Rating: 4/5
Olivia Brannon knows her goals are unconventional. As a young woman in Regency England, her best bet—according to society—is to marry well and secure a steady future for herself. But Olivia has never been interested in convention. She’d prefer to follow in her deceased father’s footsteps and journey to foreign lands in search of rare and valuable antiquities.
Eager to make a name for herself in the antiquities world, Olivia jumps at an invitation to join a wealthy widow at the famed Cloverton Hall to evaluate her private antiquities collection. Secrecy of the task is vital, and in order to conceal her efforts Olivia must pretend to be a house party guest to avoid suspicion and to explain her presence.
Lucas Avery, whose father was a rival of Olivia’s father, has also arrived at the Cloverton Hall house party, hired by the new master of Cloverton Hall—the widow’s nephew—to appraise the renowned Cloverton Hall collection. When Lucas discovers Olivia masquerading as a party guest while covertly conducting her own assessment, he’s keen to renew the family rivalry. But as their paths frequently cross, he’s unprepared for the effect the refreshingly honest—and beautiful—Olivia has on him.
Yet all is not as it seems. Both Olivia and Lucas are shocked by the astonishing discovery of counterfeit pieces, and when the unexpected occurs, everyone is a suspect . . . and Olivia and Lucas both must choose whom they will trust. Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.
I received a free copy of The Cloverton Charade through Austenprose PR for a book tour. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
This was such a fun read from start to finish! I’m a sucker for historical romances and this one did not disappoint.
I was captivated from the beginning with our headstrong female main character, Olivia, who pushed against the status quo, wanting to follow in her father’s footsteps and be an antiquarian. And when she was offered an opportunity to get ahead in her career, she jumped on it, attending a house party as a guest to evaluate a collection. I loved following Olivia and seeing her navigate the norms of fashionable society. It was interesting to see this take on it. I always enjoy seeing these fashionable events, but I haven’t seen much around those who really weren’t meant to be there. It made for a unique read that I simply couldn’t put down!
And the slow romance between Olivia and a family enemy, Lucas Avery, the son of her father’s rival was so sweet! It was adorable seeing the two bond over antiques. Their romance was so tender. I loved every minute of it!
My only wish was I would have loved to see more of the house party, I felt like we didn’t get enough time there and then afterward the events following felt rather rushed. There was a lot going on around the mystery of the counterfeit pieces. But I still found this read thoroughly enjoyable!
If you enjoy historical romances with a side of mystery, you should definitely pick this one up! This is an easy read that will keep you captivated from start to finish!
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