kare620bear's review
4.0
I throughly enjoyed reading The Letter from Briarton Park. English period pieces are my fav to read and watch. The last couple chapters fell a little flat for me and a tad on the cheesy side, but over all it was an entertaining story.
phenixsnow's review
5.0
I was surprised I liked this as much as I did. I'm not a fan of Jane Austen's writing (set around the same time) . And I find most "Christian fiction “ tends to be cheesy and cringworthy. This was not overtly Christian. I only call it that because the library labeled it as such. There's no gospel message. The romance is just very tame.
This was just such a sweet story with enough mystery and action to keep me engaged. Its the the first book in a series and it resolved enough to be satisfying but I have so many questions I'm looking forward to book 2.
This was just such a sweet story with enough mystery and action to keep me engaged. Its the the first book in a series and it resolved enough to be satisfying but I have so many questions I'm looking forward to book 2.
nipomuki's review
3.0
Pretty boring for a gothic romance, with main characters who seemed rather dull to me. Nice writing though, and the old fashioned language helped with the atmosphere. I was less sure about some aspects of the historical setting, but that usually doesn‘t bother me if the story is gripping. Why did I even finish it? Maybe because of the high quality narration, and also because it worked well as a background noise in my headphones.
cinta's review
3.0
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for letting me read this book prior to its publication. My opinion is 100% honest and unbiased. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I wanted to read this book because I am a sucker for all things Regency thanks to my love for Jane Austen. And this book seemed to combine two of my favorite things: the Regency period and a mystery of sorts. I say "of sorts" because the story was quite predictable, so no real mystery. An orphan, a mysterious letter, unlikely villains, predictable twists, and a hero that was quite cookie-cutter in structure. Nothing new or scintillating here, but at least it was a quick and enjoyable read. Something light for the weekend.
The development of the characters was good, but I had a hard time to believe I was reading about the Regency period. I didn't get the characteristic features of the period and some things confused me.
Overall, a quick and light read that I found underwhelming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for letting me read this book prior to its publication. My opinion is 100% honest and unbiased. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I wanted to read this book because I am a sucker for all things Regency thanks to my love for Jane Austen. And this book seemed to combine two of my favorite things: the Regency period and a mystery of sorts. I say "of sorts" because the story was quite predictable, so no real mystery. An orphan, a mysterious letter, unlikely villains, predictable twists, and a hero that was quite cookie-cutter in structure. Nothing new or scintillating here, but at least it was a quick and enjoyable read. Something light for the weekend.
The development of the characters was good, but I had a hard time to believe I was reading about the Regency period. I didn't get the characteristic features of the period and some things confused me.
Overall, a quick and light read that I found underwhelming.
emmylux7's review
heroine: no thoughts, a clown
hero: bland and horny but feels guilty because dead wife.
mother in law: ok boomer
vicar: a creeper who hates women.
idk if I'm thirsty but nothing happened. paint drying would've been more entertaining.
hero: bland and horny but feels guilty because dead wife.
mother in law: ok boomer
vicar: a creeper who hates women.
idk if I'm thirsty but nothing happened. paint drying would've been more entertaining.
jlen's review
4.0
This book was enjoyable, but predictable. I liked the characters, the storyline, and the writing style. However, it was obvious who Cassandra was, and what would happen for the most part. There was only one part that was slightly shocking, which was a nice twist. Overall, this was a good quick read.
melmo2610's review
4.0
This was a really good read! The mystery surrounding Cassanda's parentage was one that caught my attention and held it throughout the story. I really liked the character of Rachel and I hope she gets her own story. Looking forward to more in this series.
melissasbookshelf's review
5.0
Sarah Ladd is definitely a favorite author! I love the way she weaves romance, mystery, and suspense into her stories. This book had a Jane Eyre feel to it which I loved. It begins at a boarding school where Cassandra Hale’s beloved mentor Mrs. Denton lays dying. Her last words to Cassandra are of a letter she kept secret for two years. Always believing she was an orphan, Cassandra feels shocked and betrayed to know Mrs. Denton kept this hidden from her. Mr. Clark promises in his letter to share details about her past and family, so Cassandra journeys to the small village of Anston to seek out the mysterious owner of Briarton Park.
James Warrington, a young widower with two small daughters, just purchased Briarton Park. He lives there with his children, mother-in-law, and sister and longs for a fresh start after losing his wife. When a young woman arrives with a letter from the previous owner, he’s immediately intrigued by her. After she rescues his sister, he feels a strong desire to help her find the answers she seeks.
This story really drew me in. Cassandra is extremely sympathetic and I loved seeing her find the sense of belonging and family she always wanted. She has to navigate a world of mystery and intrigue where not everyone is as they seem. There are those who genuinely want to help her and those threatened by her past. I loved James as well. He’s a caring father who wants to open his heart again, but fights his feelings for a myriad of reasons. The more time he spends with Cassandra, the harder it is to resist her.
I loved the Yorkshire setting and the dynamics of the small village. The side characters enriched and added depth to the story. The author introduces the historical antagonism between mill owners with new technology and the workers. While barely touched on, it will be interesting to see how this history may appear in future stories.
The mystery and suspense definitely kept me turning the pages. Briarton Park is full of secret passageways and hidden rooms. There’s a murder with several suspects. There’s also some great themes of family, greed, and forgiveness. I enjoyed how Ms. Ladd tied up the loose ends yet left a few threads to build more stories on. She created a memorable novel I would definitely read again.
Highly recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy clean historical romance. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own and left voluntarily. 4 1/2 stars
James Warrington, a young widower with two small daughters, just purchased Briarton Park. He lives there with his children, mother-in-law, and sister and longs for a fresh start after losing his wife. When a young woman arrives with a letter from the previous owner, he’s immediately intrigued by her. After she rescues his sister, he feels a strong desire to help her find the answers she seeks.
This story really drew me in. Cassandra is extremely sympathetic and I loved seeing her find the sense of belonging and family she always wanted. She has to navigate a world of mystery and intrigue where not everyone is as they seem. There are those who genuinely want to help her and those threatened by her past. I loved James as well. He’s a caring father who wants to open his heart again, but fights his feelings for a myriad of reasons. The more time he spends with Cassandra, the harder it is to resist her.
I loved the Yorkshire setting and the dynamics of the small village. The side characters enriched and added depth to the story. The author introduces the historical antagonism between mill owners with new technology and the workers. While barely touched on, it will be interesting to see how this history may appear in future stories.
The mystery and suspense definitely kept me turning the pages. Briarton Park is full of secret passageways and hidden rooms. There’s a murder with several suspects. There’s also some great themes of family, greed, and forgiveness. I enjoyed how Ms. Ladd tied up the loose ends yet left a few threads to build more stories on. She created a memorable novel I would definitely read again.
Highly recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy clean historical romance. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own and left voluntarily. 4 1/2 stars
tboofy's review
4.0
I liked the spin of the heroine’s search for birth parents she never knew about. Kinda hated that he hired her as governess since so many have done the master/governess plot, but it was logical with her background as a teacher, and it wasn’t how he met her, so it wasn’t too bad. Overall a nice story