The Explorer's Daughter (The Reluctant Heirs #1) (2024)

What a promising new debut novel by Kate Renae! The Explorer’s Daughter is a fast-paced regency gothic romance with an intriguing mystery, a slow burn enemies to lovers romance, and a manipulative dastardly villain. The story and characters really drew me in and after a few chapters it was hard to put down.

Della has just lost her father, and her sister Rose has married a man whom Della doesn’t trust. Her instincts prove true when Roger threatens to harm her and her sister unless she retrieves a chest from his brother’s home. While Roger takes Rose on an extended trip, Della is left at the home of Roger’s brother Will, Lord Wakefield.

Will is a gruff, brooding gentleman, but underneath is very caring and suffers from the lasting effects of a cruel father. At first, Della doesn’t know if she can trust Will and decides not to confide in him about the chest precisely because of his demeanor and the fact that he is a brother to Roger. However, as the two spend more and more time together, Della begins to see the caring man behind the mask.

There were so many things I enjoyed about this book. Good mysteries always draw me in especially if there’s a hidden treasure. Will and Della were great characters and I liked the way their relationship evolved from enemies to friends to more. I loved the secret compartments throughout the house, a hidden room, and the clues that Della tries to figure out. I also appreciated the epilogue the author included at the end.

I wish the book had been just a little longer and that things regarding Will’s father and the past were fleshed out a bit more. All in all though, it was a strong enjoyable debut and I will definitely be reading more by this author. I received an advanced copy from the author. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. I gave this 3 1/2 stars.

3. 5 stars. I enjoyed the general storyline of this debut novel. The ultimate result is that it did not feel like a chore to read and I will certainly be willing to try future titles by this new author, although it was not as well done as a novel from more experienced authors. It did feel a little clunky, which is not a huge surprise for a first-time author. Polish and finesse from further experience will be of benefit. The author would also benefit from further research and an editor who knows the historical context more thoroughly. Titles were used incorrectly. An earl goes by his title, not his last name, so the Earl of Danbury should be addressed as Lord Danbury, not Lord Wakefield (his last name). Anyone with the title of "Sir" (which would be a hereditary position as a baronet, or a lifetime honour of a knighthood) is addressed formally as Sir FIRSTNAME LASTNAME and informally as Sir FIRSTNAME. It is never Sir LASTNAME. There are also some missteps in historical details and a lack of understanding of mourning customs, but further research and experience in the genre will clear this up. There are also a few odd errors here and there (for instance, a servant addressing the earl as "Sire"...he is not the king or the servant's father), but again, experience and research will help. The intrigue element of the novel was interesting and worth reading if you can have patience with some growing pains for a new author.

Adeline Dawson's (also know as Della) sister, Rose, is married to a man that Della doesn't trust. Since their father's death, Della has seen a cruel side of Roger and she only hopes that her sister is safe from this side of him. She arrives at Fairstone Hall with a letter and a secret mission to obtain a chest. A mission which she must accomplish to keep herself and her sister safe. Fairstone Hall is home to Lord William Wakefield (Will) Roger's brother!!

I was sucked into this story within the few pages because the reader doesn't know where Della's going or who lives at the home she's going to. Then to find out who lives there was the first of many surprises in store for the reader. I love a good mystery and this story had several twists and surprises to keep me turning the pages.

I liked Della and Will and the slow build up of her trust in him. Della had a good reason not to trust Will; he's Roger's brother afterall and she didn't know if he was as cruel as his brother. I liked finding out the reasons for Will's sullen demeanor and Della's search for the hidden panels. I love when the houses in mysteries have hidden compartments and rooms. Those types of things heighten my interest in the story. I also liked that the author included an epilogue.

I wanted more information about Will and Roger's father. We don't find out much about him and I have unanswered questions. This is a great debut novel and I'll definitely read another more from Kate Renae.

The Explorer's Daughter easily captures my attention with the first few pages. The story is easy to read and an entertaining read. I expected more of a reaction from characters when societal norms were pushed aside. The mystery was intriguing and I liked the build-up, but I was still left with several questions at the end that were never answered. I liked the twists and turns and the storytelling in this novel. The author does a good job with the flow of the story and the pacing was just right. The romance was sweet, clean and wholesome.

Please note that I received a free e-copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion.

Oh my goodness! I was blown away by this book. It was sooo good! This is Ms. Renae's first book, but it was simply amazing. I loved the fascinating plot and the adorable characters. I was honestly a little bit worried about reading this because I'm not super into Regency books, but I really loved The Explorer's Daughter :)
Adeline(Della)'s idyllic world has fallen apart, and she’s forced to go to her brother in law’s house with a huge secret. William Wakefield has no idea how to interact with people, but his intriguing sister in law has captured his notice. He’s determined to get to know her better, and Adeline is equally determined to protect her secrets at all costs.
Adeline was such a fun, spirited character! She was so strong and loyal even through a ton of challenges. I loved how there wasn’t a ton of drama between her and William. There was the normal hesitation to share with each other, but it was definitely not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
I thought William was so adorable! He felt very Mr. Darcylike to me because he seemed super aloof, but he was actually just shy. I loved all the little things that he would do for Della like buying her a copy of Frankenstein. I feel like they fit together really well too. They were both kinda homebodies, but Della added some much needed light in William’s life.
I loved this book! The plot was super interesting without being overly dramatic and stressful. The characters were so loveable, and the side characters made the book so much better! I’m hoping that Rose and Lidia will get their own books too. This is a clean, Regency set book that I would totally recommend even if Regency isn’t your first choice!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This is a fantastic debut novel from Kate Renae. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and once I got a few chapters in I could not put it down. Della is basically thrown into Will's household as a guest for an undertermined amount of time. But she isn't just there so that she has a place to stay, she also has a secret mission that she must complete or threats will become reality and she will loose all that she holds dear.

Della has such great courage, even though she is living in fear every day. I'm inspired how she stands above the worries cruel individuals have thrown at her face and she moves forward as careful as she can to find freedom. But she does so much more than that when she comes to face with someone who is just as stubborn and opinionated as she is, Mr Scowl, aka Will. Will has his reasons, just as Della, to be so stern, unforgiving and scowl like in life. What he doesn't expect from his houseguest is someone who comes to be a confidant and so much more. Their interactions are so raw, heartfelt and straightforward. Renae did a fantastic job in writing these characters and making them draw the readers in.

Add all that together with the suspense of Della's secret mission and this story had me hooked. You cannot help but worry over each character as they search for meaning, direction and someone to walk with them through life because it's no fun doing it alone. The growth each character experiences creates such a beautiful love story that all readers will enjoy. I was very excited that this book is lisited as book one in a series and I'm can't wait to see where Renae takes the series. Anything she writes next I will happily pick up and read. Everyone give this new book a go!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. A review was not required and all opinions are my own.

I was thoroughly impressed with this book! This is Kate Renae’s debut novel and she did great!

I totally had Beauty and the Beast vibes from this book and I’m a fan. I love fairytale retellings and it’s not often that those stories are set in the regency era. Even though I’m not sure Kate Renae actually planned to make it a retelling, I’m rolling with it. 😂 It’s actually a regency romance mystery and it had all the feels!

At first, I was a little surprised at how abrupt Della and Will’s contempt for each other was. The instant dislike was a bit much but I grew to love their relationship. Especially once they opened up to each other. I’ve always been a fan of enemies to lovers. The fact that Will is a brooding, nice guy, totally endeared him to me.

There was some great tension between Della and Will. Kate Renae did a great job building their relationship and even throwing in some light hearted scenes in there. I often love when the main characters don’t do what I expect. That’s happened a bunch in this book and I thought it was great!

I loved the little treasure hunt that Della took on and the clues that she had to solve. It was a fun change to the book. The resolution to the hunt seemed a bit abrupt but I really loved the ending of the couple’s relationship. If you’ve been considering reading this, I’d recommend it. Kate is an author to look out for.

It’s always a treat to read an author’s first book, because you know a lot of heart and hope went into it. The beautiful cover art initially pulled me towards this one and I enjoyed the mystery’s and adventure in this regency inspired novel.

The two main characters are very likable as they get to know each other. Della is an adventurous sort with a big heart, and Will is a reluctant Earl working through his troubled upbringing. Della seems to be what he needs to find the joy and purpose to his life. As they work together to search out a treasure Della’s life depends upon, they get to know each other on a more personal level.

One thing I loved about this book is that there were a lot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed the constant surprises. I think Dell might have inherited a bit of her explorer father’s sense of adventure and boldness.

This was such an interesting read full of mystery, romance, history, charm, family, and intrigue. Renae has a promising career ahead of her! Although it had the feel of a debut novel, it was still written well, and I would certainly read another of her books. The characters were interesting, and Renae provides enough mystery to keep readers turning the pages to see how it all comes together.

I thought Della was a a great heroine - not afraid to look into things, no matter if she had to sneak around or not. And honestly, the sneakiness was fun to read. I will say that there was some things that were not really buttoned up by the end of the novel, and I'm not sure if that is because this is the start of a series, or perhaps how the author intended to write it. It did leave me scratching my head a little bit.

All in all, this was a pleasant read, and I look forward to seeing how Kate Renae grows as an author. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had issues with the writing.

Very good debut novel. Main characters that you can root for and a quick moving plot with just enough suspense made for an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading the author’s next release.

This is a wonderful debut novel by Kate Renae! It is full of mystery and suspense, with some romance thrown in for good measure. The lead character Della is mourning her recently deceased father when her sister marries a man Della isn't a fan of. Sure enough, her new brother in law Roger threatens Della unless she goes to his childhood home and finds something for him. She is left no choice but to do it and she goes there in pretense of staying for an extended holiday with her new family. Roger's brother, William the Earl of Danbury, is very cold to Della at first. Soon Della learns more about their family and how the late Earl of Danbury was a horrible person and either emotionally or physically abused the entire family. I really appreciated how the book touched on hard topics. I really liked how there was a genuine friendship between Della and William, and how they learned to trust each other and share their secrets with each other.
Thank you to Kate Renae for the complimentary copy of this book!

Cute story

This was a cute story. I enjoyed reading;however, the story jumped around a bit and I had to reread to see what was going on. Sometimes there were too many pronouns that I didn’t know who was talking so I had to reread and infer. Also, transitions could have been better executed. I did enjoy the book though.

The Explorer's Daughter by Kate Renae

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Kate definitely proves her ability to write excellent characters and intriguing suspense with her debut story that I truly enjoyed.

This book could not have arrived in my inbox at a better time. I was wishing for a good suspense to break up the current group of books I've been reading and this wonderful book was just what I wanted. If I hadn't already known this was a debut story for Kate, I would not have guessed it based on the writing. Everything flowed and tied together so very well that I was entirely engaged and involved with the characters of the story from the first chapter. She begins with a young woman named Della (Adeline) who has recently lost her father to death and her sister to a marriage she is positive will be horrendous. Her fears are confirmed fairly soon when her new brother-in-law, Roger, threatens her life and her sister's life if she doesn't complete a task he demands of her. An object he desires is at his family;s home and he has ensured that Della will be staying there due to the wedding trip he is taking her sister on immediately. Della must find the object if she is to save her sister's life and return to her home. But with no leads to go on, Della is terrified of failing. Fairstone Hall is owned by Lord William Wakefield, Earl of Danbury, a man who's taciturn reputation proceeds him. He is also Della's new brother-in-law. Does she really have a chance to search the estate or are the secrets of the past so buried there is no hope? A chance encounter with the earl at the inn nearby the Hall leaves Della with a less than ideal impression of the man. Why does he have to be so curt and brusque? Does her mere existence bother him in some great way? Della soon comes to see that the Earl is, in fact, a bit shy around strangers and carries pain from the past that darkens his future. A tenuous friendship forms between them but Della is not yet ready to reveal her true reasons for staying at the Hall. Will has many regrets in his life, not the least of which is failing to protect his mother from his cruel father. He is striving to be a different and better man but despises society and assemblies. Della is a welcome breath of fresh air in his home, though she nearly drives him crazy with her sharp wit and sarcastic responses. She gives him no quarter in his brusqueness and challenges him in ways no one ever has before. But she also carries suffering from her past that she is unwilling to share as yet. Can Will convince her he can be trusted to help her in her quest? Can they puzzle it all out before all their lives are put in even more danger? And can Will convince Della she means much more to him than duty demands? You'll have to come read to find out! But don't worry......you'll love finding out.
I really loved this story from beginning to end. The first chapter draws you in, then the second and third convince you that you just HAVE to find out what will happen. Della, who had always longed to go on an exploring adventure with her father sets out on her own unexpected adventure, requiring her to explore an estate in order to save her sister's life. She is bold, brash and unapologetic in her defense of those she perceives to be bullied or mistreated and has a great capacity to love others. I loved that she was still brave and strong in the face of one who threatened her very existence. But she still needed to learn that others could love her just as she was and that love could help her in more ways that she ever dreamed. Will was a wonderful character too with his brooding nature and hidden wit. I loved the conversations that he and Della had about books, families and the pain of the past. He taught her to trust again and how to accept help when necessary. Their conversations were real and raw and helped me connect very well with them. I will certainly be recommending this book to others and hope they will be as captivated by it as I have been. This is definitely one you will want to add to your shelves to read more than once to take in all the details and happenings. I know I'll be reading it again myself.
I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Kate Renae. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am very pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

The Explorer's Daughter
The Reluctant Heirs #1
By Kate Renae

Adeline Dawson has lost everything with her father's death. Her new brother-in-law, Roger has arranged for her to stay with his family. He has plans for her and if she doesn't fulfill them she will never see her sister again.

William Wakefield is lord of Fairstone Hall and Della has been tasked with removing a possession from his home. Determined to save her sister from William's brother Della is more than a little surprised when William turns out to be different from Roger. But can she trust him with the secret she is keeping?

The Explorer's Daughter is a delightful Regency piece that has a generous helping of mystery with a dash of romance thrown in. Adeline's introduction to Fairstone Hall is less than spectacular as she is forced to undertake the journey in less than ideal circ*mstances thanks to her brother-in-law. And thanks to her interactions with Roger, Della is less than comfortable in William's presence as she isn't sure just how similar he is to his brother. But as the story progresses we get to know William better and understand what has shaped him.

The mystery is the strongest aspect of the story and makes this debut novel and author worth reading. The story concludes with not all the questions answered by the end but I assume that they may be answered in the next book as this is the first book in a series. I loved some of the unique twists that occur that kept the reader wondering what was going to happen next.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

3.75
This book was legitimately spooky. Not terrifying but it definitely had some spook factors going on. I felt bad for Della numerous times, Will as well. I loved Will's mom, she was lovely.

- Della
- strong personality, I can get behind this
- "Being in the presence of books did calm his bad temper just a little"
- had a strange flow. A little choppy. I'm enjoying the story though.
- horse back riding was cute
- this is a weird sentence- Frankenstein! It's so sweet and romantic!
- I like how much William cares
- I like this book. Had bits and pieces of suspense woven into it
- I can't imagine having someone flirt with me, make me uncomfortable and not being able to do anything about it
- fun mystery- great fall read. Why is fall the time for mysteries? 🤔
- "Will was kindness to his core, and he had certainly been more than kind to her." -- first half of this: I want people to think of me this way.
- It ended weird. Like, the build up was huge and then it was concluded. It wasn't a bad ending at all. It was like Frodo and Sam needing three books to get to Mount Doom, only to fly home on the eagles in less than a chapter break. It felt a little uneven but I'm perfectly satisfied.
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Overall, it kind of had a haunted Edenbrooke feel to it. So, I mean, if that sounds good, which it should, check out this book!

I enjoyed The Explorer's Daughter by Kate Renae. It was a fun historical read with some mystery and suspense thrown into it. I'd rate it 4.5 stars. I liked the characters and thought they were well written. I do think that there could have been some more work on the pacing of the story and with emotions of the characters throughout the progression of the story. Will and Della are both strong willed and opinionated people and have gone through emotional events, (at the hands of others), that led them to where they are at the start of this novel. It was nice to see how they learned to trust during the story, but I think they held on to their mindset just a little too long, which prevented their relationship developing at a better speed.
As far as pacing goes, I think there were some missed opportunities to build emotional connections between the characters because some scenes just kind of blew over quickly, as if they were hurried up to get to other parts of the story. A lot of those events would've been more of a big deal, especially during those times. To have them kind of just ignored seemed a little out of character for that time period.
Overall, it was a very intriguing read that kept me guessing and not wanting to put it down until it was over. I enjoyed the side characters and hope to see more from them in future stories. There was a short epilogue but it would be nice to have more of a follow up on what happens after "The End". I would recommend this story.

I was intrigued to read this debut novel by author Kate Renae and was so pleased I did as it was a really enjoyable story. I warmed quickly to both Della and Will and found myself absorbed in their mystery. It was a nice twist to have a bit of adventure and suspense in a sweet romance novel. I liked how the relationship between Della and Will grew and the ending was perfect, especially the epilogue. I love to read books with strong female characters who try to break the mould of what society thought was ‘acceptable’ for a woman, and a man who values that independence makes for a more swoon worthy hero in my opinion! The only thing I felt was left unfinished was that I would like to know what happened to Rose- but maybe there is another story to tell there? I would highly recommend reading this new author and will be looking out for future stories from her.

A review of the explorer’s daughter by Kate Renae:

This is actually the author’s debut novel. I think Renae did a wonderful job at building up the story. I really enjoyed watching Della sneak around to try and solve the mystery. I was so happy when Will & Della broke down each-others walls. Trust is such a simple thing but it was everything. I love that we got Will’s point of view, it clarified any miscommunication, at least for a readers view. I love when we know more than the MC! I do have to say, I absolutely loved that dance scene. I think it reminded me of the Dance scene in Pride & Prejudice (I love that scene more specifically in the 2005 movie adaptation). The tension was there! Overall, this was a really well written novel that I enjoyed. Can’t wait for the next book Renae writes.

I think this was a good debut novel. I really enjoyed the bit of mystery thrown into the plot. It’s always fun to read about a secret “treasure” with various clues. I confess, I was slightly disappointed with what was actually in the chest 😂. But it absolutely made sense with the story and helped to give a little insight into the background of Will’s father.

Della definitely took after her dad in regards to a sense of adventure. And she was protective and loyal to those she cared about.
I like that Will started to overcome how horrible his childhood was and could let Della penetrate the walls he built up. And I was SO glad he finally confessed his feelings in no uncertain terms at the end.
The epilogue was a nice little bonus. Gotta love a happily ever after!

I would love to hear more about Lidia, Matthew, and Lucy! I loved their characters and I want to know more! Will Matthew’s mother be ok? How will Lidia fare when she moves in with her aunt? What’s going to happen to her cottage? Does Lucy stay on as Della’s maid? Or does she achieve grand things with her talent for doing hair? All the questions!

Overall this was an enjoyable debut. One that is very quick and easy to read. I think I would’ve enjoyed it even more if it had been a bit longer and the main characters would’ve been more open with each other.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading this debut novel. I liked the main characters even though I wanted to scream at them to share their feelings sooner than they did. But their devotion to each other, especially William's, was touching.

I also liked the secondary characters, at least the ones we were supposed to like. I hope the rest of the series will tell some of their stories. I loved that these characters were so loyal and caring.

The mystery was intriguing and I didn't figure it out at all prior to the reveal. I thought up quite a few variations of what might happen but was wrong on every count. There were some unexpected twists along the way so as a reader I didn't know what was coming. So I just enjoyed the ride as each twist and turn happened.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: some

3.5 stars. The book captured my interest in the beginning. The plot was a good idea and the descriptive writing enriched the story. The characters were fairly well written although I felt like I was being told who Della was rather than shown. The one time we are shown her goodness and generosity wasn’t believable. She gives her treasured (gift from father) necklace away when she’d just purchased a ribbon that would’ve made a nice gift. The friendship between Will and Della was strained at best— one day of fun together followed by many moody outbursts from both. The dialogue bothered me a bit as well as some unrealistic situations (a feast days after a near death illness, for one). The mystery was the best part of the book and it was enjoyable to see all the details unfold.

Intrigue, Mystery and Romance

This was a good historical romance with some intrigue and mystery thrown in. I loved Will in this book and really enjoyed the storyline.

Adeline, Della's, sister recently gets married to a man Della doesn't trust. She soon finds herself at her new family's country estate, Fairstone Hall. William Wakefield, is a young brooding earl who calls Fairstone Hall home. Della comes to Fairstone Hall with an objective to protect herself and her sister. As she and Will get closer to solving the mystery their relationship begins to change as well.

This book had a great mix of romance, mystery and kept me engaged the whole time. Definitely recommend!

CW: This book contains some descriptions of physical and emotional abus

This debut novel has mystery and romance. I haven’t read very many mysteries set in regency England, so it was fun to discover that in this book. Della doesn’t really care for her new brother-in-law, but she can’t quite figure out why. That is until he threatens her and holds her sister’s well-being over her head unless Della does exactly what he wants her to: visit his mother and brother and search for a box with something very valuable inside. Will isn’t very happy to play host to Della, but he doesn’t really have a choice. He’s not quite sure what to make of this frank, headstrong lady.

I liked this book! I didn’t figure out the mystery until the characters did, so that’s always a plus. This is a good first novel by Kate Renae, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with.

Debut author Kate Renae has written a gothic Regency mystery romance story that readers will be thrilled and charmed by. There is plenty of twist and turns throughout the story that will leave readers guessing what will happen next. Although an intriguing and interesting story, there are several questions that do not get answered by the end of the story, which may confuse readers. But the pacing of the story and the sweet romance help make up for it. This is a story that readers of mystery and Regency romance will enjoy.

Series: The Reluctant Heirs
Genre: Regency, romance, gothic mystery
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: October 9, 2021
Number of pages: 218

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Just read and finished today. Overall I quite enjoyed this story! The plot is great and there’s good character development. I will gladly read more from this author!

My only wish is for more. I would love to see this story filled out a little more…(see below)

*spoiler*

I need more information on the villa. Did I miss something? Will that be revealed in the next book?

Also, I feel like we need a little bit more on Lidia and Lucy. They have some vital roles to the story, but we get simple details.

As a novice author, I throughly enjoyed Katie Ranae's first work. I look forward to reading more of her stories and learning more about her regency world. There were some times when the conversation or activity in the novel seems kind of forced, overall it was a great read. I loved that she combined the regency with the mysterious. I loved that there was more to the story, sometime sinister and even scary, than a simply romance (while I love those too!). The mystery kept me engaged and needing to see how the story plays out for the characters. I would have loved some more in the epilogue regarding the future of the characters, but hold out hope that future novels will give the reader a glimpse at what happens to them in their futures. Overall, a wonderful read and I look forward to meeting more of her characters!

Sophom*oric

This was a repetitious, formulaic, mailed in book. I get so annoyed when an author churns out cliche storylines. I'm embarrassed for her.
There are so many of these rote "novels" I don't even want to try new authors. I guess the previous reviews were written by family members. Hate to be harsh but this was dreadful

I love finding a new author who writes both beautifully well and with an intriguing, fresh storyline. I fell in love with the characters and will be looking for a second and third book from this author!!

Loved the characters and the plot that had some surprises, which I feel like is hard to do in this genre that is often pretty predictable. Excellent first novel by this author! Looking forward to more.