This was a sweet story, if a bit predictable! A restful read, with some adventure and romance thrown in! Charlotte and Anthony were in love, but were separated by their feuding families, their social status, and Anthony's life as a soldier. When he walks back into Charlotte's life she is a mother and newly widowed. It was so fun to see these two get a second chance at love!

Childhood sweethearts Charlotte and Anthony reunite after several years apart when Charlotte's life turns upside down.

An enjoyable romance with a little mystery woven in. I'm not really sure if it's because I read this across several sittings but I felt that while the story was 300+ pages along, not a lot happened.

Both characters were enjoyable to read.

This is my first book by Sarah Ladd to read and it didn’t disappoint. She has such a lovely way of describing her characters and events in her stories. Hollythorne House is a sweet second chance romance about a young widow, and it’s a great book for fans of Bridgerton who want something similar but clean.

I received an arc from Netgalley of In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd

I really enjoyed this story so much. I enjoyed the characters as well. This book kept me on the edge of my seat several times. It was very hard to put this book down. I really look forward to reading more of this authors books. The author writes lovely books, every book that I have read of hers has been a wonderful read. A Christian and clean read.

I have found my new go to author! I loved this book. As soon as I finished reading I went directly to get additional books by her. She writes in a way that I felt like I was one of the characters. I could see Hollythorne House. I walked the moors with her. The love story is captivating, the tension, perfect! Thank you for complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The opening pages of the story tell of the ending of the relationship of Charlotte Grey and Anthony Welbourne. After this sorrowful prologue, the story picks up some years later. Charlotte's marriage to a wealthy but abusive man has not been a happy one, except that she now has an infant son, Henry. When her husband dies suddenly, his brother takes control of the estate, but Charlotte doesn't trust him and suspects her husband was involved in dealings more nefarious than she'd imagined. She and her young son are in danger and she must trust Anthony to help her.

Anthony has been serving with Walstead's watchmen since returning from the war overseas, and is glad to take an assignment that will take him back to his home in Yorkshire. But he is surprised to discover that the widow he will be protecting is none other than Charlotte. He is determined to set his own feelings aside, and to make sure she and her young son are safe.

The main characters Charlotte and Anthony must work through the hurts of the past and trust each other just to navigate an unfolding mystery, and find hope for a second chance together. Aside from the intrigues and betrayals in the story, this is a tale of not missing an opportunity for a second chance. The romantic aspect of the lost love regained combined with some mystery and dangerous drama make this a book that kept my attention from beginning to end. Both Charlotte and Anthony must grow and change, and there are interesting twists among the supporting characters as to who is trustworthy and who is not, along with enough development of those characters to make their actions and their dilemmas believable. The plot takes a couple of unexpected turns that lead to suspense and stir up even more conflict. The well-researched setting gives some insight into the tensions between landowners, mill owners, and farmer tenants during this time period as well.

What a great historical romance! I love Sarah Ladd for the Regency-era novels. This one takes place in England. One woman has had a great life with her parents. Her mother died when she was 12 and she and her father had a good life until he started to get sick. When he got sick he wanted her taken care of. He arranges a marriage for her and she's swept away by how lovely and nice the man is. Only after they're married and living on their own he becomes the exact opposite of what she thought he was.

She puts away all the thoughts of her life before and merely tries to survive and live with her new husband. When a baby enters the picture he becomes worse and won't even let her hold or care for her son. She gets one supervised hour a day. Oh, how she wishes for more and different.

And then she gets it! Her husband dies. But things aren't all better. His brother just like him is now in charge of her son's future and all the money except Charlotte gets to stay her son's guardian. She makes the decision to move back to her childhood home and raise Henry as she sees fit.

Enter a group of hired thugs or I mean Watchmen. Charlotte's brother-in-law hires them to protect her. Or rather protect his nephew and keep her in line to what he wants.

But here's the clincher. Charlotte's old love and flame is one of the watchmen. Can she keep her life going how she wants on her own or will she have to trust someone else? Is Anthony still the same man she once knew? Can she trust him? And then disaster strikes?

Will Charlotte ever be able to live without looking over her shoulder?

I loved this book. It's got romance and also suspense and danger. The book reads well and quickly. The characters reach out and grab you. Oh, and there are a few twists and turns that you wouldn't suspect thrown in here and there.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Charlotte has been through quite a lot since bidding Anthony goodbye before he went off to war. She was in an abusive marriage, has a son and is now a widow. Her husband died and come to find out left many debts and disgruntled people behind. Her brother-in-law hires a couple of Walstead Watchmen to protect her and her son. Anthony was injured in the war and came home to find Charlotte married. He joined the Walstead Watchmen to try to make money so he could rebuild his uncle's Mill. He was not expecting to be protecting Charlotte and her son. Old feelings surface but are left on the back burner because there are nefarious dealings going on.
This is a good book with some interesting twists and turns.

Sarah Ladd always delivers great historical fiction, with a dash of mystery. :)
Read for second chance, regency romance with a dash of mystery and mean family. :)

I really like the beginning. That was sweet and I was looking forward to the moment when the protagonists would meet again but it didn't turn out the way I expected it to be.

The main story begins with Charlotte's husband's death. So, it seems pretty convenient; we are told that her husband was abusive and dominating but we don't see that. All we know is that he's gone. I didn't feel anything for Charlotte, to be honest.

This story needed to be told from a single character's perspective, in my opinion. Dual point of view makes this story bland and predictable.

There's no surprise element. Also, it's too slow paced. Didn't work for me.

This is a typical Sarah Ladd story - vivid descriptions, a colourful cast of characters to love and dislike, a little bit of a mystery, and a happily-ever-after set in early 1800s England. These are some of the reasons why I enjoy reading her books.
An emotional prologue introduces readers to Charlotte and Anthony, giving readers a glimpse of innocence before war and tragedy affects these two main characters.
From the opening page to the final scene, readers will follow Charlotte on a precarious path to independence. Finding herself newly widowed, Charlotte discovers just how nefarious, deceptive, and evil her husband was. With a newborn babe, and the only heir to the Prior family empire, danger is never far away. She flees to her childhood home to provide a safe haven for her child. But evil follows and is closer than she realizes.
Deceptions and lies - secondary characters are never quite whom they seem. And everyone has an ulterior motive it seems.
The story moves along well, keeping readers engaged until Charlotte and her son find what they were looking for.
Mentions of domestic violence, kidnapping, gun fights, and infidelity.
This is a clean read, with few faith elements.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoy Ladd’s novels, but this was just an average story for me. I never really felt the connection between Charlotte and Anthony, so the whole story was more about her troubles for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In the Shelter of Hollythrone House #2 The House of Yorkshire by Sarah Ladd

England, 1817. Charlotte Grey Prior is a widow with an infant, Henry, she must keep safe from her deceased husband’s family. She is a courageous woman facing many challenges and danger as she flees to her childhood home, Hollythrone House.

Watchman Anthony Welbourne is fearless and persistent; his life’s focus to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. He has been hired to keep Charlotte and her son safe. Anthony and Charlotte have a past that her father did not approve of. Is there a future for them after all? New threats and dangers put Charlotte and her son in more danger. Can Anthony keep them safe? There are some tense moments that had me holding my breath, men with evil intents and greed, faith, joys and sorrows, new beginnings and love. A captivating story.

~I received an e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

I thoroughly enjoyed “In the Shelter of Hollythorne House.” Charlotte and Anthony had a story of love-deferred. This story has scandal, intrigue, a bit of mystery - but so very much love. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read and share my thoughts. ❤️

Sarah E Ladd has done it again! She sucked me into a world on the moors and I didn't want to leave!

Charlotte grew up in the moors, married a man she thought was good, while she loved another. Her husband was not good, but was cruel, and his death gives her the opportunity to start over with her infant son.

Anthony also grew up on the moors, but wanted to please his dead father and went a different direction. After the war, and almost dying, he ends up a thief taker, and struggles with guilt over past mistakes.

Charlotte's new life comes with many threats, danger, and complications. Can she save her new life, save her son from his Uncle, and truly begin again?

I love the way that Ms. Ladd writes. Her descriptions of the wild moors, the dialogue between the characters, and the portrayal of Charlotte and Anthony and the trials they face together feel like you are a part of the story.

Charlotte has the unenviable job of putting the familial run down estate back into order. She learns the truth of her newly deceased husband’s business dealings and flees back to her childhood home. I greatly admired her for her courage and determination to provide for her son , Henry, and stand up against her powerful in-laws. Her fierce love for her baby to do anything to keep him safe resonated with me.

This was such a powerful story of forgiveness and reconciliation as Charlotte and Anthony choose to put the past behind them. It has danger, mystery, and romance all wrapped up into this amazing story. I highly recommend reading this book. Once you start you may not be able to put it down.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A very sweet, clean and still swoon worthy second chance romance.

Charlotte is an inspiring heroine. She's no damsel in distress. As a mother, her maternal instinct propels her to protect her son at whatever cost. Even when thrown in a difficult situation, she always tries her very best to remain cool headed and make decisions best for her and those under her protection.

Anthony is a very sweet hero. Not the grumpy sort that we usually find in historical romance. He has never forgotten Charlotte even after being separated for years. The moment he has Charlotte's clear intention in how their relationship will go, he decides that Charlotte and Henry are his to protect.

My favourite scene are many. For a man who has been hardened by war, that first moment where a wailing Henry calms down after Anthony picks him up is just so heartwarming.

The mystery and suspense in this story was something that caught me by surprise, in a good way. The pacing was a bit slow at first. It picked up really quickly about 60% in. The plot twist was so unexpected too! My only complaint: it was too easy for the villains to be beaten. I was expecting more plotting and more dangerous situations that could bring the characters closer.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I had fun reading it and would recommend it for anyone who loves a sweet second chance historical romance.

Lastly, many thanks to the author, the publisher - Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley.
I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charlotte Grey Pilot is widowed suddenly and is supremely relieved. Her husband was abusive, controlling, and a few other not so nice words. Her brother in law is equally controlling, especially where Charlotte's son is concerned because he is set to inherit the family business. Her lawyer explains things to her, telling her that she is the guardian of the boy, but she would do better to go back to her ancestral family home instead of staying with the brother-in-law.

Anthony Welbourne has loved Charlotte for as long as he can remember. When he is called in to protect Charlotte and her baby to their ancestral home and while she is there, he can't believe it is his good fortune to be around her again. Proximity is a delicious pain.

Sarah E Ladd has written a book with all the parts of a romance novel formula. Boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl all within the first few pages of the book. It takes most of the rest of the book for boy to get girl back. The fact that circumstances of the times caused him to lose her in the first place is not uncommon. because of the situation she had just come out of, getting her back took a lot of work on his part.

The settings in the book were picturesque and intriguing. The characters were all over the place, some one dimensional, others more fleshed out. The plot was, to me, predictable and not all that surprising. I wish it had been a bit more compelling. Overall it wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as I thought it could have been. Three stars.

Thomas Nelson Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Hello! This book, in the Shelter of Hollythorne House, is a marvel...absolutely because of the writing style, word/phrasing choices, and images evoked, but also because of the feelings that I had when reading this novel. At times I felt bone-deep terror and powerful worry for Charlotte and as Charlotte. During other times I felt all of the love and warmth surrounding the relationship between Charlotte and Anthony. The choice of names - Charlotte as 'warrior' and Anthony as 'priceless one -' seems not to have been by chance. And I have a new book boyfriend in Anthony!

Sarah E. Ladd has significant talent as a writer in capturing the reader from the first word of a novel to the last, and I always feel as though I have not only traveled back in time but have traveled to the manor, to the fields, to the library, to the stables, etc., and am a 'third' in each conversation. I am literally sitting and observing every skirt swish, every hand-wringing, every horse ride, every coattail swirl, etc. Each word and all dialogue are created not only with the author and reader in mind but with the characters in mind...they drive the book and their adventure. This novel can easily become a movie...it was a movie in my head and imagination as I read this book. Such captivating scenery in Yorkshire, England, to be sure...in reality and in history. Charlotte's and Anthony's story is not an easy path...it is dynamic and filled with the most poignant of interactions. The two have amazing chemistry, and I was on the edge of my seat awaiting the next great move by both characters to combat seen and unseen threats to their happiness. Just when the reader thinks he or she has the mystery and case sorted, another surprise awaits. I read most of this novel in one sitting but held out a few days to finish the last 25%...because I did not want it to end. I appreciate the ARC from Netgalley and highly recommend this book. Beautifully done! I cannot wait for Sarah E. Ladd's next novel. Charlotte's and Anthony's story is one for the ages! :)

Sweet, romantic story about love, trust, and overcoming life's obstacles.

Charlotte is an inspiring example of staying strong in difficult circumstances. She is determined to do what is best for her son, even if it makes her own life harder.

Anthony is such a sweet love interest. He is so determined to win Charlotte back and protect her and her son. I LOVED the scene where he helps hold the baby (I just wish there were more of them because men and babies is the ABSOLUTE SWEETEST combination)!!!

I would have loved to see more conflict throughout the story. I kind of felt like nothing was happening during the middle section of the book. Even a few more slight hints of danger would have helped. Also, the conflict at the end of the book could have been dragged out a bit longer for some more intensity. It felt like the characters did not have to work too hard to beat the villain.

Overall, I enjoyed this sweet, clean romance and would recommend it for anyone needing an easy-to-read book!