I have told you that with one of my online libraries, I have to put books on a wait list and then I wait and wait. I got my latest book, The Letter from Briarton Park by Sarah E Ladd, from that library.
For these books, I have a shorter loan period. I was getting to the end of the loan period so I listened to this one over the course of two days.
The book was okay…not spectacular…okay.
When I was in high school, I would read a ton of Harlequin Romances…(come on, admit it. Some of you did too.) This is written way better than one of those, but the plot is pretty much the same. I am to the point in my reading life that I want more plot…I want deeper characters. I don’t want the bad guy to be so obvious. I crave a little more meat to my stories.
Here is what Amazon had to say…
“Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But her world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family’s identity. Stung by betrayal, Cassandra travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.
James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.
The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything—or everyone—is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.
Sarah Ladd’s latest Regency romance, first in the new Houses of Yorkshire series, combines mystery and intrigue with the best of historical storytelling.”
Amazon readers gave the book 4.4 stars. I am only going to give it 4 stars. I feel like the story of this book isn’t very original…it’s a little too much of a PG romance for me too. If you like that, it’s a fine book…I’m just not into romance books at all.
In the writing of this review, it looks like this book will be a part of a series as this book is listed as the first in the series.
If you are interested, you can find the book HERE.
Try Audible. It is free but the books are old. Pre 1926. BUT
There is H. Rider Haggard (She. King Solomon Mines). Jules Verne. The Black Moth (which I read as a teenager). Lots and lots of choices
You’re not alone. I checked out a hardcover copy of this book, read several chapters, and decided my time could be better spent. There are too many books waiting for me to read them to waste time forcing myself to finish one I’m not enjoying.
I do enjoy your reviews and have read and enjoyed a number of your suggestions. Thanks!
I’ll fess up. I read my share of Harlequins as a young woman, but I’ve moved on to other topics. Thanks for sharing so much with us.