A very sweet, clean and still swoon worthy second chance romance.

Charlotte is an inspiring heroine. She's no damsel in distress. As a mother, her maternal instinct propels her to protect her son at whatever cost. Even when thrown in a difficult situation, she always tries her very best to remain cool headed and make decisions best for her and those under her protection.

Anthony is a very sweet hero. Not the grumpy sort that we usually find in historical romance. He has never forgotten Charlotte even after being separated for years. The moment he has Charlotte's clear intention in how their relationship will go, he decides that Charlotte and Henry are his to protect.

My favourite scene are many. For a man who has been hardened by war, that first moment where a wailing Henry calms down after Anthony picks him up is just so heartwarming.

The mystery and suspense in this story was something that caught me by surprise, in a good way. The pacing was a bit slow at first. It picked up really quickly about 60% in. The plot twist was so unexpected too! My only complaint: it was too easy for the villains to be beaten. I was expecting more plotting and more dangerous situations that could bring the characters closer.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I had fun reading it and would recommend it for anyone who loves a sweet second chance historical romance.

Lastly, many thanks to the author, the publisher - Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley.
I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charlotte Grey Pilot is widowed suddenly and is supremely relieved. Her husband was abusive, controlling, and a few other not so nice words. Her brother in law is equally controlling, especially where Charlotte's son is concerned because he is set to inherit the family business. Her lawyer explains things to her, telling her that she is the guardian of the boy, but she would do better to go back to her ancestral family home instead of staying with the brother-in-law.

Anthony Welbourne has loved Charlotte for as long as he can remember. When he is called in to protect Charlotte and her baby to their ancestral home and while she is there, he can't believe it is his good fortune to be around her again. Proximity is a delicious pain.

Sarah E Ladd has written a book with all the parts of a romance novel formula. Boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl all within the first few pages of the book. It takes most of the rest of the book for boy to get girl back. The fact that circumstances of the times caused him to lose her in the first place is not uncommon. because of the situation she had just come out of, getting her back took a lot of work on his part.

The settings in the book were picturesque and intriguing. The characters were all over the place, some one dimensional, others more fleshed out. The plot was, to me, predictable and not all that surprising. I wish it had been a bit more compelling. Overall it wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as I thought it could have been. Three stars.

Thomas Nelson Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Hello! This book, in the Shelter of Hollythorne House, is a marvel...absolutely because of the writing style, word/phrasing choices, and images evoked, but also because of the feelings that I had when reading this novel. At times I felt bone-deep terror and powerful worry for Charlotte and as Charlotte. During other times I felt all of the love and warmth surrounding the relationship between Charlotte and Anthony. The choice of names - Charlotte as 'warrior' and Anthony as 'priceless one -' seems not to have been by chance. And I have a new book boyfriend in Anthony!

Sarah E. Ladd has significant talent as a writer in capturing the reader from the first word of a novel to the last, and I always feel as though I have not only traveled back in time but have traveled to the manor, to the fields, to the library, to the stables, etc., and am a 'third' in each conversation. I am literally sitting and observing every skirt swish, every hand-wringing, every horse ride, every coattail swirl, etc. Each word and all dialogue are created not only with the author and reader in mind but with the characters in mind...they drive the book and their adventure. This novel can easily become a movie...it was a movie in my head and imagination as I read this book. Such captivating scenery in Yorkshire, England, to be sure...in reality and in history. Charlotte's and Anthony's story is not an easy path...it is dynamic and filled with the most poignant of interactions. The two have amazing chemistry, and I was on the edge of my seat awaiting the next great move by both characters to combat seen and unseen threats to their happiness. Just when the reader thinks he or she has the mystery and case sorted, another surprise awaits. I read most of this novel in one sitting but held out a few days to finish the last 25%...because I did not want it to end. I appreciate the ARC from Netgalley and highly recommend this book. Beautifully done! I cannot wait for Sarah E. Ladd's next novel. Charlotte's and Anthony's story is one for the ages! :)

Sweet, romantic story about love, trust, and overcoming life's obstacles.

Charlotte is an inspiring example of staying strong in difficult circumstances. She is determined to do what is best for her son, even if it makes her own life harder.

Anthony is such a sweet love interest. He is so determined to win Charlotte back and protect her and her son. I LOVED the scene where he helps hold the baby (I just wish there were more of them because men and babies is the ABSOLUTE SWEETEST combination)!!!

I would have loved to see more conflict throughout the story. I kind of felt like nothing was happening during the middle section of the book. Even a few more slight hints of danger would have helped. Also, the conflict at the end of the book could have been dragged out a bit longer for some more intensity. It felt like the characters did not have to work too hard to beat the villain.

Overall, I enjoyed this sweet, clean romance and would recommend it for anyone needing an easy-to-read book!

Wow! I loved this regency read! It has just the right amount of romance, suspense, crime, and more.
The characters are very well developed.
The details are well written. You get a real sense of the times this story was set in.
With my overbearing, patriarchal background, it is hard to read if women trapped in loveless and respectless marriages. There is still a fight for women’s place in marriage today.
I highly recommend this read!

I like that the plot is a little different than other books I've read lately! And it's not a split time story, thank the Lord! :) I definitely like the characters!! I feel like I've read some of the lines in some Jane Austen books... ;) If you love historical fiction/romance, this book is for you! Enjoy it!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The story of Charlotte and Anthony was okay. I wanted more of their backstory and fewer descriptions of clothing. I also felt like I could spot the villain a mile away.

#IntheShelterofHollythorneHouse #NetGalley

Wonderful romantic suspense, mystery book. Very clean with some twists and turns that were surprising.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

A beautiful second-chance romance. Charlotte is a young widow with an infant son. Upon her husband's death, old emotions have surfaced and Charlotte embarks on a journey to find the man with who she once held affection. Anothony never forgot the woman he loved. When the two reunite will they choose to face life together or go their own ways? Another hit from Sarah E. Ladd! I loved this book. Anthony and Charlotte are a beautiful match and I got sucked right into their story. I would recommend this book to any friends or family.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book to review. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the description of the scenery and the feeling of your home calling you back. The characters were relatable and you went on the rollercoaster of emotions with them. They experienced love before terrible tragedy struck in both their lives. Fate brought them back together and this book details how they overcame all the obstacles. This was a very clean book, if you want a steamy book, this is not it. My attention was kept and I got through this book quickly because I didn’t want to put it down. An enjoyable read for sure.

I really enjoyed this second chance love story! Charlotte is such a strong and resilient character. Her bravery as she moved forward with her life was commendable. Anthony is such a great character too. I love how hard he works to better his situation and achieve his dreams.

This book is filled with emotion, adventure, and healing. It's a bit predictable, and the problems were resolved fairly quickly and easily. But it was an enjoyable and entertaining read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Sarah E. Ladd for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was the perfect easy read for cold, dreary February! The main characters, in love in their youth but torn apart by circumstances, were extremely likable and easy to cheer for. Charlotte was a strong female lead whose determination and spirit kept her afloat after her cruel husband's death, and her decisions helped carry the story along at a good pace. Anthony was everything a good hero should be- kind, steady, and supportive of Charlotte through her difficulties. While the mystery wasn't terribly difficult to solve, I enjoyed it- I wasn't looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but a strong, interesting story with a sweet romance.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romances with a hint of mystery.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

Ah, young love thwarted by war. Time passes, our FMC enters a toxic, abusive marriage and our MMC returns from war scarred both physically and mentally. They cross paths, end up working together and finally realise their love. It’s a timeless storyline, one which always seems to deliver, and this is no different. Some parts of the plot seem the slightest bit unrealistic, but in general I liked this one!

Wow! This book has it all! Sudden death, lies, intrigue, betrayal, abduction and second chances at love. The story is set in England in 1813. Charlotte is a great character. Strong, brave and not afraid to protect what's hers. Anthony is brave, stalwart and reliable. Together they must overcome obstacles that threaten the people they love. The ending was a complete surprise and I enjoyed the other characters stories. A definite must read!
I was provided an ARC copy of this book by Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House is a well-written, slow-paced but a bit predictable book. I'm not a native English speaker so I very much love how the author used the language to breathe life into the characters, especially the hero, who reminds me a bit of winston Graham's Ross Poldark.

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

Charlotte and Anthony never thought they would see excited again. Little did they know. I love how Sarah E Ladd takes the story on twists and turns and to places you would never imagine. SOOO good!

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House was an enjoyable regency novel that was honestly also a bit bland for my taste. There was nothing inherently wrong with it, yet I found myself skimming through too many pages of the protagonists’ musings on what went wrong in their courtship a few years prior and whether each still had feelings for the other. I could see the storyline heading towards suspenseful or gothic touches, but these arcs were quickly resolved, lacked depth, then drifted off into more pages of their inner dialogue.

A genteel read but not one that will stand out for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ms. Ladd has penned another amazing novel set in the regency era, filled with memorable characters, mystery, and suspense. The pace is perfect, the writing is top-notch and I got caught up in the storyline from the very beginning.

Charlotte had much more strength and courage than she ever imagined after the unexpected death of her husband as she returns to her childhood home with her baby. I expected to feel bad for her with all of the changes in her life but instead started to admire her for her dignity. The unexpected return of her first love and fierce protector was a wonderful surprise which added to the plot and my need to find out exactly what would happen in the end.
Overall, I thought this novel was exceptional. The author is a gifted storyteller, weaving suspense, mystery and romance seamlessly
I received a copy of this book from the publisher though Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

I give this book four stars. It was well written, the plot was a bit predictable which made it a little uninteresting to me, but the hero in this story saved the book for me. I loved his character and how sure and confident he was. There’s some mystery but enough hints are dropped throughout the book that it’s fairly easy to predict what will happen and who did it.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd captures the essence of a world where woman are used as commodities. I really enjoyed how strong Charlotte Grey is even though she was forced into a situation that could have crumbled her. She took control and thought of the best thing for her son, Henry. Whereas, in similiar fashion, Anthony, had to come to grips what happened in the past to his uncle's mill and learn the meaning of home. The conflict with the Prior's crafted a masterpiece of a Regency mystery. Plenty of moments of wondering what was really going to occur to what actually occurred. Ladd did a wonderful job at creating little trail of secrets that led to the falling down of the villains. The descriptions, Ladd handles nicely. I had no problem exploring the abandoned Hollythorne Home when Charlotte and Anthony returned. The run down and misuse with years of dirt and grime mirrored the long forgotten emotions between Charlotte and Anthony. Overall, In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd is a wonderful story that I enjoyed reading. I recommend this story for fans of Erica Vetsch and Julie Klassen.

I received a complimentary copy of In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.