Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd Audiobook Review

Blurb: For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

Carrie's Audiobook Review

It is so difficult to find a good Christian fiction new release audiobook to listen to, so was I ever thrilled when I learned Sarah E. Ladd's newest Regency from Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins was available as a download from Audible.com! I have a membership and I promptly downloaded it and listened!

SPOILER: I love a rags-to-riches story and I've written some myself. Isabel is such a sympathetic heroine, orphaned and working in a girl's school. One begins to realize, pretty quickly, that all is not well at Emberwilde.

This story includes elements of extreme betrayal and avarice as well as criminal behavior and murder. For Isabel, almost no one is beyond suspicion. She's a strong young woman who takes a while to "push back" at some of the nonsense being hoisted upon her. But she eventually does rise to the occasion.

This was a very good listen! Narration was good but could have been better, but it wasn't a deterrent to the listen.

Note: I did receive a paperback from the publisher but am under no compulsion to post a positive review. As mentioned, I purchased my own audiobook copy and listened.

Giveaway: A Paperback copy of Sarah's lovely Regency, Dawn at Emberwilde (a gorgeous cover on this paperback!) Leave a comment as to why you enjoy Regency stories.  I like them because some of my ancestors lived in England during Regency (my great-grandparents immigrated to Michigan later) and because I loved Jane Austin.