The Governess of Penwythe Hall

Sarah E. Ladd

Apr 2019 · The Cornwall Novels Book 1 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

A governess must return to the Cornish coast amid the insidious rumors of murder that forced her away in this Regency romance. Set in the same time period as Poldark and Bridgerton, The Governess of Penwythe Hall is rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love.

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 Delia 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 where she’s been warned never to return.

Bachelor 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 elder 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 sinister mysteries shrouding her past—might be the end to both Jac and Delia’s carefully laid plans.

Praise for The Governess of Penwythe Hall:

“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 Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey

“Absolutely captivating! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put down The Governess of Penwythe Hall. This blend of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, and Jamaica Inn has it all. Intrigue. Danger. Poignant moments. And best of all a sweet, sweet love story. This is by far my favorite Sarah Ladd book. Don’t hesitate to snatch up this title!”—Michelle Griep, Christy Award–winning author

• Full-length Regency romance
• First book in the Cornwall novels (The Governess of Penwythe Hall, The Thief of Lanwyn Manor, and The Light at Wyndcliff), but can be read as a stand-alone story
• Book length: 94,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a beautifully crafted novel. Cordelia “Delia” Greythorne is a strong woman who starts over after the death of her husband. She is afraid of her in-laws and she hopes that they never find her. Unfortunately, circumstances put her back in Cornwall and the inevitable happens. Delia is a likeable character who is loyal, hardworking, intelligent, and loving. You can tell she loves her young charges and wants to keep them safe. Delia is raising them to be thoughtful, caring individuals with faith in God. Jac Twethewey is a dashing man who is working hard to restore Penwythe Hall. He is not the type to make plans and order others to do the work. He is out working in the orchards every day. The arrival of more people puts a burden on his already strained finances. Sarah Ladd brought Cornwall alive for me with her writing. I could smell the sea air and see the craggy cliffs, the dangerous moors, and the beautiful Cornish coastline. Ms. Ladd gave readers lavish descriptions of this beautiful area. The romance is the type that progresses slowly (goes with the time period). We must remember that people did not express their feelings the way we do now, nor did couples get the opportunity to be alone together (that could ruin a lady’s reputation). Christian elements are woven in with the story. Jac’s Aunt Charlotte is a woman of strong faith and she was a charming addition to The Governess of Penwythe Hall. The children provide touching situation and humor especially Sophy. The mystery enhanced the story. I loved the addition of the secret and the smugglers. I could just imagine the boats bringing in their ill gotten booty onto the beach to hide in secret places along the Cornish coastline. The ending was a little rushed, but I did appreciate the epilogue. It was also interesting to learn more about apple presses and how they worked. My favorite phrase from The Governess of Penwythe Hall is “we are promised that when we rely on Him for strength, we will have what we need to face our challenges”. The Governess of Penwythe Hall has intrigue, romance, family, friendship, grief, faith and humor. This is my favorite book by Sarah E. Ladd to date. I am eager to read the next installment in The Cornwall Novels.

WHOA!!! What an amazing book. From page one I was drawn into the story. The author was very descriptive about people, places and things. It was easy to imagine them. The characters were unexpectedly realistic and delightful. There is Delia the governess, the five children, Liam, Julia, Hannah, Johnny and Sophie. Their uncle Jac and the boys' tutor Hugh. A tale of love, dedication, loyalty, betrayal, theft, danger and fear. Delia her past shrouded in suspicion and connection to a feared wealthy family. No matter where she was her past always caught up to her. But she was betrayed by someone she considered a friend. I was truly impressed with the realistic feelings and emotions of the children when their whole world turned upside down with the death of their father. In the meantime, Jac and Delia faced difficult situations that tore them apart and situations that brought them together. I loved reading this book. However, there are a few threads that were never addressed. Did the men looking for the trustee who stole all the money their father left the children ever caught? Was any of the money recovered? Also, it seems a bit unusual that in helping the excise men arrest the smugglers that there was no reward offered. Especially when the items recovered must have come to thousands of pounds. When Delia's life was in danger it appeared that the tutor did have a conscience and helped her get away. What was that about? Overall, this is one exciting, suspenseful, emotional charged story. A must read. You will not be disappointed. Reasons I enjoyed this book: Action-packed Happily Ever After Inspirational Original Page-turner Romantic Realistic Tragic Unpredictable Wonderful characters

The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd Labeled a Christian book I almost set it aside as this is not my favorite genre of book. That said, I am glad I did read this story as it was well worth reading. Cordelia is a widow who finds herself working as a governess far from where she grew up. When the last of the parents of the five children in her and the tutor’s care dies they are sent back to Cornwall to live with one of their charge’s relatives. It is not an easy adjustment and much transpires between the first and last page of the book. Some of the characters that seem nice enough prove to be just the opposite and at times there are tragic and even fearsome events that occur. There is a romance that is slow growing and a delight to watch, bad people that get their comeuppance while others get away with quite a bit and an eventual happily ever after for Cordelia and the man who makes her happy. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4 Stars

About the author

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who has always loved the Regency period--the clothes, the music, the literature, and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period, and she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has released several novels set during the Regency era. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. She lives in Indiana with her family. Visit Sarah online at SarahLadd.com; Instagram: @sarahladdauthor; Facebook: @SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor; Pinterest: @SarahLaddAuthor.