Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness. His secret traps him in a life that is not his own. Darbury, England, 1819 Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could expose her disgrace. But soon after becoming a lady’s companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she’s … past she’s desperately hidden for years.
Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own–one that has haunted him for years and tied him to his father’s position as steward of Willowgrove Hall. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breathe a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he’ll never be free to find his own way in the world. He’ll never be free to fall in love.
When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and fight for a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long kept?
more
A Lady at Willowgrove Hall ties with The Weaver’s Daughter as my favorite Ladd novel. I found it to be a charming story – delightful characters, rose gardens, dancing, gowns, and all of the things that my heart desires when reading a regency novel. Ladd excels at creating atmospheric spaces within her novel. I love the walled rose garden of …
Cecily is a student of Rosemere Hall School for Girls who is given the opportunity to be a lady’s companion. Little does she know that Mrs. Trent is the aunt of the boy who stole her heart and her reputation when she was 16. Keeping the secret of her past doesn’t stop her from becoming entangled in other secrets. Mrs. Trent and her steward have a …
Fellow Hoosier writer, Sarah Ladd, recently finished her third book in her Whispers on the Moor series. The first two books are titled The Heiress of Winterwood and The Headmistress of Rosemere. If you are not familiar with Sarah Ladd’s writing, she writes Historical fiction set in the year 1814 – 1816. Ladd enjoys the regency period and lavishes …
What a lovely story this. Sarah E. Ladd out did herself with this book. There are two other books to this series. I have not read them but I may find them to read. This story is sweet and loving but also a bit harsh.
We see the changes in both Cecily and Nathaniel. There are secret in both their past. Will this break or make their love stronger. …