- Title: The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall
- Author: Lotte James
- Publisher: Harlequin Historical on July 27, 2021
- Genre: Historical Romance
- Pages: 288
- Formats Available: Paperback & Digital
- Rating: 5/5
Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Past Abuse, Unwanted Advances, Attempted Murder, Arson, Mention of Suicide, Mention of Mental Illness
Many thanks to Lotte James for providing me with a digital copy of The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall with a request for an honest review. Thanks also to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this tour and providing materials for the post.
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About The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall
She arrived as a housekeeper.
Will she leave as a countess?
To some, Thornhallow Hall might be tarnished by tales of vengeance and ghosts, but to new housekeeper Rebecca Merrickson it represents independence and peace from her tumultuous past.
Until the estate’s owner, William Reid, the disappeared earl, unexpectedly returns…
After clashing with him over the changes she’s made to the house, Rebecca slowly unearths the memories that haunt brooding Liam—and her defiance gives way to a shockingly improper attraction to her master!
Provided by Rachel’s Random Resources for Tour Use
My Review
I adore Harlequin Historical novels. They never disappoint. The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall by Lotte James is the latest in their lineup. This novel was everything I could have wanted in a historical romance. Lotte James wrote a heartwarming tale.
Rebecca Merrickson, aka Mrs. Hardwicke, is the newly installed housekeeper at Thornhallow Hall. Rumors abound about the old decrepit place. Ghosts haunting the Hall being the tamest among them. However, Rebecca turns the estate on its ear when she breathes new life into the old walls. But, Rebecca has a tragic secret that she must keep hidden. When the Earl returns to Thornhallow Hall, an immediate attraction forms between them. After a time, Rebecca tells Liam her secret. The question is, can the Earl and the housekeeper live to tell the tale?
Rebecca captured my heart in her first appearance. The poor soul hides from the world so a despicable man won’t find her. A man who once thought to make her his own by any means necessary. You can’t help but feel for Rebecca as she lives through the fear and torment this man brings her. To see Rebecca blossom in her new role, including earning the respect of the rest of the staff, made my heart smile. This woman is tough yet manages a bright smile while doling out her brand of snark.
Liam, the Earl of Thornhallow, is an equally likable character. His introduction also made me feel pity, but in a different way. Liam has a broken spirit. Thornhallow Hall fills him with sadness and dread because he lost so much within its walls. So much that Liam no longer cares what happens to the house, but the land is in his soul. I wanted nothing more than to see him thrive again. I knew that Rebecca would bring him out of himself, and she did a remarkable job.
I worried about the push and pull relationship between Rebecca and Liam. It frightened me that there might be so much angst that it would bore me. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The angst hits that perfect sweet spot where you don’t want to throw the book across the room in frustration. These characters brought a smile to my face almost throughout the whole book. There were some tears shed as well, but this is the mark of a wonderful read.
I award The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall a full 5 out of 5 stars. It saddened me when the story ended. Even though everyone got a happy send-off, I still wanted more. If you are a historical romance fan like I am, you must give this one a read. It is a rarity to find a romance that completely sweeps a reader off their feet, but this one does so with ease.
See My Reviews of Other Harlequin Historical Romance Novels: The Knight’s Runaway Maiden by Nicole Locke & The Highlander’s Secret Son by Jeanine Englert
About the Author – Lotte James
Lotte James trained as an actor and theatre director, but spent most of her life working day jobs crunching numbers whilst dreaming up stories of love and adventure. She’s thrilled to finally be writing those stories, and when she’s not scribbling on tiny pieces of paper, she can usually be found wandering the countryside for inspiration, or nestling with coffee and a book.
Author’s Contact Links: Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads
This book sounds so good. I love it when a book has just the right amount of angst. It’s a tough balance.
I completely agree!!