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.)

This was such a good book! I am such a fan of Sarah E. Ladds books so I was excited for this one. It didn’t disappoint, I loved the storyline and the characters! Highly recommend!

A perfectly charming historical book. I appreciate how much research the author must have put into the writing of this story. The characters were well developed. It had the perfect amount of romance and mystery!

3.5 stars
“The Cloverton Charade” is a regency historical fiction. I felt that it was a bit slow and dry for the first portion of the book. It did seem to pick up towards the end with the mystery plot. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy regency mysteries. It was Overall a good book.

I received a copy of this from netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts.

I tried to read this book, but the formatting was so messed up, it was impossible to get into the flow of the book. I stopped trying to muddle through at about 15%. Perhaps the book was intriguing, but with all the formatting errors, I just couldn't get that far.

Title : "The Cloverton Charade"
Author : Sarah E. Ladd
May 7, 2024

The third installment of the Houses of Yorkshire series is a delightful read that seamlessly blends romance, history, and mystery into a captivating narrative. The plot revolves around Olivia Brannon, a young woman who finds herself embroiled in a world of antiquities when she accepts an invitation to evaluate a private collection at Cloverton Hall. Little does she know that her old friend turned rival, Lucas Avery, has his own agenda at the Hall, setting the stage for a captivating showdown between them. What sets this installment apart is its adept storytelling, with the author's skillful handling of character development and plot ensuring that readers are fully immersed in the unfolding drama. Against the backdrop of a Regency-era house party, Alicia and Lucas's interactions spark a friendship that gradually evolves amidst the intrigue, adding an extra layer of depth to the narrative. Whether you're a devoted fan of the series or a newcomer, this book is sure to delight. With its compelling storyline and well-crafted characters, this installment comes highly recommended for fans of historical romance and mystery alike.

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

***Many Thanks to the Author #SarahELadd, Publisher #ThomasNelson and #NetGallery for the advanced copy of the book.
#TheClovertonCharade #HistoricalFiction #Romance

I find myself somewhat conflicted when it comes to rating this book. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the intriguing antiquities storyline and Ladd's refreshing portrayal of characters outside of the aristocracy, I couldn't help but feel that it leaned more towards historical fiction or mystery rather than historical romance.

Olivia, the protagonist, was a standout character—intelligent, ambitious, and courageous. Her forthrightness and determination made her incredibly endearing, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.

An easy read, recommend for a light hearted Victorian clean romance. I would have liked to see more steam!

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good historical house party and this one had a bit of a mystery element added in as well! I thought the plot was interesting and the characters were easy to like! I really enjoyed how these characters overcame their family quarrel and appreciated each other’s skills and became friends. It was refreshing to see their friendship blossom into romance as they spent time together! So many books become super tedious when the characters spend the whole book hating the other person based on family fighting, but this book was the exact opposite!

How I loved this story! And all the art references! 😍 It was really interesting. I was so looking forward to this book and it delivered. This is the third book on the ‘Houses of Yorkshire’ series.
This novel was full of mystery, no one was truly who they were. It was all a charade and this adds so much to the story. This story embarks the reader into a journey of intrigue while at Cloverton Hall through the different characters actions and the art pieces. With a surprising twist you never see coming, that brings tension and ultimately the end, perfectly done.
Also, what I like the most of Ladd’s novels is that the romance is subtle and truly clean. This author is a favorite of mine.

I loved Olivia and Lucas from the very beginning. Olivia’s confidence in her skills adds so much to her character. I love when heroines have self esteem and know their worth without being arrogant and conceited.
“…confidence and knowing one’s worth is the most beautiful trait a woman can possess.”
Lucas was such a wonderful character. Always acknowledging and supporting Olivia. Together they were a powerful duo on antiquities 😏
…and the romance (sigh)
“…she was taking with her a piece of him that he could not live without — his heart.”
“I confess that I am hopelessly captivated by you. And if this past month had taught me anything, it’s that love, and love alone, makes life worth living.” ❤️❤️❤️

The main characters’ desire to leave grievances aside make them more likable in my opinion. When people are more adept to drop their odds quickly instead of dragging it all their lives I find it more appealing and relatable to life.
“…life is too short to hold on to grievances.”

And here are other excerpts I liked…

“It takes but one mishap to abolish trust, and once gone, it’s nearly impossible to restore.”

“Trust is built by listening, not speaking.”

“Very few hold true to a conviction, for it is easiest to do what is expected and easy.”

“And if it is gossip that is worrying you, don’t give it that power. People love to talk the things that take the focus from their own problems.”

“Emotion is the entire reason we do what we do, be it love, pride, affection, fear, or any number of motivations for why people amass things. What are any of us without emotion?”

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Wow! What a fantastic book! It has romance, intrigue, and a mystery! I was completely surprised by the perpetrators! The romance is sweet and a reminder that love can happen when you least expect it!

The cast of characters is brilliant! Tied for my favorite is Olivia and Lucas! I love them both! They're extremely talented and smart! I like how they work as a team to solve the mystery. Mrs. Milton touched my heart. Her circumstances are not ideal, but she perseveres!

I really enjoy reading books by Sarah Ladd. Her books are filled with characters that are easy to like and relatable. The surprises that appear throughout the story are splendid!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A quick and enjoyable read! I'm looking forward to more in this series!! My favorite characters are Olivia and Lucas, but I also like Isabella and her brother. There's a good plot, and I like that bad feelings don't linger on and on!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was so good I had a hard time putting it down. This author doesn’t disappoint when it comes to capturing my attention and holding it. I recommend all her books, especially this one.

Amazing read! Rivals to lovers. Two antiques specialists are at the same place to do the same job, without anyone else finding out their true intentions. The two will have to work together to solve the puzzle before time runs out. I loved this book and would absolutely recommend this book to anyone!!