As far as Regency romance books I have read, this has been the most unique so far. A woman in the business of antiques at a house party, mixed in with some romance and a mystery. It was good, however I did start to get bored in the middle. I pushed through and was pleased with the ending. No angst, no lame misunderstandings, no smut. I would recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Olivia Brannon is more interested in being known for dealing in antiquities than in marrying well! I enjoyed this story as Olivia is invited to Cloverton Hall to secretly evaluate a private collection of antiquities. Several unexpected things happen. Lucas Avery, the son of her late father's rival is also at the Hall and evaluating other pieces for the new heir. These experts determine some pieces are not as they appear. You will like how Lucas and Olivia find more to draw them to each other than the antiques. I recommend The Cloverton Charade to others. i received a complimentary e-book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion,

🌿THE CLOVERTON CHARADE🌿

Thank you to @austenprose and @thomasnelson for my #giftedcopy. All thoughts are my own.

The Cloverton Charade is a story about a mysterious estate, filled with antiquities, rare finds, and intrigue. Miss Olivia Brannon gets the chance of a lifetime to play a honored guest at the house while studying the household rarities- undercover of sorts. Unfortunately, during this charade, Olivia runs into Lucas Avery, an old childhood friend whose family happens to own her rival's antiquities business.

What an intriguing, unique story! I loved all the historical details! So fun to read a story between the working class and higher society. I thought the antique business was such an interesting historical element, I couldn't stop reading. @sarahladdauthor is great with her history!

Lucas and Olivia's love story was sweet and romantic. A little rivals and childhood friends to lovers. The sweet spot!

The Cloverton Charade was released last week. Historical fiction lovers, check this one out!

#theclovertoncharade
#sarahladd #historicalfiction #antiques
#england #tourpost #booktour #austenprose #thomasnelson #arc #histfic

This story was such a great mix of regency, gentle romance, dash of mystery, the realities of grief, and recognition of women in male dominant professions.
I love Olivia’s determination to keep her head up even when her heart doubts that confidence, but still never in an abrasive manner. I love the risks Lucas takes to trust Olivia and support her opportunities. I also appreciate how each Olivia and Lucas seek to understand the heart of those around them instead of of making knee jerk reactions to others’ foolish behavior. I could identify so much with Olivia’s inner world!

My favorite scenes included the library, the veranda, and the epilogue. 😍

Themes that make this book beautiful: safety, autonomy, respect, and support.

#BookRevew : THE CLOVERTON CHARADE by Sarah E. Ladd

“I’m not entirely sure what it is you’re chasing, but I wish you could accept things for how they are. I really do.”

Olivia's life was forever altered by her father's passing. The antiquarian world was a male-dominated domain, often relegating women to the background. However, Olivia was excited by the opportunity to demonstrate her expertise amidst such a vast collection at Cloverton Hall. A new adventure awaits. The extraordinary collections at Cloverton Hall must have been a feast for the eyes.

Lucas and Olivia were endearing characters. Despite their personal challenges, their shared passion for antiques was evident in their expertise. The romance was charming, and I appreciated Lucas's recognition of Olivia's skills and value. The charade of guests was an intriguing aspect of the story, especially during the house parties of 1800s England. The unfamiliar world of nobility presented a fascinating challenge to Olivia, as she navigated the intricacies of the ton.

The pacing of the story was good and the plot engaging. I liked the message of trust, being true to oneself and finding peace.The mystery was well-crafted, and I did not anticipate the plot twists. Even if this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.This is the second book I've read by this author. I like her writing style. I will definitely look into the other books in the series and other books by this author.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Series: Houses of Yorkshire, Book 3
Pub date: 03 Sept 2024

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quite the story! Regency England.
Antiquities and a mystery. These two very things are what I enjoyed most about this book.
I'm not saying I don't enjoy a good Regency England historical fiction... but this one had those additional elements that captivated.
Olivia was not a typical refined young lady that she was expected to be in that day. Her antiquities broker father had let her tag along with him as she grew up, and that was all she knew. She longed for the opportunity to make her own name, and jumped at the chance she was offered to go to Cloverton and catalogue an exclusive collection owned by a wealthy widow.
In spite of the warnings she was given, nothing could have prepared her for what she encountered there.
Was anybody who they seemed to be?
And then...her old nemesis became her friend as they worked together to try and uncover what was really happening.
This is an excellent mystery, and I loved the setting.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good historical mystery.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I loved being swept away to the regency era in this book! Highly recommend for anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility or who wanted to like Bridgerton but found that too spicy- this is the perfect clean, sweet alternative! Beautifully written with an engaging storyline and well-rounded characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This is my first Sarah Ladd book and I have enjoyed it! This book will whisk you away to Regency England, where a house party sets the stage for two rival antiquities dealers to come together, put the past behind them, and solve the clues that are placed before them at the grand Cloverton Hall, where things may not be what they seem!

I love a story where characters get to cross over the lines of society’s expectations. In this case, we have our main characters Olivia Brannon and Lucas Avery, both of the working class, needing to masquerade in high society to accomplish their job. Once childhood friends, they became rivals when their fathers ended business dealings with one another 😉. So we have an enemies-to-lovers story. Something that has resonated with me in this story is the theme of grieving the loss of a loved one, how their passions and possessions are passed on to those who remain, and how each person navigates the transition from loss to new beginnings.

'The Cloverton Charade' by Sarah E. Ladd is a fascinating read dealing with family issues, antiquities and mystery. Olivia Brannon and Lucas Avery were connected through the partnership of their respective fathers in business, one that ended poorly. Both Oliva and Lucas are motivated to succeed each for their own reasons. The journey to a satisfying outcome is fraught with emotion and danger. This is a traditional Regency with a heartwarming conclusion. I highly recommend it.

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

Do you collect antiques? I love antiques.

Olivia Brannon works at her late father’s shop and evaluates rare antiquities. Her uncle currently runs the shop, but she dreams of someday being able to travel the world in search of antiquities herself. One day, she is invited by Mrs. Milton, a wealthy widow and former client of her father’s, to attend a house party at Cloverton Hall. Mrs. Milton’s nephew, Mr. Wainbridge, has inherited Cloverton Hall and all the antiquities that her husband has collected, but Mrs. Milton hopes to be able to sell her own antiquities. Mr. Wainbridge, meanwhile, has invited his own antique dealer, Lucas Avery, to the house party to evaluate Mr. Milton’s antiquities. He wants to sell them to try to make the estate solvent. When Lucas and Olivia discover that some of the antiquities are fake, they are thrust into a mystery. Will they be able to discover who is replacing the antiquities with fakes and will they also find romance along the way?

My thoughts on this novel:

• I really enjoyed this unique Regency story. I don’t think I have read a Regency novel before that involved the collecting of antiquities. It was so interesting. I know that collecting antiques was very popular during this time period, so it was great to learn more about it and have it as a plot device in this novel.
• The mystery was intriguing as well with a great conclusion.
• I love the romance between Olivia and Lucas. It was a Romeo and Juliet type story with them being from rival antique companies.
• I love Regency house parties and it was fun to read about this one. I enjoyed that both Olivia and Lucas could move around in the world of high society, but being in business, they were not truly part of it.
• The plight of Mrs. Milton and of Olivia herself, made me ponder again the limited choices that women had during the Regency time period. Mrs. Milton could not inherit her husband’s estate where she had spent her lifetime, while Olivia could not inherit her father’s business, even though she was more qualified in antiquities than her uncle.
• I read this one quickly as I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
• This was a clean read.

Favorite Quote: “For what it’s worth, you say you don’t belong here. But I believe you are the rival of any woman in the room. And I daresay you are infinitely more interesting. There is something about a woman who can think for herself that is quite intriguing.”

Overall, The Cloverton Charade was an engaging Regency romance novel with a wonderful romance and great mystery involving antiquities. I highly recommend this novel.

Olivia Bannon is a wonderful main character and her family history in the antiquities business is fascinating! But being a woman in this time and running a business is just unheard of. Now that her father has passed on and her uncle has taken over the business, she's desperate to find her own way.

The offer she receives to attend a party at Cloverton and assess the family antiquities is just the opportunity she needed. But her childhood friend and family adversary, Lucas Avery is also there and for the same reason! But there is an attraction between the two that is undeniable and with their common interests, it's meant to be!

An absolutely delightful read!

The Cloverton Charade, by Sarah E. Ladd, wraps up her The Houses of Yorkshire series. On the opening pages, you will see Olivia Brannon heading to Cloverton Hall to assist with evaluating their collection of jewelry and gems. Olivia’s dream of being valued for her professional reputation might finally be coming to fruition. She knows her life is definitely about to change. The only difficulty is that the owner of the collection insists that Olivia keep her work a secret!

Lucas Avery, the son of a rival antiquities seller, has also been invited to the country party being held at Cloverton Hall. The new owner wants his assistance with selling the family collection. Unfortunately, this means Lucas will be in direct competition with Olivia!

When Olivia is asked to spy on Lucas to discover what he is up to, she feels it is a step too far. Before you know it, Lucas has discovered that something shady is going on and he forms a team with Olivia to discover what exactly is going on at Cloverton Hall. You will be surprised to learn how many familiar faces are involved!

The Cloverton Charade is a mystery and romance set in the antiquities trade of England, 1810. Olivia Brannon is the daughter of an antiques dealer. She has grown up in the trade, and if she had not been a girl, she would have inherited her father's business when he died. Instead, the business went to his brother, and she has been pushed to the margins of a business she understands deeply. Unexpectedly, Olivia is hired to go to a house party at Cloverton house to assess the value of an antiques collection. While there, she and an old family competitor reengage.

I was frankly annoyed by a few too many overly active verb choices in this book, and felt like the action could have been moved along more smoothly, and less by fortuitous eavesdropping. Overall, though the novel was enjoyable, and an interesting glimpse into the porcelain trade of the early 1800's.


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

Intriguing Regency romance, clean and not too cheesy, mixed with a bit of mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and learning more about antiquities.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

The Cloverton Charade
by Sarah E. Ladd
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction
Series: Houses of Yorkshire
Rated: 4-5
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “A long-held family feud reignites when two rival antiquities brokers arrive at the same house party in Regency England.
Olivia Brannon knows her goals are unconventional. As a young woman in Regency England, her best bet—according to society—is to marry well and secure a steady future for herself. But Olivia has never been interested in convention. She’d prefer to follow in her deceased father’s footsteps and journey to foreign lands in search of rare and valuable antiquities.
Eager to make a name for herself in the antiquities world, Olivia jumps at an invitation to join a wealthy widow at the famed Cloverton Hall to evaluate her private antiquities collection. Secrecy of the task is vital, and in order to conceal her efforts Olivia must pretend to be a house party guest to avoid suspicion and to explain her presence.
Lucas Avery, whose father was a rival of Olivia’s father, has also arrived at the Cloverton Hall house party, hired by the new master of Cloverton Hall—the widow’s nephew—to appraise the renowned Cloverton Hall collection. When Lucas discovers Olivia masquerading as a party guest while covertly conducting her own assessment, he’s keen to renew the family rivalry. But as their paths frequently cross, he’s unprepared for the effect the refreshingly honest—and beautiful—Olivia has on him.
Yet all is not as it seems. Both Olivia and Lucas are shocked by the astonishing discovery of counterfeit pieces, and when the unexpected occurs, everyone is a suspect . . . and Olivia and Lucas both must choose whom they will trust. Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.”
Impressions: This was a well written and easy to read novel. I found the plot to be interesting and believable. The characters development was engaging, and I look forward to future books in this series.

Quotes: “…in her current state she was predisposed to find fault in any suggestion.” – I liked the self awareness of Olivia in this moment. It put checking my state of mind before addressing someone on my radar.

“‘Treat every client as if your entire business depends on them- as if their items, their, their hopes, are the only items that matter to your business.’” – I thought this was useful advice to heed.

“She had no choice but to fight those feelings of nervousness and inadequacy as they rushed her. Because that was all they were-feelings. They were not a reflection of reality.” – What good wisdom to persevering in life.

“Everyone here-every single person in that drawing room- is driven by fear. Fear of being alone, fear of not being accepted, or fear of being without money.” -I feel like this is a sentiment I have learned with age. Everyone is driven by something and many times it is fear of one of the items above. It is also a reminder to look beneath the actions and words of others to better understand them. This allows me to show better patience when I am frustrated.

“She challenged what was considered feminine. And yet she exuded femininity.”

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I love regency romances. I especially love ones with a strong female character. Loved that she wasn't a typical female for that era - no skill for sewing, music, etc. Great romance and a nice mystery to go along with it.

Thank you @sarahladdauthor @thomasnelson @austenprose for a #gifted copy.

This was a cute, fun historical fiction novel! I absolutely loved it, and finished it within a day! Every page just kept me wanting to read more.

You meet Olivia and Lucas, both from families of rival antique dealers. When they’re both brought to the Cloverton estate by separate family members to assess the antiques, they didn’t expect to find counterfeit pieces. Little did they plan to run into each other, or to enjoy each other’s company.

This was just a sweet, clean romance, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. From both perspectives, you’re able to follow each on their own separate mission, but also watch as their missions soon join.

I enjoyed the characters and appreciated seeing different sides of them. The author brought out so many layers, and chances to view characters from different lenses. This doesn’t always happen in books. Though it may seem like a subtle characteristic of the writing, it added a lot of depth to the characters.

The plot line itself was intriguing. Fun, easy to follow, and cute. I loved the writing, and hope for a chance to read more by this author very soon.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from the @sarahladdauthor @thomasnelson @austenprose. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

This was a delight to read. It is a charming “whodunit” set in the Regency era, early 1800’s. It begins when our main characters are youngsters. Their fathers had been business partners but had a falling out and become rivals in the antiquities trade. By the time Olivia and Lucas are young adults, they are both considered experts in the field. However, the customs of the era prohibit Olivia from devoting her time completely to her job. She is expected to marry well and have children. Lucas is trying to salvage his father’s reputation after some bad business dealings.
Mr. Wainbridge, the current owner of Cloverton Hall has asked Lucas to catalog, appraise and sell all of his uncle’s collections. His aunt, Mrs. Milton, the former owner and widow of George Milton, is vehemently opposed to the sale. She asks Olivia to pose as her companion in order for her to appraise her secret personal collection without her nephew finding out. Unfortunately, at a house party held by Mr. Wainbridge and hosted by Mrs. Wilton, Lucas recognizes her. In the process of examining the uncle’s collection, several forgeries are found. Lucas and Olivia decide to join forces to solve the mystery of the forgeries. Will Lucas expose her? Will they discover who is behind the forgeries? Who can they trust?
This is a clean romance. The dialog flows well and is engaging. The author does a wonderful job describing the fashions and settings. She draws the reader into the story.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher the via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Cloverton Charade is a fantastic novel. It is a female centered story and Regency era Romance, tied up with a great mystery.

I've read a few "romance" books lately where the romance does not really feel central to the story. Instead, the stories have centered around a strong female main character, who plays an integral role in moving the plot of the story forward, and I'm just loving these stories.

In The Cloverton Charade, our main character doesn't do the traditional things a young lady does in order to land a husband. She isn't musical, and she doesn't sew or draw. She has another talent, one not fit for a woman in Regency England. She is an expert in antiquities. Thinking she's never going to be able to realize her dream, she is offered a role at a grand cataloging and assessing a collection for the widow of the manor. But, spending a fortnight at the manor isn't what she expected.

I loved the storyline of this book, the look into the antiquities world during the Regency time period. The mystery added an element of suspense. I liked that the main character was a strong woman, but she wasn't written in a way that seemed very unrealistic to the time period. She pushed the boundaries but had her limits. The romance was sweet, and thankfully, this story was very light on the miscommunication.

The Cloverton Charade is the third in the Houses of Yorkshire novels. I didn't know that going in, I'm not sure if they are interconnected, but you definitely don't have to have read the others.

If you enjoy stories set during the Regency period with strong female main characters and a side of mystery, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Alicia Brannon's knowledge of antiquities is unparalleled, having learned everything she needs to know from her broker father. When she is invited to Cloverton Hall to review the private collection of the widowed Mrs Milton, she is aware that the evaluation must be conducted in secrecy to prevent Mrs Milton’s nephew, George Wainbridge, the new owner of Cloverton Hall, from having knowledge of it. Meanwhile, Lucas Avery, also an antiquities purveyor, agrees to visit Cloverton Hall, to meet with George, who would like his uncle’s collection to be liquidated. Alicia and Lucas both arrive at the house party under the guise of guests but find that they must work together when Lucas realises that some of the pieces in the collection are counterfeit. As their work brings them closer together, an undeniable bond begins to form. Then when one of the most famous pieces in the collection is broken during the house party, everyone is a suspect.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, which was a pleasing departure from the stories focused on the ton of London. This book had a touch of mystery which held me captivated and unaware of the true criminals until the end. The romance was sweet and very tender with both characters seeing the good in each other, despite their fathers’ falling out, many years ago. Lucas was truly delightful in his respect for Alicia, who he recognised for her wisdom and tenacity.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.