Set in 1820s Cornwall, this Regency romance evokes the captivating worlds and delicious dramas of Jane Austen, Daphne DuMaurier, and Winston Graham. Raised on the sprawling and rugged Wyndcliff Estate near the dangerous coast of South Cornwall, Evelyn Bray lives with her grandfather, a once-wealthy man reduced to the post of steward. Evelyn is still grieving her father’s death and her mother’s … mother’s abandonment when a passing ship is dashed against the rocks. The only survivors, a little girl and her injured mother, are rescued and brought to Wyndcliff Hall.
Liam Twethewey is just twenty-two when he inherits Wyndcliff Estate from his great uncle. His optimistic plans to open a china clay pit to employ the estate’s tenants meets unexpected resistance, and the rumors of smuggling and illegal activity challenge his new-found authority. Though wise beyond his years, young Liam quickly finds himself out of his depth in this land where long-held secrets and high-stakes agendas make no room for newcomers.
Brought together by troubling questions surrounding the shipwreck, Evelyn and Liam uncover even darker mysteries shrouding the estate. But as they untangle truths from deceptions, their loyalties separate them–and their budding love might not be strong enough to overcome the distance.
more
A deliciously intriguing finale to a delightful series!
When Liam Twethewey arrives at his newly inherited estate of Wyndcliff Hall he realizes that nothing is like he imagined it would be. The steward is brusque and defensive, the inhabitants of nearby Pevlyn exhibit some very suspicious behaviors and there are an inordinate amount of shipwrecks happening off the coast. Amidst rumors of smuggling, two survivors of the most recent wreck might hold the key but one of the has lost her memory. The only person Liam trusts to help him unravel these mysteries is Evelyn, the granddaughter of his curious steward.
I adored Liam and Evelyn’s tale! There was a definite Gothic flare and the mystery was more than enticing. I absolutely recommend this book as well as the previous two entries in The Cornwall Novels series. You don’t need to read these in order to fully enjoy Liam and Evelyn’s story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Deeply moving
My rating is 4.5 stars
In a world of smugglers, secrets, and scarcity, the people of the tiny Cornish village struggled to survive. This community was introduced to me in The Light at Wyndcliff. The Cornish coast and the land surrounding Wyndcliff Hall came to life before my eyes in this deeply moving story. Several segments caused me to have tears welling over – and I’m not talking about Evelyn’s.
I’ve always had the sense of the moors as a lonely place. Evelyn’s situation heightened this feeling – this daughter of a landowner who was now living in reduced circumstances with her grandfather. Abandoned even by her mother, she never quite fit in with the villagers and was no longer considered a gentlewoman.
Liam, the new owner of Wyndcliff Hall, is full of dreams, compassion, and integrity. I loved the way he never even hesitated to open his home to the unknown woman who had been shipwrecked along with her daughter.
Vestiges of mystery overshadow Liam’s new home. While it seemed clear to me who the people behind the strange events were, Liam and Evelyn were understandably perplexed. I developed emotional ties to the characters and there was enough intrigue to keep my interest throughout.
Despite the number of stories I’ve read involving smugglers during the Regency period, I felt that I learned new facts related to it, such as the motivations of those aiding the smugglers. I was also surprised to learn that the moors of England are a source of clay used for making porcelain and china.
Though classified as Christian fiction on Amazon, The Light at Wyndcliff is a clean read though doesn’t reference God or spiritual matters.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially that set in England during the Regency period will want to add this to their library.
Read my review of The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah Ladd at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
“Mortified hardly described Evelyn’s current state.”
Meeting the new master of Wyndcliff estate while knee deep in mud, trying to rescue her bog-stuck pony, wasn’t on Evelyn Bray’s list of accomplishments for the day; how humiliating! Although Liam Twethewey seemed to take the unexpected encounter in stride, Evelyn got the distinct feeling that things were about to change, and “as far as Evelyn was concerned, any change to Wyndcliff’s sleepy patterns was welcome”.
“Twenty two years was a long time to wait for life to begin”, and yet Liam Twetheway had waited his entire life for this very moment . . . . stepping onto boundless acres of beautiful Cornish coastline that finally belonged to him. If the lovely steward’s daughter was any indication of local pleasantry, maybe the separation from family and friends wouldn’t be so difficult after all. But it soon becomes apparent that nefarious activities are taking place on the long abandoned property, both on land and at sea. Smuggling is nasty business, Liam is unsure who to trust, what does Evelyn Bray know about it all, and would she even confide in him? Liam fears it’s too late to be impartial, his heart is already entwined.
With her lovely, companionable style, this author has penned a story filled the kind of danger and intrigue that will command readers’ attention, while she effortlessly slips the characters into the deepest recesses of their hearts.
At some point you must make decisions for yourself and do what is best for you – Jenna to Evelyn
The author once again takes us to the moors of Cornwall, where many traditions rule the way of life. The sea plays a large part in those rather unsettling customs as this is an area where many ships meet an unfortunate end. Salvaging what they can, the villagers eke out a small income from those sales. Liam Twethewey not only inherits the Wyndcliff Estate from his uncle, but also the longstanding practice of storing the cargo from many of these shipwrecks. How can he possibly condone what is occurring on his own land? Will a rescue at sea help change these unwritten rules?
Evelyn Bray lives in the steward’s cottage along with her grandfather, the steward. This somewhat controlling relationship leads Jenna to make the comment above. But where can a young woman go in 1808, if she has no family to stand behind her?
With a great deal of detail, the author takes us walking on the moors, along the seashore and into what life must have been like in 1808. I could almost smell the sea and hear the waves crashing. This wonderful mystery will not be easy to set aside until you finally reach the conclusion.
This ARC of Book 3 in the Cornwall Novels was received through Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins Christian Publishing and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.
A brilliant return to Cornwall! This story reads simply, yet has layers of mystery, intrigue, and emotions. I love the innocence of Evelyn yet her character displays layers of depth. She’s been all but abandoned by her mother, raised by her grandfather in a station less than her upbringing, and still maintains her sweet, hopeful spirit. Liam may be young, but he knows exactly what he wants. I love how his strength and conviction is so vividly captured. Liam is ready to take up the helm as master of Wyndcliff but is not prepared for all the distractions such as shipwrecks and smuggling. Nothing is what is seems and together, Evelyn and Liam must get to the bottom of these things before they can each find what their heart truly desires. The writing is lyrical and beautiful commanded my attention and emotions the whole way through. Highly recommended for all clean regency romance fans. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
I have enjoyed reading several of Sarah Ladd’s books but I really enjoyed this one, in particular. There is so much to capture a reader’s attention. A young woman who has essentially abandoned by her mother and left with her grandfather who has lost his fortune and is now the steward for a neighboring estate. Evelyn doesn’t put on airs and enjoys helping the cook at the manor. She has a good heart and is mostly happy. Then the new master of the estate, Liam arrives. He is a handsome man who she is sure would never be interested in her.
The description of the Cornwall seaside with its rugged cliffs and dangers for ships is beautiful. There is smuggling, kidnapping, romance, intrigue, betrayal and so much more this book has to offer. In the end, there is a happy ending for most of the characters.
This is a clean story without foul language or graphic intimate details.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
I adored The Light at Wyndcliff just as much as the prior two books in the Cornwall series by Sarah Ladd. Like I’ve said before, clean Regency romance is one of my favorite genres. Since I enjoyed the first two books, I had high hopes for this one. It didn’t disappoint me at all. Well, a couple of the characters disappointed me with their actions, but that’s to be expected!
The setting just mesmerized me. Those moors. That rough sea. Oh, Cornwall. How I long to visit you! Though the manor that Liam Twethewey has inherited has been mostly neglected in recent years, Liam doesn’t let it stop him from moving in and moving forward with his goals to mine china clay from the land.
I love how Ladd brings the characters to life. They’ve got so much depth. They’re very human with both strengths and weaknesses. and she hides neither.
I also love the fact that I always learn something new in this series! Though smuggling played a part in book 2, I didn’t realize how many shipwrecks occurred along parts of the Cornish coast.
Of course, I loved how the romance developed between Evelyn and Liam developed. This is another winner in my book!
Cornwall – 1820 Wyndcliff Estate
Liam Twethewey, 22, has arrived to take control of Wyndcliff Estate. His predecessor passed away some time ago and the estate was in the hands of the steward, Mr. Bray, who until he lost his fortune was the owner of Wyndcliff. Now Bray lives in Wyndcliff Cottage with his granddaughter, Evelyn Bray, 20. Evelyn’s mother moved to live with relatives after the death of her husband and the financial downfall of her husband’s father. She left behind her daughter Evelyn. Liam is very surprised at Bray’s take control attitude of his home and does not hesitate to put the man in his place.
Liam plans to pursue a china clay pit on the land that should be a booming business. Thus, he hopes to employ a lot of local people so all of them can profit.
When a shipwreck occurs, everyone around helps to rescue survivors and the bounty on the ship. A mother and her young daughter wash ashore. The mother is in a coma but the little girl is fine. It is the kind Evelyn who takes the child in hand and cares for her.
Liam learns how difficult all this shipwreck business is and how the bounty is maintained. There is something sinister about it all and Liam is determined to find out what is going on.
Before long Liam finds himself attracted to the lovely Evelyn and she to him. But when things heat up causing lots of problems at Wyndcliff, Liam, Evelyn, and others find themselves embroiled in a battle to save the estate.
This is yet another good book by Sarah E. Ladd. I have read and reviewed a number of her books and find myself to be a huge fan. There is drama, courage, and love in this book. Don’t miss it.
Copy provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Liam has just inherited Wyndcliff Estate. He plans to make this estate profitable. He is investigating opening a China clay pit to help the tenants and the estate survive. However, after a shipwreck, which happened on the shores of Wyndcliff, Liam realizes there is more going on under his nose and he must put a stop to it.
Evelyn is living with her grandfather, the steward of Wyndcliff. She has been living with him since the death of her father and the abandonment of her mother. But, with the arrival of the new owner, Liam, her grandfather has become a different person.
I enjoyed the gothic feel of this read. The strange cliffs, the mysterious shipwrecks, the strange happenings with the tenants really create a good mystery. And the connection between Liam and Evelyn just add fuel to the fire!
This is an enthralling gothic romance. I needed something different and this one hit me at the perfect time.
Need a quick, suspenseful romance…this is it!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Come away to the sea-swept coast and the wild moor’s of England in this enchanting story of mystery and secrets. Steeped in history and shrouded in secrets this exciting story is sure to pull you in and keep you turning pages late into the night. Who needs TV and movies when you have this delightful book to keep you entertained?! Your imagination is sure to run wild as you cozy in with this truly engaging story.
I found myself talking to the characters in the story while I read, as if they could hear me. This story so captured my imagination that I felt like I was in it with Liam and Evelyn. On more than one occasion wishing I could give a good shake to one or a friendly hug of encouragement to another. By the end of the story I was both satisfied with the outcome and heart-sore to leave the Wyndcliff Hall, Liam, Evelyn and the others behind.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)
Thank you HFVBT and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Light At Wyndcliff
By: Sarah E. Ladd
REVIEW
When I see the words Cornwall, moors
and/or gothic, my mind immediately flashes to Catherine, Heathcliff, windswept and tragic love. And, no, The Light At Wyndcliff is not like Wuthering Heights.
Sarah E. Ladd’s The Light At Wyndcliff is a Regency romance with a bit of gothic mystery. Gothic, in this case, is largely referencing the atmosphere of the setting. Liam, a young ambitious man, has come of age and inherited Wyndcliff Hall on the Cornwall coast. Despite his grand plans, Liam arrives to find his property is somewhat amiss. There are strange things happening here. Atmospheric presence looms over all, giving the story an undercurrent of darkness and danger that pairs perfectly with the surrounding windswept land and storm tossed coast.
Liam meets Evelyn, a long time resident, and they begin to sort out the mysterious shipwrecks and people, etc. They have chemistry, and it’s a slow burn chaste romance. Liam and Evelyn work well together. I was interested to see where the story would lead them. This book is a wonderful Regency era tale that fans of the genre will love. Wonderful characters, a growing relationship, beautiful setting, dramatic mystery-what else could you need?
Setting the scene on the coast of Cornwall in the Regency era, author Sarah E. Ladd takes us to the estate of Wyndcliff, where Evelyn is the granddaughter of the estate steward and Liam is the new master of the estate. Mystery and suspense abound when suspicious shipwrecks on the estate shores bring whispers of smuggling. When Evelyn and Liam rescue a mother and daughter from wreckage, trouble comes swiftly to Wyndcliff Manor, and the hero and heroine race to discover the truth.
Sarah E. Ladd captivates us with a story of love, mystery, and suspense on the shores of Cornwall in a Poldark-esque Christian fiction novel. While I truly enjoyed this story, the romance was a slow build—slower than I typically prefer, but sweet nonetheless. The relationship between hero and heroine grew gradually as they faced dangers, and the surrounding plot was extremely captivating and kept me interested until the very last page. This book was well-written, and I genuinely enjoyed it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of mystery and suspense in a historical Christian romance novel.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for purposes of review, and my thoughts are my own. I really did love it!
I invariably love the writing of Ms. Ladd. The Light at Wyndcliff was certainly no exception. This is a very atmospheric addition to the Cornwall series by Sarah E. Ladd. There is definitely a lovely, slow moving romance between Evelyn and Liam. However, over and above and woven within all aspects of the story is the underlying danger, mystery, and expectancy of trouble to come.
The prelude to the story is our acquaintance with a very young Evelyn as she and her mother are swiftly transported from a life of prestige and respect to a life of relative poverty overseen by the rather temperamental Rupert Bray, Evelyn‘s grandfather.
We are then introduced to Liam, a very optimistic young man stepping into a very complicated situation which will test him on many levels. Miss Bray, Evelyn, offers a quiet yet steady friendship to Liam and pretty much the only warmth that he receives along the cold windswept moors of this Cornish village.
In reading this book, as in the previous books in the series, you truly sense that you are a part of the rocky windswept moors of Cornwall…but you also recognize (much as Liam does) that you are also a stranger, and therefore suspect, in the daily lives of this closely knit, secret-keeping community.
In this book, the “atmosphere” seems to be every bit as much a character as Evelyn or Liam, or Rupert – and even more so than Mrs. Williams, Jenna, Marnie, and even young Mary. So, although there is definitely a sweet romance with a well-deserved happy ending, the romance seems almost as if it is a subplot to the main story.
I also listen to the audiobook and the narration was very well done.
This entire series is highly recommended!
Some regency’s tend to be a little boring but not The Light at Wyndcliff! This book has plenty of excitement as Liam Twethewey, the heir of the Wyndcliff estate, comes of age and comes to take charge! The steward is not anxious to give over his control! Mysterious shipwrecks happen off the coast! Survivors of the first shipwreck are a four year old girl and her mother who is unconscious for several days! Evelyn Bray has lived with her grandfather all of her life after her father’s death. Liam and Evelyn are excellent main characters in this book. They work to care for the shipwreck survivors and learn things are not as they appear! Sarah Ladd has done an excellent job with this third book in the Cornwall series. I recommend The Light at Wyndcliff to others who enjoy stories set on the Cornwall coast. I received an advance e-book from NetGalley, This is my honest opinion.
Shipwrecks, smugglers, deception, and true love
The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd is the lovely story of a young man who waited years to come of age and get control of his estate in Cornwall, and his relationship with the granddaughter of the steward who opposed him at every turn.
Liam Twethewey inherited an estate in Cornwall but had to wait for years until he came of age and was able to gain control of his property. He spent a good part of these years planning and dreaming about what he would do and who he would become.
But things were more complicated than Liam was expecting. The estate was in shambles; the steward, an older man, was reluctant to hand over the reins.
The man was unbearable, so different from his lovely granddaughter.
Evelyn Bray was beautiful, sweet, loyal, and Liam was mesmerized by her kindness and inner strength. A pity her grandfather had other plans for her and warned Liam to stay away.
The story is lovely, a well developed slow-burn romance. I was completely hooked from the first page.
The plot is exciting and varied. Clay pot producing, smuggling, shipwrecks, a lot goes on but all well intertwined.
I loved how the author explored the characters’ family bonds and how diverse and emotional their personal experiences were. They felt real and easy to connect to.
Lovely read. Highly Recommended!
I will be looking for other books by this author.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
It was fun to see Liam all grown up. I have read all the books in this series, but each of them can stand on their own, so if you haven’t read the others first don’t worry. I was really impressed with Liam. He stepped into a hard/confusing situation, but he never backed down. Evelyn was such a sweet character. I really felt for her at times, but loved her caring selfless attitude. There were a lot of secondary characters in this book that I did not like, but you weren’t supposed to like them, so I guess Ms. Ladd did a great job with them. However, there were some great secondary characters as well. I fell in love with Mary. Liam and Evelyn are good together. I really enjoyed them and the ups and downs of their relationship.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest review.
Sarah E. Ladd has completed the third novel in her Cornwall series. I have enjoyed all three books and couldn’t wait to dive into this one. The Light at Wyndcliff is a delightful story for the imagination and senses. Ladd does a wonderful job at inviting readers to the cliffs of Cornwall even if you have never been there. The romance was a typical romance with a predictable ending. The plot moved at a nice pace. I kept flipping through the pages and couldn’t wait for the story to continue. The mystery elements were nice. I had a good time trying to figure out who was really behind all the shipwrecks and looting along the coast. Ladd definitely knows how to capture her audience’s attention and keep it as the story flies by. Overall, I believe fans of Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Ladd’s other works will enjoy this novel. I sure did.
I received a complimentary copy of The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Evelyn has been living with her grandfather, Rupert Bray at Wyndcliff for years as he is the steward of the estate. Liam Twethewey comes of age and come to Pevlyn and Wyndcliff to take over ownership. Tensions abound between him and Bray, but Evelyn softens the hard edges of her grandfather. Some others we meet are townspeople, Jim Bowen, Jenna, Charlie Potts; and Wyndcliff staff, Marnie, Todd and Bertie, as well as his visiting brother John round out those staying at Wyndcliff. Mrs. Williams and her daughter Mary add a nice touch to the story, and Captain Hollingswood is the main excise man. An old estate, a new clay pit mine and shipwrecks along the coast keep the story hopping and a fair amount of guessing as to what is going on and who Liam can trust. Evelyn is dealing with her mother leaving her for Plymouth, and anxiously awaiting when she will return for her, but also has come to love the moorlands. Both Liam and Evelyn are strong characters and the story’s minor characters add a lot of depth and mystery to the happenings throughout.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love reading stories of the haunting, windswept moors and breathtaking views of Cornwall’s coast. Throw in smugglers awaiting unwary ships as they are tossed upon the rocky shore. Also an out of the way manor house with many mysteries in a sleepy little village and a new unsuspecting Master of the mansion. Then you have a winner in Ladd’s latest book…… Liam has just come into ownership of Wyndcliff Manor and the land surrounding it, and Evelyn is the beautiful granddaughter of his inherited steward. While Liam is trying to learn his duties and who his tenants are and their needs, he does not receive a lot of help from the solicitor and others. They don’t trust him as if they are hiding something. Then a shipwreck leaves a woman and her daughter stranded, and the woman’s memory is affected. Liam comes to realize that shipwrecks are the norm at Wyndcliff, but is there more than it seems, perhaps something more than just scavenging for what comes ashore from the ships? This is Ladd at her finest, a very interesting mystery…..Review based on advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have really enjoyed this series by Sarah Ladd. I have loved learning new things about Cornwall, England. I loved how this book gave us a glimpse into what it would have been like to own property and to have people smuggling on your land and what different reactions to that there were. Also see how there were different ways to make income. I thought it was interesting to learn about China Clay. I also loved the romance in this book. I loved how they became friends and had to decide it they could overcome their social differences in order to be together. I think Sarah Ladd did a great job of showing us an interesting time in England and in giving us a wonderful romance.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.