Heiress of Winterwood - A Review

Amelia Barrett promised her dying friend that she'd raise her newborn daughter as as her own child. With the child safely in her care, Amelia takes on a new role as mother and care-taker/guardian to the baby especially since the child's father is away at sea. When he returns, Captain Graham Sterling learns that his daughter is being raised and cared for by Amelia. When the two first meet, Amelia proposes a way that the Captain can have the best of both worlds, that is someone to care for the baby and still have his life at sea. And that way is that she and the Captain marry. For her, her motives are selfish. She would get out of an engagement where her fiancee doesn't want the baby on the property and she gets to keep Lucy. The Captain would benefit as well by becoming the Master of Winterwood, the family home that Amelia will inherit upon her marriage. Agreeing the her proposal, Graham doesn't realize that the consequences will be dire for them until Lucy is kidnapped and both Graham and Amelia must learn to trust each other and let go of whatever pride and self-reliance that they have and learn to trust that God has everything in control and will see Lucy delivered back to them.

I'd been seeing this book everywhere and being recommended by other bloggers as well as authors whose opinion I trust. I missed the opportunity to request it via Booksneeze, but was able to obtain a copy from NetGalley.

I fell in love with the cover of the book when I first saw it in a Booksneeze newsletter as an upcoming book to review. I typically don't love reading the Regency period, though I seem to read a lot of it. This book captured my attention immediately and didn't let me go. There were several nights over the past few days that I'd be up until the early hours, knowing I had to be at work the next day, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next! As far as I know, this is Sarah Ladd's debut book. But you couldn't tell it by reading it! There is enough mystery surrounding the outcome of Amelia's decisions that kept me wanting to know more. And Graham reminded me of a classic tragic hero in that he had made mistakes and was determined to overcome them and move on. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.


I received the Kindle version of the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jane Austen, Downtown Abbey, Julie Klassen, Lisa Tawn Bergren, Regency Romance

Rating - 4 stars

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