Windsong Manor is a sweet Regency Proper Romance book about a forbidden romance between a baroness and a stable hand. This title is the first book I've read by Julie Wright, and the book summary immediately caught my interest because I love most of the books in the Proper Romance line by Shadow Mountain. This book was a quick and easy read, with an unexpected twist and an original plot compared to other Regency stories.

The primary reasons I didn't rate the book higher was because the book was anachronistic and had significant historical terminology errors. For example, although the cover art is beautiful, a baroness would never wear her hair down outside during the day. Phrases in the book like "hear me out" were used and were jolting as those phrases are not authentic to the time period. Further, a daughter of a baroness would not be called a baroness, and a Viscount's title is not "Viscount of X" it's simply Viscount X. I'm not a professional historian, but I've read enough books in this genre to have a working knowledge of the peerage and customs and I believe most readers would also find these inaccuracies difficult to overlook.

As a side note, I also wished the children's ages were explicitly listed at the beginning of the book instead of three-fourths the way through the book; not knowing their ages made it difficult to visualize the characters.

Someone with no knowledge of Regency England might enjoy this book as-is, but I recommend these errors be fixed before publication to improve the book for a wider variety of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and ShadowMountain Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book to review. My review is honest and is in no way influenced by the publisher or author.

This story was fun though a little angst filled. The characters are likeable enough and the story moves well. It leads to the expected happy ending and doesn't leave you bored along the way.

I loved this book. This is one of the best proper romances I've read in a long time. I finished it in a day and throughly enjoyed the whole story. It was captivating and interesting and it actually helped me through a rough time with some of the quotes in it. I do wish on some of the letters in the book that we actually got to see what some of them said, but other then that it was amazing.

4.5* I enjoyed Wright's new story. The sense of self the heroine developed though the story arc was empowering. I loved the little bit of back story that was teased and the way the characters interacted. The hero's bits of wisdom he passed on and his confidence were nicely juxtaposed with the little family who were each struggling to find themselves. This was a satisfying story to read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

My Thoughts:
This was an emotional but nice historical romance that’s set in the 1820s. The romance between Eleanor and Ridley is one of someone with a title and the other one doesn’t so in a world where privilege and title means everything do they risk everything for love

4.5 If you're a fan of proper romance stories - you will swoon for this tale.
Nora, or Baroness Coventry, is a widow and struggling with her own sense of identity. She has been taught to and expected to focus on titles and the expectations of society.
Ridley, the confident and handsome stable master, has run from his past and hides his true identity from those around him.
Lessons in finding value in ones true self, protecting those we love, finding our inner strength, forgiveness, and treating others with respect -really give the story value. It's an enjoyable read with main characters that you want to be friends and neighbors with.
I had a couple of confused moments with the ages of the children- at times they seemed very childlike, and they quickly matured and their voices felt like those of young adults.
Favorite quotes:
"A tree is beautiful because of its bends and twists. It proves that it has persevered through heat and rain and lack of light. Those hardships shape every branch.
Without the wind driving clouds across the sky, the sun setting would be rather unremarkable. It is the colors and clouds that make it an orchestra in the sky. These things are not beautiful because they are perfect.
They are beautiful because they endure."
"If your word means nothing to you, that is what it will be worth to others.
This great story will be published in October 2023, and I appreciate Net Galley for the chance to read it and give my opinion. I recommend it whole heartedly.

Nora is a Baroness who is called to her husband’s deathbed. He informs her that he has an illegitimate daughter that he is claiming and since her mother is deceased he wants Nora to raise her as her own. Nora’s husband dies and she now has her son and new daughter to take care of. Nora is also threatened by the fact if she doesn’t make sure her son is getting the proper training to be a Baron he can be taken from her. Her son is having major anger issues, her daughter is very upset and Nora doesn’t know how to help them. They move to the Windsong Manor estate and there they meet Stablehand Ridley who seems to be just want the family needed. Nora and Ridley become friends even though she has a title and he doesn’t which is frowned upon but is the relationship worth the risk?

I really loved this story! Not only for the romance between Nora and Ridley but for the entire family dynamic. The way Ridley interacts with the kids is heartwarming and in turn how Nora learns how to help her kids and for them to be a family. It’s really beautiful! I really liked how much the kids were involved in the story! Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and it had such likable characters. The good characters were wonderful and the bad ones were just horrid. It had just the right amount of romance to hold my attention and keep me happy. It was clean and ended happily!

I really enjoyed this book. Ridley’s words of advice were great! I loved reading how he gently mentored and supported Nora and her kids. I also enjoyed how the story showed Nora’s growth as she came to learn who she was and how to stand up for herself. Overall a great book. I highly recommend it.

I loved this book. It is a sweet romance between a young widow and a man she thinks is a stable master. Great story and an easy read.

**Review will be published September 28th on my site and socials**

MORE THAN A ROMANCE.

That was what a friend said to me before I read it and she was absolutely right and it warmed my heart 100x over reading this book. I LOVED IT.

I absolutely adored both main characters. Nora was passionate and incredibly strong and trying her best as a young mother to keep a hold on a situation out of her control. I felt all the emotions with Nora and looooove her as a character so much. And RIDLEY, what a swoony hero!! He made me melt many times. That man has a way with words, but also with his gentle presence. When I realized what was potentially happening with his character arc I flipped, very much a, PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN moment.

This book is filled with so much. Children growing up, a single mother doing her best, a man running from his past and antagonists with devious plots. The pacing is perfect, the romance is swoony and the larger story will squeeze your heart.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

Historical Romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: brief physical altercations, loss of a parent

Eleanora had a difficult marriage. Now she's a widow fighting to keep and raise her children -facing resistance and interference from her husband's will and her husband's solicitor. The stable master has proven to be an unexpected help in teaching riding to her kids and becomes one of her closest allies. When his secret is revealed and her worst nightmare unfolds, she faces a very uncertain future.

Clean, historical fiction.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I loved 'Windsong Manor'! I experienced all kinds of feelings at the plight of Eleanora and Ridley. Issues as a child of parents, as a wife at 16, as a mother, a stepmother, an employer and a woman were explored with sensitivity and enlightenment. There was a tension always because of a mystery within the story because of some well drawn villains. Overarching was the redemption of love and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was a very unique regency romance!

Nora, young and recently widowed, escapes to Windsong Manor with her children hoping to develop a better relationship with them now that her husband is no longer around to control everyone and everything. She agrees to let the children take riding lessons and cannot help but notice how patient and kind (and handsome!) the stable hand is.

Ridley enjoys working in the stables at Windsong Manor and finds himself drawn to the widowed baronness. But even as their feelings for each other grow, he knows that his secrets - and his past - make a future together impossible.

What to expect:
Regency era
Dual POV
Forbidden love
Different stations
Sweet romance
Secret pasts/hidden identity
The horseback rides
Ridley's patience with Edward and Amelia
The first kiss

I enjoyed the unique setting of the book and that most of the story did not take place in ballrooms or over afternoon tea. Not that those are bad - it was just fun to have something different!

The plot was well-paced even if a bit predictable, and the romance was very sweet. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked but that is me, not the writing or the plot. Fans of sweet regency romance will enjoy this book!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

I loved Ridley Ellis. He is so kind, knowledgeable and just what the Coventry family needed. Nora is struggling to find her place and balance as she tries to keep her little family together and moving forward with kindness and strength after her husband passes away. There was no love in her marriage and very little kindness. Ridley Ellis works in her stable with the horses. But he seems familiar. She doesn't know whom to trust in her new responsibilities.
I love the growth that takes place in Nora, Edward and Lia with the help of Ridley's influence and friendship. I would highly recommend this book. It is a sweet romance.

This was an interesting take on a regency romance. I ended up really enjoying it in the end. I’ve actually always wanted to read a book where the lady has a title but the man does not because those stories often don’t get told. Women during the regency period don’t often marry below their rank.

Nora has had a difficult marriage. Married at 15, and to an abusive man, her life has been a series of difficult situations. When her husband dies, she moves to the family estate to try to raise her son and her husband's illegitimate child, all while being "watched" by her late husband's solicitor to make sure she is raising her son correctly.

Ridley has secrets, a past he doesn't want known. But what a character! He is handsome, kind, humble, and willing to teach the young baron what morality and good governing are, unlike what his father did. As a groom in Nora's stables, the two are living in different worlds.

The characters were well developed. Ridley is an awesome character, even with his flaws. Nora tries so hard to do the right thing, to raise these children in love and give them a moral compass.

A good read!

That was so so good!!! I loved the characters so much!! Each one grew and leaned and changed throughout the book and I loved watching it! I loved the emphasis the author put on how important the job of being a mother is. Eleanora fought so hard to be a good mother without having any good role models to show her how. She loved her children and learned to stand up for them and to persevere. Ridley was such an amazing father figure to the children and he show Eleanora the kindness she had been denied for so long. The children acted very grownup for their age but I know kids like that so it didn’t bother me at all!!

I received an eARC from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

"Windsong Manor" is a thought-provoking Regency Romance. With her brat of a son and her husband's natural daughter, heroine Eleanora Covington flees London after the death of said cruel spouse. What follows initially appears to be a romance between two people of unequal stations, yet it's immediately apparent it's not. Enigmatic stable hand Ridley Ellis has secrets. He is articulate and incredibly gifted with horses.

Nora struggles to find her adult self, and out of all the characters, her growth into a mature and capable woman is the most profound. Curiously her son has an arrogant, demanding and condescending attitude one might find in an adult, not in a child of ten. However, a controlling elder (his father) can foster that behavior. Nevertheless, Ridley effects a most positive change in the boy. Ridley is steadfast, compassionate, and a perfectly wonderful hero. Lia is a delight, and the villains are reprehensible.

I very much enjoyed this story. Julie Wright is a talented author; I loved her other Regency work, "A Captain for Caroline Gray". This book is clean and Wright has a lovely way with words. However, there is a jarring historical inaccuracy regarding how one character is addressed. This is an ARC review, and hopefully this error is fixed, as it won't change the story. 4 stars, but would be 5 without this glaring mistake.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this engaging tale.

I loved going back in time to early nineteenth century London in Julie Wright's Windsong Manor. It is definitely well worth reading. Five plus stars.