"The Thief of Lanwyn Manor" by Sarah E. Ladd

 


Wishing to escape her heartbreak, Julia Twethewey travels to her uncle's home to become a companion for her bedridden cousin. With her aunt's determined matchmaking skills, Julia hopes she'll soon have someone to claim her heart and make her forget about the man who chose someone else over her.

Before she even arrives at her uncle's house, she learns things are not going well for him when she's accosted at a coaching inn by those who know she's his niece. Thankfully the violence is cut short by a kind and brave rescuer, and Julia hopes to meet him again when he's not chasing away bandits.

Isaac Blake can't stop thinking about Miss Twethewey and the fear in her eyes that day at the coaching inn. When he hears that his elder brother Matthew, the owner of their family estate and the largest mine in the district, has set his sights on courting her, with her aunt's full blessing, Isaac knows that this is probably for the best. He's the younger brother, the one whose personal hopes and dreams are somewhat undefined.

But Matthew isn't the one with the connection to Julia. A friendship soon springs up between them. And as strange things keep happening at her uncle's home of Lanwyn Manor, Julia begins to feel that Isaac is the safest one to confide in.

Charming characters, mystery, and romance combine to make this another winner from Sarah E. Ladd. Recommended especially for fans of the Regency Era and Cornwall.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.