“The land had been waiting for centuries to give up its secrets, and I intended to uncover every last one.”

I’ve never really understood the allure of Regency Romance before reading this book. However, Hovde has given me reason not to write off this genre. She balanced Christian values with a wonderful romance featuring a swoon-worthy lord, a spunky bluestocking, and tied it all together with a compelling plot centered around the discovery of Roman ruins.

It’s obvious that the author understands the history, attitudes, conventions, manners and laws of the time. This allowed me to get caught up in the external conflict that sought to keep the main characters apart, the steps taken to prevent scandal, the high stakes of the social conventions associated with aristocracy, the intelligent dialogue and quick wit, and seeing how differently characters of this era reacted in various situations compared with how modern characters would handle similar ones.

I will remember this story for what it highlighted about braving the storms of life, breaking free from the past, finding the beauty in broken or lost things, reigning in our doubt and allowing God control, and being willing for restoration and refining.

“How can we learn to grow if we do not understand the past? How can we heal if we do not fully examine what happened to us?”

Thank you for giving me a reason to return to this genre, Jenelle Hovde.

I was gifted this copy by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

By the end of this book, I couldn't put it down! I loved both Rafe and Bridget. I appreciated that the characters are complex and interesting; each had flaws to overcome but good traits too. Furthermore, I appreciated that as in life, not everything worked out perfectly, but the characters learned to rely on God even through hardship.

This book is so well-written and rich with historical detail. There are aspects of the Gothic in this novel (fans of Northanger Abbey and Jane Eyre will definitely enjoy it), and the plot became really exciting. I recommend this book to others who enjoy Christian historical romance.

Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram and Amazon within a week of the book's publication.

Content warnings: peril; violence; death; the grave of a child is discovered; mention of se*ual assault; superstitions and mentions of curses (not real). There are also brief, non-descriptive kisses

Thanks to Netgalley and Tyndale House for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. An interesting historical novel and if you enjoy Regency stories you'll love this one. I've never read this author before and the research involved in writing this is impressive. A lot of intrigue, danger and romance involved. Highly enjoyable.

NO STONE UNTURNED by JENELLE HOVDE is a most enjoyable Regency novel which takes place in the small village of Bramnor in Sussex in 1811. The characters are interesting, and the story is full of twists and turns as Bridget Littleton, the pastor’s daughter who has a passion for antiquities, starts digging with her best friend Abigail Perry in Mr Perry’s field where the farmer has unearthed part of an ancient mosaic. This find could make Bridget famous and save Mr Perry’s farm.
There is a dispute about the boundary line. The new viscount of Hawthorn Abbey, Captain Rafe Hawthorn, has been led to believe that the dig is encroaching on his land. He is desperate to make a success of the property he inherited from his estranged uncle before losing it, and Bridget is desperate to win a prize for her discovery in order to try and find her brother who is missing after being seconded into the navy……
After a poor start, Bridget and Rafe start working together to overcome one disaster after another…….
There is superstition, competition, betrayal and theft, as well as ugly rumours about the Hawthorn family, and criticism of Bridget’s unladylike behaviour.
The Christian message is strong and I like the way the author uses Scripture references, particularly out of Ecclestiastes, to show that man can do nothing of any worth without the Lord. We see how even the worst sinners can change when they turn to God. We also see how, even in pagan Roman ruins, there is some indication that a Christian was there.
I cannot recommend this exciting and inspirational read strongly enough.
I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own,

I love Regency England, so No Stone Unturned my mild Jane-Austen-hankering for the week! It was such a fun little read, with ancient Rome and archeology mixed in. I liked the development in the characters a lot.

Rafe and Bridget were both fun to follow, and there were a couple lines that had me wheeze-laughing. (Not my favourite laugh, but a real one.) This book felt lighthearted enough to be easy to read, but also had emotional depth of character that I appreciated.

The plot twists in this book were on point and I loved the family development too. Overall, four stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

An intense historical novel that brings to life many life issues. The characters are real and deep,showing great leadership. A huge reminder of God's grace and forgiveness.