While not one interested in expensive art, I do appreciate antiquities and enjoyed reading the unique storyline of this clean historical romance (releases on September 3rd, 2024).

I like how the story began with our two main characters as children. Then what bad decisions and hard circumstances of life can do to change friends into enemies - especially when the people are in the same type of business.

It was a nice, clean, historical fiction tale that was light on the romantic actions, but romance was thought about and spoken of as much as the collectible art because of the high society house party full of eligible young people.

I found myself a wee bit bored mid-way til the end. I really had looked forward to it after enjoying book 1 and 2 in this series very much. This one was good. It was ok.

side note * The mention of "port" seemed realistic at a house party, but I became weary of hearing about port, wine, brandy, etc over and over. I normally don't notice, but it seemed excessive?

I truly enjoy the writing of Sarah E Ladd a lot. But enjoyed the first two more.

I receive a complimentary copy and this is my honest opinion.

Another fabulous book from Sarah E. Ladd! I loved the settings in London and Yorkshire and the cast of characters was delightful. Especially our main leads, Alicia and Lucas. A story of mystery, antiques, family history, family rivals and growing attraction, this one is sure to have you turning the pages and be transported to a different time.

I loved the history between Lucas and Alicia and watching that play out the more we come to know these characters. Their meeting at the very beginning of the book, as well as at the house party, were very fun. I was holding my breath at the house party meeting waiting for the shoe to drop, so to speak. Ohhhh, you'll be waiting as well to see if their secret will remain intact or be outed.

There are several secrets floating around during this one, can you spot them all? I have to say that I didn't. And once things started to be revealed I did a figurative face palm to myself, thinking well why didn't I catch that. But you're not supposed to until later on. But maybe you'll figure it out early if you're watching closely.

The antiquities were a really fun aspect of the book and very interesting. My heart sank a few times in regards to them. Which you'll discover along the way with Alicia and Lucas. They'll have to work quickly though or real trouble will abound.

Sweet love story mixed with mystery and whodunnit vibes, makes for a delightful read! Definitely one I recommend for fans of this author's work or if you've never read her books before, if you're a fan of mystery and Regency, you'll definitely enjoy this one. It is part of a series but they can be read as standalones or together. They're all wonderful.

Content: Clean and wholesome. Some moments of very mild peril.

I received a copy from Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I really enjoyed this latest book by Sarah E. Ladd! Lucas and Olivia are both experts in art and artifacts, and their fathers were once business partners until something drove them apart. Lucas and Olivia both end up at a house party with the purpose of appraising the value of the items in the home. Can they work together to solve a mystery with the artifacts?

I love Olivia's adventurous nature, and her independence and determination. I love Lucas' integrity and kindness. While some moments in the middle of the house party dragged on a bit, overall this was a very enjoyable story!

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

The Cloverton Charade by Sarah Ladd is third in the series called The Houses of Yorkshire. I had not read the previously books and I didn't feel like I missed out on what was happening in this book. I love this combo of house party with mystery thrown in. Olivia and Lucas had excellent chemistry and tension between them. Part of the book was an element of deception and it was very believable. I love it when two main characters join forces to solve the crime. This is a low heat romance. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable read- well written and believable.
I loved hearing about all the antiques. I love old things so it was fun to hear descriptions of the treasures they appraised.
I thought it was fun that this book was a romance but also had a good mystery to it as well.
I loved the characters and thought it had a satisfying ending.
I was also able to listen to this book on audio and it was awesome. I loved the narrator. I listened to it at 2x speed and it was still enjoyable and understandable.

This is another wonderful novel from Sarah Ladd. Olivia Brannon is a woman who just wants to be respected for what she knows and what she can contribute. When a wealthy widow invites her to a house party for the purpose of cataloging a collection she owns, Olivia accepts. Now she has the opportunity to prove what she can do. Lucas Avery is trying to rise above challenges left by his father, so when he has the opportunity to attend the same house party for the purpose of a clandestine review of the contents of the home, it's the perfect opportunity to gain a client and work.

While both attend the house party they have to decide whehter to work together or stand in each other's way. Will they trust each other assume the worst? Not easy when the allure of attraction wants to draw them closer. This is a wonderful read set during the Regency era with a strong romance and good mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

At a Regency-era house party, rival antiquity brokers Alicia and Lucas are each secretly assessing a potentially valuable collection. Their investigation uncovers counterfeit items, forcing them to work together to expose the deception. As their professional partnership deepens, so does their attraction, but a broken heirloom threatens to unravel their secrets and their hearts.

I loved this. The story is strong and the romance swoony. Alicia and Lucas are wonderful, both separately and together.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

** “I firmly believe that confidence and knowing one’s worth is the most beautiful trait a woman can possess.” **

Sarah E. Ladd delivers another delightful Austenian read with her latest novel in the Houses of Yorkshire series, “The Cloverton Charade.”

After the death of her father, a purveyor of antiquities, Olivia Brannon deeply desires to continue his legacy … a job society says is not fit for a woman. But when the widow of one of his main clients, Mrs. Agnes Milton, asks her to secretly take a look at her own personal collection of oddities, Olivia hopes this will get her foot in the industry’s door.

Former childhood friend Lucas Avery, whose father also worked in antiquities until scandal rocked his reputation before his death, also hopes to reclaim his place in the antiquities world. So when George Wainbridge, Mrs. Milton’s nephew and new master of Cloverton Hall, contacts Lucas to value the home’s collection to sell, Lucas jumps at the chance.

Shocked to meet each other at Cloverton, Olivia and Lucas are even more shocked when strange occurrences pop up with the estate’s very extensive and valuable collection. Can they get to the bottom of what’s going on, move past their former ill will between families, and possibly admit to feelings for one another?

Ladd does a great job of creating a story filled with twists and turns, adding shocking surprises, all while creating characters readers can relate to. She also includes some great themes, like the need for security; loyalty; rooting out injustice; not worrying about what others think of you (“And if it is gossip that is worrying you, don’t give it that power. People love to talk about the things that take the focus from their own problems”); and finding a fresh start and new beginnings.

Fans of classic authors like Austen and present-day authors like Abigail Wilson and Joanna Davidson Politano, as well as romantic stories with a little bit of suspense, will enjoy “The Cloverton Charade,” which is due out Sept. 3.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

This book was sweet. Two rival antique experts working at the same job for different people in an enemy to lovers life story.

The setting was cute. The story the characters the love. Just cute.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd is a regency story that is part of the Houses of Yorkshire series. Olivia Brannon wants to be a travel around the world in search of antiques and rare pieces. While trying to make a name for herself she agrees to attend a house party at Cloverton Hall. She is a guest of a wealthy widow while she secretly views some of her valuables. Lucas Avery is trying to build back his father’s antiquity business. He is invited by the new owner to Cloverton Hall to appraise items. Olivia and Lucas are both there covertly when they begin to uncover secrets.

Charlotte and Lucas were gracious characters who rekindled their childhood friendship during the house party. I am a believer there is nothing like the setting of a Regency house party to make for a delightful read. The characters were interesting and I was compelled to keep reading to try to figure out their back story. I was engrossed and enjoyed my time at Cloverton.

This was a delightful regency story filled with romance, some mystery, and the fascinating world of antiquities. I appreciated the different spin this story had from typical Regency romances. I highly recommend!

I was give a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

I loved Olivia's character. She is kind, strong, independent, and has integrity. Lucas is also kind, strong and very likeable. They are both in the antiquities field. Their mothers were best friends and their fathers were business partners until they had a falling out. With both of their fathers now deceased and also Olivia's mother deceased they meet up again in an unlikely place. They decide to let bygones be bygones and a friendship forms. I loved watching their relationship strengthen and grow. This book has great characters, sweet romance and a bit of a mystery. I would highly recommend it.

This is a sweet Regency romance story with a bit of a mystery added to it. The main characters are interesting and their story arc kept my attention. The mystery is not the most enthralling, but it didn’t really matter to me since I was mostly interested in the main characters’ relationship development. It starts with a bit of rivalry between the two characters, but they quickly come to realize that they are the only two who can truly understand each other out of all the other characters who surround them. I recommend this story if you like clean regency romance with a house party gathering and a little mystery behind the scenes. This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review.

Lovely, engaging story set in the 1818-1819 timeframe in London and Yorkshire. Love the main characters, Lucas Avery and Olivia Brannon. They are both asked to appraise some antiquities, unbeknownst to the other. Olivia is striving to make a name for herself in a male dominated business, and Lucas is hoping to secure some funds for his business. Both families have a history and these two have known each other since they were young. Cloverton Hall is filled to the brim with antiquities and people for a party with Mrs Milton acting as hostess. We meet a lot of people at this party, and I'm hoping the author plans this as a series. Lucas is used to these affairs, somewhat, but Olivia is out of her element. She doesn't know the things the other young ladies do, as she's only been interested in learning the trade, and she's not to let people know why she's there. Page turning story, with a few surprises thrown in that makes this hard to put down.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Cloverton Charade is a historical novel set during the Regency period. Alicia Brannon is asked to appraise some antiquities at Cloverton Hall. Lucas Avery is also interested in appraising the collection. As romantic sparks fly, a mystery also unfolds.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction and have enjoyed other Sarah E. Ladd novels. I have not read the earlier books in this series but had no problem enjoying this book as a standalone read. The characters were engaging, the dialogue was lively, and the historical details were interesting. I recommend The Cloverton Charade for other fans of historical fiction!

This novel was written in the Regency era, the year being 1818, London. Olivia Brannon grew up in her family's business called "Brannon Antiquities and Company. Her father taught her all she need to learn about being an antiquities purveyor. Although, when her father passed away he left the company to his brother, Thomas. And Uncle Thomas was the girls guardian as well. Olivia and her sister did not like Uncle Thomas. One day a lady named, Mrs. Milton came in to their shop. She hired Olivia to come and do an appraise her collection at Cloverton Hall in Yorkshire.

It was a long journey there by stagecoach. There was to be a house party at Cloverton Hall, being hosted by Mrs. Milton's nephew. It lasted several days. Her husband had passed away and left the home to her nephew. Neither gets along, so Mrs. Milton wanted to keep her guest's expertise a secret. Mrs. Milton learned that her nephew, wanted to sell all of her husband's collections. Mr. Wainbridge had hired Lucas Avery, a purveyor, to assess his Uncle's collection. While at the party, Olivia meets Lucas Avery. Their fathers were rivals in the antiquities business. But after a bit they renew the friendship they had in their childhood.

While there they discover counterfeit items in the Uncle's collection. So there becomes a mystery as to whom is responsible for this evil deed. I wanted to read this book because I love era of the 1800's. I was so pleased to read on to find a wonderful happy ending to this story. Thank you Sarah Ladd for letting me learn of this era called Regency. Also thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me this read prior to being published.

A house party, an art forgery mystery, and rivals finding friendship.
I loved this story! The details of the house party, the art descriptions, and the romance were perfectly balanced. I thoroughly enjoyed Lucas and Olivia’s story. Their meeting after so many years and finding that neither was what they had thought was sweet. Their relationship grew to friendship and love quickly but was very believable. I enjoyed many of the secondary characters and was shocked at the solving of the forgery mystery.

This ARC was provided through NetGalley by the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

A fantastic read!

This has it all.. Romance, a touch of mystery, twists and turns. It's a the book book for historical romance fans. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

As always, Sarah Ladd has written another wistfully romantic story that was hard to put down. The Cloverton Charade caught and held me like glue to my seat, captivated with the mystery, trying to use my best detective work. I truly enjoyed this lovely book!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Both Lucas & Alicia are out of their element trying to blend into society at Cloverton Hall so they can at the same time secretly appraise/sell the Cloverton estates antiques. That's a simple enough idea, except their families are enemies and now they have to work together. While secretly appraising and researching the antiques found at the Cloverton, they uncover a major scandal. At the same time they are trying to solve this crime they are also having to mingle with society and fend off interested suitors. They have to work hard to not uncover their true place in society to those around them. And most of all try not to uncover their true feelings they are starting to feel , for each other.

Forced proximity
Forbidden romance
Suspense
Mystery and Enemies to lovers all taking place in a historical backdrop!

I love it!!!!

I removed one star because it at times was a bit wordy, making me struggle to stay engaged... and it was a slow burn romance wise. That said it started to pick up eventually and then I was all in and couldn't put it down! So much so, I think I need to by more Sarah's books!

The Cloverton Charade was a wonderful regency adventure full of elegant ladies and dashing gentlemen and secrets. Beautiful china vases, shells, and antiques vie for attention, but are they authentic? This is a wonderful, historical fiction mystery which will draw the reader in from the beginning and will not disappoint in the ending. When two antiquities dealers children compete for the same prize, who will win? Maybe they both will win at love. I give this book 4 stars for reading enjoyment. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.