Book excerpt: Her secret cloaks her in isolation. His secret traps him in a life that is not his own. They will have to learn to trust one another in order to find freedom in this Regency romance. England, 1819—Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could expose her disgrace. But soon after becoming a lady’s companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she’s desperately hidden for years. Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own—one that has haunted him for years and tied him to his father’s position as steward of Willowgrove Hall. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breathe a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he’ll never be free to find his own way in the world. He’ll never be free to fall in love. When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and fight for a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long kept? Praise for Sarah Ladd: “Fans of Regency romance will be instantly drawn in and happily lost within the pages.” —Kristy Cambron, bestselling author, regarding The Thief of Lanwyn Manor “Not only does Ladd prove again how effortlessly her pen can wield an authentic Regency portrait, she shines a spotlight on the limitations of women in an era where they were deprived of agency and instead were commodities in transactions of business and land. The thinking woman’s romance, The Thief of Lanwyn Manor is an unputdownable escape.” —Rachel McMillan “This blend of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, and Jamaica Inn has it all. Intrigue. Danger. Poignant moments. And best of all a sweet, sweet love story.” —Michelle Griep, award-winning author, regarding The Governess of Penwythe Hall The third book in the Whispers on the Moor series but can be read in any order: Book one: The Heiress of Winterwood Book two: The Headmistress of Rosemere A sweet Regency romance Full-length novel at approximately 90,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs XXX