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Hawthorne Vale
Devon, England. Autumn, 1815.
Eleanor Hawthorne has always known how to read a room. She notices what others dismiss, remembers what others forget, and acts on what others wait to confirm. When she discovers that the horses at neighboring Ashcroft Manor are quietly failing — and that someone may have arranged it — she does what comes naturally. She pays attention. And she writes a letter.
Henry Ashcroft has returned to a house under strain. His father is dying by degrees. His breeding program is being undermined. The county is watching to see whether Ashcroft will recover or quietly collapse. He is managing, carefully and alone, until a letter arrives from Hawthorne Vale that changes everything.
What begins as a practical alliance becomes something neither of them planned for — a partnership built not in drawing rooms but in stable yards, grain lofts, and the long honest conversations that happen when two people stop performing for each other and simply tell the truth.
But Devon has its own designs. A neighboring family with generations of ambition. Social campaigns waged with devastating politeness. A Duke’s inspection that will determine Ashcroft’s future. A crisis in the night that tests everything Eleanor has quietly been preparing for. And a mystery threading through the valley that no one has yet found the courage to name.
Hawthorne Vale is a story about what it costs to hold something precious through a difficult season — an estate, a family, a faith — and about the particular grace of being seen clearly by someone worth trusting.
Warm, layered, and deeply felt, with an ensemble cast that will stay with you long after the final page.
Book One of the Hawthorne Vale Series.
Eleanor Hawthorne has always known how to read a room. She notices what others dismiss, remembers what others forget, and acts on what others wait to confirm. When she discovers that the horses at neighboring Ashcroft Manor are quietly failing — and that someone may have arranged it — she does what comes naturally. She pays attention. And she writes a letter.
Henry Ashcroft has returned to a house under strain. His father is dying by degrees. His breeding program is being undermined. The county is watching to see whether Ashcroft will recover or quietly collapse. He is managing, carefully and alone, until a letter arrives from Hawthorne Vale that changes everything.
What begins as a practical alliance becomes something neither of them planned for — a partnership built not in drawing rooms but in stable yards, grain lofts, and the long honest conversations that happen when two people stop performing for each other and simply tell the truth.
But Devon has its own designs. A neighboring family with generations of ambition. Social campaigns waged with devastating politeness. A Duke’s inspection that will determine Ashcroft’s future. A crisis in the night that tests everything Eleanor has quietly been preparing for. And a mystery threading through the valley that no one has yet found the courage to name.
Hawthorne Vale is a story about what it costs to hold something precious through a difficult season — an estate, a family, a faith — and about the particular grace of being seen clearly by someone worth trusting.
Warm, layered, and deeply felt, with an ensemble cast that will stay with you long after the final page.
Book One of the Hawthorne Vale Series.
Paperback
Published May 1, 2026
About the author
Kristin Sumpter
13 books3 followersKristin Sumpter is a writer drawn to stories shaped by heritage, place, and the quiet threads that connect generations. Her work is deeply influenced by her own family history, with roots stretching across Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and even tracing back to Viking ancestry in Norway. It is within these landscapes—both remembered and imagined—that her stories most often unfold.
Kristin spent thirteen years living in Canada, where the rugged beauty of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia left a lasting impression. Surrounded by ocean, mountains, and a pace of life that invited reflection, her love for richly layered settings and atmospheric storytelling began to take deeper form. Today, that influence can still be felt in the way she builds the worlds her readers step into.
Now based in the Ozarks, Kristin shares life with her husband, Jon, whose passion for serving others helped inspire the founding of Mission 4:19 Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through meaningful experiences in the outdoors. Together, they are deeply committed to faith, family, and creating spaces where others can reconnect, restore, and find purpose.
Kristin’s love for the outdoors extends beyond Arkansas to Alaska, where she and her family own property and continue to find inspiration in its vast and untamed beauty. Whether traveling, writing, or spending time with her children and grandchildren, she remains drawn to places that tell a story long before words are ever written.
Her novels often reflect both history and heart, weaving together elements of family legacy and imagined lives. Hawthorne Vale, her debut in a forthcoming series, offers a quiet nod to her own heritage, with names and details inspired by those who came before her—including Victoria “Tinnie” Webb, Rile Webb, the Winbury family, and Christine Teague.
At home, she is rarely far from her beloved dog, Cooper, a long-haired mini-dachshund who has become a constant companion in both life and creativity.
Kristin spent thirteen years living in Canada, where the rugged beauty of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia left a lasting impression. Surrounded by ocean, mountains, and a pace of life that invited reflection, her love for richly layered settings and atmospheric storytelling began to take deeper form. Today, that influence can still be felt in the way she builds the worlds her readers step into.
Now based in the Ozarks, Kristin shares life with her husband, Jon, whose passion for serving others helped inspire the founding of Mission 4:19 Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through meaningful experiences in the outdoors. Together, they are deeply committed to faith, family, and creating spaces where others can reconnect, restore, and find purpose.
Kristin’s love for the outdoors extends beyond Arkansas to Alaska, where she and her family own property and continue to find inspiration in its vast and untamed beauty. Whether traveling, writing, or spending time with her children and grandchildren, she remains drawn to places that tell a story long before words are ever written.
Her novels often reflect both history and heart, weaving together elements of family legacy and imagined lives. Hawthorne Vale, her debut in a forthcoming series, offers a quiet nod to her own heritage, with names and details inspired by those who came before her—including Victoria “Tinnie” Webb, Rile Webb, the Winbury family, and Christine Teague.
At home, she is rarely far from her beloved dog, Cooper, a long-haired mini-dachshund who has become a constant companion in both life and creativity.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 8, 2026
If you come to Hawthorne Vale expecting only a romance…hold on to those reins, you’ve wandered into an entire village with opinions, secrets, side-eyes, and competitions.
Because this isn’t just Eleanor and Henry’s story. This is Hawthorne Vale’s story, and you are firmly seated in the front row with your own teacup.
Starts strong from page four, I got chills. Boom, instant chemistry between Eleanor and Henry over horse drama (as all love stories should begin, obviously).
And then there’s Lydia. Probably going to be your favourite minor character of the story. Her friendship with Eleanor makes you grin like you’re eavesdropping on people you wish were your friends. Her candor? She keeps everything lively, unpredictable, and delightfully unfiltered. Lydia’s and Thomas’s banter tidbits are easily craveable moments that pop up.
Now let’s talk about the Blackwoods. You feel the oiliness of the Blackwoods, instantly. Obvi, their name is Black-wood. Will their souls be as black?! Foreshadowing says it will.
With this story, you’re not locked into one perspective, you’re everywhere. Even in the rooms you’re not supposed to be in. Yes, even with the “bad guys.” If you love that delicious tension of knowing things before the protagonist, Eleanor senses something is amiss. This book is for you.
And Eleanor does sense it. She is perception personified. Thoughtful, observant, quietly strong. Paired with equally insightful characters like Ashcroft, this story leans into a more grounded, pious, and reflective tone. If you’re here for constant banter and flirtation, this isn’t that. But if you love characters who think, who notice, who carry a quiet moral weight—you’ll feel right at home.
Henry, meanwhile? The fates aligned for mysterious, respectful and thoughtful Henry, although last to ask Eleanor for a dance and she just so happens to have the most romantic waltz left?! How fortuitous that those other gents weren’t so sharp. 👀
The pacing is a un-rushed tale. This story invites you to linger, to sit in conversations, to absorb the atmosphere. You come to marinate in the dialogue and the richly layered town dynamics.
If you value a long, healthy ponder over instant gratification, this story will reward your patience beautifully, just like it reminds us:
“Patience is rarely wasted in anything worth having.”
The writing itself? Quite descriptive, lines like: “silk the colour of deepening dusk” and “cool resinous scent of evergreen” paint the scene.
The city, Devon, is spoken of like it’s sentient; watching, influencing, remembering. And the house party scenes: Mansfield Park-like energy.
And then there are the scenes with Lord Frederick, these are some of the most gripping in the book. They dig into heavier themes with surprising weight.
Themes this book explores:
Social pressures
Addiction
Coming of age
So no,this isn’t a whirlwind romance. It’s a tapestry of people, choices, and quiet revelations.
A place where you don’t just follow a couple, you live among a community. And by the end, Hawthorne Vale won’t just feel like a setting…it’ll feel like somewhere you’ve been.
This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy, all opinions are my own.
Because this isn’t just Eleanor and Henry’s story. This is Hawthorne Vale’s story, and you are firmly seated in the front row with your own teacup.
Starts strong from page four, I got chills. Boom, instant chemistry between Eleanor and Henry over horse drama (as all love stories should begin, obviously).
And then there’s Lydia. Probably going to be your favourite minor character of the story. Her friendship with Eleanor makes you grin like you’re eavesdropping on people you wish were your friends. Her candor? She keeps everything lively, unpredictable, and delightfully unfiltered. Lydia’s and Thomas’s banter tidbits are easily craveable moments that pop up.
Now let’s talk about the Blackwoods. You feel the oiliness of the Blackwoods, instantly. Obvi, their name is Black-wood. Will their souls be as black?! Foreshadowing says it will.
With this story, you’re not locked into one perspective, you’re everywhere. Even in the rooms you’re not supposed to be in. Yes, even with the “bad guys.” If you love that delicious tension of knowing things before the protagonist, Eleanor senses something is amiss. This book is for you.
And Eleanor does sense it. She is perception personified. Thoughtful, observant, quietly strong. Paired with equally insightful characters like Ashcroft, this story leans into a more grounded, pious, and reflective tone. If you’re here for constant banter and flirtation, this isn’t that. But if you love characters who think, who notice, who carry a quiet moral weight—you’ll feel right at home.
Henry, meanwhile? The fates aligned for mysterious, respectful and thoughtful Henry, although last to ask Eleanor for a dance and she just so happens to have the most romantic waltz left?! How fortuitous that those other gents weren’t so sharp. 👀
The pacing is a un-rushed tale. This story invites you to linger, to sit in conversations, to absorb the atmosphere. You come to marinate in the dialogue and the richly layered town dynamics.
If you value a long, healthy ponder over instant gratification, this story will reward your patience beautifully, just like it reminds us:
“Patience is rarely wasted in anything worth having.”
The writing itself? Quite descriptive, lines like: “silk the colour of deepening dusk” and “cool resinous scent of evergreen” paint the scene.
The city, Devon, is spoken of like it’s sentient; watching, influencing, remembering. And the house party scenes: Mansfield Park-like energy.
And then there are the scenes with Lord Frederick, these are some of the most gripping in the book. They dig into heavier themes with surprising weight.
Themes this book explores:
Social pressures
Addiction
Coming of age
So no,this isn’t a whirlwind romance. It’s a tapestry of people, choices, and quiet revelations.
A place where you don’t just follow a couple, you live among a community. And by the end, Hawthorne Vale won’t just feel like a setting…it’ll feel like somewhere you’ve been.
This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy, all opinions are my own.
May 9, 2026
I received this as an ARC in exchange for a review.
TL;DR: this book was written by AI with very little to no human editing, so I could not finish it. I honestly cannot understand how others are rating this above a 1, maybe a 2, unless those are bot reviews.
An excerpt:
"You said this morning," he ventured, "that the colt would reward patience."
"He will."
"I find myself wondering," Henry said, "whether the same principle applies more broadly."
Eleanor's gaze lifted fully to his. The music turned around them, and for a moment the entire crowded, candlelit room contracted to this: the slight weight of her hand in his, the steadiness of her attention, and the careful awareness between them that had been present since that morning and had not diminished with occasion.
"Patience," she said, "is rarely wasted on anything worth having."
Henry felt something loosen, quietly, inside him, some tightly held arrangement of duty and reserve and the peaceful solitude of being the only person left in a house. He did not show it, but he felt it. "I begin to think," he said, more carefully than before, "that Devon has not been paying sufficient attention."
Her mouth curved, not a full smile, but the suggestion of one, private and genuine and unplanned. "To what, precisely?"
"To what is already here."
The waltz neared its close. The final notes stretched and lingered, the way light lingers on water after the sun has moved. Henry did not release her hand too quickly.
"For the last," he said softly.
"For the last," she agreed.
When they parted, the air between them felt altered, not dramatically, not in any way that could be easily named, but in the manner of a room after a window has been opened: the same, and yet carrying something new. Around them, Devon had noticed. "The Ashcroft heir—" "He waited for that dance." "She gave it to him." "An interesting choice." Henry heard enough to know the room had drawn its conclusions. Eleanor heard it too. Her face remained composed, her attention already redirecting itself toward her mother across the room. But she did not, he noticed, appear displeased.
Full Review:
Things I liked: The table of contents and named chapters. The sermons throughout.
This book suffers from an identity crisis. When it begins, it seems like a standard regency-esque romance with all the drama one expects from a country village set in the time, but becomes a weird mystery that could have been very simply and quickly solved, but that’s the plot device driving the love interests together. they have very little chemistry and seem like they’re only together out of convenience, not because they have any genuine connection and feeling for each other. The set up for the two of them getting together was very obvious and very forced (not in an arranged marriage trope kind of way - more like, there no possible other options) and I don’t care for that, in general, so that’s not specific to this book.
It also doesn’t really make sense that the MCs would be the detectives or why the FMC would intentionally conceal info from her parents - the people who own the house, lands, etc where the mystery is introduced and centered; the people actually running the estate and paying the people the FMC is ordering to conceal the problems. Very silly.
There’s a long introduction of the characters before the book starts, full of descriptions that don’t align well with the characters as we meet them in the book. The cast of characters is huge and IMO, this intro was a misstep. I began reading with expectations of each character, but had trouble keeping them straight because the introduction of each was not done organically within the text and again, the details from the intro didn’t match them throughout the book.
I DNF’d this book at page 200 with about 400 pages remaining. Granted, I was on my e-reader, but still, this book is far too long. The AI writing made it drag all the more. For me, the very wooden, very repetitive dialogue was pretty miserable. I was constantly re-reading sections looking for actual info or realness, but it was just word mush to me. For example, the excerpt above forms the basis of the love interests’ first several conversations. No new info, very few new words even. I cannot recommend this book. 0⭐️/5⭐️
TL;DR: this book was written by AI with very little to no human editing, so I could not finish it. I honestly cannot understand how others are rating this above a 1, maybe a 2, unless those are bot reviews.
An excerpt:
"You said this morning," he ventured, "that the colt would reward patience."
"He will."
"I find myself wondering," Henry said, "whether the same principle applies more broadly."
Eleanor's gaze lifted fully to his. The music turned around them, and for a moment the entire crowded, candlelit room contracted to this: the slight weight of her hand in his, the steadiness of her attention, and the careful awareness between them that had been present since that morning and had not diminished with occasion.
"Patience," she said, "is rarely wasted on anything worth having."
Henry felt something loosen, quietly, inside him, some tightly held arrangement of duty and reserve and the peaceful solitude of being the only person left in a house. He did not show it, but he felt it. "I begin to think," he said, more carefully than before, "that Devon has not been paying sufficient attention."
Her mouth curved, not a full smile, but the suggestion of one, private and genuine and unplanned. "To what, precisely?"
"To what is already here."
The waltz neared its close. The final notes stretched and lingered, the way light lingers on water after the sun has moved. Henry did not release her hand too quickly.
"For the last," he said softly.
"For the last," she agreed.
When they parted, the air between them felt altered, not dramatically, not in any way that could be easily named, but in the manner of a room after a window has been opened: the same, and yet carrying something new. Around them, Devon had noticed. "The Ashcroft heir—" "He waited for that dance." "She gave it to him." "An interesting choice." Henry heard enough to know the room had drawn its conclusions. Eleanor heard it too. Her face remained composed, her attention already redirecting itself toward her mother across the room. But she did not, he noticed, appear displeased.
Full Review:
Things I liked: The table of contents and named chapters. The sermons throughout.
This book suffers from an identity crisis. When it begins, it seems like a standard regency-esque romance with all the drama one expects from a country village set in the time, but becomes a weird mystery that could have been very simply and quickly solved, but that’s the plot device driving the love interests together. they have very little chemistry and seem like they’re only together out of convenience, not because they have any genuine connection and feeling for each other. The set up for the two of them getting together was very obvious and very forced (not in an arranged marriage trope kind of way - more like, there no possible other options) and I don’t care for that, in general, so that’s not specific to this book.
It also doesn’t really make sense that the MCs would be the detectives or why the FMC would intentionally conceal info from her parents - the people who own the house, lands, etc where the mystery is introduced and centered; the people actually running the estate and paying the people the FMC is ordering to conceal the problems. Very silly.
There’s a long introduction of the characters before the book starts, full of descriptions that don’t align well with the characters as we meet them in the book. The cast of characters is huge and IMO, this intro was a misstep. I began reading with expectations of each character, but had trouble keeping them straight because the introduction of each was not done organically within the text and again, the details from the intro didn’t match them throughout the book.
I DNF’d this book at page 200 with about 400 pages remaining. Granted, I was on my e-reader, but still, this book is far too long. The AI writing made it drag all the more. For me, the very wooden, very repetitive dialogue was pretty miserable. I was constantly re-reading sections looking for actual info or realness, but it was just word mush to me. For example, the excerpt above forms the basis of the love interests’ first several conversations. No new info, very few new words even. I cannot recommend this book. 0⭐️/5⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is all I could have hoped for in choosing a book to read that suits my taste. The time period, the faith, the feeling of reading a classic, a light and airy story.
The characters were full of depth and insight. There was much to be gained from every small detail and description that pulls you into the imagery and the inner-workings of the setting and characters. I highlighted liberally throughout the book, many lines of dialogue were full of wisdom and life lessons to gain. I loved that it felt like I was immersed in a story, a world not my own, and yet certain concepts would speak to my current and very realistic life circumstances. One of those such moments was the following quote:
“Let us be careful," he said, "that we do not mistake influence for righteousness, nor assume that repetition makes a thing justified. Before we allow a word to travel beyond us, we are asked to measure it by three standards: is it necessary, is it true, and is it kind. If it fails any of those measures, we must ask ourselves whether we are stewards, or merely participants in a disorder we have chosen not to name."
I love a clean read with no unnecessary depth added that makes the writing feel sensual or too intimate. This was a sweet romance, a story full of characters to follow and an unraveling of personalities and mystery to solve as you go along. Such a beautifully written story.
The only cons that I felt held this book back from being on that I would want to go on forever was that the prose and the way the sentences were formed sometimes caused me to almost trip over them as I read. I felt there were many words or phrases repeated to explain similar concepts, which became redundant. At times the book drags, but I personally like a book that catches my attention and keeps me locked in until the end. The beautiful and cozy vibes of the story definitely kept me coming back, though I do feel it could have been shortened and possibly had more dialogue between characters added in.
One opinion that I had about the main characters is that they were almost unbearably calculated and perfect. It was challenging to see their humanity, they were rarely overcoming personal challenges, their challenges all presented externally. However, I absolutely adored Lydia. I hope the next book in the series follows her because her reckless abandon, care for others, and lack of concern for messing up or causing a scene were captivating and every moment of her parts of the story were a delight.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Kristin Sumpter writes next!
This was an advanced readers copy provided by the author, all opinions are my own.
The characters were full of depth and insight. There was much to be gained from every small detail and description that pulls you into the imagery and the inner-workings of the setting and characters. I highlighted liberally throughout the book, many lines of dialogue were full of wisdom and life lessons to gain. I loved that it felt like I was immersed in a story, a world not my own, and yet certain concepts would speak to my current and very realistic life circumstances. One of those such moments was the following quote:
“Let us be careful," he said, "that we do not mistake influence for righteousness, nor assume that repetition makes a thing justified. Before we allow a word to travel beyond us, we are asked to measure it by three standards: is it necessary, is it true, and is it kind. If it fails any of those measures, we must ask ourselves whether we are stewards, or merely participants in a disorder we have chosen not to name."
I love a clean read with no unnecessary depth added that makes the writing feel sensual or too intimate. This was a sweet romance, a story full of characters to follow and an unraveling of personalities and mystery to solve as you go along. Such a beautifully written story.
The only cons that I felt held this book back from being on that I would want to go on forever was that the prose and the way the sentences were formed sometimes caused me to almost trip over them as I read. I felt there were many words or phrases repeated to explain similar concepts, which became redundant. At times the book drags, but I personally like a book that catches my attention and keeps me locked in until the end. The beautiful and cozy vibes of the story definitely kept me coming back, though I do feel it could have been shortened and possibly had more dialogue between characters added in.
One opinion that I had about the main characters is that they were almost unbearably calculated and perfect. It was challenging to see their humanity, they were rarely overcoming personal challenges, their challenges all presented externally. However, I absolutely adored Lydia. I hope the next book in the series follows her because her reckless abandon, care for others, and lack of concern for messing up or causing a scene were captivating and every moment of her parts of the story were a delight.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Kristin Sumpter writes next!
This was an advanced readers copy provided by the author, all opinions are my own.
May 1, 2026
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own.*
I enjoyed this book. It is an unhurried story that provides a lot of description of the characters, their observations and surroundings. There is some romance, intrigue, sabotage and drama in Hawthorne Vale. It keeps you guessing at what is going to happen next.
I love the faith themes in this story and how Eleanor took to heart what the preacher was reading from the bible in his Sunday sermons. She tried to practice what she believed. Something I think we all can aspire to.
Eleanor was patient, observant, kind and steadfast, she was never rushed and thought before she spoke. I enjoyed her as a main character, but sometimes found it hard to relate to her. Henry struggled with what life was throwing at him, but he brought his best through it all. The two of them were a complimentary couple. I do wish there was more of a heart connection between them. It seemed like they were turning to each other because they fit the best, not because their heart beat just for the other.
I will say that while this book has a lot of details, it also repeats itself in the events that happen or the description of the side characters you don't see on every page. At times, the descriptions change and do not match what was said previously. And the story moved a little too slowly at times. This wasn't enough for me to stop reading, but I did notice when the small details were repeated or different.
I enjoyed this book. It is an unhurried story that provides a lot of description of the characters, their observations and surroundings. There is some romance, intrigue, sabotage and drama in Hawthorne Vale. It keeps you guessing at what is going to happen next.
I love the faith themes in this story and how Eleanor took to heart what the preacher was reading from the bible in his Sunday sermons. She tried to practice what she believed. Something I think we all can aspire to.
Eleanor was patient, observant, kind and steadfast, she was never rushed and thought before she spoke. I enjoyed her as a main character, but sometimes found it hard to relate to her. Henry struggled with what life was throwing at him, but he brought his best through it all. The two of them were a complimentary couple. I do wish there was more of a heart connection between them. It seemed like they were turning to each other because they fit the best, not because their heart beat just for the other.
I will say that while this book has a lot of details, it also repeats itself in the events that happen or the description of the side characters you don't see on every page. At times, the descriptions change and do not match what was said previously. And the story moved a little too slowly at times. This wasn't enough for me to stop reading, but I did notice when the small details were repeated or different.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a complimentary copy of this book from author Kistin Sumpter in exchange for an honest review.
Rich writing brings the sights, smells and sounds of the locale and characters to the forefront within each chapter, beautiful in description, transporting the reader into the heart of the story. One of my favorite examples: “…the branches still stood bare, yet there were buds at their tips now, small tight promises waiting…”
Characters are deeply developed, and the storyline moves and pivots with unexpected conflicts, adversaries, and treachery as competing horse farms vie for land, commissions and reputations.
If you are looking for a plot with romance, you will find it gentle and natural in its growth, believable in its path, without explicit descriptions yet tender, bearing the mark of steadfast love. Mysteries are woven throughout the story and while most are solved in time, not everything is explained fully, just as in life.
Find a comfortable chair, a cup of tea or coffee, and savor every page of Hawthorne Vale. It is worth every moment.
I am a bit stingy with giving more than a 4-star review, but in this case, Hawthorne Vale rightfully earned a full 5-star rating.
Rich writing brings the sights, smells and sounds of the locale and characters to the forefront within each chapter, beautiful in description, transporting the reader into the heart of the story. One of my favorite examples: “…the branches still stood bare, yet there were buds at their tips now, small tight promises waiting…”
Characters are deeply developed, and the storyline moves and pivots with unexpected conflicts, adversaries, and treachery as competing horse farms vie for land, commissions and reputations.
If you are looking for a plot with romance, you will find it gentle and natural in its growth, believable in its path, without explicit descriptions yet tender, bearing the mark of steadfast love. Mysteries are woven throughout the story and while most are solved in time, not everything is explained fully, just as in life.
Find a comfortable chair, a cup of tea or coffee, and savor every page of Hawthorne Vale. It is worth every moment.
I am a bit stingy with giving more than a 4-star review, but in this case, Hawthorne Vale rightfully earned a full 5-star rating.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wanted to love this book so much. I do love the story line, the storyline is great and seeing where the author was going was enjoyable. However, I found the writing to be very wordy and I just couldn’t enjoy it. I honestly felt as though the author was using extra words/being overly descriptive just to fill in a word count. I am giving the book 3 starts purely because the story line is great.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book and a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are my own
*I received a complimentary copy of this book and a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are my own
May 2, 2026
Set in 1815, what’s not to love about an historical fiction set in an English estate in Devon? This story has a lovely mix of faith, family, trust, intrigue and romance.
I loved the characters, but maybe they were a little too perfect, but this in no way takes away from the story, which has some life lessons to take away from.
It’s a great read to cozy up to in your favourite armchair.
Looking forward to what Kristin Sumpter writes next!
This was an advanced readers copy provided by the author, all opinions are my own.
I loved the characters, but maybe they were a little too perfect, but this in no way takes away from the story, which has some life lessons to take away from.
It’s a great read to cozy up to in your favourite armchair.
Looking forward to what Kristin Sumpter writes next!
This was an advanced readers copy provided by the author, all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2026
Hawthorne Vale is a sweet story, filled with family bonds and the social pressures of society. It is a bit of a slow read, but I'm glad that I stuck with it! The author's ability to set the scene, both physically and emotionally, is consistently strong and intentional, yet sometimes repetitive. A great deal of the book is spent in vivid description of the characters, landscape, and overall mood of the story. The characters are written well, and easily liked/disliked. This is my first Regency romance read, and while it is not necessarily a new favorite genre, I am glad that I gave it a try.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the Faith in this book. I enjoyed the themes of family and friendship. I was impressed with the elaborate descriptions. I loved the horses and the dogs in the story and how they were treated like family. This book made me want to live there.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews