Book summary (Goodreads): For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady yet unexciting role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would provide her a steady environment to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.
The unexpected arrival of a striking stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.
At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with mysterious rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. And perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.
At Emberwilde, Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.
My thoughts...This story is centered around Isabel's journey through a short part of her life that will affect the rest of her future. It is definitely a journey that involves pain and heartache, but she also sees how much she is loved and how she can authentically love others.
There are some slightly suspenseful moments when she has an encounter in the mysterious woods at Emberwilde, but this could have been explored further. From the beginning of Isabel's relationship with her family, there is an overall sense that something isn't right. That part of the plot was interesting and well-developed. The romantic aspect of the plot did have some tension, but I would've welcomed even more intensity, within the boundaries of still being a clean read.
Overall, this novel had a slower pace. The characters were interesting and the plot had nice development with some twists and turns, but I would've welcomed a little more tension and intensity.
**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in order to give an honest review**
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