Allard is a seasoned author, and her experience shows in both the lapidary prose and the sensitivity with which she treats class division. Overall, this is a delightful, often funny story that also serves as a gimlet-eyed study of class division and the possibility of its transcendence. An unpretentiously philosophical assessment of class and love. —Kirkus Reviews
While the primary storyline follows Daphne’s journey of the heart in parallel with Edward’s journey towards making his mark as a writer, a strong undercurrent of supporting plot ensures that the story moves forward in a textured way, in a way that is a perfect marriage of mystery and clean, sweet, new adult romance. The story is exquisitely written, providing context and clear imagery of Victorian-era lifestyles and perfectly balanced descriptions of England’s countryside in a way that is as colorful as it is authentic. When It Rained at Hembry Castle is a charming, sweeping historical romance combined with an element of mystery. 5 stars. —IndieReader
For fans of Downton Abbey and The American Heiress. A lush, vibrant Victorian saga.
When the 8th Earl of Staton dies, he leaves behind a legacy in peril. The title falls to his eldest son, Richard—a man more practiced in unreliability than in leadership. As Richard struggles to keep the estate from ruin, he must confront the weight of a title he never truly wanted.
Meanwhile, the Earl’s niece, the spirited American-born Daphne, finds herself increasingly drawn to Edward Ellis. Edward is a rising literary talent with a perspective on Hembry Castle that no aristocrat possesses—because he saw it first from the servants’ hall.
As class lines blur and family secrets threaten to spill into the drawing rooms, the residents of Hembry Castle must decide if they will cling to the traditions of the past or embrace the uncertain, wonderful lightning of a new era.
Vivid, witty, and deeply engrossing, When It Rained at Hembry Castle is a celebration of the memories we inherit and the futures we choose to build.