In the Shelter of Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd is a fantastic Regency Romance and Mystery. I very much enjoyed my time in this story. Charlotte and Anthony were first loves about four years prior to the start of this story, so this is a second-chance romance. Both Charlotte and Anthony have BIG things to overcome before either one of them can even admit that their feelings for each other are still going strong. I enjoyed journeying with both characters as they maneuvered through their baggage. Charlotte stole my mama heart. I wanted so badly to hug her and kick all the bullies away. But she does a fantastic job of standing on her own two feet and taking care of business all on her own. I really loved this about her character. She is strong because she has to be. She is intrepid because she has to be. And she is successful because she has no other choice. As a single mother who has been dealt some seriously bad cards, Charlotte has to be the strongest, most intrepid, and most successful woman possible for her son’s sake. And, boy, does Charlotte impress me with her gumption. Personally, if I had been in Charlotte’s shoes I may have given up a couple of times. But she is not alone on this crazy journey. Charlotte has Anthony in her corner. Anthony is the best kind of hero: he’s uber strong, he’s good-hearted, he’s loyal, and he’s honorable. Yes, Anthony has been through the ringer — wounded in war, lost his beloved uncle (and only relative), and his mill was burned down — but he keeps moving forward. I love this quality. Anthony never plays the victim, and because of this he is able to be the strength that Charlotte needs to lean into from time to time. This makes them a great pair, and one I was rooting for the entire time. I also appreciated the mystery of this story. It’s subtle, but it definitely kept me turning pages well into the night.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House is another excellent Regency Romance/Mystery by Sarah E. Ladd. If you’re a fan of well-written, highly engaging Historical Romances with a touch of edge-of-your-seat Mystery, then this is the book for you. You do not want to miss this story!