I loved it! The author has a knack for describing a story you can visualize and creating characters you can connect with. This story had it all -- romance, socialites, mystery, and an intriguing plot. Best of all, it is a clean read!

Thank you to publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my personal opinion. It is a 5 star read for me. I love Sarah Ladd's novels!

London - 1818

Olivia Brannon was brought up involved in her father’s antiquities business where he brought many beautiful and priceless objects from around the world and sold them to clients. Her knowledge of the business and these objects is enormous. In earlier days, her father had partnered with another man until a big difference split their partnership and their friendship. The other man’s son, Lucas Avery, has now taken over his father’s business. Olivia and Lucas were friends before their fathers’ falling-out.

Today, Olivia’s father has passed away and her uncle has taken over the business. She knows more than he could ever wish to know about the business but his arrogance puts her down and refuses to recognize her knowledge.

The Cloverton collection was one that Olivia’s father helped to find items for. It was owned by Mr. Milton of Cloverton Hall. Now, the man has passed away, and his widow has asked Olivia to come to the Hall and discretely assess her own collection of items left to her by her grandfather. She will go as the woman’s friend and there will be a house party being held by Mrs. Milton’s nephew, George Wainbridge, who has now inherited everything including the famous collection. Mrs. Milton resents him taking over. Olivia agrees, she is outfitted by the woman, and they are off.

Lucas has been approached by Mr. Wainbridge as he wants to sells off the Cloverton collection. He does not appreciate the antiquities and just wants and needs the money he can get from them. So, Lucas agrees to attend the house party as well to assess the collection and help him sell everything.

When Olivia and Lucas recognize one another at the party, they discretely agree to pretend to not really know one another. But as Lucas works on authenticating the collection, he notices problems and discretely consults Olivia who agrees with his assessment. What has happened and can their newly formed friendship develop into something more?

As always, this amazing author has penned a lovely story with attention to the time period in addition to edge-of-the-seat intrigue, plus a budding romance. So delightful!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"The Cloverton Charade" is a captivating Regency-era story from author Sarah E. Ladd! The historical setting was described clearly with details that make it easy to picture the setting, locations, characters, clothing, and what is happening in the story. The characters feel three-dimensional and like real people. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know them! I absolutely loved the romance, mystery, suspense, and of course all of the art and antiquities! The romance is sweet and swoony! The perfect slow burn historical romance! This is a Regency-era story that feels original, charming, and is so much fun! I enjoyed reading. I very highly recommend reading "The Cloverton Charade"! Beautiful book. 5 stars!

Thank you very much to the author Sarah E. Ladd, AustenprosePR, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with both physical and digital copies to read and review honestly.

A fun story! Loved the viewpoint of Olivia as it was seen while she was at Cloverton. She was a lovely character. End felt a but rushed but was also well done.

This was such a fun read from start to finish! I’m a sucker for historical romances and this one did not disappoint.

I was captivated from the beginning with our headstrong female main character, Olivia, who pushed against the status quo, wanting to follow in her father’s footsteps and be an antiquarian. And when she was offered an opportunity to get ahead in her career, she jumped on it, attending a house party as a guest to evaluate a collection. I loved following Olivia and seeing her navigate the norms of fashionable society. It was interesting to see this take on it. I always enjoy seeing these fashionable events, but I haven’t seen much around those who really weren’t meant to be there. It made for a unique read that I simply couldn’t put down!

And the slow romance between Olivia and a family enemy, Lucas Avery, the son of her father’s rival was so sweet! It was adorable seeing the two bond over antiques. Their romance was so tender. I loved every minute of it!

My only wish was I would have loved to see more of the house party, I felt like we didn’t get enough time there and then afterward the events following felt rather rushed. There was a lot going on around the mystery of the counterfeit pieces. But I still found this read thoroughly enjoyable!

If you enjoy historical romances with a side of mystery, you should definitely pick this one up! This is an easy read that will keep you captivated from start to finish!

The Cloverton Charade is a Regency mystery romance. Lucas and Olivia had grown up as childhood friends, their fathers and mothers have been friends and worked in the same antiquities business. When a bad deal tore the families apart, and eventually, their parents passed. They had not seen each other for many years. Out of the blue both have been pulled together for a house party at Cloverton Hall. I thought this had an interesting storyline, both main characters have a great deal of knowledge about antiquities and have been requested to view collections at the same home. When things become complicated with forgeries and deceit. It has a little bit of a slow start, but quickly became more engaging, the romance that was beginning to bloom was sweet and charming. The mystery intensifies to an intriguing conclusion. It is a clean wholesome romance I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In The Cloverton Charade, two rival antiquity brokers attend a house party to evaluate the same collection.

(I’m not sure why the synopsis refers to Alicia because in my arc the character is Olivia)
Olivia and Lucas are both antiquity brokers and arrive at the same house party with the intention of evaluating the collection. Olivia’s presence is a secret. However, Lucas recognizes her as a rival and competitor. Upon evaluating the collection, it’s apparent to both of them that some of the pieces are counterfeit. At this point, they are forced to work together to solve the mystery and their attraction for each other grows. Their professional reputations and hearts are at risk.

Competitors to Lovers is a fun twist on the Enemies to Lovers trope. Olivia and Lucas are each desperate to become the broker for the collection. Olivia needs this acquisition to secure her future reputation as a legitimate broker in the business after the death of her father, and Lucas needs this acquisition to secure the family business. They hadn’t counted on the counterfeits or the mutual attraction. Suddenly, solving the mystery/crime and the attraction pulls them away from their initial intents.

The crime/mystery solving adds a page-turning element to the story. Even though Olivia and Luca join forces, they encounter many challenges in working together and are torn between their initial purposes, their attraction, and the mystery.

Although the romance is slow-burn, the urgency to solve the mystery adds elements of intrigue and excitement as the story progresses.

Fans of gently written regency historical romance will find a great deal to enjoy in this story. The romance is sweet and firmly closed door with sides of mystery and crime solving.

Thanks #NetGalley @ThomasNelson @AustenProse for a complimentary e ARC of #TheClovertonCharade upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Olivia Brannon has a secret and she is not the only one. Olivia is hired by a widow to evaluate an extensive private collection of antiquities at Cloverton Hall. Under the guise of a house party, Lucas Avery is also invited to Cloverton Hall by the new heir to catalog and broker his uncle’s vast quantity of artifacts.
But there is much more going on behind the scenes. Olivia and Lucas, though their families are currently at odds, vow to find out the secrets and set things right.
Lots of subterfuge, clandestine meetings and mystery, surround Cloverton Hall, and its inhabitants. This regency tale is rich in atmosphere and has a clever plot that is intriguing, where anybody could be the force behind hiding the truth for their own gain. The romance of Olivia and Lucas was believable and sweet.
Put this on your list for an interesting, historical, clean read.
* I received a digital copy for review by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

I really enjoyed this book from a new-to-me author. I enjoyed the characters she created, and the scenes were described beautifully. I didn't notice any anachronisms that took me out of the time period, so it was a lovely escape into Regency England. I really liked the main character's passion and drive for her craft, and the mystery was quite engaging! It definitely kept me guessing!

What a great read! I love the antiquities theme and how our two main characters are “rival” experts in the field. The fact that they have a shared history made the story that much better! I thought the whole plot was really well done and well paced. The time spent evaluating pieces and accidentally uncovering a hidden plot in the process was great! I enjoyed the many aspects to this story and the way the romance was weaved through was really nice. This is certainly a story that you’ll enjoy from beginning to end, with a great epilogue that leaves you especially satisfied!

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Whenever I pick up a Sarah Ladd book, I know I’m in for a treat! I thoroughly enjoyed The Cloverton Charade and the charming Yorkshire house party setting with a twist. Two rivals employed by two separate family members attend a house party under the guise of guests, but they’re really both there to authenticate an expensive antique collection. When they meet and recognize the other, that’s when the fun begins. With several twists & turns, a rivals to friends to more romance, and a slow burn mystery that leads to a thrilling conclusion, this fun Regency adventure was hard to put down.

In Regency era England, Alicia Bannon’s expected to marry well and settle down. But, having spent time at her broker father’s side becoming an expert in antiquities, she longs for the chance to prove her abilities and travel to the antiquities’ exotic locations. When the former mistress of Cloverton Hall offers her a chance to make a name for herself by evaluating a rare private collection, she readily agrees. There’s a catch though, she must do it covertly by posing as a house guest so the nephew & new owner of Cloverton Hall doesn’t suspect.

Lucas Avery has been hired by the new owner of Cloverton Hall to evaluate the antiquities collection he’s inherited with the goal of selling it quickly to raise money, but his aunt poses a formidable problem. He invites Lucas to attend his house party & evaluate the collection while he’s there. Lucas desperately needs this opportunity to solidify his reputation & further the family business after the death of his father.

Lucas and Alicia’s fathers were bitter rivals and through it’s been years, each recognizes the other at the party. While they hesitate to trust each other, circumstances propel them to spend a lot of time together and become reacquainted. As they unravel the secrets behind the antiquities, they soon find themselves caught up in a web of mystery. Will they be able to solve the whodunit before it’s too late?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I loved the tension between Alicia & Lucas as they recognize each other & then are forced to keep each others’ secrets. As their relationship changes from rivals to friends to more, I loved every moment. Lucas fully supports Alicia & admires her talents which is music to her ears. I enjoyed their mutual respect for each other & the way they worked together. The mystery had several surprises that kept me on my toes. It’s a slow burn puzzle where each subtle clue leads to the suspects. I was a bit surprised at the end and loved the suspenseful conclusion.

Highly recommend this delightful Regency mystery/romance! Though it’s part of a series, it’s easily read as a standalone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through AustenProse. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4.5 to 5 stars.

This is absolutely the best regency mystery/romance I have read this year. So much is packed into the pages of this book. Antiquities, mystery, and a love story played out against the backdrop of a country house party.

Olivia’s father was one of the best known dealers of antiquities in London and had clients all over the world. She learned everything he knew but now that he’s gone she’s been relegated to a position of little more than a clerk. Her dream is to make a name for herself and prove a woman can carry on the family business. Maybe Cloverton is the place to begin.

Lucas lives on the edges of society due to his friend and investor. He’s at Cloverton to evaluate a collection that could save the family business after his father ruined their reputation. It’s up to him to make things right. The problem is he didn’t expect to find Olivia Brannon whose family business is their closest rival attending the same party.

Things at Cloverton are not as they seem and soon they find themselves working together and dancing around an attraction neither expected. What will happen when they return to London?

The writer draws you into the story with well rounded characters, a mystery with no suspects, and vibrant descriptions of life in the regency era that paint a perfect picture of this time in history. I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy courtesy of Tyndale House. This is my honest review.

4.5 stars
I enjoyed this story overall but it took me a while to be drawn into it. But to be fair, some of that could have been due to a health issue that made reading for longer periods impossible.

I liked Olivia and Lucas. It is a bit of an enemy to love type relationship but we don't see a whole lot of enemy behavior once the story gets going. Mostly it is just a problem they inherited from their fathers. I liked that Lucas could see Olivia for what she is rather than what others wanted her to be. She was a strong woman in a society who doesn't appreciate that at all. I liked the way they worked together.

I tried to figure out who the guilty party was in the mystery element of the story but I did not come up with the correct answer. I was kinda glad to be wrong though. My alternative would have made me more disappointed in characters. The real villains made it disappointing enough. So sad.

I was happy with the ending though. I have high hopes for their happily-ever-after.

Potential triggers: grief, betrayal of friendship
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: brief

🏺 Not all is as it seems in Cloverton House. I love when a book gives you a little more, and then a little more and then even a little more. The story was layered and interesting; it's definitely a romance, but also a mystery!

🏺Olivia is solicited to catalog the antiques collection of an influential widow, but yet has no real position at her father's old business or even as a companion providing a service to the widow. Lucas is also called upon to catalog the antique collection of the deceased husband who has left his estate in possible financial ruin. When their past threatens to reveal the nature of their work sooner than they each would like, can they trust each other and maybe even help each other out?

🏺 The romance that blossoms between Olivia and Lucas is the absolute sweetest thing. It is also what makes the unraveling of the mystery so much fun because they get to solve it together and possibly have the ability to right several wrongs from the past and the present. There are lots of little surprises as culprits in the charade are revealed, and we get to enjoy a super satisfying ending. I kept monitoring my page count and hoping it wouldn't end!

I received a complimentary copy of the author's work to read and review from Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley. All thoughts contained here are my own.

Happy Release Day to Sarah Ladd! I was so excited for this historical fiction to give me a break from contemporary romcoms. Olivia and Lucas grew up in the same antiquarian community, but with fathers who were rivals, never really formed a friendship. Now grown, each are hired by a different family member in Cloverton House to evaluate different parts of the collection. Though wary of each other at first, they quickly join forces when it becomes clear that something sinister is afoot. I really enjoyed this story! It was clear that Ladd did a lot of research about antiques and appraisals, and it was fascinating to read about. I also appreciated that both characters were “in trade”-I don’t think many regency romances focus on characters that aren’t part of the gentry, and I’ve never read about antique experts as main characters before. If you like your historical romance with dash of white-collar intrigue, go grab a copy of this story!

*I recieved a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to give a review and any opinions expressed above are my own opinion.

Regency romance/mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cloverton Charade by Sarah A Ladd. I am a big fan of Georgette Heyer and all newer regency romance writers, so it is no surprise that I was pleased when offered an e-arc of this book via Netgalley, with no obligation. Although this is the 3rd book in the series, I had no problem following the plot and characters; but will have to look for the back list.

The plot is very diverting but with a touch of social comment, inheritance of a large estate by male distant cousin, money troubles, antiques and collections, class differences, people not who they seem to be... I highly recommend this book.

Olivia Brannon and Lucas Avery both have the same goal in mind, to bring more business to their fathers’ antiquities business. But, Olivia’s goal is even bigger than that as she wants to earn respect for her knowledge and business acuity in a male dominated society. When Olivia is given the opportunity to secretly appraise a costly collection of a well-known societal family she eagerly accepts. But, Lucas is there at the house for the same reason, but employed by another family member.

The friction that is between Olivia and Lucas is almost palpable and certainly adds tension to the story. Olivia has to make the decision whether to bury the past and trust Lucas or continue to keep up her guard. I loved seeing the two of them work together to authenticate pieces of the Milton’s collection.

I love Sarah E. Ladd’s books and always look forward to reading them. She has such engaging stories with an element of intrigue and romance too. I was leaning towards knowing who was the culprit, but I was still a bit surprised. I highly recommend this book for readers both young and mature. It is the second book in the Houses of Yorkshire, but can be read as a standalone.

Things to love:
A house party
Portait painting
Mystery
Exciting capture of villains

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

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sarah E Ladd for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Cloverton Charade coming out September 3, 2024. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sarah E Ladd is one of my favorite authors and I’ve read all of her books. I’ve read the other two books in this series and loved them. I really wanted to love this one, but I wasn’t feeling it as much as her other books. I love the names Olivia and Lucas, so I thought that would be perfect. I think it was lacking a little romance. They didn’t meet and speak to each other until about 100 pages into the book. The book felt long to me. There wasn’t a ton of action until the last third of the book and I had lost a lot of interest by then. I really wanted to enjoy it. I liked parts of it, but that was about it. I would definitely read other books by this author though.

Antiquities expert Olivia Brannon is excited to have the opportunity to appraise widow Mrs. Milton's collection. When her uncle inherited her father's business, he didn't appreciate or utilize Olivia's knowledge. Olivia has been invited to a house party to discretely look at the items. She is surprised to see her family's rival Lucas Avery there. Hopefully, Lucas won't tell the other house guests her background. Lucas is there to discretely appraise Mr. Wainbridge's collection that he inherited from Mr. Milton. When he realizes there are forged pieces in the collection, he ask's Olivia to verify as well. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I love books that surprise me with the solution to a mystery and this one does that. I also love how Olivia and Lucas start as rivals and how their relationship changes. I admire that Olivia is intelligent, strong, and holding on to her goals and dreams in life. I also love how Lucas appreciates not only Olivia's beauty, but her intelligence and knowledge as well. I love this book and series.

The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd joins my list of books I’ve loved by the author! Her books never fail to delight me, and I can never put them down.

I adored Olivia and Lucas! Olivia’s independent spirit shines through. I loved that she didn’t want to live the life of a traditional Regency woman. She wanted to travel the world searching for antiquities just as her father did. Even though it was a lofty goal, she held onto that dream. Lucas was left with a huge responsibility when his father died leaving his family’s name besmirched. Lucas’s ambition was admirable as was the chivalry and kindness he showed to everyone, even those who didn’t deserve it. The side characters in the book had unique personalities with quirky characters, grouchy characters, sweet characters, reprehensible characters…you get the picture! The author always does such a wonderful job bringing her characters to life, and she definitely did that in The Cloverton Charade!

I’m such a huge fan of Regency romances set in England because I think I belong there! This book takes place in both London, where Olivia and Lucas live, and Yorkshire, where the house party they attend takes place. Ladd’s descriptive writing brings these settings to life. I could definitely picture everything from the noisy London streets to the serene Yorkshire countryside.

I highly recommend this sweet, clean Regency romance for its well-written characters, descriptive writing, and well-developed plot. I give it 5 huge stars!

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