An intriguing mystery, a delectable romance, and a happily ever after! What more can a reader wish for?
Sarah E Ladd, is one of those writers, whose books I would be thrilled to read, without even reading the blurb. I have read a few of her previous books, and loved them, and she does not disappoint in this book either. The romance in this book, is more a meeting of like minds, understanding each other, and allowing each partner's strengths to shine through. A thoroughly enjoyable book!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love a good art theft story and Sarah E. Ladd delivers one wrapped in a beautiful historical fiction wrapper. This was a book I was reluctant to put down until the very end - of course, you know the happily ever after is coming, but the art theft made this exciting and unpredictable. I thought I figured out the scheme, but I was delighted to be wrong!

This is a rivals to lovers story with families that used to be united. Olivia Brannon (other reviews refer to her aa Alicia, but she’s Olivia in my ARC) and Lucas Avery were children when their fathers broke their partnership to have separate films dealing in antiquities trading. Both fathers are dead when the story begins and their children have followed in their footsteps, though Olivia is reduced to a clerk in the firm her father created due to her sex.

A former client of the fathers’ has died and his heir hires Lucas to assess the family collection. His widow hires Olivia to assess her personal items. Olivia and Lucia are reunited at the country estate where they are appraising items discreetly while acting as guests at a house party. At one point, Lucas asks Olivia to consult on an item and they find themselves in a midst of a forgery scheme.

Yes, the romance is predictable, but it’s so lovely to watch it unfold. The forgery part of the story was fascinating and pulled in some secondary characters. The culminating action scene is satisfying, though the men involved try to leave Olivia out of it.

Yet another wonderful installment in the Houses of Yorkshire series! The books are not connected or dependent on each other, so no background info is needed to dive into this.

It would seem that most young women in the Regency age are looking for a good marital match. Olivia is firmly entrenched in the antiquities trade and gets an unusual invitation from a wealthy widow, which Olivia would likely not be invited to due to her station in life. This house party invitation leads to a tangled web of deceit and counterfeit objects. I really enjoy reading about the Regency era clothing and the mansions along with societal expectations are always quite intriguing. In this case, I found that the characters were very relatable, and their actions mirrored the times quite well. However, the novel itself moved rather slowly for my taste, leaving the true mystery to be cracked open at the bitter end. Please be aware that I was reading a very early Net Galley copy (which is not the final copy) and am quite sure that the book has certainly been tweaked before the final publication.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a few of the authors novels and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of her generous backlist, as there are about a dozen to be had. If you enjoy Ms. Ladd, then I would also suggest Abigail Wilson and Julie Klassen.
I received an e-copy of this book from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I greatly enjoyed reading this book and entering into Olivia’s world!
As someone who enjoys preservation, I could tell from the level of detail, just how much research went into learning about the antiquities of the time. This is the first book that has really given a sense of just how opulent and treasure-filled homes at this point in history could be.

I feel the author throughly captured the struggles of a woman who did not (and did not really want to) fit the expected mold for women at that time. It was also encouraging to read how Olivia held true to her standards, even when it could have been easier to join the crowd or to give up on her dreams.

Reading this story truly felt like watching a charade. Are the people what they seem? What are their motives? Would Olivia prevail in reaching her dreams?

Thank you for allowing me to read this book through NetGalley!
Reviews online are pending until the weeks before the release date, at which time I will edit this review and add links.

What a fantastic read! Lovable characters, I especially enjoyed Olivia and Lucas but I found Mrs. Milton held a place in my heart as well. I found the plot to be an exciting one that held mystery and intrigue along with an enjoyable romance. The museum pieces and the far off places they came from only added to the mystery and the fun of the story. I was held completely captivated from the first page to the last. The story never lacked or grew slow but instead I found it only to add a new source of interest for me as it progressed. Never have I read a book of Sarah Lad’s that I didn’t find myself entranced by. This is definitely another well written story that wisk you off to a place that only astounds the imagination of castles, lords, and ladies.
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! In fact, I loved it!
I have read a few of this author's other books in the past - and while they were good, this one is very, VERY good!
It is one of the top 10 books I have read in 2024 - which is saying a lot - as I read many books a year.
The plot is fantastic! The characters were truly well thought out and nicely developed.
There was mystery, suspense, and a wonderful sweet and clean romance that I adored.
Lots of supporting details and descriptions without being overloaded... about the antiquities profession, the countryside, the beautiful Cloverton House, and the gowns the ladies wore. I loved it all.
I will definitely recommend this book to all, and I know I will be reading it again in the future... and next time I'll do so a little slower, to be able to savor it more! I was so engrossed in it that it was hard to put down!
Thank you to this author who created such an enjoyable book - that is clean and definitely worth the time to read!
💜 💜

Friends as children, Lucas and Olivia’s fathers break up their business partnership causing them to become enemies, then rivals after both fathers die and they want to continue in the antiquities business. Sent to discreetly appraise different collections in the same household as guests at a house party, thus the charade, they realize the need to work together when counterfeit pieces are discovered. Renewed friendship develops and quickly blossoms into love as they begin to piece things together to solve the mystery. I enjoyed the intrigue in this book as much as the love story and would highly recommend this clean regency read. I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson but was not required to give a positive review. The opinions are completely my own.

Sarah Ladd's "The Cloverton Charade" is a thoroughly enjoyable tale, and the third book of her Houses of Yorkshire series. Invited to the same house party, rival antique appraisers Olivia Brannon and Lucas Avery appear to be at cross purposes, yet they join forces when they must discover who is replacing the valuable pieces with counterfeits.

The house party, with its interesting attendees and fun activities has never failed to appeal to me. This one offers mystery and a crime to solve, as well. Did I figure it out? That's a resounding no, which is indeed a very good thing. A predictable perpetrator always ruins a mystery. Olivia is lovely and determined to succeed in a business world dominated by men. Lucas is equally dedicated to proving his worth. Their romance is engaging, and while it happens rather quickly, it does not read as insta-love. Secondary characters are entertaining too.

Sarah Ladd's prose is always pleasing, and without a doubt, she accurately depicts the Regency period. Clean and with few, if any, grammatical errors, "The Cloverton Charade" is a wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this novel.

I have to admit that this was my first book written by this author and I immensely enjoyed the whole story. I immediately fell in love with the heroine Olivia Brannon who wanted nothing more than to prove her skills and knowledge in antiquities. She was raised to love the work her father was doing yet after his death when her father´s brother took over she was only allowed to evaluate the goods in the storage. When finally a possibility arises to evaluate a private collection of the late owner´s widow at Cloverton Hall she wants to show her skills and make a name in the antiquities business. Yet, she hasn´t counted on meeting her uncle´s company rival Lucas Every, who was assigned to evaluate the whole collection of Cloverton Hall under the pretense of being friends with the owner and attending a house party for possible marriage prospects. Lucas and Olivia know, that their fathers were once business partners but one day their paths divided. Lucas was mesmerized by Olivia´s knowledge and felt attracted to her. Maybe it was time to end the rivalry of their fathers. He even asked her opinion on some pieces, as there seemed to be something wrong with the Chinese porcelain. What they discovered wasn´t just a fraud, but also what matters the most in life.
I found this story entertaining, and refreshing and was truly delighted about its direction. I can only recommend to all, who love regency books about the working class.

In "The Cloverton Charade" by Sarah E. Ladd, Alicia Brannon and Lucas Avery arrive at Cloverton Hall under the guise of guests and quickly recognize each other as business rivals. They join forces to uncover a deception within a private collection. As they work together, they form a strong bond. When a famous piece in the collection is broken during a house party, everyone becomes a suspect. Alicia and Lucas must decide how much they are willing to risk, not only for their professional reputations but also for their hearts.

I adore a well-written historical house party story and this one is set between London and an estate in Yorkshire. This story had a steady pace and managed to keep my interest from the first page to the last word. The ensemble of characters was incredibly diverse and intriguing. I particularly enjoyed the mix of romance, intrigue, and mystery in the plot.

The Cloverton Charade was a different take on falsifying art and forgeries. Olivia is a young woman whose greatest desire is to use the antiquities training she received from her father while traveling. Lucas is a young man striving to outlive and increase the poor reputation in antiquities his father left behind. Both are searching but they don't realize they are searching for the same thing. All the while, they are putting up false fronts about who they are and what they are doing at a house party in the countryside of England.

This novel was beautifully done. The imagery is clear and I could create the pieces of artwork in my head. The house is described such that I could imagine it in front of me. I found the writing pleasant, endearing, and drawing me in. This was a story that I enjoyed. All these are typical from the author, Sarah E. Ladd. She writes in a way that draws the reader deeper and deeper into the story, beckoning to join the festivities or heartache or sorrow or joy. Beautifully done.

This is a clean story that is lovely. With no language or compromising scenes, this is a joy to read and a pleasurable way to spend my reading time. This is a beautiful romance within which is found hope and joy.

I received a copy of this ebook on Netgalley in order to provide feedback. All opinions are my own.

The Cloverton Charade was such a sweet, fun read! I absolutely loved it. It had everything I love in romance books: great character development, drama, suspense and of course great romance! It’s about two antiquities dealers whose families had a falling out and end up at the same house party to secretly evaluate two collections of antiques. They end up realizing how much they have in common and decide to put their family’s past aside to work together when they discover something is afoot at the house party. Olivia and Lucas (the main characters) are so likeable and kind I was just rooting for them the whole time. I highly recommend this to anyone who love a clean romance!

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

"The Cloverton Charade" by Sarah E. Ladd offers a captivating blend of romance, intrigue, and historical drama set against the backdrop of Regency England. The novel introduces readers to Olivia Brannon, a young woman determined to forge her own path in a society that dictates she should adhere to tradition. Olivia's desire to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in antiquities leads her to the illustrious Cloverton Hall, where she must navigate a web of secrets and deceit while concealing her true intentions.

Ladd skillfully crafts a narrative filled with twists and turns as Olivia's mission becomes entangled with Lucas Avery's, whose family history is intertwined with hers in a bitter rivalry. As they uncover counterfeit antiquities and grapple with their growing attraction to each other, Olivia and Lucas find themselves caught in a dangerous game of deception where trust is a rare commodity. The tension between them simmers with each encounter, adding depth to their characters and driving the plot forward with palpable intensity.

Against the backdrop of the Cloverton Hall house party, Ladd expertly explores themes of trust, loyalty, and the consequences of deception. As suspicions mount and alliances shift, Olivia and Lucas must confront their own biases and preconceptions to uncover the truth. "The Cloverton Charade" is a compelling tale of love and redemption that will keep readers eagerly turning pages until the very end.

The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd has many possibilities. A pair of London based antiquities appraisers, Olivia and Lucas, attend a Yorkshire house party. They begin as rivals with a history, each is secretly evaluating an antiquities collection at the request of separate persons without the other's knowledge. They eventually become suspicious of why the other person is attending the house party. When a question comes up about the authenticity of some of the pieces, they begin to work together. As Olivia and Lucas continue to work together, they also start to find the other attractive. This story works very well as a clean romance and as a an intriguing criminal mystery. How will it all end? Will they find the counterfeiters/thieves? Will they get together in the end? Follow the story through all the complex twists and turns and find out. A very satisfying read!

PITCH: Dickens meets Regency with a hint of You’ve Got Mail
This book moves very slowly. It concentrates on the characters and scenery around the characters, more than the main characters themselves. The romance doesn’t really get going until 48% through the book, and it’s a very sweet love, nothing passionate.

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

This was a fun read. A romance with a crime investigation as the plot developed centred around the antiques industry in regency Britain. One really nice aspect was that it pictured how even the well resourced, seemingly confident upper classes were in actual fact vulnerable and needing security either in financial or marital terms. The book opened the window on how rich adventurers looted the colonies for treasures and brought them back to add to their personal wealth. This would never be acceptable today. It was great to see a female hero lacking the skills normally associated with well to do women, embroidery, painting and playing music but became highly competent in a normally male dominated profession. All in all, really interesting.

Book 3 of 3 - Two people are hired to sneak through a Regency England home appraising antiques. What they find is surprise, even finding love. Clean romance.

With a feuding family, competing businesses, and presumed valuable antiques that turn out to be counterfeit, who is pulling the strings to make it happen?

In The Cloverton Charade, Olivia Brannon wants to be a respected antiquities dealer in an era where women look for social standing through marriage. Her late father taught her everything he knew, but her uncle inherited the family business and doesn't trust her to use her skills. Mrs. Milton, a widower, stops at Olivia's family shop to ask her to come secretly evaluate her private collection for sale. Olivia jumps on the chance to prove herself to her uncle and be independent. At Cloverton Hall, while masquerading as Mrs. Milton's companion, she bumps into Lucas Avery, her father's ex-business partner's son. He is there to evaluate the renowned Cloverton Hall's collection for the new owners. There is bad blood between their families since Lucas's father betrayed her dad years before, but Olivia sees a different side of Lucas that intrigues her and makes her wonder if he can be trusted.

Fun read by Sarah E. Ladd. I love the enemies-to-more trope. When Lucas and Olivia realize something strange is happening at Cloverton Hall, they seek each other out and begin to work together. They share their combined knowledge and find that in doing so, respect and admiration grows between them. Can they mend their family's relationship while working together to uncover who is replacing valuable antiques with counterfeit pieces?


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I really enjoyed this book so much.. it was a wonderful story and I enjoyed all the characters. The story got very suspenseful and I could not put the book down. I enjoy reading anything by this author. I look forward to reading more books in the future by this author..

An excellent Regency era tale set between London and an estate in Yorkshire. A house party brings together people from different levels of society under some pretense. A mystery is uncovered, and a romance begins amidst the tension.

Well-written with a steady pace, this story kept my interest from the first to last pages. All of the tension builds to an exciting climax and some 'aha' moments that I didn't see coming. There is a bit of action, but nothing too violent.

I enjoyed the characters of Olivia and Lucas, and hoped they would be given a happy resolution to their conundrum. They had a backstory that added a theme of forgiveness, family loyalty, and finding their own way forward.
Olivia was a young woman with a strong moral compass, who didn't shrink from a challenge. I applauded her bravery and felt for her vulnerablility among the societal elites. She was courageous and true. Loved the ending!

A good, clean read, perfect for any reader from teens and up. 4.5 stars

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