Even though this is the 3rd in a series and I had not read the 1st two, this book was able to stand on its own. I enjoyed reading this story a lot. ( )

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The beautiful cover drew me in, and the synopsis captured my attention enough to give this book a try. I was not disappointed. This story has mystery, growth, and a dash of romance with the Cornish moors as a backdrop.

Full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-sarah-e-ladd-the-light-at-wyndcliff/ ( )

A young woman grows up on an estate in Cornwall in the 1800s. Evelyn's uncle is the steward of the estate, and Evelyn likes to make her self useful. But when a new young master arrives who has just purchased the estate, long buried secrets slowly begin to be revealed. Liam is excited about his new home and about starting the new business venture - china clay pits - that he dreams will bring prosperity to him and to the area surrounding his estate. But his neighbors seem less than welcoming, and his steward - Mr. Bray - seems reluctant to share much about how he has been running his state while it has been without a master. Liam soon learns about the shipwrecks that happen on his coast, and legalities of keeping the goods that can be found after such shipwrecks. He also learns how dangerous they can be when a mother and child are rescued and taken into his care while the mother recovers.
I learned a lot about the customs and life in Cornwall during this time, but after reading books like Ross Poldark this one fell a little flat for me. It was serviceable, but not memorable as that one was. Still for those looking for an inspirational romance with a good bit of history thrown in this one would fit the bill. ( )

The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd is the 3rd installment in The Cornwall Novels. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. I thought The Light at Wyndcliff was well-written with developed characters. The main characters as well as the major secondary characters have depth. I appreciated that the author took the time to do this. There are vivid descriptions of the estate, the moorland, town, and coastline. It allowed me to visualize the scenes. Liam Twethewey is a strong, male character. He was eager to take over the Wyndcliff Estate and make changes that would benefit the estate as well as the tenants. He may have made some unpopular decisions, but Liam knew they were the right ones to make. Evelyn Bray grew up in a discordant household with her mother unhappy and at odds with her grandfather, Rupert Bray. The mother liked the lavish lifestyle, and she was never going to be content until she got it back. I found myself yelling at Evelyn to stand up for herself and make her own decisions. It was interesting to learn about the china clay pits and how they extracted the clay from the ground. I also found it fascinating to learn about the shipwrecks and the laws regarding the recovery of cargo. I could tell the author did her research for this story. I was shocked at how people would rush to grab the goods without concern for the crew floundering in the water. I like how the story wrapped up and the epilogue that provided a complete ending. The Cornwall Novels was a wonderful series with a great conclusion. The Light at Wyndcliff is a unique Regency tale with the rocky Cornish coastline, suspicious shipwrecks, the clay pit project, shocking secrets, a gallant gentleman, a guarded grandfather, and the striking steward’s granddaughter. ( )

At some point you must make decisions for yourself and do what is best for you - Jenna to Evelyn

The author once again takes us to the moors of Cornwall, where many traditions rule the way of life. The sea plays a large part in those rather unsettling customs as this is an area where many ships meet an unfortunate end. Salvaging what they can, the villagers eke out a small income from those sales. Liam Twethewey not only inherits the Wyndcliff Estate from his uncle, but also the longstanding practice of storing the cargo from many of these shipwrecks. How can he possibly condone what is occurring on his own land? Will a rescue at sea help change these unwritten rules?

Evelyn Bray lives in the steward’s cottage along with her grandfather, the steward. This somewhat controlling relationship leads Jenna to make the comment above. But where can a young woman go in 1808, if she has no family to stand behind her?

With a great deal of detail, the author takes us walking on the moors, along the seashore and into what life must have been like in 1808. I could almost smell the sea and hear the waves crashing. This wonderful mystery will not be easy to set aside until you finally reach the conclusion.

This ARC of Book 3 in the Cornwall Novels was received through Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins Christian Publishing and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited. ( )