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.

The Cloverton Charade by Sarah Ladd is an excellent finish to her House of Yorkshire series. This Regency novel is an enjoyable mix of intrigue and romance. A very fun, quick read, Ladd created a mystery that left me guessing until the end. I adored the hero and heroine and found the plot surrounding an antiquities disappearance fascinating.

Ladd is an author who never disappoints. I love her way with words and clever storylines. Her cast of characters is always a delight, and I cannot wait to see what she pens next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone

Antiquities and romance in Regency times!

Olivia Brannon is a valuer for an antiquities house, Brannon Antiquities & Company.
She’s grown up living and breathing the past. Her father trained her. Olivia is knowledgeable and skilled.
When her father died her uncle took over the company. Olivia is relegated to the background.
Now Mrs. Agnes Milton, a serious chinoiserie collector wants Olivia to go to Cloverton Hall in Yorkshire to assess her personal collection with a view to selling.
Olivia is to go as Mrs Milton’s guest to a house party. No one is to know her real reason for attending. Olivia is giddy with anticipation and excited to leave the back room assessments she’s been forced to do since her uncle inherited the business.
Lucas Avery meanwhile has been asked by the new heir, George Wainbridge to value his uncle’s collection quietly.
Olivia and Lucas know each other. The firm, Flanner Auction House used to be owned jointly by their fathers until an argument between the two resulted in a split.
Having to dodge the inquisitiveness of the other house guests is exhausting. Olivia finds it tiring trying to fit in.
Meanwhile Avery has discovered fakes amongst the famed Milton collection. Somethings not right! Avery quietly calls on Olivia to verify his findings. Some of the items Avery and Olivia knew were the real deal when they were sold to Milton.
Someone has been stealing from the collection! The finding will prove to be both shocking and dangerous
An unusual regency novel that delves into an area that was so prevalent during regency times, the collecting of antiquities. The British acquisitiveness is still being negotiated around the world.
A winning combination, mystery and the flutter of Olivia’s heartstrings when thinking about Avery, give an excellent read!

A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Two young antiquities dealers trying to solve the mystery behind the counterfeits they discover while also finding love in unexpected places . This was a sweet romance with a bit of mystery . I really enjoyed the unique setting of the antiquities world and both Alicia and Lucas were great characters.

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Cloverton Charade has everything I love in a sweet historical fiction romance. I loved the story's build-up and the romance between the two characters. This was a read-in-one-sitting kind of book. It is perfect for anyone looking for a lovely romance but not many high stakes. It is an ideal book to read outside on a nice day or escape on a longer commute. I will be looking for more books by Sarah E. Ladd!

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.