Ladies of the Manor series

Reading this series in its entirety during one weekend was better than a Downton Abbey-Pride and Prejudice-Emma BBC marathon! These books are 400+ pages each and each one is absolutely fabulous and all are now on my all-time favorites list!

The Lost Heiress

Brook Eden has never known where she truly belongs. Though raised in the palace of Monaco, she’s British by birth and was brought to the Grimaldis under suspicious circumstances as a babe. When Brook’s friend Justin uncovers the fact that Brook is likely a missing heiress from Yorkshire, Brook leaves the sun of the Mediterranean to travel to the moors of the North Sea to the estate of her supposed family.

The mystery of her mother’s death haunts her, and though her father is quick to accept her, the rest of the family and the servants of Whitby Park are not. Only when Brook’s life is threatened do they draw close—but their loyalty may come too late to save Brook from the same threat that led to tragedy for her mother.

As heir to a dukedom, Justin is no stranger to balancing responsibilities. When the matters of his estate force him far from Brook, the distance between them reveals that what began as friendship has grown into something much more. But how can their very different loyalties and responsibilities ever come together?

And then, for a second time, the heiress of Whitby Park is stolen away because of the very rare treasure in her possession—and this time only the servants of Whitby can save her.

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My Thoughts

Brook Eden has no problem with bucking tradition and trivial social niceties but she is determined to discover the truth of her heritage. I admire her courage and drive! This lady has spunk! She makes precious few friends when her bold and fearless personality clashes with society’s expectations for a young lady of her social standing. Compared to the other young socialites, Brook is a fearless adventurer.

Long-time friend Justin Wildon accompanies Brook to Yorkshire to meet her presumed family. Justin is torn between his desire to stay by Brook’s side and his responsibilities as a new duke. Everyone is caught off guard when Brook unknowingly walks into the dangerous web of secrets surrounding rare treasures in her possession. The romance and mystery kept my heart pounding and had me hanging on every word.

I borrowed this title from my local library system. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Reluctant Duchess

Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she has never felt good enough—not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar and the men who have jeopardized her life.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has suddenly found himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for. While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last thing he needs is the distraction of his neighbor, Lady Rowena, who finds herself in a desperate situation. But when the moody Earl of Lochabar tries to trap Brice into marrying Rowena, Brice finds he’s not as opposed to the idea as he expected to be.

Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she’s reluctant to resort to marrying a notorious flirt just to gain his English home. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she ’fears she’s about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.

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My Thoughts

Rowena Kinnaird has nearly lost all hope for a happy future because of seemingly insurmountable circumstances involving her heavy-handed father, cold stepmother, and dangerous, abusive suitor. Our friend Brice Myerston may be able to remove her from immediate danger but there are dangers waiting for him in England because of the mysterious treasure within his care.

Brice is charming and flirtatious yet completely committed to his faith, family, and friends. He patiently tries to protect Rowena while gently drawing her out of her shell and striving to show her love in any way she will allow. Brice’s personality and discernment make him one of my favorite characters.

Despite Brice’s efforts, Rowena’s fear builds a wall of skepticism between them. Within the safety of Brice’s protection, Rowena finds healing and the courage to move forward. She blossoms into a confident, compassionate, and intelligent young woman. I love the way she breaks free of the fear and desires to trust and love again. Rowena is an inspiring character.

I won this title in a giveaway on Kav’s Best Reads. My thanks to Kav, the publisher, and author! The opinions expressed are my own.

A Lady Unrivaled

Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile–even if it’s just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. All her life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well how the dangerous Fire Eyes diamonds have haunted her brother and their friends, and she won’t wait for it to strike again. She intends to take action . . . and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better.

Lord James Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife, who died before he could convince himself to love her. Now he’s determined to live a better life . . . but that proves complicated when old acquaintances pull Cayton into their desperate attempt to seize the jewels. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but the stubborn girl won’t budge. How else can he redeem himself, though, but by saving her–and his daughter–from those intent to destroy them all?

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My Thoughts

The mystery of the rare treasure continues throughout the series and the suspense intensifies. Until now, both Ella Myerston and James Cayton have watched events unfold from the sidelines. Ella has decided to dive into the action and do whatever she can to protect her brother’s family as well as her friends. James is trying to turn his life around and put distance between the man he is and the man he used to be.

Ella is known for her sunny disposition and positive outlook on life but she is not as naivé as her friends and family think. (We saw evidence of that in the first line of A Lady Unrivaled!) She is preparing to launch an offensive and the first step is extensive research. I envy her access to the massive Ralin Castle library, it sounds like a bookworm’s dream!

James is ashamed of his past mistakes and has a hard time forgiving himself for the pain he caused. He is a wonderful daddy and very much involved in his daughter’s everyday activities. I love that the parents in this series are not the period norm in that way! Sweet Ella ropes him into her scheming and his surly demeanor doesn’t deter her one bit.

My favorite aspect of this book was everyone looking out for one another and coming together in an effort to stop the madness once and for all. This is a great story of redemption, justice, love, and beauty! I adore this whole series!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself.

Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British romances. She makes her home in the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia.