The Cornish Inheritance

The Cornish Ladies #3

by Fil Reid

After her father’s suicide, Caroline Fairfield is left practically destitute and needing to find herself employment in a hurry. Her old friend, Ysella Beauchamp, now living in Cornwall, assures her that a family she knows is looking for a governess for nine-year-old Yves, the orphaned heir to his grandfather’s title and fortune, after the previous governess left under a cloud.

He’s described as weak and delicate, but turns out to be anything but, and Caroline soon discovers that Mrs Treloar, Yves’s formidable aunt, has a distinct lack of concern for his welfare. To the point of seeming to want to put him in danger. And then she discovers he’s being dosed every night, on his aunt’s orders, with something that could prove fatal.

Major Nathaniel Treloar, disfigured in battle and returning from Europe now Bonaparte is in captivity, travels down to Cornwall to recuperate at his grandfather’s estate while he decides what to do with his life. He’s touchy about his damaged looks and, although he seems friendly enough, and she’s strongly attracted to him, Caroline can’t get out of her head the fact that he would be the one to benefit if anything were to happen to Yves.

When Yves goes missing, Caroline and Nat are thrown together in a terrifying quest to save his life.

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The Cornish Ladies Series
Book 1 - The Cornish Mermaid
Book 2 - The Cornish Bride
Book 3 - The Cornish Inheritance
Book 4 - The Cornish Widow

332 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

AWARD-WINNING author, Fil Reid's first novel won a GOLD medal at the Readers' Favorites Awards in 2022.

Fil lives in Cornwall with her extremely supportive husband and where she's only minutes from the sea. She has a rescue dog from Romania called Bella.

She writes historical fiction and has a six book time travel series, GUINEVERE, out in which the heroine is a 21st-century girl kidnapped back to the Dark Ages to become King Arthur's Queen Guinevere. Lots of fun plot twists mixed in with some of the well-known and also the lesser known legends.

Her poor husband mostly sees the back of her head as she sits at the computer writing.
When she's not writing (which she does pretty much all of the time) she likes to walk the dog, visit sites of historical interest (preferably those connected to her writing), read, and sew.

She has Asperger's Syndrome, but she sees that as a plus as it helps her to be very focused on what she does.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline's new charge Yves, is a nine year old with an adventurous spirit. She is also a companion to Yves cousin, Mrs. Treloar's daughter. A cold unpleasant woman, Mrs. Treloar runs the house and everyone in it. Nathaniel Treloar returns from the war physically scared and is suffering from his experiences. Caroline doesn't know who to trust with her suspicions that Yves and now Nathaniel are in danger. It's attempted murder, but there's no proof. A romance within a mystery of who stands to inherit the money. With a nine year old boy constantly on the move, Yves sets the pace of the book.
Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cornish Inheritance by Fil Reid is the third in this engaging series wherein a daughter of the nobility is forced by her father’s cowardice to seek employment. Caroline Fairfield had come to Cornwall on the word of her friend, Ysella, who had told her of a position as governess to a small boy and companion to a young woman. They were not expecting her so after obtaining transportation part of the way, she had to walk, arriving in a state of dishabille. The women was cold but seemed relived to have her here. She liked the little boy, Yves, who was apparently heir to to this dying grandfather. Also in residence were his aunt, Ruth, and his cousin, Hetty. Both very likable. She noticed right off that things were not right. For one thing, they were barely given any food. Thank goodness Yves was friendly with the kitchen staff, as small boys are, or they might have starved. Then Nat arrived home from the war. Sour and miserable with a scar on his face and missing a couple of fingers.

There seemed to be a plot afoot and she was determined to find out what. She was a stubborn character, brave beyond words, who discovered the root of Nat’s misery as well as having her suspicions verified by the previous governess, who had been fired. As Nat warmed up and as she looked around she knew it was not Nat behind the plot. The question was, could she stop it in time? Nat was a strong man, beat down by life, but not ready to give up. Caroline gave him hope, and Yves and Hetty showed him love. It was a moving book with a well-thought-out plot, full of twists and turns. Fil Reid is a gifted author and this third time in her Cornish Ladies series is a t rue example of that talent.

I was invited to read The Cornish Inheritance by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #FilReid #TheCornishInheritance

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third installment of The Cornish Ladies series and is a thrilling addition that combines suspense, intrigue, and a compelling love story. The story follows Caroline Fairfield, a woman struggling to rebuild her life after her father's tragic suicide, as she takes on the role of governess to a mysterious young boy, Yves, in Cornwall.
With the mystery of Yves’s suspicious health issues and the dark secrets surrounding his guardianship, I was immediately pulled into the story. The suspense builds steadily as Caroline uncovers the chilling truth behind Yves’s condition.
Nathaniel was disfigured in battle and emotionally scarred. He is a tortured hero whose vulnerability and inner conflict make him an intriguing and sympathetic character. His growing attraction to Caroline, and the tension between them as they work together to find Yves, is both slow-burning and emotionally charged. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but it’s their shared quest to save Yves that truly brings them together giving them a more emotional connection.
The mystery is balanced well with the romance and together, they create a dynamic and engaging partnership that kept me invested in their relationship as well as the mystery from start to finish. With just the right balance of danger and heart, this was no doubt an entertaining and satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An air of menace permeates this novel as Caroline arrives to a less than warm welcome at Roskilly House to take up her position as governess to young Yves Treloar. Despite being a stranger to the area, she quickly ascertains that all is not well in the household. The arrival of Major Nathaniel Treloar increases the tension, as he too receives a frigid welcome. He is badly disfigured due to his part in the war against Napoleon, which makes him self-conscious and wary of strangers. As unexpected events occur, Caroline and Nathanial need to join forces to figure out who is responsible and keep young Yves safe. Ultimately, working together brings out their best qualities and an attraction develops. The novel comes to a sweet conclusion, but not without heightened suspense. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in a fantastic series takes us on the journey with Caroline, a Lady forced to take on the role of a governess. Arriving at her new post, the mystery begins to unfold. Her charge, Yves, is a charming little boy whose inheritance is at risk. Nat, arrives home to heal and walks into problems he didn't want to deal with. As an embittered ex soldier, he has his own healing physically and mentally to do. Yet as the story progresses, he finds comfort with the charming Caroline, who is determined to put things right in all areas. I liked the drama, the chemistry between the two and the mystery that is taking place. A fully enjoyable story that will have the reader fully engaged in a matter of minutes.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Gothic Style Tale.
Rather than live as the poor relation to her aunt, Caroline takes a post as governess to a 9 year old sickly boy and companion to his older cousin. However the household she enters is not a happy one and she quickly realises that something sinister is going on. The difficulty is knowing how to protect her charges and whom to trust. I loved how strong in character Caroline was and her bravery in the face of sinister forces and danger, but didn’t ‘feel’ the romance angle.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mary Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I liked the story. It was a very easy read. The heroine was the one front and centre solving the mystery and saving the hero and his nephew. The sentences were straighforward so I wondered if perhaps this author was aiming at a younger audience. It had a bit of a Poldark vibe without the richness of Winston's prose. Only passion towards the end.

It's part of a series but I don't think I'll look for the others.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Mindy B (reader_of_the_lost_arcs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline has just started working at Roskilly House as a governess. Nat has just arrived there as well after coming home from war. Caroline senses that things are not what they seem there and her young charge, Yves, is in danger. Nat and Caroline are really good together, but their relationship feels rushed, at the end of the book. This book gets extra credit for having an absolute adorable child, Yves, and his dog, Dash.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

[H L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty standard story with a feisty heroine and a somewhat malleable male lead. It could have done without the sex scene at the end which felt rather tacked on to me, but that's not what I read these for so if that's your thing... I thought the mystery was fairly good, the descriptions of the mine well done, and the characters engaging and enjoyable for the most part.

[Lwalalba · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story with mystery

This is my first read from this author and I really enjoyed it, a love story with a mystery. A great cast of characters with the beautiful Cornish coast as the backdrop.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A nice romance and mystery.

[Kathy Brickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

This was an interesting story of plotting an trying to steal an inheritance! But all the characters make it a mystery as to who is behind it all!