I can never resist a gothic, and this type of "female in jeopardy" story is right up my dark alley. The love interest comes first here, but the series of "accidents" are not far behind making this a pleasantly diverting tale, but not exactly the gothic I had anticipated (probably because they are as extinct as dinosaurs). Sarah does her fair share of being missish, but Oliver is not truly an alpha male. So although they clash, it is the outside threats that bring them together, as it should be. This is an entertaining picture of quiet country life during this period with the added frisson of the protagonists having to find the perpetrator of the attacks. If you like a novel to be Regency first and romantic suspense second, then this will appeal.