The Cloverton Charade Review

 

 About the Book

 

Olivia Brannon knows her goals are unconventional. As a young woman in Regency England, her best bet—according to society—is to marry well and secure a steady future for herself. But Olivia has never been interested in convention. She’d prefer to follow in her deceased father’s footsteps and journey to foreign lands in search of rare and valuable antiquities.

Eager to make a name for herself in the antiquities world, Olivia jumps at an invitation to join a wealthy widow at the famed Cloverton Hall to evaluate her private antiquities collection. Secrecy of the task is vital, and in order to conceal her efforts Olivia must pretend to be a house party guest to avoid suspicion and to explain her presence.

Lucas Avery, whose father was a rival of Olivia’s father, has also arrived at the Cloverton Hall house party, hired by the new master of Cloverton Hall—the widow’s nephew—to appraise the renowned Cloverton Hall collection. When Lucas discovers Olivia masquerading as a party guest while covertly conducting her own assessment, he’s keen to renew the family rivalry. But as their paths frequently cross, he’s unprepared for the effect the refreshingly honest—and beautiful—Olivia has on him.

Yet all is not as it seems. Both Olivia and Lucas are shocked by the astonishing discovery of counterfeit pieces, and when the unexpected occurs, everyone is a suspect . . . and Olivia and Lucas both must choose whom they will trust. Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.

(Amazon)

 

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My Thoughts

I always enjoy a Sarah E. Ladd novel because I never know what to expect. There is usually a mystery and a hint of romance and this story brought both. The setting is a house party and Olivia is "undercover" so to speak to try and assess the value of items in the house while attending the party. I enjoyed the mystery side of things and Lucas is probably my favorite character. The first part of the book moved a tad slow for me since I was eager to get to the mystery and find hidden treasures. But once I got past the middle of the story things started to pick up and I enjoyed the rest. The ending isn't shocking as it wraps up the loose ends but enjoyable just the same. 

Fans of regency fiction should pick this one up!

 

 

 Three Stars.

"I received this book from NetGalley for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."