| Title | : | The Jewels of Halstead Manor (Ladies of Devon #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 342 |
| Publication | : | First published March 1, 2020 |
She can only stay as long as the invalid needs her... so he makes it his business to need her forever.
When a cryptic invitation brings Giulia Pepper to her uncle's remote estate in Devon, she arrives in dire need of a benefactor, only to discover that her uncle never sent her any invitation—nor does he want her there. Forced into a corner, Giulia must contrive a way to convince him to allow her to remain, just long enough to figure out where to go next.
Nicholas never asked for an earldom, but when an aged lord arrives at his door and tells Nicholas that he is next in line for the title, he willingly goes to Halstead Manor to learn the role. But someone isn’t pleased with the heir, and after a gunshot wound in the arm, Nicholas must discover who is out to get him.
When Giulia stumbles—literally—over a fallen man on the lane to Halstead, she has her answer: she can stay at Halstead and nurse her uncle's heir back to health. But as mystery builds and danger mounts, will Giulia and Nicholas be able to solve the puzzle before the Earl forces Giulia to leave for good? And furthermore, can they manage to work together without losing their hearts in the process?
The Jewels of Halstead Manor (Ladies of Devon #1) Reviews
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I liked The Jewels of Halstead Manor, I just didn't love it. It started out strong and then I felt it started to lag, and it kind of lost me, but then it came back up. Guilia and Nick were strong characters, in fact, all of the characters were but I think for me something was missing that didn't allow me to fully enjoy it to be able to really connect with the story, though I wanted to.
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This was a good book. I enjoyed it, especially after the mystery was introduced. Jules was a great character. I loved how she was strong but vulnerable. The author did so well writing her. It took me a bit to like Nate. It was part of the mystery to figure him out. I'm not much of a mystery reader they either give me anxiety or they are not believable. This one was good and believable and didn't get so crazy and didn't have me on edge. This is a proper romance with a bit of mystery. No religion.
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Great regency romance
Great regency romance with some mystery intertwined. I loved both of the main characters and their automatic romantic tension. 4.5 stars! -
This book started off with a bang. I was totally invested in it. The life that Giulia lived was interesting and unlike most main characters that I have read about. Nicholas was a great hero and I felt the chemistry between the characters. Then about half way through the book it just started to slow. There was the mystery of a key and who was trying to harm the main characters. I was not satisfied with the answers given. I rate it 3.5* and rounded up.
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A little feel-good romance with a predictable mystery, what’s not to love?
Aside from the completely capable modern woman that is somehow completely useless?
Also, aside from the cringy writing?
Aside from that, what's not to love? -
Loved this one! There was a tinge of mystery to it that was so fun!
And Giulia was such a great character! Right from the beginning she is vibrant and wacky. I absolutely loved being in her head. And Nick was absolutely hilarious.
They mystery was a bit easy, but we all know we are really here for the relationships. And I loved all of them, not just the one between Giulia and Nick. Her uncle warming to her really touched my heart. And the friends she makes on the way. I love a good setup for a series. I am excited to learn about each of the girls in the group falling in love! -
3.5
Much of the tension and plot in this book didn’t hold me enthrall because I knew what they were looking for the entire time. There was a nice twist to it that kept things interesting. But the romance for most of the book was them not communicating which was annoying. It irritated me a lot this time because everyone around her kept saying how smart she is and I was like so she’s smart but not smart enough to just ask him if he’s trifling with her and if he is to kindly stop. Instead she’s going to draw her own conclusions and avoid him because she’s so smart. Okay. (╥_╥)
I’ll give the author credit though. I liked the main girl better than most. She wasn’t all that bad. At least she had a spine, was mostly vocal and was determined to not be trampled over or left out. And the story wasn’t bad, pretty interesting although predictable which is why it got a 3.5. -
I love this story! It had me intrigued from start to finish and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. I loved the lively interactions between the two main characters. I also quite enjoyed their individual character development. The plot to the story itself I also thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t want to give away any spoilers though so I’ll just say that, although I guessed a few things correctly, there was plenty that I didn’t expect and even for the parts I suspected I was surprised by how it developed.
I received an ARC of this book, with no obligation to leave a review.
For anyone who likes to read wholesome and clean regency era romances, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too. -
This was a really fun book. Books with a mystery subplot aren't usually my thing, but I really enjoyed this. I figure a good measure for a book is whether or not I find myself finding excuses to avoid doing the things I should be doing to get a few more minutes of reading, and this definitely did that. I will definitely be jumping into the rest of the series.
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I loved Giulia's character! Strong willed females are my favorite. I didn't like how predictable it was, I was hoping for more of a twist ending. Also didn't like Jack's involvement. I knew he was involved when he dropped the tray while they were speaking, but his reasons were weird to me. It was a really good book though, and I loved the chemistry between Giulia and Nick!
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I'm just not feeling this one
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A Captivating Mystery & True Love
The writing was great, the plot kept you intrigued and the love was felt in my heart. Fabulous characters and a truly suspenseful mystery shadowing the building romance. I will the next in this series and hope it is as good. -
"Bolstered by the support of her friends and the gentle love shining in Nick’s eyes, Giulia’s heart soared.
She was home."
I have read a number of regency romances but they weren't rated five stars because in my personal opinion, there was a thing or two that they all were lacking even though they were written by exceptional writers. But this one—sigh. Ah. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would and it was all because of Guilia and Nick and Lord Hart and her Swans. This was everything perfect.
A kind man with an ability to read her mind, a girl who wasn't afraid to speak her mind and her friends who accepted her so heart-warmingly and an uncle who was a grouch most of the book but a family nonetheless and the servants that gave her a warm welcome? If this isn't the perfect making of a great book then idk what else one needs to make it more perfect!! -
Another great book and a wonderful start to a new series!
Giulia (Jules) Pepper was invited to visit her uncle's estate, Halstead Manor. Upon her arrival, she literally trips over a man lying in the road who has been shot and is close to death. She cares for him as best she can and then runs to the manor for help. It turns out that her uncle had not invited her to his estate, but she has some nursing skills so she is kept on to care for Nicholas Pepper, the heir to the earldom, and a very distant cousin of hers.
There is intrigue, suspense, romance, secret passageways, jewels to be discovered and so much more in this wonderful book. Mrs. Stockton is fairly new to the writing gig but she always does a wonderful job of crafting a great story that keeps the reader engaged through the entire book.
Jules is a strong woman who is determined to make her way in the world. She is a world traveler and now, alone in the world, she is not afraid to find her own way. At the end, the secrets are uncovered, a happy ending is had and Jules even learns to dance. (c:
This book is a clean regency romance with no foul language or descriptive sexual scenes. It is appropriate for almost any age to read and tells a wonderful story.
I was given an arc of this book and I willingly offer my honest review. -
My first introduction to the works of Kasey Stockton came when I read the third book of this series, The Widow of Falbrooke Court. I did not realize this fact until Amelia Fawn, the heroine of book three was introduced as a supporting character in this book. I have now elected to go back and read the entire series in sequence.
I very much appreciated how Ms. Stockton saw fit to add the introductory note to this novel explaining how to pronounce the name of our heroine, Giulia, which is the Italian spelling of the name Julia. This was a BIG help. I found the storyline interesting and entertaining with a good smattering of adventure, mystery, and suspense. I also appreciated how Ms. Stockton handled the romantic element with the tact and gentility of a clean romance. The characters were believable and human. I also found no distracting editorial errors, which I find to be a bit unusual. I heartily recommend this work by Kasey Stockton to all my regency-loving friends. Five-Stars! -
What a delightful read! I always enjoy regency romances with an element of mystery and intrigue and this one has plenty!
Jules was a strong heroine and I enjoyed watching her relationship with her uncle grow and change. There were some plot twists I did not see coming and I ultimately did not guess the villain until just before the big reveal. The romance between Jules and Nick was very sweet and I loved their banter and friendship.
4.5 stars for this great read! Next time I read it I will have to make some lemon tarts. -
Fun start to a new series. The mystery and suspense throughout the story was perfect and kept you wanting more as the answers always seemed just out of your grasp. I loved Giulia and Nick. They were great characters and the chemistry between them was strong. I also loved the secondary characters and am excited to read the rest of the series.
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Cute!
Loved it! It was adorable. I loved Jules and her independence! I saw a lot of it coming but the journey was still a fun one. -
I have just discovered a new-to-me writer and I must voraciously read all her books! For all those interested, the author is Kasey Stockton. If you have not heard of her, I HIGHLY recommend checking out all of her novels. The other night I just happened to see an ad for The Lady of Larkspur Vale on one of my social media platforms. The cover intrigued me so I immediately went to Goodreads to check it out. The premise sounds pretty good, but I saw it is book 2 in a series. Naturally, I had to check out book 1, The Jewels of Halstead Manor, because I cannot knowingly begin a series in the middle. That just doesn’t work for me. The Jewels of Halstead Manor sounded so good to me that I bought it right then and there from Amazon and devoured the story in three days. If it were not for my full-time job there is a good possibility I would have had this book finished in one 24-hour period, it’s that excellent a read!
There really is so much to love about The Jewels of Halstead Manor. It’s a Sweet Regency Romance, which means the reader gets to escape into a unique historical time period and the romance is swoony and filled with passion, but there is none of that bedroom stuff happening. I’m all for realism in my books, but I am definitely not into voyeurism. I found the characters well crafted. I adore Guilia’s character. She is independent, strong-willed, and highly intelligent, but she is also incredibly self-aware and can be vulnerable when she needs to be. Nicholas is one of my favorite types of heroes and he pairs very well with Guila’s wit, verve, and sense of adventure. Nicholas is handsome, charming, and intelligent, but what I love the most about his character is his ability to truly see Guilia. He pays attention, he listens, and he isn’t afraid to ask her the probing questions she needs to answer for herself. In addition to the hero and heroine, The Jewels of Halstead Manor boasts a lively cast of secondary characters who bring spunk or friendship or mystery to the storyline, and make the story all the more rich. I also appreciate the topic of self-reliance. Guilia is beholden to no one. She is a woman who can stand on her own two feet. She asks when she needs help, but she never takes advantage. And when life brings her surprises that scare her a little, she runs to no man. She stands tall and takes the next right step. This illustration of self-reliance is my most favorite aspect to this superb Regency Romance.
I could go on and on about The Jewels of Halstead Manor, there really is that much to love about this book. It’s highly engaging and hard to put down. If you are a fan of well-written Sweet Regency Romances then I highly recommend The Jewels of Halstead Manor. For now, I’m going to go check out all of Ms. Stockton’s novels and may purchase one or two or all of them! LOL!
I purchased a review copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon on August 13, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. -
Giulia has recently lost her father and the life that she knew. When presented the opportunity to meet the uncle that she had never met before, she jumps on it as a chance to gain a measure of family back. Her arrival isn't what she anticipated when she saves a man from bleeding out on the road and receives her uncle's scorn when she finds out he never wanted to meet her. She negotiates a way to remain in the house until she can find alternative employment.
I liked the book, I though it was an interesting mystery and that the characters were genuine. I didn't like how often I was told about how amazing or terrible the characters were rather than witnessing the actions for myself. Giulia traveled the world her entire life but she seems to have retained none of the intrigue that she could have gained from such an interesting life. She also insinuates that she worked a lot as a child and as her father's assistant yet she doesn't really display this work ethic throughout the book. Same with Nick's philandering, they keep saying he was worse three years ago but we don't really see evidence of this and we don't get a great explanation on it.
The romance was decent but I'm kind of sketched out by them being cousins. Like, they explained that they were ten times removed or something and what else can you expect from the nobility in the 1800s. I don't really understand how genealogy works and I understand that everyone is related to some extent but having the same last name and presenting themselves initially as cousins freaked me out.
It was pretty good overall, just a little forgettable. If you have Kindle Unlimited and want a decent Historical Romance then this one fits the bill. It's not anything extraordinary though.
This review and all my others can be found at:
https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot.... -
Oh my, this was such a good book! I actually read Book 2 of this series first. And while it didn’t feel like I was missing any information at the time, it certainly helps having read Book 1.
The series is called Ladies of Devon, it follows four women living in Devon (hence the name) who are the closest of friends. I loved this aspect of the story, not only was there an adorable romance but some long lasting friendships were built.
Giulia has spent her life travelling from one adventure to another with her father and their servant Ames. In their travels, Giulia and Ames developed a bit of a romance, and with it an understanding that they would one day marry. When Giulia’s father dies, they go their separate ways. Giulia to Halstead Manor to visit her uncle, and Ames to London where he can build a thriving business. But then on Giulia’s arrival at Halstead she encounters an injured man and her story gets even more interesting. Now her stay at Halstead Manor is contingent on her nursing the injured man back to health, who happens to be Nicholas Pepper- heir to the earldom and Halstead Manor.
All of that is lined out in the synopsis, and it sounded too good to pass up reading immediately. And then I started reading and it is even more intriguing and gripping! This story is so full of adventure, mystery, romance, humour, it has it all. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but that’s just because Giuliano is essentially promised to Ames.
I really enjoyed getting to know Giulia’s character, and her relationship with her uncle and Nick was so entertaining! And of course her new friends, Amelia, Mabel and Hattie. Each woman has her own story in this series. Next up is Mabel! And it’s a good one! -
This was my first read by Kasey.
I'm not sure if this book wanted to be a gothic romance or not but it was entirely too jovial at times to accomplish the genuine gothic romance tone.
Jules is now alone in the world. Her mother left her. Her father passed away. Now, she's going to try to find her only living relative, the Earl of Halstead, her uncle. An uncle who doesn't want anything to do with her father's offspring, ever.
Nick has been elevated from farmer to heir of an Earldom. And now he's being targeted by a would be assassin. Thankfully Jules saves him.
In order for Jules not to be thrown out on her ear, she suggests that she nurse Nick back to health for her uncle.
There was a quasi-mystery lurking here. I guessed most of the main points with the only surprise being who the would be assassin was. The mystery revolved around a key. It was predictable and at one point during my reading, I voiced where the key was since it was obvious to me and not to Jules. Facepalm!
I liked most of the supporting cast of characters. The next book follows one of the ladies Jules befriends in this one. I'm not sure I'll continue the series at present. But maybe in the future!
Quick, easy, laugh out loud at times, and some frustration. This book was annoying in that it went around the issue several times before addressing it. I'm sure if it were more direct, it would have been less pages.
It did bother me with the superstition elements and elevating the moon to goddess-like status. There were some heated kisses but nothing else untoward. No profanity or gore. -
Guys. This book is just so lovely! Absolutely delightful! I love the strong female character (seriously very little to dislike about Giulia), the great mystery surrounding the whole story, the discoveries and character development and plot and character. *sigh* Just so good. Some of the mysteries I figured out pretty early on but a couple of them surprised me!
Giulia (or Jules) really is a fantastic character. I fell in love with her right from the beginning when she tripped over a man’s head in the road (intrigued? You must read it!). Her little quirks, her independence and strong will, her knowledge and tenacity and spice all make for a fantastic character.
Nick is a lot of fun. It took me a second to like him a lot (I guess that’s not even fair; I always *liked* him but didn’t know how serious he was what with his flirtatious ways) but he won me over pretty quickly. I loved his trustworthiness, the way he softened up with Giulia and worked to persuade Robert, the way he helped her and kept up his invalid ruse, were all fantastic. The only thing I didn’t really like about him was how he treated Jack, but that ends up feeling somewhat justified. Also, you can’t go wrong with green eyes and winning smiles (why don’t more heroes have green eyes?). He was perfectly swoony!
Lord Hart (Robert) is the perfect grumpy uncle. I don’t know why but I liked him almost right away.
Ames was kind of thick. Just write the blasted letter man! Giulia was probably much more understanding than I would have been.
Jack is...I’m not going to tell you what I think of Jack. It’ll give too much away!
Amelia, Hazel, and Mabel (The Swans) are such lovely characters! I don’t know what Nick’s problem is. I loved all of them! (Especially for how they brought Giulia into their circle and gave her friendship. It was really perfect.)
I just loved this book and don’t know how I will stand to wait until August to read the sequel!
