“The curse had settled upon the house. In dim and haunting fog, this silence had woven its cold fingers through every window and down every corridor. It had inhabited every room, every stairwell. It had managed its way to the garden, touching every bursting bloom, until the petals dried and withered. After a time, the curse had reached as far as the cliffside, where the breeze suddenly lacked warmth and the horizon lost beauty.”
Whoa, this was a story that wrapped around me in every way possible! I loved the gothic undertone and atmospheric feel tingling down my spine, causing goose flesh to spring upon my skin. This one immersed me in its pages so completely! It's truly a beautifully written, haunting tale from a debut author that I am already a fan of. Hannah Linder is one to watch for in the future!
What started out as a lady bent on revenge for the death of her sister, turned out to be a tale of mystery, adventure and a touch of suspense. Ella Pemberton only believes what her late father and the whispering gossips told of Lord Henry Sedgewick of Wyckhorn Manor; the brooding hero who was accused of killing his wife. She does the unthinkable and impossible when she poses as a mere Governess to young Peter, wanting to expose the truth her father was never able to. But as each layer is peeled away, she discovers that things begin to prove quite the opposite. Is Lord Sedgewick indeed guilty, or could there be deeper truths that remain hidden?
As I turned each page, I loved how the story deepened and became something I didn't expect! This is the kind of story that surrounds you and makes you forget the real world around you. I could have read this in one sitting because I didn't want to miss a single moment of it. As for the romance, oh my word, it developed in spite of Ella and Henry's resistance. It sizzles just beneath the surface, and when it fully blooms, wow! I also loved the faith thread that added another layer and set the tone for the theme of forgiveness and redemption only God can grant.
“If you have not seen proof of Him Miss Woodhart, I daresay you have never really looked." ~Henry to Ella
If you are a fan of Gothic Regency novels, or stories that parallel Michelle Griep, or Jaime Jo Wright's On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor then you will love this one!!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
BackCover Blurb:
Will Seeking Justice Lead to Her Own Demise?
A Gothic-Style Regency Romance from a Promising Young Author
Second daughter of a baron—and a little on the mischievous side—Ella Pemberton is no governess. But the pretense is a necessity if she ever wishes to get inside of Wyckhorn Manor and attain the truth. Exposing the man who killed her sister is all that matters.
Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands. Lies have been conceived, then more lies, but the price of truth would be too great. All he has left now is his son—and his hatred. Yet as the charming governess invades his home, his safe cocoon of bitterness begins to tear away.
Could Ella, despite the lingering questions of his guilt, fall in love with such a man? Or is she falling prey to him—just as her dead sister?
Thank you for posting this on the blog Debra!
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