The Governess of Penwythe Hall By Sarah E. Ladd Published by Thomas Nelson

My thoughts:  Sarah Ladd writes a beautiful, sweet Regency story set in historical Cornwall. The characters are beautifully drawn giving just enough depth to their essence that you feel you know them, like them, hate them.

The lovely widowed young lady that serves as governess of the Trethewey children wears her personal grief like a cloak of protection lest her heart bear such hurt of losing her spouse and also losing a beloved young child. But though she shuns romantic involvement she does discover that she can once again experience a sweet love.

Abruptly cast into the grieving stage once again, but this time as a bystander who gently carries the Trethewey children through the loss of their parents, she stands faithfully by them as they are relocated to the Cornwall estate of the children's uncle. And then trouble hits again with the absconding of the children's fortune by the man responsible for its care.

The author's writing beautifully tells this story of loss, the impact of slander and rumors, grief, evil doers, beautiful and rugged coastal Cornwall, smuggling in the 1800s, family support of grieving children. Yes, there is a plethora of emotions and activity to encourage the reader to turn the pages and then to await the next story by the author in this new Cornwall series.

About the book: In the first of a new series from beloved Regency romance author, Sarah Ladd, Delia, a governess to five recently orphaned children, would risk anything to protect them . . . even her heart.

“My kind of book! The premise grabbed my attention from the first lines, and I eagerly returned to its pages. I think my readers will enjoy The Heiress of Winterwood.” —Julie Klassen, bestselling, award-winning author

Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.

Cornwall, England, 1811

Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she tries desperately to forget.

Jac Trethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced at Penwythe Hall, he battles both grief of this brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall Novels series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the BookLook Bloggers program on behalf of Thomas Nelson Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.