The Heiress of Winterwood

The Heiress of Winterwood
(Whispers on the Moors)
Sarah E. Ladd
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1401688356
April 2013/320 pages/$14.99

Darbury, England, 1814

Amelia Barrett gave her word. Keeping it could cost her everything.

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend's baby. She'll risk everything to keep her word-even to the point of proposing to the child's father-a sea captain she's never met.

When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one.

Amelia's detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she's forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.

Graham's strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from the family he has sworn to love and protect.

Both must learn to have faith and relinquish control so they can embrace the future ahead of them.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find out more about Sarah at http://www.sarahladd.com, her Facebook page and Twitter.

MY THOOUGHTS

Sara E Ladd has written a solid and enjoyable debut novel. Set in the Regency time period, the expected tension exists between Amelia and her parents regarding the man they have chosen for her to marry, as does the extreme emphasis on social standing and financial stability. However, Ladd brings a fresh twist to this plot with a deathbed promise and a baby that Amelia is determined to raise. Two centuries later, it's hard to comprehend that women were so heartlessly treated as commodities by fathers and suitors, as simply a means to merge two businesses and powerful families, or that such stipulations would be placed on a daughter's inheritance; howerver, at the same time, the situation is portrayed so realistically that it's quite believable. I was captivated by this story from the opening pages, and even though the outcome was fairly predictable, I still worried that it would come at too high a price. I definitely recommend this novel and look forward to more from this talented author.


Read other reviews on the blog tour here!


Sarah is celebrating the release of The Heiress of Winterwood with a Downton Abbey Kindle Prize Pack Giveaway – details coming soon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advanced copy of this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”