The Curiosity Keeper

This one was fantastic. I really enjoyed this one. I didn't really have any expectations on this one. It was great.

Ladd is definitely an author that I'll be keeping my eyes on. Her writing was fun and fresh.

For fans of historical fiction, you should definitely check this one out.

I really enjoyed Sarah Ladd’s debut ‘Whispers on the Moors’ Trilogy, so this first book a new series was greatly anticipated. I heard good things, saw good reviews, liked the author anyway, and appreciate Regency Fiction perhaps a little more than I used to.

The Curiosity Keeper was not by any means a bad novel. It has most of the elements known and loved in Regency Fiction- alongside a measure of mystery and intrigue- yet- and this is purely my personal opinion- I couldn’t really like it in the way I did The Heiress of Winterwood, The Headmistress of Rosemere by the same author.

It’s hard to pin down what this story seemed to be lacking for me- but dare I say, it just seemed rather dull and a little predictable. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t go in for stories that rely entirely on action at the expense a solid plot, or good characterisation- but despite some exiting scenes, it just seemed to trudge along- and I was able to guess (correctly) the location of the Ruby everyone was looking for quite early on.
Also, I don’t think I ever really found myself connecting with the major characters.

Yes, Johnathon was your typical Regency hero- dashing and handsome, who wanted to make his own way in life but had a strong sense of duty and honour- yes Camille was strong and beautiful yet vulnerable, but again, there just seemed to be something lacking. Maybe its that her actions did not always seem consistent with her personality, or that the characters, whilst pleasant enough, seemed a bit like 'stock' characters, typical of the genre.

This is a worthwhile read, and I would certainly have no trouble recommending. The lack of the sort of silly, mushy romance that gets on my nerves could certainly be counted as a plus. It just isn’t a favourite, nor do I think the author’s best.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson via Booklook Bloggers for review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed here are my own.
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This one was a bit slow to start but keep reading, cause it just gets better! I loved it even though it started slow

Sarah has, AGAIN, hit a home run! In her latest book, there is mystery, intrigue, suspense and LOVE! Camille is working in her father’s shop when she is attacked. The thief is in search of something that she knows nothing about. Throughout the book, she learns to fight for herself, has her heart completely smashed and is shown true love. It’s quite the story!!

The characters are extremely loveable. You want to fight for them individually, as well as together. God is not constant throughout, but more of a background element. Her writing is always well done. The book will hold your attention from the first page. Highly recommend anything by this author!!

Thank you, Litfuse, for this wonderful read. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!

If you would like to see my fun Face-Off with Sarah, just click HERE.

Sarah E. Ladd is a new-to-me author. I'd heard great things about her previous books, especially Heiress of Winterwood, so I decided to grab The Curiosity Keeper. It didn't hurt that the cover is beautiful and the title intrigued me.

Camille Iverness is a curiosity in herself. She's the daughter of a Portuguese woman who abandoned her family years ago and a gruff man who gave up a genteel lifestyle to open a shop in a rough area of London. Frankly, I questioned how Camille could have turned out so well being raised as she was in the care of her father.

For years, she's been the shopkeeper and accountant for her father's business, one that dealt in antiques and whatnots, but she remembers a time of country estates and governesses. Though she isn't interested in returning to an estate, she longs to leave the closeness and foul air of London for the open spaces and country setting.

Jonathan Gilchrist has all that Camille lost, but he doesn't want it. Thrust into the role of heir to Kettering Hall when his brother died, he's the second son and a disappointment to his father. Not the adventurous sort like his brother or a collector of odds and ends like his father, Jonathan chose the apothecary trade and lives in a small cottage.

When the Bevoy, a ruby on which the family's future rests, is stolen from Jonathan's father, Jonathan is tasked with retrieving it from the man believed to have stolen it---Camille's father, James Iverness.

This story is peopled with characters who charm and characters who disgust. Some were selfish, some sypathetic. Camille and Jonathan are both gentle and caring souls with a thread of steel to aid them when needed. And they do need it.

Don't expect a great romance or a strong spiritual thread, but the writing is top-notch, and the climax revealed a couple of interesting twists that I didn't see coming. It starts and ends with great tension and action. For me, though, it slowed a little too much in the middle of the book and the hero and heroine didn't seem to be together long enough to fall in love.

For those latter reasons, this one won't go down as one of my favorite stories for the year. However, there was enough to like about The Curiosity Keeper that I'll definitely read another of Sarah E. Ladd's books in the future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This book came to me free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, with the hope that I would mention it on this blog. There was no requirement for me to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I liked Camille's strength of character. Her life has not been easy but she stays strong and determined through it all. She's courageous, a hard worker, and determined to live a different life than the one she discovers her father has fallen into. Jonathan's character was okay. I liked the fact that he's a gentleman who wouldn't stand by and let Camille get hurt and that he's stood up to his father and created his own life. Other than that, I thought his character was rather tame. He does come through in the end with heroic action though so that was good. I didn't care for his sister - very wishy-washy - sometimes nice, other times scheming & selfish. And there was no satisfactory conclusion to her story so I hope there is more about her in the next book. And that she has a stronger character.

I think fans of Sarah E. Ladd and fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book. For myself, although there was a twist that I saw coming and a twist I didn't see coming, I felt like this book was a little on the bland side. I'm not sure why because I really enjoyed her other series. I did enjoy it enough that I will read the second one coming out next year. :D

*Thanks to Thomas Nelson & Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions stated are my own.*

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3RS9TKKP6O7DN/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1225523352?book_show_action=false