Romance, historical fiction, and mystery are some of my favorite genres. Lately I’ve found that I really enjoy Christian historical romances with a large dose of mystery or even a gothic feel to them. I really enjoyed The Light at Wyndcliff, a historical romance by Sarah E. Ladd.

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The summary:

The Light at Wyndcliff
by Sarah E. Ladd

Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Thomas Nelson
Paperback & eBook; 352 Pages

Series: The Cornwall Novels, Book 3
Genre: Historical Romance/Regency/Christian

Set in 1820s Cornwall, this Regency romance evokes the captivating worlds and delicious dramas of Jane Austen, Daphne DuMaurier, and Winston Graham.

Raised on the sprawling and rugged Wyndcliff Estate near the dangerous coast of South Cornwall, Evelyn Bray lives with her grandfather, a once-wealthy man reduced to the post of steward. Evelyn is still grieving her father’s death and her mother’s abandonment when a passing ship is dashed against the rocks. The only survivors, a little girl and her injured mother, are rescued and brought to Wyndcliff Hall.

Liam Twethewey is just twenty-two when he inherits Wyndcliff Estate from his great uncle. His optimistic plans to open a china clay pit to employ the estate’s tenants meets unexpected resistance, and the rumors of smuggling and illegal activity challenge his new-found authority. Though wise beyond his years, young Liam quickly finds himself out of his depth in this land where long-held secrets and high-stakes agendas make no room for newcomers.

Brought together by troubling questions surrounding the shipwreck, Evelyn and Liam uncover even darker mysteries shrouding the estate. But as they untangle truths from deceptions, their loyalties separate them—and their budding love might not be strong enough to overcome the distance.

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The Light at Wyndcliff is the story of Evelyn and Liam. Liam has just come into ownership of Wyndcliff Manor and the land surrounding it, and Evelyn is the granddaughter of his solicitor. Liam is young, and the villagers don’t seem to trust him or want him in their business. A shipwreck leaves a woman and her daughter stranded, and the woman’s memory is affected. Liam comes to realize that shipwrecks are the norm at Wyndcliff, and there might be some illegal activity going on. He wants to figure out who is at fault and put it to a stop so no one else gets hurt. Evelyn is on the same page, but feels torn between wanting to do what’s right, her attraction to Liam, and the opinions of the villagers, including her grandfather.

While the mystery itself was predictable, the details of the story were so engaging and interesting. I learned so much about smuggling and shipwreck law, as well as the harvesting of china clay, which takes place on the property. It was really educational and these small details really added to the plot. I loved the characters too. Evelyn is much too trusting, and both the hero and heroine are wonderful people with the best intentions. The villains and side characters are all gray. They are not good, but they are far from evil. I loved how complex the characters were.

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Do you SEE this cover? 👀 How gorgeous! I definitely will judge a pretty book by its cover. ❤️ #TheLightatWyndcliff #SarahELadd #HFVBTBlogTours @SarahLaddAuthor @thomasnelson @hfvbt . . . #wine #wino #redwine #book #books #bookstagram #historicalfiction #christianfiction #booklover #booknerd #bookgang #bookstagrammer #bookaddict

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Finally, I know some readers hear “Christian” and think a book will have religious themes. I am not religious at all and don’t like when religion is heavily featured in a book. This is not the case with The Light at Wyndcliff. I would say it is more of a proper romance than a Christian romance – something fans of both types will enjoy. We don’t get any steam, but all the sweetness. It’s absolutely lovely.

Overall, this was a 5 star read for me. I think the storyline was excellent and all of the characters were complex. Even the villains had some good things about them. This was a quick read for me. I devoured over 100 pages in one sitting, which is not my usual style. My thanks to the author, publisher, and HFVBT for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever.

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The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this mystery with a heavy dose of sweet romance. The characters are lovely and complex, even the villains. My thanks to the author, publisher, and HFVBT for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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