The Curiosity Keeper

· A Treasures of Surrey Novel Book 1 · Sold by Thomas Nelson
4.4
33 reviews
Ebook
352
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Set in the same time period and location as Bridgerton and Poldark, this Regency romance brings together a wealthy heir and a mysterious young woman as they search for secrets behind a missing a ruby.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. A second son, he was content to work as the village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may be the answer to his many questions.

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille must allow a mysterious stranger to come to her aid.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, these two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, they will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

Praise for The Curiosity Keeper:

“A delightful read, rich with period details. Ladd crafts a couple the reader roots for from the very beginning and a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the end.” —Sarah M. Eden, bestselling author of For Elise

  • The first book in the Treasures of Surrey Regency romance series (books do not need to be read in order)
    • Book One: The Curiosity Keeper
    • Book Two: Dawn at Emberwilde
    • Book Three: A Stranger at Fellsworth
  • Book length: 89,000 words
  • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
  • Chaste, kissing-only Regency romance

Ratings and reviews

4.4
33 reviews
Kristina Anderson
July 10, 2015
The Curiosity Keeper is the latest book from author Sarah E. Ladd. The book is set in England in 1812. Camielle Iverness works in her father’s (James Iverness) shop called Iverness Curiosity Shop in London. It is a very cluttered and her father will not let her straighten it up. Camielle helps customers and keeps the accounts for the items sold in the store (her father keeps track of his other dealings). Camielle knows her father has other deals, but he never tells her about them. Camielle’s mother left England for Portugal nine years ago. She left to take care of her own mother who was ill, but she has never returned (and rarely writes). James keeps sending her gifts though. Camielle thinks he is trying to lure her mother back to England. James gives Camielle a puzzle box and tells her to mail it to her mother. Camielle puts it in her apron pocket. Jonathan Gilchrist is an apothecary (not a doctor) and his father’s heir since the death of his older brother, Thomas two years ago. Kettering Hall is the name of their country estate. Jonathan lives nearby in Fellsworth, Surrey. His father collects many unusual items and keeps them in a locked room at Kettering Hall. Then The Bevoy (a very large ruby reputed to bless or curse whoever possesses it) is stolen from the estate. Johnathan is charged with getting it back. He contacts Henry Darbin (was his brother Thomas’ best friend growing up) who works in a private capacity (sometimes) to solve crimes. They are staking out Iverness Curiosity Shop (they have heard that something will happen that night) when Jonathan sees Camielle being attacked. Jonathan rushes in and saves her from the attacker. He then takes Camielle back to the families London house (where his sister, Penelope is also staying). Penelope is very concerned about appearances and gossip! She knows they need to get The Bevoy back or she has no chance at marrying (since her father lost her dowry). Jonathan thinks that Camielle might know something about the stolen ruby until James Iverness throws his daughter out of the shop and their home (because she left the shop unattended after being attacked). Jonathan takes Camielle home to Kettering Hall. The two slowly get to know each other as they work out what could have happened to The Bevoy. If her father had it, what other items has he procured over the years? There is more to Iverness Curiosity Shop than Camielle ever knew. Will they be able to find the ruby in time to save Kettering Hall? Without the stone, the family will not be able to keep the estate (their father has spent all their money) nor is it likely that Penelope’s fiancé will marry her (she might be flighty, but she deserves better). Will there be a happy ending for all of the people involved especially for Jonathan and Camielle? I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Curiosity Keeper. However, I did guess where the ruby was hidden from the very first chapter (as well as who was ultimately behind the whole enterprise). I give The Curiosity Keeper 4 out of 5 stars. It is a charming story that has romance, mystery, and intrigue. Sarah E. Ladd writes engaging books that appeal to many readers. I received a complimentary copy of The Curiosity Keeper from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
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Cat ManDu
October 16, 2022
I don't like the ending. It's bad enough when dozens of pages are assigned to tell the story about the villains and only one paragraph is used to describe their punishment at the end. But this story has no punishment for the villains! Not my kind of ending .
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Marilyn Johnson
June 22, 2015
Camille Iverness has been taking care of herself longer than most people realize. When her life is turned upside down, whom can she trust? When those she loves turn out to be so different that what she thought, can she trust the handsome Mr. Jonathan Gilchrist or is he only after a rare ruby? Camille is a very observant, self reliant woman, searching for the truth. Jonathan Gilchrist has never been able to live up to his fathers expectations. When he is asked to find a rare family jewel to save the family's finances, will he be able to finally make his father happy or fail trying. When Camille is in need of a hero can he possible be her hero and find the family jewel too? Jonathan is a very independent son of the upper class, yet has dreams of his own. Can two completely different lifestyles find harmony and solve the mystery of the ruby? I was given a copy of this book from net galley for my honest opinion.
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About the author

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who has always loved the Regency period--the clothes, the music, the literature, and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period, and she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has released several novels set during the Regency era. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. She lives in Indiana with her family. Visit Sarah online at SarahLadd.com; Instagram: @sarahladdauthor; Facebook: @SarahLaddAuthor; Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor; Pinterest: @SarahLaddAuthor.

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