Wow! I loved this regency read! It has just the right amount of romance, suspense, crime, and more.
The characters are very well developed.
The details are well written. You get a real sense of the times this story was set in.
With my overbearing, patriarchal background, it is hard to read if women trapped in loveless and respectless marriages. There is still a fight for women’s place in marriage today.
I highly recommend this read!

I like that the plot is a little different than other books I've read lately! And it's not a split time story, thank the Lord! :) I definitely like the characters!! I feel like I've read some of the lines in some Jane Austen books... ;) If you love historical fiction/romance, this book is for you! Enjoy it!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The story of Charlotte and Anthony was okay. I wanted more of their backstory and fewer descriptions of clothing. I also felt like I could spot the villain a mile away.

#IntheShelterofHollythorneHouse #NetGalley

Wonderful romantic suspense, mystery book. Very clean with some twists and turns that were surprising.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

A beautiful second-chance romance. Charlotte is a young widow with an infant son. Upon her husband's death, old emotions have surfaced and Charlotte embarks on a journey to find the man with who she once held affection. Anothony never forgot the woman he loved. When the two reunite will they choose to face life together or go their own ways? Another hit from Sarah E. Ladd! I loved this book. Anthony and Charlotte are a beautiful match and I got sucked right into their story. I would recommend this book to any friends or family.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book to review. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the description of the scenery and the feeling of your home calling you back. The characters were relatable and you went on the rollercoaster of emotions with them. They experienced love before terrible tragedy struck in both their lives. Fate brought them back together and this book details how they overcame all the obstacles. This was a very clean book, if you want a steamy book, this is not it. My attention was kept and I got through this book quickly because I didn’t want to put it down. An enjoyable read for sure.

I really enjoyed this second chance love story! Charlotte is such a strong and resilient character. Her bravery as she moved forward with her life was commendable. Anthony is such a great character too. I love how hard he works to better his situation and achieve his dreams.

This book is filled with emotion, adventure, and healing. It's a bit predictable, and the problems were resolved fairly quickly and easily. But it was an enjoyable and entertaining read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Sarah E. Ladd for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was the perfect easy read for cold, dreary February! The main characters, in love in their youth but torn apart by circumstances, were extremely likable and easy to cheer for. Charlotte was a strong female lead whose determination and spirit kept her afloat after her cruel husband's death, and her decisions helped carry the story along at a good pace. Anthony was everything a good hero should be- kind, steady, and supportive of Charlotte through her difficulties. While the mystery wasn't terribly difficult to solve, I enjoyed it- I wasn't looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but a strong, interesting story with a sweet romance.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romances with a hint of mystery.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

Ah, young love thwarted by war. Time passes, our FMC enters a toxic, abusive marriage and our MMC returns from war scarred both physically and mentally. They cross paths, end up working together and finally realise their love. It’s a timeless storyline, one which always seems to deliver, and this is no different. Some parts of the plot seem the slightest bit unrealistic, but in general I liked this one!

Wow! This book has it all! Sudden death, lies, intrigue, betrayal, abduction and second chances at love. The story is set in England in 1813. Charlotte is a great character. Strong, brave and not afraid to protect what's hers. Anthony is brave, stalwart and reliable. Together they must overcome obstacles that threaten the people they love. The ending was a complete surprise and I enjoyed the other characters stories. A definite must read!
I was provided an ARC copy of this book by Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House is a well-written, slow-paced but a bit predictable book. I'm not a native English speaker so I very much love how the author used the language to breathe life into the characters, especially the hero, who reminds me a bit of winston Graham's Ross Poldark.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charlotte and Anthony never thought they would see excited again. Little did they know. I love how Sarah E Ladd takes the story on twists and turns and to places you would never imagine. SOOO good!

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House was an enjoyable regency novel that was honestly also a bit bland for my taste. There was nothing inherently wrong with it, yet I found myself skimming through too many pages of the protagonists’ musings on what went wrong in their courtship a few years prior and whether each still had feelings for the other. I could see the storyline heading towards suspenseful or gothic touches, but these arcs were quickly resolved, lacked depth, then drifted off into more pages of their inner dialogue.

A genteel read but not one that will stand out for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ms. Ladd has penned another amazing novel set in the regency era, filled with memorable characters, mystery, and suspense. The pace is perfect, the writing is top-notch and I got caught up in the storyline from the very beginning.

Charlotte had much more strength and courage than she ever imagined after the unexpected death of her husband as she returns to her childhood home with her baby. I expected to feel bad for her with all of the changes in her life but instead started to admire her for her dignity. The unexpected return of her first love and fierce protector was a wonderful surprise which added to the plot and my need to find out exactly what would happen in the end.
Overall, I thought this novel was exceptional. The author is a gifted storyteller, weaving suspense, mystery and romance seamlessly
I received a copy of this book from the publisher though Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

I give this book four stars. It was well written, the plot was a bit predictable which made it a little uninteresting to me, but the hero in this story saved the book for me. I loved his character and how sure and confident he was. There’s some mystery but enough hints are dropped throughout the book that it’s fairly easy to predict what will happen and who did it.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd captures the essence of a world where woman are used as commodities. I really enjoyed how strong Charlotte Grey is even though she was forced into a situation that could have crumbled her. She took control and thought of the best thing for her son, Henry. Whereas, in similiar fashion, Anthony, had to come to grips what happened in the past to his uncle's mill and learn the meaning of home. The conflict with the Prior's crafted a masterpiece of a Regency mystery. Plenty of moments of wondering what was really going to occur to what actually occurred. Ladd did a wonderful job at creating little trail of secrets that led to the falling down of the villains. The descriptions, Ladd handles nicely. I had no problem exploring the abandoned Hollythorne Home when Charlotte and Anthony returned. The run down and misuse with years of dirt and grime mirrored the long forgotten emotions between Charlotte and Anthony. Overall, In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd is a wonderful story that I enjoyed reading. I recommend this story for fans of Erica Vetsch and Julie Klassen.

I received a complimentary copy of In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

"In the Shelter of Hollythorne House" is an engaging second-chance romance. Sarah Ladd weaves an intriguing tale in which the motives of many are suspect.

The young and idealistic Anthony Welbourne has returned from war as a steadfast, practical man who regrets his decision to become a soldier, as it adversely affected others. He displays great character growth. Charlotte Prior, née Grey, remaining impulsive and stubborn throughout the book, is nevertheless a wonderful person and a great mother. The secondary characters are also well-drawn, the devoted Sutcliffe in particular.

This book starts out slowly and picks up speed as masks come off and true motivations are revealed. Some I guessed correctly and some I didn't. The conclusion is highly satisfying.

Ladd's prose is pleasing and beautifully descriptive. A partial quote at the end, “family is who we choose to love and those who love us in return” is a lovely sentiment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this enjoyable novel.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House is perfect for that day when you’re looking for an easy read that doesn’t ask much of you other than that you sit back and be entertained. It has a gothic feel about it, but it never gets as deeply gothic as something by Daphne du Maurier or the Brontë sisters. There were some potentially tense moments that the author could have used to turn the story into a truly suspenseful read. However, each tense moment was quickly and easily resolved before it could develop into a serious conflict. Could this have been intentional by the author in an attempt to minimize triggers to those who have survived abusive relationships?

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#IntheShelterofHollythorneHouse #NetGalley

Sarah E. Ladd's In the Shelter of Hollythorne House is fine romance/mystery. An initial romance between the two main characters, Charlotte Grey and Anthony Welbourne, when they are young is abandoned but never forgotten. Anthony leaves for the army and suffers through battles and wounds. Charlotte is married to an abusive, controlling husband and has a child. They meet again years later when Anthony, an ex-soldier working as a thief-taker is hired to protect Charlotte and her young son at her childhood home after her awful husband has died. The plot is intricate with unexpected twists. The setting is well imagined. Both the main characters and the peripheral characters go through a series of changes. This was a very satisfying read and strongly recommended.

This Regency-set mystery-romance has all the elements of an excellent story- a faithless husband, a young widow surrounded by family secrets, missing jewels, and a second chance at love in the form of a returned soldier. It’s an enjoyable read, it the writing doesn’t quite manage to pull it together without tipping at times toward melodrama or overwrought language. A few words were misused, which is a minor thing but enough to pull you out of a scene. Again, a good, quick read that doesn’t quite make it to great. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.