This was a unique regency romance with a storyline I do not usually encounter. I loved being in Cornwall and seeing a different side of history during this time period. I also love how Julia and Isaac's love story developed. There was the added layer of mystery and intrigue that was also exciting. That being said, there were also a few abominable characters in this story. While you do need the bad to balance out the good in a story, someone of them were just a tad too annoying for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the eARC!

The story opened with a strong hook and a harrowing situation. Both our hero and our heroine are courageous, which is a trait that made me root for them.

We have the usual Regency elements: balls and societal expectations of finding the right match for matrimony. The escape of a distant time period setting. Julia goes to live with her meddlesome aunt, while Isaac has the unstated competition of his brother for Julia’s affections.

I could relate with the heroine’s desire to reinvent herself and refresh her life after her loss. The author’s descriptions of locations helped me experience the setting with her.

Unfortunately, I found melodrama and wording that didn’t sound as if it came from a male POV. The mining focus reminded me of the Poldark Saga novels. Fans of the books or the PBS adaptation may appreciate this story.

I’ll confess I only made it to 30 percent of this novel as at that point, I was no longer hooked. I didn’t find enough advancement in their relationship to keep me reading. Still, I wish the author and her publisher all the best.

Loved it! Sarah E. Ladd is surely a mastermind in plotting Regency stories far from the ton. And what a fresh take that is!

I love it when we get to see dear characters once again and I enjoyed seeing Julia and her sharp mind.
Harboring a broken heart, Julia Twethewey travels to Lanwyn Manor to be with her cousin during her confinement. What she doesn't expect is to be haunted by stories of curses and ghosts lurking in the shadows of her family's house. Add to that an exasperated aunt, dejected workers ready to cause her uncle distress, and two handsome twins trying to do their own part in keeping the mineworkers happy. In the midst of all this, Julia might find the place to heal and take a chance to love again, if greed and guilt don't overtake those she needs the most.

Highly anticipating the third book :)

A nice historic mystery set in a mining town in England. I wish there had been more details about the mining endeavors; that aspect of the plot mostly centers around their dismal financial situation and little on the actual running of the mines. The characters are interesting and they have an equally interesting family dynamic. The intrigue involving the theft is not exactly a mystery (there aren't a ton of clues for the reader to figure out what is going on), but it adds depth to the story and I appreciated it. The romance gets a little cheesy at times, more over the misunderstandings as opposed to when the couple is together. The layout of the house got a bit muddled in my mind at the climax; the picture in my head that I put together based on earlier descriptions did not match the layout described during the big 'reveal' scene, but that could be from me reading fast. *shrug* I love the descriptions of the house and the landscape! It puts me right in the scene!

Notes- clean, non-religious

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Sarah E. Ladd offers up her second book in the Cornwall series that is fairly well written but some of the main characters are just too wimpy to carry the story well.

I love a good regency romance with a little mystery/suspense thrown in to keep things interesting. In this story, the mystery/suspense was okay and the regency parts well done but it was the pretty wimpy main characters that I really didn’t care for. It begins with a set of twin boys, Matthew and Isaac, who have just been caught fist-fighting. They both receive punishments but as their father knows that it was likely started when Isaac wished to correct some wrongdoing by Matthew, he offers Isaac the advice that while his desire to right a wrong is good, fisticuffs are never the answer. Isaac takes those words to heart and will need them often as the years go by. Fast forward ten years and their father has passed on and the boys are now running the family business. Matthew as the eldest remains at the family estate and manages the business while Isaac has moved into a cottage on the grounds and captains the mines under their command. There is much unrest in the nearby village with the closing of another owner’s mine and the lack of jobs for all who need them. Somehow they must find a way to entice William Lambourne to reopen the mine and employ the villagers. Enter Julia Twethewey, niece of Lambourne and the recent victim of a hold-up which Isaac happens to interrupt. Matthew sees this rescue as a timely introduction to Lambourne but Isaac doesn’t want to use a young woman in that manner. As Matthew sets out to woo Julia, Isaac can’t help but hope he fails, given that Isaac has developed an attraction of his own to Julia. Providence appears to be bringing them together through several situations and although he knows of his brother’s plans, Isaac can’t seem to stay away from Julia. When tragedy strikes at the mine, Isaac and Julia are brought together once again to help those in dire need. Add to this the multiple valuable items that have gone missing from Lanwyn Manor and there is a mystery that needs solving before anyone else gets hurt. Quietly working together to discover the culprits gives Isaac and Julia time to understand each other and a deep friendship to develop. If only everyone else would leave them be, they might have a chance at a future together. But if the thief isn’t caught soon, any chance they might have will be lost forever. As you can see, there is plenty of good plot and writing to be had in this story. But it’s the two main male characters that I just don’t like. Matthew is supposed to be the “rake” in this story but he seems too cowardly to really do anything bad himself. Mainly he just talks a big talk rather than engage in any real action. I was definitely not pleased with how this story dealt with him at the end of it. And then there is Isaac who I wanted to be a real hero but he just lacked real manliness. I fully expect a man who loves a woman to seek what is best for her, even if it means ensuring she doesn’t marry someone awful. He didn’t really seem to fight for her in any way except in one short instance and that made me mad. If you want her, go out and get her, you idiot! Such a waste of a potentially good character! And while everything seemed to be okay at the end, I just felt like the last chapters were simply there to finish the book off. There was no wonderful ending with a great future to look forward to for Isaac and Julia nor was there really any good closure for the story. I even tapped over to the next pages hoping for an epilogue of some sort but there was nothing else….it was very disappointing. I don’t think I will recommend this book to anyone except to ensure they know what happened between the first book and the upcoming third. Hopefully the next book will better and include more realistic characters that I will actually like.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

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.

This book was a great second installment in Sarah Ladd's new series 'The Cornwall Novels'. Its her third series, and I'd say its right on form. There are two brothers from a mining family (ala Poldark) an old house, rumours of hidden treasure and a curse.

The beginning of the novel is quite spectacular, and sets the tone for the rest of the story. A love triangle between Julia and the two brothers Isaac and Matthew Blake. Both seem to have something to hide. Something strange going in in Lanwyn manor, where someone seems to be out to drive Julia's family away.

There are faint shades of the classics here, and some of Julie Klassen's more gothic novels. The romance doesn't overtake the story, and there is no instantaneous love. Which makes for a more realistic read.

Overall, The Thief of Lanwyn Manor was a very satisfying story, that taps well into the current fashion for tales set in Cornwall, without being cliched or pedestrian. My only complaints were a couple of Americanisms (saying 'write her' instead of 'write to her'), but they didn't really detract from the story.

Recommended for lovers of Regency/Victorian fiction, and existing Sarah Ladd fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and the the publisher for approving my request to read this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second book in a series, but they can be read alone. One book is not dependant on the other. The beginning of the book moved a little slow for me, but by the middle, I was hooked and had a hard time putting it down.

Julia has come to live with her aunt and uncle in a small mining town in Cornwall. She is running from heartbreak and hoping to make a new start where everyone doesn't know of her situation. She looks forward to helping her cousin who is sick and in bed with her first pregnancy.

At the very beginning of the book, she is held at gunpoint because the villain wants her uncle. This starts the intrigue. Who are the bad guys and what do they want with her uncle?

She is saved by the very dashing Isaac Blake. He is one of the mine owners and puts his life on the line to save hers. Isaac wants answers on who the perpetrator is and hopes to diffuse things before they get out of hand. Isaac has a twin brother who is just minutes older than he is. Julia is pushed to the brother, Matthe, by her aunt. Thinking he would be a favorable match.

The beginning of the book lays the groundwork for what is to come. There is always the mystery of the masked man with the gun. There are problems with the mines. One of them is that Julia's uncle owns one that he recently closed. The condition of the families working in the mines is described and there are two handsome men that Julia is unsure of.

I honestly loved Julia and Isaac. They are both good people who are trying to help the people around them. They see people as individuals and not for their station in life. There are several other people who you don't get to know as well in the book. They each have their part to play which makes the story richer and more interesting.

This is a sweet romance with Christian undertones.

Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own

Just a note- this wasn't a big favorite so review was kept short and positive


This book is a good combination of intrigue, historical fiction , romance, and suspense. It was challenging. Sarah Ladd stayed true to the traditions and the lifestyle of the times. I have always enjoyed her books and this was no exception. I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley.

With a rich tapestry of characters and scenery, 1800s Cornwall comes to life under Sarah Ladd's skillful writing. What should a young lady do when suffering from a broken heart and embarrassing courtship? When relatives offer a place to go and sit with her expecting cousin, Julia jumps at the chance to hide her face and recover. Lanwyn Manor, Goldweth, and the new people she meets peak her curiousity. Isaac Blake grew up in Goldweth, son of a mine owner who now helps his twin brother run the mine. The town of Goldweth depends on mines in the area to supply work for the community, but mines are closing and not opening. Stresses are high and weird things are occurring. noises in the walls and shadows walking around the grounds. Whispered curses try to cover up a hidden treasure, one that some will stop at nothing to find.
The characters are so well developed, they fell like friends and neighbors. Their interactions adds a depth to each character that brings them to life. Sarah Ladd masterfully weaves authenticity into the situations and feeling her characters are working through. As a reader you feel like you are walking with them, learning from them.
With engaging dialogue, realistic characters, and enough mystery to keep the heart rate elevated this book delivers ongoing entertainment. The only down side is how quickly the story moves to the end. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Langbournes and the Blakes are two mining families in a small village. But the similarity seems to end there. Mr. Langbourne is a businessman first and foremost and the livelihood and life of his miners does not affect him. It is a matter of profit only. Of the Blake brothers the eldest seems to be disinterested in the mine he has inherited and leaves the working and management of it to his brother Isaac.


The closure of the mine owned by the Langbournes has brought about a lot of hardship, resentment and anger amongst the community but the owner is not bothered by this at all. Into this comes Julia their niece, escaping a romance which went wrong at home and being a companion to the daughter of the house who is presently pregnant and rather ill.


The story is not just a romance, which was nice as it is but it also gave one a descriptive story of the mines and how these formed the backbone of the community and how the entire village depended on it for their wellbeing. Added to the story is a tale of treasure, of debts and deals within deals which go horribly wrong and you have a very interesting story set in Regency England.

As a fan of historical fiction that does not just infuse the story with hints at the period in which it is set, but also fills it with rich historically accurate details, this book was a huge win for me. When I saw it compared to a mashup that included Jane Austen's classics, I knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed!

The gorgeous writing made this intriguing story filled with unexpected plot twists and turns really come alive.

If you enjoy historical fiction that is more than just another love story, you will want to grab this book up asap!

This book became more enjoyable and intriguing asi went along. I was reminded of Poldark, as it was set in Cornwall and the main local industry was mining. There was intrigue and mystery in the story, as well as some romance. An enjoyable read.

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor
by Sarah E. Ladd

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson
Christian , RomanceP
ub Date 07 Jan 2020



I am reviewing a copy of  The Thief of Lanwyn Manor through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:



This book is Set in Cornwall England in  the year 1818:


Julia Twethewey needs a distraction so that her broken heart can heal, after her cousin invites her to Lanwyn Manor she is eager to accept, to get as far away from.the man who broke her heart as she could.  Lanwyn Manor is located at the heart of Cornwall's mining industry, soon as a guest Julia is swept into this intricate world.  Before long Julia realizes something dark is lurking in the ancient hls of Lanwyn Manor.



Issac Blake is the younger son of a respected minor who is determined to keep his Father's legacy alive despite the careless attitude of his older brother.  In the Hope's of saving their livelihood and the people around them  the brothers approach  the master of Lanwyn Manor  with plans to bolster the local mining industry.   Issac cannot deny that he is attracted to the man's charming niece.  But his brother intends to court the beautiful visitor, and Issac knows his place.


After tragedy strikes, mysteries arise, and  valuables end up missing, Issac and
Julia find themselves pulled together in a series of strange circumstances.  Despite their best efforts to follow social standards, there hearts belong together.


I give the Thief of Lanwyn Manor five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This is such an enjoyable read! It's definitely lighter on the romance and heavier on Julia and Isaac learning about themselves and their purposes; the romance almost felt like an afterthought. (This is good or bad, depending on what you're expecting from the story. I was surprisingly fine with it.)

The novel features a delicious mystery surrounding Lanwyn Manor itself, and I loved watching things unfold. I was also fascinated by the mining industry; the sheer dependence on mining for the townspeople's livelihood reminded me a bit of North and South's cotton mill.

While the focus of the novel is on Isaac and Julia, I had a soft spot for Isaac's twin Matthew, the brother Julia's aunt and uncle prefer. I couldn't quite figure him out for a long time; was he truly evil or merely misguided? His story wrapped up in a way I didn't anticipate, and I would actually love to read more about him.

This is the second book in Ladd's Cornwall series; I had no idea when I was reading that this was a sequel, but now I definitely want to go back and read the first book! Fans of regency-era fiction will find much to enjoy in this novel.

This is the second novel that I've read by Sarah E. Ladd and it's a fascinating look into a different era. Up until the first book in the Cornwall Series, the Regency genre held no interest for me. I suspected that it would be all smoochy, kissy-face stuff, however, Ms. Ladd's very capable writing weaves suspense into a story of intrigue and Gothic themes. Several have commented on the Poldark comparisons and, yes, as a 'Poldarkian' I can attest that this novel is a pleasure to read.
I enjoyed this one and can't wait for the return trip to Cornwall.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. @harpercollins @saraheladd #bookstagram #bookcommunity

Sarah Ladd is a new author to me so I really didn’t know what to expect from this book; but now having read The Thief of Lanwyn Manor, I have added Ms. Ladd to my list of “need to read” authors! Her characters are well-developed; and the mysterious and suspenseful plot chronicling tragedy, sorrow, disappointments, hidden motives, misunderstandings, thievery, assault, curses, questionable medical practices, rumored treasure, noises and shadows in the night, and a little romance moves at a fitting pace. My favorite element in the book is the use of amazing imagery and vivid descriptions such as these: “The mist fully invaded the moors with frightful weight as if it, too, were weary.” “A gray, ethereal mist hovered over the muddy lane and faded grasses and above him, thick clouds churned blocking out the morning sky.” “She stuttered as her own imagination fanned the flames of her fear.” I was a bit disappointed at the lack of the faith element in this read, but I enjoyed this page-turner from start to finish. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I loved this book, I really liked it wasn't sexual or annoying with romance, it was time appropriate with it lol and I loved that it was a mystery too! as soon as I finished this book I found the first one at the library and can't wait for the third book to come out!!

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor is an engrossing tale that to me is a cross between a Regency and a Gothic novel. Julia Twetheway’s visit as a house guest of her aunt and uncle does not begin at all well and after several other incidents, she begins to wonder if the stories about ghosts in the manor might be true. The only redeeming factor is that she has two new friends, twins Matthew and Isaac Blake, who run the local copper mine. As the heir Matthew appears to be the best match but her heart is drawn toward Isaac.

With vivid descriptions and well defined characters, The Thief of Lanwyn Manor offers a steady plot with ample action, intrigue, betrayal, and romance along with a few surprising twists along the way. I enjoyed observing Julia as she compared the obvious differences between Matthew and Isaac and her determination to stand up for herself in the face of threatening circumstances. I would love to see a followup book about a certain character who made some very poor choices – one in which we see those choices redeemed.

I am trying very hard to avoid spoilers so let me just say that I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good Regency novel with a bit of mystery.

This Regency offers intrigue and suspense along with family drama, all set in 1818 England. Mysterious happenings are occurring around Lanwyn Manor, where Julia has come to stay with her uncle’s family. The story and characters didn’t draw me in as much as I’d expected they would, but the book was interesting, filled with secrets and hidden things, which always pique curiosity. I just wish I could have connected with the characters more. I felt sorry for poor Julia and her invalid cousin, but Isaac Blake held my attention more. The manor house setting makes a compelling backdrop for the historical tale, yet the plot seemed a bit hard to follow. Anyway, there are surprises included, which add to the enjoyment of the novel. I think the title is a bit misleading since the thievery isn’t the main element of the story. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.