82. Whispers at Painswick Court. Julie Klassen. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, Regency historical romance, Christian fiction]
First sentence: Miss Anne Loveday sat in the parlour with the widower Mr. Shufflebottom--that was his name--while he droned on about his eight adult children, and how much they all still missed their mother, who'd died many years ago giving birth to a ninth.
Anne Loveday, a woman who longs to be a doctor or surgeon apothecary like her father, goes visiting and finds herself hired on as a nurse to Lady Celia at Painswick Court. The elderly woman is sometimes out of sorts, but, also pleasant enough in her own way. There's her 'spinster' daughter and her two adult nephews around--none of whom particularly seem to like Lady Celia. Lady Celia has two physicians attending her. Anne forms relationships with both doctors and the household itself. BUT she also finds herself almost always in situations where she can eavesdrop on others--in the house, in the gardens, on the grounds, about the village. Always, always something suspicious being whispered about. She knows there are secrets, secrets, and more secrets. But are any of these secrets dangerous enough to threaten Lady Celia's life?!?!
I enjoyed this one. The whispers in the title is completely accurate. This one does not have a strong romance to it perhaps because so much time is given to her overhearing private conversations and trying to piece together all the secrets. It's hard to know WHO to trust when everyone's whispering, whispering all the time. BUT it blends history, mystery, and romance. It's a good read.
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