Recent Reads - In The Shelter of Hollythorne House

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In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd - The opening pages of the story tell of the ending of the relationship of Charlotte Grey and Anthony Welbourne. Charlotte's father hadn't approved of Anthony's family and wanted her to marry someone else; while Anthony was determined to join the army anyway. After this sorrowful prologue, the story picks up some years later. Charlotte's marriage to Roland Prior has not been a happy one, except that she now has an infant son, Henry. When Roland dies suddenly, his brother takes over the family business until Henry comes of age, but he reluctantly allows Charlotte to take Henry and live at her own family estate once more. But he also hires William Walstead's watchmen to guard her.

Anthony has been serving with Walstead's watchmen since returning from the war overseas, and is glad to take an assignment that will take him back to his home in Yorkshire. But he is surprised to discover that the widow he will be protecting is none other than Charlotte. He is determined to set his own feelings aside, and to make sure she and her young son are safe.

Charlotte already mistrusts her brother-in-law, and starts to suspect that her husband had been involved in business dealings even less savory than she had imagined. Then she realizes that she has unwittingly placed herself and Henry in further danger, and it seems that even Walstead's watchmen may not be guarding her so much as spying on her. She fights her own re-emerging feelings for Anthony, but the threats and danger are becoming more intense and she needs to decide who she can trust. Besides, she will need Anthony's help and support if she hopes to keep Henry safe.

Will Charlotte and Anthony be able to trust each other and find a second chance together? Aside from the intrigues and betrayals in the story, this is a tale of not missing an opportunity for a second chance. The romantic aspect of the lost love regained combined with some mystery and dangerous drama make this a book that kept my attention from beginning to end. Both Charlotte and Anthony must grow and change, and there are interesting twists among the supporting characters as to who is trustworthy and who is not, along with enough development of those characters to make their actions and their dilemmas believable. The plot takes a couple of unexpected turns that lead to suspense and stir up even more conflict.  

From the Publisher:

Young widow Charlotte Grey faces an uncertain future . . . until a chance encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817 Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family's station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed to never turn back. Instead, she honored her father's wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony Welbourne chose to follow his goals and immerse himself in a life full of meaning―first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead's watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life's focus to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

When Charlotte's husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she'd been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he'd angered on his relentless quest for wealth. to protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish them harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face to face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchmen to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband's estate are settled.

Anthony's presence brings back feelings she never expected to feel again, and she struggles to trust Anthony's intentions. Are Walstead's Watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim―or are they looking to make trouble for Roland's estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge, danger arises, and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right past wrongs an carve out a new future . . . together.

By the same author: A Stranger At Fellsworth, The Governess of Penwythe Hall, The Weaver's Daughter, Dawn at Emberwilde, The Curiosity Keeper, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, The Headmistress of Rosemere, The Heiress of Winterwood

I received a digital ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This is a book published in 2023 (#52) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

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