The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd
A long-held family feud reignites when two rival antiquities brokers arrive at the same house party in Regency England.
Olivia Brannon knows her goals are unconventional. As a young woman in Regency England, her best bet—according to society—is to marry well and secure a steady future for herself. But Olivia has never been interested in convention. She’d prefer to follow in her deceased father’s footsteps and journey to foreign lands in search of rare and valuable antiquities.
Eager to make a name for herself in the antiquities world, Olivia jumps at an invitation to join a wealthy widow at the famed Cloverton Hall to evaluate her private antiquities collection. Secrecy of the task is vital, and in order to conceal her efforts Olivia must pretend to be a house party guest to avoid suspicion and to explain her presence.
Lucas Avery, whose father was a rival of Olivia’s father, has also arrived at the Cloverton Hall house party, hired by the new master of Cloverton Hall—the widow’s nephew—to appraise the renowned Cloverton Hall collection. When Lucas discovers Olivia masquerading as a party guest while covertly conducting her own assessment, he’s keen to renew the family rivalry. But as their paths frequently cross, he’s unprepared for the effect the refreshingly honest—and beautiful—Olivia has on him.
Yet all is not as it seems. Both Olivia and Lucas are shocked by the astonishing discovery of counterfeit pieces, and when the unexpected occurs, everyone is a suspect . . . and Olivia and Lucas both must choose whom they will trust. Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.
My review of The Cloverton Charade
The Cloverton Charade by Sarah E. Ladd joins my list of books I’ve loved by the author! Her books never fail to delight me, and I can never put them down.
I adored Olivia and Lucas! Olivia’s independent spirit shines through. I loved that she didn’t want to live the life of a traditional Regency woman. She wanted to travel the world searching for antiquities just as her father did. Even though it was a lofty goal, she held onto that dream. Lucas was left with a huge responsibility when his father died leaving his family’s name besmirched. Lucas’s ambition was admirable as was the chivalry and kindness he showed to everyone, even those who didn’t deserve it. The side characters in the book had unique personalities with quirky characters, grouchy characters, sweet characters, reprehensible characters…you get the picture! The author always does such a wonderful job bringing her characters to life, and she definitely did that in The Cloverton Charade!
I’m such a huge fan of Regency romances set in England because I think I belong there! This book takes place in both London, where Olivia and Lucas live, and Yorkshire, where the house party they attend takes place. Ladd’s descriptive writing brings these settings to life. I could definitely picture everything from the noisy London streets to the serene Yorkshire countryside.
I highly recommend this sweet, clean Regency romance for its well-written characters, descriptive writing, and well-developed plot. I give it 5 huge stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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