July 1, 2013
Matthews' fans will be delighted with her latest. Set in 1850s England, the story features authentic period details, lively characters, sprightly dialogue, and heart-warming romance. Elizabeth Langton has been thrust into the role of manager of her family's country estate after her father's death. She loves the work, but when the father of her best friend, Lady Helen Denton, kills himself, Elizabeth puts the estate work on hold to comfort Helen. Little does she know that she, too, is about to experience tragedy. Her beloved godfather, Lord Edward Sharland, dies while away on a business trip. Elizabeth and Helen can only console each other and hope no further tragedies await. Their hope is short-lived when a mysterious stranger appears, claiming to be the son of Lord Sharland and the new overseer of the Langton estate. Shocked and horrified, Elizabeth wonders what her godfather could have been thinking? And why has he sent the handsome but cold James Sharland to run her estate? The nicely paced, deftly written story delivers pleasant and entertaining reading, despite the predictable ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)