** “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.

Such a cute read, The Cloverton Charade, was entertaining and engrossing. I loved the relationship between Olivia and Lucas. They have history due to the fact that they both grew up with families that were antiquity brokers.

Now they're both being asked to assess the same collection. And what they find kind of leads them into some interesting territory.

The romance between Olivia and Lucas was sweet and well-earned. Their relationship was one of forgiveness and eventually mutual respect.
I absolutely loved this story and enjoyed the characters immensely!

Such a clean, entertaining romance with a strong female lead!

I always enjoy a Sarah E. Ladd novel because I never know what to expect. There is usually a mystery and a hint of romance and this story brought both. The setting is a house party and Olivia is "undercover" so to speak to try and assess the value of items in the house while attending the party. I enjoyed the mystery side of things and Lucas is probably my favorite character. The first part of the book moved a tad slow for me since I was eager to get to the mystery and find hidden treasures. But once I got past the middle of the story things started to pick up and I enjoyed the rest. The ending isn't shocking as it wraps up the loose ends but enjoyable just the same.

Fans of regency fiction should pick this one up!





Three Stars.

"I received this book from NetGalley for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Cloverton Charade is a well written Regency romance with a bit of intrigue. I enjoyed the plot and the character dynamics. I recommend this book.

Former enemies Olivia Brannon and Lucas Avery join forces to uncover a plot concerning fake antiquities. Olivia and Lucas are the children of former antiquities partners who had fallen out many years in the past. They rediscover each other at Cloverton when both are separately hired to catalogue a fortune in antique objects. It’s a slow burn romance between these two, but a satisfying conclusion.

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

I appreciate authors like Sarah E Ladd who give us clean regency romance without the spice. Her novels are immersive in the history and culture of that time. Our main character Olivia is given a chance to go to Cloverton Hall to evaluate the Cloverton collection being as her father's side in his antique shop her whole life but never given a chance to be a professional until now. She must never let slip who she really is while she's there. She must mingle amongst the English elite, dealing with thier snobbery and excess.
I appreciated that Olivia tries as hard as she can not to lie as she gets to know the people there. That was a good character trait. While there she meets Lucas, her antique rival. Intrigue and romance insue, as they find forgeries, a mystery they must uncover together.
Highly recommend!
4 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

London, England 1818

Olivia has been invited to Cloverton Hall at the bequest of Mrs. Milton, who asked Olivia to evaluate her late husband’s fortune. Olivia is also hoping to make her way as an antiquities dealer in a man’s world. Since her father’s death, he left the business to her Uncle, she is determined to show she is capable in her knowledge of the world of antiquities.

Lucas Avery has also been invited to Cloverton Hall by the new Master of Cloverton Hall. He would like Lucus to oversee the liquidation of his late uncle’s impressive collection.

There was a time when Olivia and Lucus’s father were good friends but a betrayal pushed them apart, and neither renewed their friendship before their deaths. So when Olivia and Lucus see each other at the house party they are suspicious of each other first.

The Cloverton Charade was slow in the beginning but once Lucus and Olivia got over their wariness of each other the pace picked up for me. I really liked the relationship between them as they knew each other and they had commonalities that helped bring them together. Lucus was trying to prove to himself that he could continue on his father’s business and Olivia had similar misgivings, and once they discovered neither was the enemy, they could trust one another. Even though this is the third book in The Houses of Yorkshire, this reads as a stand-alone. Recommended

My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. I was given a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are honest and mine.

Wow. This is yet another well-written story from Sarah E. Ladd. The plot keeps the reader wanting to know more and guessing who done it right up until the very end. The main characters in this story are quite well developed. The storyline gives readers a glimpse into what life would have been like in England at the time for wealthy and for tradespeople. Olivia, although an expert in her field, is trapped by her uncle inheriting the family business, so where does she fit in this situation? Lucas has inherited his family’s business, but apparent untruths about his father have left him scrambling to save the business. Both find themselves at a house party where all is not as it seems and at least someone is not who they seem to be either. I appreciated the author showing how grief has played a major role in the lives of several of the characters, and how she guides the reader through the story into seeing the results of that grief. Grief, although not a fun topic, is an important emotion to acknowledge. The author does a good job in giving us those insights without detracting from the fun of a story, which also makes this story stand out. The writing about antiquities, of which I know nothing, now has me intrigued about looking up some of these items and seeing for myself what the draw to them would have been. One never knows what learning can come from a good book, and I highly recommend this book for a literary escape with a bit of intrigue thrown in as well.

I requested a complimentary copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are wholly my own.