The Letter from Briarton Park

Sarah E. Ladd

Mar 2022 · The Houses of Yorkshire Series Book 1 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

In Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman’s fate when it summons her to Briarton Park—an ancient estate that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future.

Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But her 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, Cassandra 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 and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.

Sarah Ladd’s latest Regency romance, first in the new Houses of Yorkshire series, combines mystery and intrigue with the best of historical storytelling.

Praise for The Letter from Briarton Park:

“The swoon-worthy romance of Jane Austen meets the suspense of Charlotte Bronte in Sarah Ladd's enthralling The Letter from Briarton Park. As Cassandra navigates the mystery of her own life, it is absolutely clear that family—either of blood or heart—are where she, and we, ultimately find our home.” —Joy Callaway, international bestselling author of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society and The Greenbrier Resort

• Sweet Regency romance with mystery elements
• The first book in the Houses of Yorkshire series, but can be read in any order
• Book length: approximately 91,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

A young lady's journey in discovering her roots; who her father and mother were; if they still lived; did she have any siblings? It began with a incomplete deathbed confession and a two-year-old letter. Cassandra life was in turmoil. The woman she thought of as a mother, Mrs. Denton, had kept the names of her parents from her as well as an important letter. As Mrs. Denton was dying, she gave Cassandra the letter but nothing more. After she passed Cassandra followed up on the invitation in the letter to Briarton Park. This reminded me of a soap opera. There are several characters all with different intents on Cassandra. I liked Betsy. She was real, sincere and truthful. Kind to a fault. A gossip yes but she owned a heart of gold. A good and true friend. James a gentleman in every sense of the word. He had honor, integrity and good instincts. His sister Rachel a teenager on the cusp of womanhood truly embraced Cassandra's friendship and because of Cassandra became involved in the local church’s charity rounds. Rachel began to meet other young ladies her age there and was the better for it. Mr. North the vicar seemed all that was good and kind; was a strong speaker and was well liked in the village. But the more Cassandra got to know him, she began to believe there was more to him than what meets the eye and she was not sure if she liked it or not or whether it mattered at all. Everyone has their flaws and faults. Right? The kindly Mr. William Longham he was the man of business for the person that wrote the letter to Cassandra in the beginning of the story. He was a sincere, loyal solicitor who had been looking for Cassandra for about two years. He was a professional at his craft. He knew what he was about and took great satisfaction in knowing that his employer's wishes would be fulfilled now that he found her. Thus began the intrigue, the rumors, the suspicions, the betrayals, murder and danger for Cassandra. A clean romance. An easy read. It gently immerses the reader into the story and it will hold your attention till the very end. I enjoyed reading this a great deal. It is a story well presented, logical and each scene segued into another seamlessly. There were no interruptions in the flow of the story. It is professionally written and well edited. I highly recommend it. Reasons I enjoyed this book: Easy-to-read, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Tragic, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters.

The Letter from Briarton Park is a thrilling Regency romance/mystery from Sarah E. Ladd. The story is captivating from the beginning as the secrets behind Cassandra Hale’s past are ever so slowly revealed. The gothic-type mystery in this book was spectacular and, for me, took center stage. The pacing was perfect to keep me reading one more chapter after another. I was completely enthralled by Miss Hale’s history. I had to know the who’s and the why’s! I could not rest until the end!! The romance was beautiful, sweet, and oh-so-slow-burn. Many sighs were sighed. James was a perfect gentleman, a man with humble beginnings but a generous and loving heart. I enjoyed watching his heart come to life again after grieving his wife for two years. And I adored how he always took the time to fully think through his emotions but was never hesitant to act when necessary. Overall, I loved this book. The Letter to Briarton Park is now my favorite book from this author! Fans of Regency romance/mystery, like Julie Klassen or Michelle Griep, will enjoy this story full of family secrets! Happy reading! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Ladd’s latest book keeps you interested right up to the end. You will love the characters, well most of them. It must be terrible not to know who you are and where you came from and do you have family anywhere? This is Casandra Hale. She receives a mysterious letter from the owner of Briarton Park, delayed by two years, because the letter was kept from her — she believes she will soon learn the truth about her past, including the identities of her parents. So she leaves the only home she has ever had and journeys to Briarton Park and loses all hope when she learns that the man who penned the letter is dead. A new owner and his family is installed in the manor and he cannot help her with her questions. What is she to do and who can help her find the answers? Briarton Park is full of secret passageways and hidden rooms. Why are they there and what were they used for? The mystery and suspense will keep you turning the pages. An interesting book with a satisfying ending……. Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

About the author

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who 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 she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has released several novels set during the Regency era. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. She lives in Indiana with her family. Visit Sarah online at SarahLadd.com; Instagram: @sarahladdauthor; Facebook: @SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor; Pinterest: @SarahLaddAuthor.