Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd

Title: Dawn at Emberwilde (Treasures of Surrey #2)

Author: Sarah E. Ladd
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Historical Fiction, Regency

Publication: May 10, 2016

My Rating: 2/5 - DNF (70%)

Source: Publisher on NetGalley

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

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 yet unexciting role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would provide her a steady environment to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a striking 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 mysterious rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. And 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.

**I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Dawn at Emberwilde is a very sweet book with great writing, but, unfortunately, it felt too slow for me.

The plot is very interesting. We have Isabel Creston, a young woman with only a sister to call family, until relatives she didn't know she had invite her to live with them. Isabel has no choice but to accept, and take her younger sister, Lizzie, with her. At Emberwilde, Isabel and Lizzie have to learn to be proper ladies, and realize that their lives have greatly changed.

With her new situation, Isabel can start thinking about things like marriage, and there are two candidates available. I wouldn't really call this a love triangle though, I think it's made clear very early in the book who holds her interest.

Another important part of the story is the presence of criminals at the property, the forest, to be more precise. Colin Galloway, one of  Isabel's suitors, is following the trail of dangerous men prowling the area, but things seem to be more complicated than he thought.

This book did hold my interest for a while, but as the story progressed, I felt that it was all going too slow, both the romantic part and the mystery with the forest criminals. Still, it seemed like a very nice story and the writing was really good. I'd say you might want to give this a try if you're a fan of sweet regency books.


Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Thank you for reading! ♥