Betrayals and love!
The Governess of Penwythe Hall (The Cornwall Novels #1)
by Sarah E. Ladd
As stories go concerning smugglers in Cornwall, a governess with a heavy secret, and a struggling landowner who finds himself suddenly a guardian to five children, this should have been a solid gratifying read.
Cordelia Greythorne leaves Cornwall after her husband's death, threatened by her powerful smuggling-in-laws because she won't give them the information they desire. As she left her mother-in-law spat out, "If you’ve any sense in you, you’ll ne’er return to Cornwall. You’ve betrayed the Greythornes, and none will forget.”
Cordelia spends three years away, only to find herself back in Cornwall, a mere twenty miles away from the wicked clan, continuing as a governess to honor a dying father's request.
Of course the brutal family finds out about Cordelia's return. Of course she steps into danger.
And then there's her developing relationship with the children's uncle and guardian, Jac Twethewey. A relationship cemented with unspoken, restrained moments of yearning and wishful glances.
I did like the children, their genuine suffering, and Liam as the eldest trying to shoulder burdens beyond his experience. I also enjoyed watching his growing relationship with Jac.
So after all these fine tropes coming together, I'm genuinely puzzled as to why I didn't find the story near as absorbing as the chain of events would suggest.
Individually I liked all the characters. But it seems there were too many times when the narrative fell flat. I struggled with enjoyment of specific action moments and the unexceptionable inbetweens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
***
by Sarah E. Ladd
Cordelia Greythorne leaves Cornwall after her husband's death, threatened by her powerful smuggling-in-laws because she won't give them the information they desire. As she left her mother-in-law spat out, "If you’ve any sense in you, you’ll ne’er return to Cornwall. You’ve betrayed the Greythornes, and none will forget.”
Cordelia spends three years away, only to find herself back in Cornwall, a mere twenty miles away from the wicked clan, continuing as a governess to honor a dying father's request.
Of course the brutal family finds out about Cordelia's return. Of course she steps into danger.
And then there's her developing relationship with the children's uncle and guardian, Jac Twethewey. A relationship cemented with unspoken, restrained moments of yearning and wishful glances.
I did like the children, their genuine suffering, and Liam as the eldest trying to shoulder burdens beyond his experience. I also enjoyed watching his growing relationship with Jac.
So after all these fine tropes coming together, I'm genuinely puzzled as to why I didn't find the story near as absorbing as the chain of events would suggest.
Individually I liked all the characters. But it seems there were too many times when the narrative fell flat. I struggled with enjoyment of specific action moments and the unexceptionable inbetweens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
***
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