A Treasure of Surrey Novel #3
By Sarah E. Ladd
Annabelle Thorley has determined that leaving the life she has always known is her only option. Her brother is strongly encouraging her to marry a man she wants nothing to do with, Her social standing has fallen with the scandal surrounding her father before his death. Her fiancΓ© has abandoned her in favor of a more socially advantageous match. A long ago promise of help from her uncle is her only hope for a future that she will determine.
Doing the unexpected Annabelle leaves London society behind for Fellsworth, where she hopes her brother will never find her. The luxury that Annabelle has lived is to be a thing of the past as the safe harbor she seeks with her uncle means she will have to work at the school he runs. But Annabelle is willing to do what is necessary.
With the help of an almost total stranger - Owen Locke, Anabelle manages to make good her escape. But like her Owen has lived under a cloud of scandal following the death of his wife. But Owen has a way of making Annabelle feel safe - something she never expected.
But there is an undercurrent in Fellsworth that keeps Annabelle from feeling completely safe. And when poachers begin causing trouble in the area Owen is tasked with finding those responsible. But Owen feels there is more going on than just poaching and he feels there is a link to the school.
This story is set in 1819, England and those who enjoy an uncurrent of mystery with their historical fiction will love delving into this book. This book is the third book in the A Treasury of Surrey series but it is not necessary to have read the first two books in this series to enjoy this book. The action and reflective moments are a well-balanced blend that keeps the reader's interest from cover-to-cover.
I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through BookLook with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Book:
Could losing everything be the best thing
to happen to Annabelle Thorley?
In the fallout of her deceased father’s financial ruin, Annabelle’s prospects are looking bleak. Her fiancΓ© has called off their betrothal, and now she remains at the mercy of her controlling and often cruel brother. Annabelle soon faces the fact that her only hope for a better life is to do the unthinkable and run away to Fellsworth, the home of her long-estranged aunt and uncle, where a teaching position awaits her. Working for a wage for the first time in her life forces Annabelle to adapt to often unpleasant situations as friendships and roles she’s taken for granted are called into question.
Owen Locke is unswerving in his commitments. As a widower and father, he is fiercely protective of his only daughter. As an industrious gamekeeper, he is intent on keeping poachers at bay even though his ambition has always been to eventually purchase land that he can call his own. When a chance encounter introduces him to the lovely Annabelle Thorley, his steady life is shaken. For the first time since his wife’s tragic death, Owen begins to dream of a second chance at love.
As Owen and Annabelle grow closer, ominous forces threaten the peace they thought they’d found. Poachers, mysterious strangers, and murderers converge at Fellsworth, forcing Annabelle and Owen to a test of fortitude and bravery to stop the shadow of the past from ruining their hopes for the future.
