The Light at Wyndcliff

The gripping but uneven third Regency romance in Ladd’s Cornwall Novels series (after The Thief of Lanwyn Manor) expertly deploys elements of gothic mystery, but couches them in a lackluster love story. When William Twetheway inherits the coastal estate of Wyndcliff Hall, he meets the lovely Evelyn Bray, the granddaughter of the property’s steward. Their courtship starts off more Jane Austen than Charlotte Brontë, though the descriptions of the dilapidated property add dark, delicious atmosphere. Then William learns that the biggest source of income to the estate comes from looting the frequent horrific shipwrecks on Wyndcliff’s shore. As William deals with the ramifications of this knowledge, Evelyn’s past trauma and abandonment issues come to light. While Evelyn is drawn with a great deal of heart, William’s character is muddled and hollow, though he becomes more dynamic as his interactions with Evelyn’s grandfather and the Cornwall locals become increasingly antagonistic. Though the atmosphere and intrigue keep the pages turning, William and Evelyn’s relationship is underdeveloped and suffers from cliché and poorly timed exposition. Gothic romance fans will appreciate the setting, but long for more substance. (Oct.)