elements, but I had some difficulty connecting with the characters and understanding their motivations. I guess it is one of those cases of "It's not you; it's me" (lol). The book is well-written, and I think it will appeal to other historical romance readers.

In this debut novel, Beneath His Silence, Hannah Linder captures her readers’ interest completely. I enjoyed it from page one. If her other novels are written in this, vein I certainly want to read all of them. A strange, handsome recluse suspected of murder. A mad man. A woman who desperately wants to prove that the husband murdered her sister. But how can she do this? Now fate has shined upon her in her favor. A governess was needed for the young motherless son. Can she pretend enough to be hired? Would it be safe living in the Wyckhorn manor with a murderer? But she owes it to her dead father to attain proof that he murdered her sister. Her father went to his grave searching for evidence that Lord Sedgewick murdered his daughter. But he never found the proof. Now it is up to her…… What a story! “I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review

What an excellent debut book!
This regency romance has a Jane-Eyre feel to the story. Dark castle. A forbidden wing and tower. A curious heroine. A dark secret that the heroine is determined to uncover and will stop at nothing to do it.
And then there’s her family secret she knows nothing about.
The scenes are extremely short which took some getting used to. Just when I would start to get into that particular part of the story, the scene would switch. It kept the pace quick and moving along, though some parts I wanted to spend more time with the character.
The cast of characters are interesting and colourful, adding to the intrigue of this story. However, one particular character near the end of the story surprised, and one would think because of his vocation, he would not have done what he did.
The hero is brooding, but beneath all the seemingly cold exterior, there’s a depth to his kindness. And a longing to be loved.
Our heroine is stubborn and determined to expose the hero for the murderer she thinks he is. There’s a nice inner journey played out for her, which helps endear her to the readers.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The melodramatic Gothic vibe of the book was almost too much for me, but the genuine personalities of the main characters, Ella and Henry, had me invested in the story and I just had to see how the mystery was resolved. I found it surprising that Ella felt that she could go into a situation where her sister was murdered and not be unscathed. I also found it rather shocking that Henry allowed an unsafe situation remain in his home without necessary precautions. With my belief somewhat suspended, I found a ray of light in Henry's son Peter, who brought joy to everyone in the dark estate. The thread of faith woven into Ella and Henry's relationship also lifted the heaviness of the story and gave them a deeper connection. The author's writing has the feeling of Jane Eyre, with pauses and skip aheads that I found a bit jarring but reminded me more of the classics. Very much layers built upon layers. I would say the plot started out mysterious, but finished up with more suspense as the tension builds when Ella, Henry, and Peter discover just how dangerous their circumstances really are.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Beneath His Silence by Hannah Linder is her debut book, and it is fabulous! I confess I stayed up late to find out what happened, and I have no regrets! Our heroine, Ella Pemberton, disguises herself as a governess to enter the estate of her late sister’s husband to find out the truth about her death. Lord Sedgewick is a man who hates himself and most of the world around him, but he loves his son dearly.

This was a Regency story that delighted me! It has the mystery, the seaside, the troubled brooding hero, the lovely heroine, and a thoughtful redemptive story. The author weaves beautiful truths through the pages of the story and I was drawn in. The characters were well thought out and relatable, the seaside setting was lovely, and I enjoyed trying to guess the mystery. A satisfying read.

I enjoyed the themes of redemption, figuring out what matters to you, and remembering to look beyond the surface of people we know. This was well written and I look forward to seeing what the author publishes in the future. She is a wonderful voice to add to the faith based Regency romance world. I highly recommend it.

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Wow! If you're looking for a suspenseful mystery you don't need to look any further. This is the book for you!

This is a book that started the intensity right from chapter 1 and didn't let up until the end... and I mean the VERY END! I loved trying to figure out who had done what, who should be blamed for what, and how things were going to end. Throughout the book I had so many questions and all of those questions split off into more questions, which kept those pages turning as fast as possible. I read this one in less than 24 hours because I NEEDED to know how it would end!

I really enjoyed the gothic feel of this novel and definitely recommend it during the spooky fall season. I love knowing that this is a debut novel because I can't wait to see what comes next from this author. I will be here for the next one!!

Content wise- there is talk of death, murders and suicidal thoughts with some mild violence.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This was fantastic! 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.

Reading "Beneath His Silence" was an absolute delight. Finally, a regency romance book that sings!

This year I have read and reviewed many regency novels and historical romances that were repetitive, stumbling, and hard to get through. Some I couldn't get through because they stepped across the Christian/Clean novel line or were a rehash of the Bridgerton series or Downton Abbey with fans and gloves.

Hannah Linder's breathtaking book is clean, refreshing, and downright lyrical.

I was blessed to be one of those readers selected for a sneak peek of her first published novel with Barbour Publishing. Admittedly, I am already a fan of Hannah's work - "Beneath His Silence" did not disappoint. The characters are well-rounded. The story is reminiscent of works by Jane Austen, along with the brooding tone of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre." The dialog is delicious and appropriate for the period - it sings at times. The heroine and hero take the reader on a journey of revenge, intrigue, secrets, distrust, and unknown dangers. The plot is riveting, and the faith thread is believable.

Ella Pemberton is the daughter of a Baron seeking revenge for her sister's death and her father's untimely passing. She will do anything to find out the truth of why her father believed her sister was murdered. Ella goes on a quest to Wckyhorn Manor, thinking she will find the answers and her revenge. The handsome and brooding Lord Sedgewick hires her as a governess for his young motherless son, not knowing she is his dead wife's sister. Ella soon discovers more questions and mysteries behind her sister's relationship with Lord Sedgwick and her death.

Hannah Linder's "Beneath His Silence" is a refreshing offering that soars to the top of the reading pile and demands to be read. This book is not the last we hear of this gifted and talented young author.

Far in the distance, high upon the cliffside, the manor faced the open sea.


A darkly mysterious book has some pacing and plot issues but is overall a great autumn read.

Everything about this book was up my ally. The gothic overtones, the mysteries, the characters were all tailor made for me. The writing is superb. It felt like I was in the room with them. However, there were a few issues along the way that made it less than a 5 star read.
I loved the hero of this so much! He had a lot of dimensionality. However Ella, our heroine, never really came alive to me. And even though I love a good mystery, this almost seemed to have too many twists and turns. The last third of the book could definitely use some trimming. Also some of the plot points didn’t fully make sense to me.
The formatting on this ARC is abysmal but the writing was so enjoyable I persevered. Mostly, if you want something moody with a little hint of romance, you’ll enjoy this.

Star Rating: 3.25/5
Tropes: Creepy castle, enemies to lovers
CW: Death, kidnapping, assault, injury, fire, gun, abandonment

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beneath His Silence a gothic style regency follows Ella on her quest to avenge her sisters death whom she believes was murder. We also meet Lord Sedgewick with blood on his hands and unforgiveness in his heart he has become silent and angry the only light between them Lord Sedgwick's son peter. The two grow close over time Ella has to ask herself what she believes is she falling in love or falling prey. It had a great moral to it as well.

I enjoyed this story. I was immediately transported to the 1800s regency era I felt like I was reading a Jane Austen novel mixed with a a little Rebecca. Hannah writes in a way that has you turning the page for more. I loved the characters and hated others. I cried and gasped at parts.

This book has...
*Mystery
*Murder
*Christian perspective
*Clean read
*Enemies to lovers
*Regency gothic
*Fast paced
*danger
*suspense
*classic feel
*loss
*forgiveness

I definitely recommended

Ella Pemberton, the second daughter of a baron, is determined to uncover the secrets that lie within Wyckhorn Manor. She will do anything, even risking her life, posing as a governess, to expose the man who married and then killed her sister, Lucy.

Henry, Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands, yet he is desperate to keep his secrets, to protect his son, Peter. Yet the time he spends with the governess, soon have him feeling less burdened by his past, that he begins to envisage a future with her. However, the questions behind his guilt might be too difficult for Ella to overcome, for them to have any possible happiness.

This is a beautifully written story that had me so intrigued from the first page until the last. Hannah Linder has expertly interwoven many scenes that highlights the difficulties faced by Henry in trying to keep his son safe, whilst facing the scorn of the society. Ella in hiding her identity, puts more and more obstacles in her path to happiness, that it seems unfathomable, how her secret would play out, when revealed Overall, the mysterious Gothic overtones were perfect for this story, that gradually reveals its secrets, one morsel at a time. An amazing read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.