ABOUT THE BOOK
Charlotte Darby’s ship is sinking. Penniless and alone, she is struggling to care for herself and her young sister in the harsh seaport town of Kingston upon Hull. When a solicitor from London brings news that she is the heir to a vast estate in Kent, it seems her days of rough seas are over. Willowkeep is prosperous and grand, far too much for a shipping merchant’s daughter to manage, and she quickly comes to rely on the help of Henry Morland, the estate’s kind and handsome steward.
Henry has worked hard his entire life, but all the money he’s saved won’t be enough to get his father out of debtor’s prison. Henry’s fondness for Charlotte and her sister is only another reminder of his low status and lack of money. Though he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Charlotte happy and looked after, as the county’s wealthiest lady, she can never be his.
Courted by a charming man of the ton, threatened by those desperate to get their hands on her money, and determined to keep her sister safe from the same fate that cost her the rest of her family, Charlotte turns to the ghost of the beheaded queen, Anne Boleyn, for help. But no matter the size of the fortune, life—and love—are never smooth sailing.
REVIEW
Charlotte Darby has spent the last few years of her life struggling to make ends meet for herself and her little sister, Susie. To complicate things further, her young sister has disabilities that make her a target for torment. She is shocked when she learns that she has inherited a wealthy estate far from the sea. But thanks to the kindness of her steward, Mr. Morland, and others, she starts to think that maybe things might get better. But there are those who are more than happy to try to manipulate and use Charlotte.
I think the thing I liked most about this book besides the growing romance between Charlotte and Mr. Morland was the fact that it looks at life during the Regency era from a bit of a different perspective. Mr. Morland isn't a wealthy gentleman, but a hard-working steward who to his chagrin develops a tendre for his new mistress. And Charlotte is certainly not a typical young lady of fortune having been raised in a state of poverty and roughness in a busy port. The first encounters between Charlotte and Henry (Mr. Morland) are rather amusing. But I couldn't help feeling empathy for Charlotte who finds her life changing in rather drastic ways and she struggles to find her place in this new world while struggling with old fears as well as new challenges. I enjoyed reading about Charlotte and Henry's romance in this clean addition to the rather large body of literature about the Regency era.
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR SCHEDULE
June 13th:
June 14th:
June 15th:
June 16th:
June 17th:
I like that it's a different perspective on the regency era. It's such a saturated topic and it's nice to see it from a new angle.
ReplyDeleteDena @ Batch of Books
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed Willowkeep!
ReplyDelete