THIS STORY WAS AMAZING! Packed with historical artifacts, biblical truths, suspense, mystery, and even romance! I couldn't ask for anything more.

I'll tell you... the romance is a total slow burn, and I worried at first that it would lose me. But nope, the story on its own was so well written, that the romance was just the icing on the cake for me!

Bridget has discovered artifacts deep within the dirt of the Perry's land... or is it actually Lord Hawthorn’s (Rafe) estate? She’s determined to keep digging and uncover the history behind her findings, hoping it’ll be valuable enough to help her brother.

Rafe has his own plans for the land. Time is running out, and with the estate on the verge of being lost, he needs to find a way to restore the finances he inherited and take care of the tenants who rely on him. With both of them needing the land for very different reasons, Bridget and Rafe constantly butt heads, but maybe they’re not so different after all. Could they both get what they need without losing the land... or their hearts?!

And just when things couldn't get more complicated, something strange is happening on the estate. Accidents, secrets, and sabotage...someone’s clearly working against them. But who? Is one of them hiding something, or is there an outsider trying to stop them from uncovering the truth?

This story was wonderful, the chemistry between Bridget and Rafe, as well as the banter had me totally pulled in. The community and its closeness, and its rumors, kept it interesting. The mysteries hidden behind closed doors.... So much to unpack, totally worth the read!

I gave it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

I received a complimentary copy, this review reflects my honest opinion.

"No Stone Unturned" is an excellent Regency era novel by Jenelle Hovde. This story kept me engaged from beginning to end and I stayed up late at night to finish this one. The main characters, Bridget, a vicar's daughter, and the Viscount Rafe were very likeable. Bridget is strong, smart, a bit of a wild child, and someone I'd like to meet in real life.

The mystery was intriguing and there were many twists and turns along the way. I liked learning about the history with Roman mosaics and early Christian elements. This area was well researched and I kept googling more information on the side to learn even more!

I highly recommend this book! There is a Christian faith represented in the book, especially towards the end which I really enjoyed. I hope to read more by this author in the future. I recommend this one for ages 16+.

Thank you to Tyndale Publishing for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoy historical novels, and feel this author really did her research well bringing both the regency and Roman eras to life. The characters were well developed. It felt like I was reading an Austen novel. I would recommend this book and hope others will follow.

What a lovely Regency novel! No Stone Unturned brings qualities of the classic romances to the page.

In the spirit of strong female heroines, Bridget’s unconventional desire to prove herself among The Society of Antiquaries of London had me rooting for her from Chapter One. The archeological subplot of this story is simply intriguing.

By the time brooding Lord Hawthorne storms into Bridget’s world, inciting an enemies-to-lovers romantic trope, readers will be hooked. The noble Bridget, gruff—but worthy—Rafe, witty banter, and mysterious subplots weave together to create a compelling story from start to finish.

Emotionally satisfying and deeply enjoyable, No Stone Unturned will not disappoint.

Loved, loved, loved this book!! History, mystery, and romance all in one!! I really grew to care for the characters. The author, Jenelle Hovde, is a master at describing scenes and developing her characters; it really made me so invested in this book and I felt like I could really see everything going on. Can’t say enough about this wonderful book!

No Stone Unturned by Jenelle Hovde was brilliantly written. I was drawn into the exciting life of Bridget, the vicars daughter. The author is a master at creating beautiful word pictures that invite the reader into the world of Bridget and Rafe.
Bridget is educated and determined. A blue stocking some might say. But, she does not lose her femininity. Her demeanor is not rude or pushy. She reflects strength clothed in gentleness. I love that about her. Bridget is so close to making a name for herself in the world of antiquities. The Roman ruins found on a friend’s family farm could be the catalyst for her finally being accepted by the world of antiquities scholars. Now she must excavate these ruins while protecting them from fortune hunters. There are those that will do anything to have these ruins for themselves.
Rafe is a wounded soldier that struggles to adjust to his new station in life. He arrives in the village to a huge restoration challenge, a title he didn’t ask for and the weight of responsibility that comes with that title. He is a man with inner struggles that he does not allow to consume him. He has pressure from the crown to turn things around and restore his inherited lands. It seems there is a new obstacle at every turn. The clock is ticking and time is running out for him to keep his lands and provide for the village.
Jenelle Hovde does a fantastic job of reflecting the Christian characters in No Stone Unturned. They live out their Christianity in a relatable way.
I highly recommend this book. No Stone Unturned had everything one looks for in a story. There are obstacles to be conquered, deception to be navigated, relationships to be healed, and love to be found.

"She wants to uncover the past. He wishes to build a future. In this Regency romance set in rolling hills of West Sussex, two opposing wills discover their fate may lie in the common ground.

Miss Bridget Littleton's passion for history and antiquities defies most social conventions, even in her small village nestled in the beautiful English countryside. When a local farmer discovers an elaborate mosaic buried in his field, Bridget dreams of making a name and future for herself by excavating the Roman ruins. Unfortunately, her quest puts her at odds with the ambitious new lord who recently inherited the title and Hawthorn Abbey from his estranged uncle.

Recovering from wounds of both body and spirit, Captain Rafe Hawthorn is intent on restoring his long-neglected ancestral home. His plans to rebuild the abbey's once thriving orchards require a road that will pass straight through Bridget's potential trove of artifacts. He will not - cannot - fail again, even if he is moved by Bridget and her passion.

Yet this impasse might not be their greatest obstacle. A natural disaster and a series of suspicious accidents threaten both their plans, along with the livelihood of the nearby villagers dependent on their success. With their dreams in the balance, Bridget and Rafe must work together to fend off an unexpected enemy that may prove more dangerous than either could have imagined."

I love Georgians obsession with Roman ruins. I can relate.

This story started off strong, piquing my interest in Bridget's mission. The story follows a land dispute and the heroine’s efforts to uncover a Roman mosaic she’s found on part of the property. She wants to be taken seriously as a scholar of antiquities during a time when women struggled for recognition. The land supposedly belongs to her friend’s father, but no one truly knows where the property lines are drawn. He’s argued about it for decades with the previous lord (who recently died and left the estate to his heir).

Rafe is a wounded soldier, haunted by the memories of the property he’s inherited. And with it, the age old land argument. He’s determined to do better for his tenants than his uncle ever did, and prove the viability of the estate before four months are up. At that time, he’ll have to forfeit if he hasn’t proven himself capable.

There are some interesting characters, with lots of quirks and qualities that create some uncomfortable moments for the heroine. If you’ve enjoyed Greek mythology, you’ll easily relate to the heroine’s excitement over the mosaic she’s uncovered. The detail about the excavation shows the author did her research.

However, I couldn’t connect with her or the hero. In the end, I skimmed the last half of the book so I could see how it ended.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm a fan of sweet Regency romances that harken back to classics, and No Stone Unturned had all the feel of favorites like North & South and Jane Eyre but from a more modern 1st person point of view.

I so enjoyed the quirky, ancient past-loving Bridget with her vulnerability and desire to be seen. I relished the hidden gentleness under a rough exterior of one Rafe Hawthorn whose gruff broodiness is a sheild against further heartache.

Between the ancient Roman antiquities, historical context of the era, mystery and danger, and the characters, I found myself swept away to the English countryside with a new wish to discover ancient monuments and linger over thoughts of what the past held for the inhabitants.

A truly enjoyable and quick read! I recommend No Stone Unturned to teen and older readers who enjoy sweet Regency romances and interesting twists on cultural norms.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC. I hope more readers like me will discover this sweet read!

Wow, this story kept me engaged from the beginning! I thoroughly enjoyed going along with Bridget as she excavated ancient treasures. The mysterious happenings further captured my attention, and of course the brooding Rafe drew me in from the beginning! He’s my favorite kind of hero; I loved his turn around as he discovered more about his family history and developed deeper trust in God, as well as his romance with Bridget. I enjoyed her growth, too, and appreciated the relatability of her challenges with her relationships with others and her faith. The action towards the end of the story took me a bit by surprise, and I loved how everything turned out!! I really liked how we read chapters from both Bridget’s and Rafe’s points of view. I kind of wish there was a sequel in the works! If you enjoy historical books with romance, unconventional heroines, brooding heroes, mystery, and characters with relatable faith, definitely check this book out! Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for my review copy; I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts above are my own.

This was a shining debut! I was immediately drawn by the characters, mystery and rich setting. I also found Bridget's archeological adventures intriguing. Who doesn't enjoy a brooding ex-captain and a fiery FMC? I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author!

The only reason it was a four star for me was because some of the riding felt a bit amateur, with lots of filler words. But not often enough for me to not enjoy the story!

If you're looking for jane eyre vibes, suspense, enemies to lovers and beautiful themes, look no further! I also love how the cover teased the meet-cute. Or meet-hate?

4.5⭐

-Dual POVs
-A feisty FMC
-A broody MMC
-Rival goals
-Mysterious happenings
-Faith & healing

Regency romance + Archeology = 💕

Thank you to both Netgalley and Tyndale House publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of No Stone Unturned.

Set in Regency England, in a village deep in the heart of Sussex, this novel looks at the experiences of Bridget Littleton, a vicar's daughter with a passion for archaeology and ancient Rome, and Rafe Hawthorne, the local Viscount who has recently inherited his estate and returned from war. I was really excited by the premise of this book, it sounded right up my street (hello regency novel with Christian themes, a history-nerd protagonist and some romance to boot!) but unfortunately I found that I really struggled to get into it and didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. However there were some lovely aspects of this book, and things I did like as well - so I've written a couple of lists detailing these below:

Things that I liked about No Stone Unturned:
- The quotes at the beginning of each chapter - from Lord Byron, Seneca, the Bible etc - all seemed so apt and added some depth to this book. I loved how they emphasised and drew attention to the three main aspects of the story: the Regency setting, the Roman artifacts, and the Biblical narrative of redemption. All these are important to the storyline, and I thought the inclusion of the quotes set the tone nicely.
- The faith aspect of the book is lovely, and has been sensitively and empathetically done. I liked how God was written about in a beautiful and non preachy way. The story contained so many themes that spoke to me, and that will resonate with many readers - such as feelings of guilt and over-responsibility, wondering where God is in suffering, doubt, feeling like a burden and betrayal. It gently explored through the characters and story where God fits into all of those, and I've highlighted a number of passages with reminders of the truth of God's character that I'm sure I'll come back to!
- I really enjoyed the recurring metaphor of stones, and what they symbolised, and the way this linked back to the title.

Things I didn't enjoy about this book:
- The writing did feel contrived and lacked flow, and I really struggled to get immersed in the story as a result. It's no Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer, although it feels sometimes like it's trying a bit too hard to be.
- On occasion the language felt rather American - which I understand, it is written by an American author, and I know I'm nitpicking here. But just small things like the use of "write" instead of "write to" (e.g. "A man I never cared for, nor attempted to write during my military service."), and the use of words like "pants", or "fall" instead of autumn, which felt incongruous for a book set in Regency England.
- it also contained some historical inaccuracies: for example, one character refers to "purchasing from Beau Brummell, an up-and-coming fashion designer". Beau Brummell was a gentleman, a leader of fashion (like a modern day influencer) but certainly not a "designer", or someone you could have bought from!
- I felt that while the main characters had a good backstory, they still lacked depth.
- I felt that some of the storylines could have been developed further, like that of Abigail and Daniel.

Overall, this is a hopeful story with fun premise and great setting. It deals with heavier topics in a sensitive way, whilst gently pointing to the gospel. I think it would appeal to readers who enjoy slower paced regency romances, enemies to lovers storylines, and books with Christian themes that make you think. The Christian elements are lovely but not too prominent, and I think it could appeal to readers of any faith. However if you prefer sparkling dialogue, 3 dimensional characters and a faster pace, this may not be the book for you.

“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.