Review: Highcliffe House by Megan Walker

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

Love ignites when two rivals vie to secure a possible fortune at the seaside town of Brighton.

Brighton, England, 1813

When a romantic entanglement leaves her humiliated and reeling, Anna Lane wants nothing more than for her father to whisk her away from the gossip of the ton. Unfortunately, he has obligations elsewhere, leaving her stuck in London.

Graham Everett’s financial security depends on an investment with Mr. Lane, his long-time friend and business partner. He’ll do just about anything to secure it for his family, even if it means fighting spoiled, embittered Anna for her father’s attention.

Luckily, Mr. Lane concocts a plan that will give everyone what they want, with one stipulation: Anna must accompany Graham to Brighton in her father’s stead and make a decision to invest—or not—based on a thorough report.

But it will take more than a day at the beach for these two headstrong hearts to admit that they’ve been wrong about each other. If they are willing to invest a little time working out their differences, they might have a chance at real love.

My Review

The cover of this book is so serene, I was not prepared for the tumultuous dynamics at play between Anna and Graham! There are reasons they begin as enemies, and I was happy to see the character growth as they overcome those complications and learn to develop confidence and grasp happiness in spite of their circumstances. It takes time for Anna and Graham to release their prejudices and come to know each other under the layers of self-preservation, and discover the attraction and esteem they share. Removing to a different location is pivotal in their process, as it takes Anna out of her comfort zone and allows her to observe Graham in his home setting. Graham's family was lovely and I enjoyed the different personalities of his sisters. His backstory reminds me a bit of Mr. Thorton in North & South- a man who has pulled himself and his family out of poverty and into affluence, yet subject to the whims of investments and the inherent risks. There is much to admire in him and his work ethic, yet Anna helps him to see that love and family are truly important. Anna craves attention from her loving father to feel secure in her world, one where a woman's reputation is easily fractured. Graham's influence as well as his family develop her trust in others and opens her vision to a brighter future. I loved the deep feelings and wonderful chemistry in this book!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss these other books by Megan Walker . . .

Review: Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Before Rosalind weds, she wants to experience ten things. Meeting Charlie wasn’t on her list.

England, 1820

Rosalind Newbury is counting down the days until her wedding to the Duke of Marlow, a man she has only met twice, and she knows exactly how she wants to spend her time. As a child, Ros created a list of ten things to do before her wedding day. So far, she has done none of them.

She is determined to tackle each item, though she’ll have to accomplish them all in secret. After all, a soon-to-be-duchess is not usually allowed to bury treasure in the pasture, eat sweets all day, or learn how to swim. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, who brings along her cousin, Charlie, a prodigal son-turned-boxer who has come to the countryside to mend his reputation and learn how to be his father’s heir.

Together, the three of them work to complete the list, and as each item is crossed off, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Ros and Charlie. The more time they spend together, the more Ros falls in love with this imperfect man and his good heart.

With the wedding looming, Ros must decide to either admit her romantic feelings for Charlie and risk her family’s future, or keep her promise to marry the duke and start a new life as a noblewoman.

My Review

Regency bucket list! Ros knows she's about to lose her freedom when she marries, and hopes to experience certain things before the wedding. While her accomplishment of some of these brings humor to the story, it is her feelings of being caught between her own heart and the expectations of her family and society that made the story so compelling to me. Charlie is drawn in to the endeavor and encourages her independence, helping her see that she is more than what her marriage will do for her family. Their romance felt forbidden since she is promised to the duke, so I'm glad they spent the majority of the story as friends with attraction and deepening feelings. The character growth and relationship dynamics Ros has with her family and friends made this book a pleasure to read, and one I plan to read again!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Interview with Megan Walker, Author of Lakeshire Park!

Megan Walker was raised on a berry farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where her imagination took her to times past and worlds away. While earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, she married her one true love and started a family. But her imaginings of Regency England wouldn't leave her alone, so she picked up a pen and wrote her first novella, A Beautiful Love: A Regency Fairy Tale Retelling which was published in 2019. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and three children. Lakeshire Park is her debut novel.

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Author Interview:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure! I majored in Early Childhood Education at Brigham Young University, but in between senior semesters I married my husband, who was set to move to Houston, TX, for medical school. So, through BYU, I had the privilege of completing my student teaching through an inner-city school district in Houston, which was an incredible experience that shaped both my teaching and my life. Coming from small town Missouri, I hardly knew how to drive on a three-lane freeway, let alone eight lanes! I’ll always be a country girl at heart. Now we’re living in St. Louis, MO, and I’m happily raising my three children and writing to my heart’s content.

What do you enjoy doing besides writing?

I love the outdoors, playing board games and sports with my family, reading, baking (though I’m not super great at it) and watching movies and TV shows.

What are some things on your bucket list that you have accomplished, and some you look forward to?

Writing a BOOK! and traveling Europe, seeing the pyramids and the Holy Lands. I have lots more traveling to do … one in particular is to take England with my writing partners. We are READY, we just need time and money, haha!

Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

I have two images, but they were strictly for inspiration and not exactly how I picture Amelia and Peter, so I won’t share them. (forgive me!) But yes, I do like to find visual inspiration for my characters. It’s a very loose interpretation though, almost more like finding a face to fit the personality in my head, and then making adjustments so they REALLY ARE how I picture them. 

What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

Imagine Dragons Walking the Wire is Amelia’s song. Ed Sheeran’s Dive is Peter’s.

What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

Don’t ever give up hope. No matter how bad things get, keep going. You never know what tomorrow can bring.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

Right now, I’m working on my second Regency romance novel! My heroine is very different from Amelia, so it’s been fun getting to know her. I’ve also got a novella coming out in August in a series with my writing partners. Stay tuned for details -- I am so excited to share more stories with you!

What is your favorite way to connect with readers?

Facebook and Instagram, though COVID19 is making it hard for me to keep up! I’m going to work harder at posting more, because I LOVE engaging with reader friends. It always brightens my day!!


Thank you Megan! I can't wait to read more of your stories!

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

(Read my review here)

Synopsis

Brighton, England 1820

Amelia Moore wants only one thing—to secure the future happiness of her younger sister, Clara. With their stepfather’s looming death, the two sisters will soon be on their own—without family, a home, or a penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia grasps at the chance. If she can encourage a match between Clara and their host, Sir Ronald, then at least her sister will be taken care of.

Little does she know that another guest, the arrogant and overconfident Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his own sister. Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter—and eventually playing by his rules—makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim: her heart.

Praise for Lakeshire Park:

“…readers will find it easy to invest in practical, business-minded Amelia as she learns to follow her heart. This gentle love story is a treat.”—Publisher’s Weekly 

“An immersive drama…Walker effortlessly amplifies the decorum of Regency England with chic wit and delightful characters.”—Booklist

"Charming, beautifully written, and hopelessly romantic. Sure to be a new favorite."—Julianne Donaldson, best-selling author of Edenbrooke