Dawn at Emberwilde

GIVEAWAY

LADD, SARAH E.
DAWN AT EMBERWILDE

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father's death.

The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news o unknown relatives turns Isabel's small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family's invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocated to Emberwilde, a srawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumours and ominous folklore -- along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it -- in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

My Review:

Following in the exquisite tradition of Austen and Bronte, Sarah E. Ladd has created an enticing Regency romance with a bit of a Gothic flare. An orphan heroine who suddenly finds herself with an estranged family, an ancestral home steeped in mystery and two men to complicate her life. A tale told in such delightful prose it begs to be read aloud.

I devoured this book in one day. Shivering in delight when a certain gentleman appeared on the page. Shuddering with disdain when another dared make an appearance. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot as Isabel is led through a maze of subterfuge and betrayal before all becomes clear. Just the kind of thing for a cool rainy day read.

A subtle faith thread comes courtesy of Isabel's Fellsworth School friend, Mary.  "Remember, with each dawn seek guidance, and with each night give gratitude. For there is a divine plan for each of our lives, and a journey, and you have started yours." p.58 I love Mary for those words of counsel and I'm pretty sure that she will be the heroine in the next Treasures of Surrey novel. I'm really looking forward to getting to know her better.

A captivating read that's sure to delight Regency and Gothic fans alike.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity Group for providing me with a copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/sladd

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Dawn at Emberwilde 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 June 12 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!