The Letter from Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd

The Letter from Briarton Park
by Sarah E. Ladd

ISBN-13: 9780785246725
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: March 1st 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But Cassandra’s world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family’s identity. Stung by betrayal, she travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.

James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.

The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything—or everyone—is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find a home.


My Review:
The Letter from Briarton Park is a romance set in 1811 in England. The main characters were engaging, and the story of a gal seeking to find her family and gaining one through her kind, courageous, honorable actions is always fun. But the historical errors were very distracting for me. Cassandra discovered she was the daughter of a maid who was raped by a rich man. Sadly, in this time period, both the maid and the child would have been looked down on. I accept that James would have been willing to marry her, but it was unbelievable that no one wondered at the socially-arrogant vicar's obvious intent to marry her.

Next, Cassandra repeatedly removed her coat and gloves and laid them on a chair rather than the servants offering to take them. Also, Cassandra was constantly smoothing her hair and clothing while men were watching. I assume it's meant to be a nervous habit, but she's also meant to have refined manners. She several times smoothed the front of her gown starting from the high waist, which would draw attention to her...assets, pull her dress tight over her body, and end by drawing attention to baby-making territory. Not very modest. No wonder the men were crazy for her, though that wasn't the reason given in the story.

There was no sex or bad language. Though somewhat predictable, it's an enjoyable story if you aren't distracted by historical accuracy problems.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.