The Governess of Penwythe Hall (Cornwall #1) – Review

by Sarah E. Ladd

Series: The Cornwall Novels (Book 1)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 16, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0785223169
ISBN-13: 978-0785223160

Purchase from Amazon

Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.

Cornwall, England, 1811

Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request for her to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she’s tried desperately to forget.

Jac Twethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced, he battles both grief at his brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.

Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.

“Brimming with dangerous secrets, rich characters, and the hauntingly beautiful descriptions Sarah Ladd handles so well, 1800s Cornwall is brought vividly to life in this well-crafted tale that kept me glued to the pages. What a brilliant start to a new series!” —Abigail Wilson, author of In the Shadow of Croft Towers

“The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a delightful and emotionally gripping tale that will tick all the boxes for any Regency lover: romance, history, and enough unpredictable intrigue to keep you up past your bedtime.” —Kristi Ann Hunter, author of A Defense of Honor

“Lovers of sweet and Christian romance alike will fall in love with Delia’s strength amid the haunting backdrop of her tragic past and the Cornish coast. Throw in a handsome leading man willing to turn his life upside down for the children in Delia’s charge, and you have a story you can’t put down.” —Josi S. Kilpack, Whiney Award–winning author of the Mayfield Family series

---

Sarah E. Ladd is an author I can always depend on to provide me with excellent stories full of interesting plots and beloved characters. She has a strong voice in the Regency book world and Jane Austen fans will be drawn to her.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall brings us the story of Cordelia Greythorne and Jac Trethewey. They both carry secrets of the past that guard their hearts, but will opening up help them to heal?

Delia is governess to five children who have recently lost their father. Attached to these children, Delia follows them to their new guardian’s house in Cornwall. Cornwall holds the secrets of her past, and she has sworn to never return. Jac Trethewey is now in charge of his nieces and nephews. He has spent their lifetimes being estranged from their father.

Delia does not like to let many people in. She thinks that she has to rely on herself in order to hide from her past. Jac lost a lot from his fight with his brother and now he is trying to regain some of the missing years with his nieces and nephews.

I loved all the children. They all had such great personalities and you hurt for all of them while they grieved their loss. Jac was wonderful with the children. I like how he wanted them to not only have their formal education but he taught the boys estate business; even tasks that would normally be for the workers. Jac was often told he was spontaneous yet he wanted to get involved in all the tasks that the estate depended on in order to make it successful for many years to come. While he was spontaneous in some things, there was actually a lot of thoughts behind his plans.

While this book was full of tender relationships, it was also full of intrigue.  There were a lot of unanswered questions throughout the book, and I wanted to keep reading and not put the book down.

Ladd really has a way of describing things. There is the perfect amount of detail to picture things and feel fully immersed, yet you never feel like there is too much information. Her descriptions involve all the senses. Here is an example of her incredible writing skills that will not give away any spoilers:

“She retreated down the cliff, back the way she came. The winds that had come so strongly off the sea weakened as moorland gave way once again to orchards and then to the verdant lawn. The sea air’s salty tang was soon masked by the scent of apple trees and freshly cut grass, but the dormant memories had been revived by the familiar scene, and she doubted they would leave her in peace.”

While Regency fans will especially love The Governess of Penwythe Hall, fans of all eras will be able to appreciate this wonderful story on healing and what it means to be a family.