Review for The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd

The Heiress of Winterwood wasn't a terrible book, I did enjoy many parts of it, but there was so much missing and so much left unsaid, that it felt like an unfinished novel. I enjoyed the setting, I am a big fan of historical fiction.  The characters weren't bad, some of them were unfortunately very one dimensional but it was easy to be sympathetic with Amelia, Lucy and Graham Sterling.  It was an easy, if predictable, plot to follow and there was the implied happily ever after ending that many fans of romantic suspense are expecting.

Amelia Barrett is the heiress of a large estate called Winterwood.  There's one caveat to her inheritance.  She must marry before her 24th birthday or the estate will pass to some distant cousins and she will be cut out entirely.  To add to this burden, she's made a promise to a dying friend to care for her daughter.  Amelia hatches a plan that involves proposing to the child's father, Captain Graham Sterling.  He was married to Lucy's mother but due to his duties at sea, has never actually met his now 9 month old daughter.

Little Lucy is kidnapped and a chilling ransom note is delivered.  There is the mystery of who has taken her and the suspense of trying to get her back.  Who has taken her and why?  Will they be able to get her back?

The heavy-handed way that religion was used in the book was what kept me from rating it higher.  I have nothing wrong with religion in books.  I've read my share of religious fiction and have enjoyed many of them.  But it was done with a very heavy hand in this case, it didn't really belong.  Both Graham Sterling and Amelia Barrett seemed to be having a crisis of faith, but why?  What was accomplished by spouting random Bible verses?  A little back-story would have gone a long way in this case.  Not only with the religion aspect, but also with many of the characters who were introduced.  They were merely window dressing with the barest of connections to the main characters.  And even the main characters needed more dimension to them, more depth.

A good beach or airplane read.  Something that you don't have to put a lot of thought or effort into.  An enjoyable but predictable tale of love and loss with a little suspense thrown in.  I bought this book on sale, otherwise I think I would have given it a pass.  3 star rating.

The Heiress of Winterwood on Amazon