The Curiosity Keeper

GIVEAWAY

LADD, SARAH E.
THE CURIOSITY KEEPER

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whomever possesses it.”

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop on Blinkett Street. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille has no choice but to accept help from the mysterious stranger who came to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content working as a village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may or may not be the answer to his questions.

Curious circumstance throws them together, and an intricate dance of need and suspicion leads the couple from the seedy backwaters of London to the elite neighborhoods of the wealthy to the lush, green Surrey countryside—all in the pursuit of a blood-red gem that collectors will sacrifice anything to possess.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, each will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

My Review:

My Regency lovin' heart is pitter-pattering a rapid staccato beat once again. Can't explain why I love this time period so much but I do! Curling up with The Curiosity Keeper turned a bad day into something so much better. I love it when an author can sweep me away on page one and Sarah E. Ladd did just that.

I connected to Camille right away. It felt like the sharp shards of her brokenness pierced my own heart somehow.  My emotions ran all over the place on her behalf. From wild indignation to rampant rage to heart crushing sorrow. Camille was much more stoic in the face of adversity than I was during this read!

I love the fact that nobly bred Jonathan works as the village apothecary. He's such a contradiction of the time and doesn't quite fit with his own family. He's kind and compassionate, and has such an engaging bedside manner -- I came near to swooning in those scenes. Such a gentle man.

Camille and Jonathan's action-packed first meet sets the course for a dramatic tale full of intrigue and danger. That mystery casts a shadow over their chance at happiness though. Trusts have been broken. Family torn asunder. Greed and deceit threaten. There is a quiet message of hope in God's ability to bring about good from evil and the resounding climax of this story is a testimony of that.

A superb Regency that you'll want to gobble up in one sitting.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Curiosity Keeper please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 4 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!