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Cortherstone
Emma Penny was the last to see her sister, Clara, alive. Before vanishing, the last words Clara said were if something awful happened to her, it was no accident. The Duke of Britonne has been linked to several missing women; all of them last seen at his secluded estate, Cortherstone. Emma knows the duke killed her sister and has hated the man since she received the letter of Clara’s accident. So when she receives an invitation to Cortherstone, from the duke himself, she is shocked her family forces her to go. How could she go to the very house where her sister died? And does the duke have the same plans for her? Escape attempts, battle of wills, and a declaration of war are not enough to keep Emma safe from Cortherstone. As the days pass, Emma wonders if the duke really is the man everyone says he is. Some days he is kind and thoughtful, and others he is cold and distant.But one thing she does know is there really is a monster haunting Cortherstone. And the moment she entered, she became their next victim.
Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 26, 2024
“No,” he murmurs, rubbing his thumb down the line of my jaw. “This is different. Tell me why you leave so I can work on making you stay.”
This book is fast paced, emotional, mysterious, intriguing, witty, so romantic, suspenseful, exciting, humorous, captivating, and shocking!
This book blew my mind! This is a regency romantic suspense novel that had me hooked! The romance, the mystery, the shocking revelations throughout, the banter, the atmospheric setting, the plot twists! This book took me on the most wild ride that captivated me from beginning to end!!!! Wow!!!!!
Emma oh Emma! I absolutely love her! She is brave, she is spirited, she is hilarious, beautiful and she felt like an old friend.
Oh William, he is mysterious and I can’t wait for you to discover more about him!
My favorite part of this book is the banter and the battle of wits and wills between William and Emma. The white flag aspect to this story is brilliant. There are also so many utterly romantic lines in this book! I highlighted so much and swooned so much too!
This book had me smiling, laughing, gasping out loud, my heart broke in two and I was biting my nails to no end! I felt every emotion possible I think!
If you are looking for a gothic regency romance that’ll keep you on your toes, make you swoon, and have your heart pounding, definitely checkout this incredible book, and when you read it, please message me so that we can talk all about it!!! It’s so soo gooooood!!! Xo
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Content: murder, disappearances, death, violence, danger, suspenseful moments, kisses only
This book is fast paced, emotional, mysterious, intriguing, witty, so romantic, suspenseful, exciting, humorous, captivating, and shocking!
This book blew my mind! This is a regency romantic suspense novel that had me hooked! The romance, the mystery, the shocking revelations throughout, the banter, the atmospheric setting, the plot twists! This book took me on the most wild ride that captivated me from beginning to end!!!! Wow!!!!!
Emma oh Emma! I absolutely love her! She is brave, she is spirited, she is hilarious, beautiful and she felt like an old friend.
Oh William, he is mysterious and I can’t wait for you to discover more about him!
My favorite part of this book is the banter and the battle of wits and wills between William and Emma. The white flag aspect to this story is brilliant. There are also so many utterly romantic lines in this book! I highlighted so much and swooned so much too!
This book had me smiling, laughing, gasping out loud, my heart broke in two and I was biting my nails to no end! I felt every emotion possible I think!
If you are looking for a gothic regency romance that’ll keep you on your toes, make you swoon, and have your heart pounding, definitely checkout this incredible book, and when you read it, please message me so that we can talk all about it!!! It’s so soo gooooood!!! Xo
.
.
.
Content: murder, disappearances, death, violence, danger, suspenseful moments, kisses only
January 8, 2026
Wow! Though this was short it packed a punch. Fast paced, the mystery moved the plot along and the setting was moody. The slow burn was so good. I loved their banter. It kept me on my toes I had no idea where the story was going to end up. I loved every second of this.
October 27, 2024
*3.5 stars*
So this started off really good and I was really enjoying it. I loved the set up and the banter. Plus I loved our Duke and how he just throws her over his shoulder.
But for being a shorter book it started to feel long and drawn out plus really over the top. I figured out the bigger twists, tho at first I had doubts and thought maybe I got it wrong. However, towards the end I started to get a little over all "I won't tell them to protect them" or "I'm going to do this to protect them". There was something about the last quarter that I just struggled with a bit. It was kind of a bummer because I really was loving the first half but the end felt off. It started to feel like it was going to loops. This is one I'll probably have to sit on. Maybe it was just a me thing and I lost my mood? I'm not sure but the romance was super cute. I just wished they had communicated a bit better.
So this started off really good and I was really enjoying it. I loved the set up and the banter. Plus I loved our Duke and how he just throws her over his shoulder.
But for being a shorter book it started to feel long and drawn out plus really over the top. I figured out the bigger twists, tho at first I had doubts and thought maybe I got it wrong. However, towards the end I started to get a little over all "I won't tell them to protect them" or "I'm going to do this to protect them". There was something about the last quarter that I just struggled with a bit. It was kind of a bummer because I really was loving the first half but the end felt off. It started to feel like it was going to loops. This is one I'll probably have to sit on. Maybe it was just a me thing and I lost my mood? I'm not sure but the romance was super cute. I just wished they had communicated a bit better.
January 27, 2023
“𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕.”
This book surprised me in how good it was. It’s definitely not a book I would look at and decide to read purely by the cover, but I saw a review of it and decided to give it a go. I am so glad that I did give it a chance because it did not disappoint!
I love loved Emma constantly running away and William always chasing her down and bringing her back. Their interactions were positively hilarious and had me laughing out loud quite a bit. I was dying the time Emma escaped out her window and crawled right up to William, who was waiting for her😂 The instance when she tied his horse’s reigns to give herself a head start in escaping on horseback was hysterical😂🐎
The slow turn to love was absolutely heartwarming♥️ And then the betrayal 💔 I was literally so shook. I sat there with my mouth hanging open in shock. Totally did not call that one.
“𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
“𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤.”
Buuuuuut….Will actually did love Emma and sent her away for her own safety.
“𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.”
“𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
The twists and turns in this book has me spinning, but in a good way😉 Clara was alive… SURPRISE! (Actually saw that one coming😏) Mr. Blackwood is the hooded man and he and Clara have a past. He actually loves both Clara and his wife, Maggie, and wants his brother’s title….SIKE! That was a giant lie and the bad guy is actually Thomas Ridley, or as we know him, Abe😱 That took me for a whooole loop and a half. Did NOT see that one coming. Clara was actually working with him all along, but she repented of her evil ways in the end, thank goodness!
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
I tell you, this book was thoroughly entertaining and kept you second guessing everything you thought you knew. It was great!
This book surprised me in how good it was. It’s definitely not a book I would look at and decide to read purely by the cover, but I saw a review of it and decided to give it a go. I am so glad that I did give it a chance because it did not disappoint!
I love loved Emma constantly running away and William always chasing her down and bringing her back. Their interactions were positively hilarious and had me laughing out loud quite a bit. I was dying the time Emma escaped out her window and crawled right up to William, who was waiting for her😂 The instance when she tied his horse’s reigns to give herself a head start in escaping on horseback was hysterical😂🐎
The slow turn to love was absolutely heartwarming♥️ And then the betrayal 💔 I was literally so shook. I sat there with my mouth hanging open in shock. Totally did not call that one.
“𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
“𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤.”
Buuuuuut….Will actually did love Emma and sent her away for her own safety.
“𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.”
“𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
The twists and turns in this book has me spinning, but in a good way😉 Clara was alive… SURPRISE! (Actually saw that one coming😏) Mr. Blackwood is the hooded man and he and Clara have a past. He actually loves both Clara and his wife, Maggie, and wants his brother’s title….SIKE! That was a giant lie and the bad guy is actually Thomas Ridley, or as we know him, Abe😱 That took me for a whooole loop and a half. Did NOT see that one coming. Clara was actually working with him all along, but she repented of her evil ways in the end, thank goodness!
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
I tell you, this book was thoroughly entertaining and kept you second guessing everything you thought you knew. It was great!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
Oh dear. I really dislike writing a review that is anything but glowing and highly complementary, but this one just left a lot to be desired, at least for this reader. I needed more backstory! I needed to know the reason why she had to leave home, why someone had to protect her, why she had to come to Cortherstone in the first place as I don't think those threads came together until the final third of the book, and that just really frustrated me.
Also, the romance felt odd to me as well. We went from enemies to something more at an unnatural pace and it felt like she was more in love with the idea of him, the idea of being safe and protected, than the actual reality. And what did she really even know of him? It all just felt very over the top, and not in a good way.
However, all that being said, I did like the gothic, creepy vibes of this castle in the woods, the Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes, and all the twists and turns, even though I figured out a few of them. And I did really enjoy the redemption arc for one of the characters in the end.
Overall, this was entertaining, but I found it to be a frustrating reading experience. I am glad that I took a chance on this book, reading a new-to-me author, and one that is independently published as I need to learn to take more risks in the reading life. This one just didn't quite pan out as I had hoped.
Actual rating 2.75 stars, rounded up.
Also, the romance felt odd to me as well. We went from enemies to something more at an unnatural pace and it felt like she was more in love with the idea of him, the idea of being safe and protected, than the actual reality. And what did she really even know of him? It all just felt very over the top, and not in a good way.
However, all that being said, I did like the gothic, creepy vibes of this castle in the woods, the Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes, and all the twists and turns, even though I figured out a few of them. And I did really enjoy the redemption arc for one of the characters in the end.
Overall, this was entertaining, but I found it to be a frustrating reading experience. I am glad that I took a chance on this book, reading a new-to-me author, and one that is independently published as I need to learn to take more risks in the reading life. This one just didn't quite pan out as I had hoped.
Actual rating 2.75 stars, rounded up.
October 17, 2024
I think I have a new favorite/autoread/autobuy author! And definitely a top read of the year! This book was 🤯😱 I was in its grips from the very first page until the last. I do not recommend starting it if you haven’t ample time to finish, or if you don’t have to time process it once you are done. I read it way past bedtime and when it was over, all I could do was sit there. My heart was racing, my mind was whirling, my thoughts in a tizzy.
Gothic romance novels were my very first obsession. In high school I read On the Night of the Seventh Moon by Victoria Holt and was hooked. The mystery, the suspense, the vibes, the danger, the plot twists, the shocking reveals. I love it all. And this book, this book has it in spades! Fast paced, intense, jaw dropping, heart pounding, frustrating. Romantic to the extreme.
This isn’t your average regency romance. It is cutthroat, it is addictive, it is thrilling. It is not for the faint of heart. It is consider mystery/suspense but I would also add mild thriller. Not like a horror movie but it will keep you on the very edge of your seat.
I can’t say enough about it. This is a book that needs to be talked about more. It was brilliant, unpredictable, and gripping.
Gothic romance novels were my very first obsession. In high school I read On the Night of the Seventh Moon by Victoria Holt and was hooked. The mystery, the suspense, the vibes, the danger, the plot twists, the shocking reveals. I love it all. And this book, this book has it in spades! Fast paced, intense, jaw dropping, heart pounding, frustrating. Romantic to the extreme.
This isn’t your average regency romance. It is cutthroat, it is addictive, it is thrilling. It is not for the faint of heart. It is consider mystery/suspense but I would also add mild thriller. Not like a horror movie but it will keep you on the very edge of your seat.
I can’t say enough about it. This is a book that needs to be talked about more. It was brilliant, unpredictable, and gripping.
October 27, 2022
I love the cover of this book. It’s just a bit creepy and mysterious. And the inside matches it perfectly!
This book is about Emma. Her sister, Clara, disappears mysteriously. She was supposed to be going to Cortherstone. And then the family received news that she was dead. Emma’s uncle decided that Emma must go to Cortherstone, even knowing what had happened to her sister there. And that’s when the real story begins.
I loved Emma. She is the kind of woman to take matters into her own hands. She knew that she wanted nothing to do with going to Cortherstone. So she and her brother, Adam, hatched a plan for her to set off on her way there. But to run before she got even close to Cortherstone. But that’s not how things worked. Emma ended up being drug there against her will. So she tried to escape. Time and time again. But nothing worked. Emma was definitely persistent. And she ended up locked in her room because of it.
I loved the way the author did this one. The whole perspective is Emma’s. So the reader knows only what she knows. And that becomes very important later in the book. Emma doesn’t know who she can trust. And neither does the reader.
This is such a great book! I loved reading it at Halloween time.
I won a copy of Cortherstone. All opinions are my own.
This book is about Emma. Her sister, Clara, disappears mysteriously. She was supposed to be going to Cortherstone. And then the family received news that she was dead. Emma’s uncle decided that Emma must go to Cortherstone, even knowing what had happened to her sister there. And that’s when the real story begins.
I loved Emma. She is the kind of woman to take matters into her own hands. She knew that she wanted nothing to do with going to Cortherstone. So she and her brother, Adam, hatched a plan for her to set off on her way there. But to run before she got even close to Cortherstone. But that’s not how things worked. Emma ended up being drug there against her will. So she tried to escape. Time and time again. But nothing worked. Emma was definitely persistent. And she ended up locked in her room because of it.
I loved the way the author did this one. The whole perspective is Emma’s. So the reader knows only what she knows. And that becomes very important later in the book. Emma doesn’t know who she can trust. And neither does the reader.
This is such a great book! I loved reading it at Halloween time.
I won a copy of Cortherstone. All opinions are my own.
October 9, 2023
Okay wow!! I devoured this in less than 24 hours!! I couldn’t put it down! I loved the mystery and the beauty and the beast vibes. So many things I did not see coming. Thought I had it figured out and it would change again. Such a good book! Absolutely loved!!
Content: kidnapping, attempted murder, death, injuries
Romance: kisses
Content: kidnapping, attempted murder, death, injuries
Romance: kisses
January 29, 2022
What an intense book, y'all. There was so much action and suspense, with plot twists all over the place. The mystery was spot on and the romance was great. Can we just take a minute to mention the white flag?! That was awesome. It also has a gothic novel feel to it, which was interesting. Cortherstone definitely has a lot going for it that made it an enjoyable read.
October 9, 2023
This book was a wild ride, but it's such a quick read and impossible to put down. A great October read!
June 4, 2022
I am honestly not sure what to say about this book. It was very.....interesting? Intriguing? Bewildering? Unexpected? Weird? I really don't know. I did like reading it, but there were so many plot twists I felt like my mind was turning around in circles. The ending seemed like the author wanted throw another plot twist in at the last second to wrap it up. All of a sudden Abe (Thomas) is the bad guy and Clara is his accomplice? How did she even meet Thomas? We never get that information. I really didn't get Clara either, she was a loving sister that loved her family, and seemed like an all around good person. How did she even become a villain? It seems way out of character for her.
When William dismissed Emma and claimed he had fabricated everything and was really engaged to someone else, and she believed him. I almost wanted to roll my eyes. Typical. How many times have we seen this same scenario? It was very predictable.
I did enjoy this read, but I don't think I will read it again. It was a typical enemy to lovers story with so many plot twists that just left me saying "What??" at the end.
When William dismissed Emma and claimed he had fabricated everything and was really engaged to someone else, and she believed him. I almost wanted to roll my eyes. Typical. How many times have we seen this same scenario? It was very predictable.
I did enjoy this read, but I don't think I will read it again. It was a typical enemy to lovers story with so many plot twists that just left me saying "What??" at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2022
My rating is closer to 4½ stars.
The first ⅔ of this book was definitely 5 stars, but the last part of the book was a little less enjoyable.
The first part was the perfect blend of mystery, humor, romance, and suspense, but the end began to unravel just a bit as the big twists and turns raced on at the expense of character and fully-explained plot points.
Also, I feel like a certain double death toward the end was COMPLETELY unnecessary and took away greatly from the book for me. I feel like it was only for shock value and could easily be taken out and not missed. That is the point my enjoyment dipped and never quite recovered. Twists and turns are one thing, but that death scene added a layer of irreparable/pointless feeling sadness to an otherwise fun and exciting plot.
My other disappointment was how sudden the end felt. It was a cute moment, but after such a wild ride, I would have enjoyed a bit of a happy winding down with all these characters who'd been through so much. I think they, and the readers, earned a couple of scenes without death and angst breathing down their necks. Or at least a chance for all the characters to happily commemorate together and maybe a couple of more answers to certain questions raised during the rapid twists.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. The two points I mentioned kept it from being a true 5 star read for me, but I do recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced (mostly fun) adventure.
The first ⅔ of this book was definitely 5 stars, but the last part of the book was a little less enjoyable.
The first part was the perfect blend of mystery, humor, romance, and suspense, but the end began to unravel just a bit as the big twists and turns raced on at the expense of character and fully-explained plot points.
Also, I feel like a certain double death toward the end was COMPLETELY unnecessary and took away greatly from the book for me. I feel like it was only for shock value and could easily be taken out and not missed. That is the point my enjoyment dipped and never quite recovered. Twists and turns are one thing, but that death scene added a layer of irreparable/pointless feeling sadness to an otherwise fun and exciting plot.
My other disappointment was how sudden the end felt. It was a cute moment, but after such a wild ride, I would have enjoyed a bit of a happy winding down with all these characters who'd been through so much. I think they, and the readers, earned a couple of scenes without death and angst breathing down their necks. Or at least a chance for all the characters to happily commemorate together and maybe a couple of more answers to certain questions raised during the rapid twists.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. The two points I mentioned kept it from being a true 5 star read for me, but I do recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced (mostly fun) adventure.
October 28, 2022
Oh my! This book is such an October vibe. 🖤🖤Whitney and I decided to buddy read this for October. Mostly because we love the cover. It’s gorgeous and dark and perfect.
This book took off from the first page!
In the middle of the night Clara Penny tells her sister Emma she is leaving, she is afraid, and if anything happens to her it wasn’t an accident. Shortly after Emma and her family receive a letter from the Duke of Britonne that said Clara had gone for a walk and fell in the river and died, her body never recovered. Remembering what her sister said the night she left, Emma knew it was no accident. Now 18 months later another letter arrives from Cortherstone Castle. The Duke is inviting Emma to Cortherstone and her uncle will not let her refuse the invitation.
This book had so many twists and turns and just when you think you know who is behind it all, something else happens.
This book was released just over over a year ago and I think we were waiting for it to be on KU or our libraries to pick it up, but we really wanted it for an October read this year so we bought it. I am so happy we bought it. This will be a reread this time of year…probably every year. It was so good!
This was my first book I’ve read by Janessa Burt and I’ve already added the rest of her books to my TBR.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book took off from the first page!
In the middle of the night Clara Penny tells her sister Emma she is leaving, she is afraid, and if anything happens to her it wasn’t an accident. Shortly after Emma and her family receive a letter from the Duke of Britonne that said Clara had gone for a walk and fell in the river and died, her body never recovered. Remembering what her sister said the night she left, Emma knew it was no accident. Now 18 months later another letter arrives from Cortherstone Castle. The Duke is inviting Emma to Cortherstone and her uncle will not let her refuse the invitation.
This book had so many twists and turns and just when you think you know who is behind it all, something else happens.
This book was released just over over a year ago and I think we were waiting for it to be on KU or our libraries to pick it up, but we really wanted it for an October read this year so we bought it. I am so happy we bought it. This will be a reread this time of year…probably every year. It was so good!
This was my first book I’ve read by Janessa Burt and I’ve already added the rest of her books to my TBR.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 29, 2021
Holy Hannah, this book was so intense and amazing! Talk about a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and romance all wrapped up with a gothic twist. The banter between William and Emma was on point (loved the white flag!), the romantic tension was fabulous, and all the plot twists kept me guessing everything until the very end. This was suspenseful and a little spooky but not enough to give me nightmares. There were a few parts of the plot I wish we had the answers to (the important things were answered), but in the end, I didn't even care because the book sucked me in from the beginning and didn't let go until the last page. 5 stars! And I really, really hope we get more books from this author!
September 18, 2021
Can I give this book 10 stars?
I've been in bleh kinda mood when it comes to reading, but NOT ANYMORE! This book went above and beyond what I expected and it didn't let me down. Every twist and turn had me not wanting to put the book down. (I did cause #adulting but I thought about it almost constantly)
The book was so well balanced in humor, suspense and thrills. I was NEVER bored and always on the edge of my seat.
This book was like Jane Eyre, The Beast of Ten, Northanger Abbey and more all rolled into one. And the fact that it was a clean read made it all the better!
I've been in bleh kinda mood when it comes to reading, but NOT ANYMORE! This book went above and beyond what I expected and it didn't let me down. Every twist and turn had me not wanting to put the book down. (I did cause #adulting but I thought about it almost constantly)
The book was so well balanced in humor, suspense and thrills. I was NEVER bored and always on the edge of my seat.
This book was like Jane Eyre, The Beast of Ten, Northanger Abbey and more all rolled into one. And the fact that it was a clean read made it all the better!
October 19, 2024
The Goods✨
•historical romance
•cat and mouse
•the piano
•twists and turns
•three smiles
•duels 😏
•the white flag
•mystery and suspense
•the banter…good lord 😩
•favorite places 🥹
•WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!
Um, what did I just read? This was so so good on so many levels. If you think you know what’s going to happen in this book, I promise you, you have no clue. This story starts out so fast paced with an amazing meet cute (can I get a duke to throw me over his shoulder and take me away) and then between the mystery and the romance, Janessa Burt expertly kept the pace throughout the whole story. I promise you won’t want to put this book down.
Just when you think you’re starting to get answers, the story shifts. And in between all the mysterious happenings, a beautiful romance is forming between our formidable Duke and Emma. Be still my heart. I loved the way the walls came down between these two. Single POV is done so well here and you can totally sense Will falling for Emma. She brings this man to his knees!! It’s so emotional and absolutely made my heart ache. With its gothic vibes, mystery, and epic romance, this is the perfect fall read!
Content: kisses
•historical romance
•cat and mouse
•the piano
•twists and turns
•three smiles
•duels 😏
•the white flag
•mystery and suspense
•the banter…good lord 😩
•favorite places 🥹
•WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!
Um, what did I just read? This was so so good on so many levels. If you think you know what’s going to happen in this book, I promise you, you have no clue. This story starts out so fast paced with an amazing meet cute (can I get a duke to throw me over his shoulder and take me away) and then between the mystery and the romance, Janessa Burt expertly kept the pace throughout the whole story. I promise you won’t want to put this book down.
Just when you think you’re starting to get answers, the story shifts. And in between all the mysterious happenings, a beautiful romance is forming between our formidable Duke and Emma. Be still my heart. I loved the way the walls came down between these two. Single POV is done so well here and you can totally sense Will falling for Emma. She brings this man to his knees!! It’s so emotional and absolutely made my heart ache. With its gothic vibes, mystery, and epic romance, this is the perfect fall read!
Content: kisses
March 22, 2025
What a fun read! It’s fast paced, eerie, mysterious, twisty, funny, and even romantic! I think it could easily be read in one sitting. I am admittedly not a mystery lover, but this was a winner with the added romance. I really liked the setting of this story: a mysterious mansion in the 1800s. Emma’s escape attempts as well as her persistent pestering of Will had me laughing. I had a hunch who may be the murderer/cloaked man, but all the twists and turns had me guessing until the very end! Definitely recommend!
April 2, 2025
So many fun twists and turns!
Wow! What a page turner full of twists and turns. Janessa Burt really knows how to spin a story that hooks you from the start. I had a hard time putting it down. The romance was swoony and clean. The characters are fun. I do think it could have used another good run through from an editor. But if you can get through the wrong words accidentally placed throughout, and a few accidental perspective changes, in exchange for an exciting read, I highly recommend this one!
Wow! What a page turner full of twists and turns. Janessa Burt really knows how to spin a story that hooks you from the start. I had a hard time putting it down. The romance was swoony and clean. The characters are fun. I do think it could have used another good run through from an editor. But if you can get through the wrong words accidentally placed throughout, and a few accidental perspective changes, in exchange for an exciting read, I highly recommend this one!
October 29, 2024
I liked the pacing. I loved the beautiful romance that at times had my heart aching. The mystery, oh my gosh! I was dizzy from all its twists and turns!😂 There’s suspense but the story is not overly spooky like paranormal spooky. I had no problems reading this at night.😁
Will’s reactions to Emma’s piano playing had me cracking up!
Just what a rollercoaster of emotions that was! 5 stars! And I would read it again.
Will’s reactions to Emma’s piano playing had me cracking up!
Just what a rollercoaster of emotions that was! 5 stars! And I would read it again.
January 1, 2022
Historical mystery
This book kept me guessing who the real bad guy was until the end. It was interesting, funny, gripping. I stayed up late just to see how it ended. The romance was sweet and although I'd have liked to see them grip each other's faces less, I was very intevested in seeing the main characters come together in the end.
This book kept me guessing who the real bad guy was until the end. It was interesting, funny, gripping. I stayed up late just to see how it ended. The romance was sweet and although I'd have liked to see them grip each other's faces less, I was very intevested in seeing the main characters come together in the end.
October 18, 2022
oh. my. goodness.
I cannot say enough good things about this book!!
I simply could not put it down yet I didn't want it to end!!
Such a wonderful book! Can't wait to read another book by Ms. Burt!!
So well written. She keeps the reader on edge throughout the entire book.
Oh. My. Goodness. Soooooo incredibly good!!
I cannot say enough good things about this book!!
I simply could not put it down yet I didn't want it to end!!
Such a wonderful book! Can't wait to read another book by Ms. Burt!!
So well written. She keeps the reader on edge throughout the entire book.
Oh. My. Goodness. Soooooo incredibly good!!
Read
December 22, 2022Interesting read but didn't love the writing voice or style. Some of the plot twists were a little too convoluted and forced, but unique for the type of book it is. I figured out the villain early on, but the accomplice was a twist. Also this book is in massive need of some line edits, too many misspelled words and even symbols randomly thrown in messing up the formatting.
October 11, 2023
Just finished this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The first half had me giggling constantly with all the mishaps and funny banter between Emma and the Duke and the second half had me reading as fast as I could so I could solve the mystery. You don’t know who to trust with all the twists and turns this book takes. It is the perfect fall/winter read so definitely add it to your list.
March 17, 2024
This story definitely kept me turning the pages although it was a bit all over the place at times. I appreciated how well the author could write a suspenseful scene. My heart would be racing. The book could use a few edits but nothing too much to distract from the story. I’ll check out another book from this author.
October 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I loved the spooky mysterious vibes. I loved how strong and spirited Emma was. I loved how broody Britonne was and how he had such an obvious soft spot for Emma and her antics. I thought the mystery was interesting at the start, but I lost a hit of interest near the end because it was kind of all over the place and lacked a bit of necessary structure.
I loved the spooky mysterious vibes. I loved how strong and spirited Emma was. I loved how broody Britonne was and how he had such an obvious soft spot for Emma and her antics. I thought the mystery was interesting at the start, but I lost a hit of interest near the end because it was kind of all over the place and lacked a bit of necessary structure.
March 19, 2025
This books has it all. The banter, is top notch. I was laughing and smiling my way through this book!!
The escape attempts 🤣🤣 I loved every minute of this relationship!!
The romance, you can’t get better than this forced close proximity!!!
The mystery, superb! Well done. Had me guessing to the very end!
Everyone who loves romance needs to read this one!! It’s that good.
The escape attempts 🤣🤣 I loved every minute of this relationship!!
The romance, you can’t get better than this forced close proximity!!!
The mystery, superb! Well done. Had me guessing to the very end!
Everyone who loves romance needs to read this one!! It’s that good.
September 3, 2021
Loved it.
I throughly enjoyed this book. I could hardly put it down. It kept me guessing till the end and the romance between Will & Emma was perfect. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.
I throughly enjoyed this book. I could hardly put it down. It kept me guessing till the end and the romance between Will & Emma was perfect. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.
September 23, 2022
This was one of those rare books where plot twists was all over the place and you had no idea what to believe anymore. (Although I can proudly say that I had my own suspicions and apparently in the end they were true, ha). But that doesn’t change the fact.
November 17, 2022
I applaud the creativity and the uniqueness of the story. However, the overall plot didn't intrigue me as much as I was expecting. That said, it's still good book and it had its gripping moments. At the end of it all, I'd still like to read more from the author.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
August 17, 2024
the best book I’ve read in years
Absolutely perfect. This book took my heart, broke it, and put it back together. The banter, the wordplay, all of it is just perfect. No notes. No. Notes.
Absolutely perfect. This book took my heart, broke it, and put it back together. The banter, the wordplay, all of it is just perfect. No notes. No. Notes.
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