The Governess of Penwythe Hall (Cornwall #1) by Sarah E. Ladd
Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction
Read: 7th April 2019
Purchase: Amazon
(release date: 16th April 2019)
★★★★★ 5 stars
If you loved Poldark then you will love THE GOVERNESS OF PENWYTHE HALL. That's not to say that it is the same as the much loved saga, though one could be forgiven for feeling a sense of familiarity as we revisit the beauty of Cornwall. The gorgeous rugged coast, secluded beaches, unpredictable weather, the vast and rocky moors, grand estates and of course the smuggling. Any historic novel set in Cornwall would not be complete without free trading which was rife in these times. With all this as a backdrop, how could one not fall in love with this story.
It begins with Cordelia Greythorne, recently widowed, leaving Cornwall in a mist of melodrama and tragedy. Relations with her in-laws are invariably strained as she goes head to head with the matriarch of the Greythorne family before taking her leave. Dark secrets and threats are hinted at should she ever return.
Determined to put the past behind her, Delia takes a post as a governess to five children in Yorkshire after the recent death of their mother where she thrives in her new position. The children love her and she cannot imagine her life without them. But all too soon, tragedy strikes and the children are left orphaned. In his will, their father their care assigned his younger brother, Jac Trethewey, whose home is Penwythe Hall in Cornwall. At this news, Delia is somewhat apprehensive with returning but as their governess her concern is for the children.
The three day journey from Yorkshire is long and tiresome, with the children asking countless questions and wondering if their uncle will like them? However, upon arrival, Penwythe Hall is seemingly quiet with no one on hand to greet them.
Jac Tretheway is surprised to find five children, a governess, a tutor and his brother's shifty solicitor on his doorstep. He is even more surprised to learn that his brother, with whom he had been estranged, has left his children in his care. In the midst of apple trees, orchards and cider barns, Jac is busy trying to make Penwythe Hall profitable again. So he comes to rely on Delia to help him get to know the children but in doing so he also gets to know her. Captivated by her countenance he becomes intrigued with the beautiful governess and why her name seems so familiar.
Delia finds herself attracted to Jac but accepts her position as it is - that they could never be more than master and governess. But when Delia spots a face from her past in the guests at a ball Penwythe Hall is hosting, old fears begin to resurface. The Greythornes had found her; there would be no escaping now.
Watching her from across the room, Jac could clearly see something wasn't right and fearing retribution, Delia confides in him the secrets of her past. Would he feel differently now that he knows of her connection to the nefarious Greythornes? Realising she is in danger, Jac promises to protect her and the children. But why are they threatening her now? Is there something she isn't telling him?
Then Delia is called home to help with her dying sister and to say her goodbyes. In her absence, their mother's sister arrives and demands that the children should be in her care with all that is available to them in London. The oldest girl overhears the exchange between their uncle Jac and his overseer regarding their aunt's demands, and soon the children fear they will be heaved from their new home. Where is Mrs Greythorne? She will know what to do. So the oldest boy Liam decides he must go to their governess over twenty miles away and beg for her return.
But Delia's brother Horace has other ideas. He does not want her to return to Penwythe Hall. Why look after someone else's children when she can help look after his own children, her blood relations? Her place is with them now, not Penwythe Hall. Besides, people will talk.
However, Delia is not the same person she was when he married her off to the Greythornes, knowing full well of their criminalities. Stronger now, she knows her own mind and what she wants, and she will not let her brother beat her down.
But when tragedy strikes and the Greythornes demand Delia reveal the secret she has been keeping from them Jac, Delia and Horace work together to bring down the most nefarious family in the area.
THE GOVERNESS OF PENWYTHE HALL is so wonderfully written, an absorbing tale filled with grief, loss, romance, faith, mystery and intrigue - a little bit of everything. And the setting is simply beautiful. The characters are well developed - either we love them or hate them - as they face difficult circumstances in the early 19th century. I do like the fact that the romance is modest and tender as that can become a little trite if overstated.
My only complaint would be that aunt Charlotte didn't feature quite as much as I would have liked, however that is but a small blemish to what is otherwise a beautiful and tender tale. There is simply nothing to dislike about THE GOVERNESS OF PENWYTHE HALL (except for maybe the odd character) and it was a delight to read. I enjoyed it so much I didn't want it to end. I wanted to remain immersed there forever.
I would like to thank #SarahELadd, #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for this ARC of #TheGovernessOfPenwytheHall in exchange for an honest review.
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