The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall - Lotte R. James (Review)

Date of Reading: 14/7/2021

Author: Lotte R. James

Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Publication Date: July 27, 2021

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

 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!

Review:

        As you can see from the blurb, the story resembles 'Jany Eyre' a lot, which is one reason that tempted me. Well, there is a bigger hurdle here since our hero is an Earl and heroine a common girl with no hidden inheritance to dream of. As they say, love conquers all and so it happens.

        I loved Rebecca from the start. Her confidence in her own abilities is admirable and the same goes for that liberal attitude (a bit too liberal considering the time period). Will any virtuous female dare to have tattoos? Good for you girl!

        The death in the castle and the mystery surrounding the vanished Earl contributes much to the gothic atmosphere. There are no ghosts but the creepy atmosphere haunts you throughout. Apart from that nail-biting climax which I found out of place, I found the story quite enjoyable. The slow-burn romance, the community that creates a world of its own inside this castle and the beautiful writing all makes it an endearing read.

Meet the author:

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.