After a shocking scandal, Elaine Cardinham along with her mother and father, have returned to their coastal home, the home that Elaine never hoped to see again. Havencross is a painful reminder of all the mistakes that Elaine made in her young life including leaving Gareth Kemp and his marriage proposal.

This book was an easy read and I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the various snippets from the legends of King Arthur and Tintagel references throughout the story. However, very early on I had figured out the basic plot and who the villain was. Plus, I didn't really connect with Elaine and Gareth's romantic connection, especially on Elaine's part.

This was the first that I had read from Julie Daines and I now have another author to look out for. She evokes quite vivid images of the countryside of Cornwell, England. The rich detail had me imaging the treacherous cliffs and caves, of which much of the story is centred.
Elaine has returned to Cornwell after a scandal facing her father; however, it is not embarrassment that she fears on her return but the likelihood of seeing Gareth again. Gareth, a childhood friend of hers and her brother John, proposed marriage five years earlier but Elaine rejected his offer.
What started as a possible second chance at love, quickly developed into quite an intriguing novel. Elaine and Gareth’s childhood adventures and their links to King Arthur and Gwenevere gave the novel a mystical feel but even that changed into a suspenseful novel. The end of the book was not what I expected and a very clever twist!
I really enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it!

When a scandal involving her father gets her family run out of London, they return home to Cornwall, somewhere Elaine had never wanted to return to, as it's where her brother disappeared--likely died--after going on an errand for Elaine. Not only does Elaine have to have those memories, but she also has to face Gareth Kemp and her memories of how she rejected him. Gareth, who has risen in status in the world, had tried to put thoughts of Elaine away from him, but when she returns, he can't deny he still loves her. Trying not to think of her, he instead tries to do something about the smugglers who killed his father and likely his best friend. However, he soon finds that Elaine has stumbled into a dangerous mess and it will take them working together and for each other to get out of the mess.

While I love a traditional Regency romance, I also appreciated that something new here, with the setting in Cornwall and the look at smuggling; those were very interesting. Julie Daines' descriptions transport you to Cornwall. I would've liked the romance to come through a little stronger, but the element of mystery and the look at smuggling kept the book moving forward quickly. This is a clean read and easy to recommend to those who like historical fiction, Regency romances, and a dash of mystery.

I liked this one! While it was pretty evident who the villain would turn out to be, there were a few twists and turns that weren’t expected. And while it is a regency romance/mystery, it was also a story of letting go of guilt and trusting your heart. The heroine grows to appreciate that what she’s fled her beloved home to find was right in front of her the entire time. Well-written, nice imagery. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.