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Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey

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This book turned a convenience marriage story into so much more. I generally love those kinds of stories, but this novel by Abigail Wilson brought it to a whole new level with murder, mystery, and intrigue. Also, to have Elizabeth start the story with an infant son only intensifies her motives, as she finds herself torn between her obligations to her son and to her husband. I love that depth of character, as she's strong-willed and determined but not for no reason, and the same care and attention was placed on Adrian's character.

The speech and description of the Regency period was exactly on point. Wilson has a way of placing the reader in the setting and really feel what is going on. Every chapter had another twist and turn that flowed perfectly to a climactic end.

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This story was an absolute delight. I am a sucker for a well done marriage of convenience story, especially when it elevates the woman involved. Elizabeth is no stranger to scandal with a child out of wedlock. She leaves her cousin's protection to take a post as a housekeeper. On her way, her carriage is set upon by a "highwayman" who ends up an agent for the crown and the brother of her child's father. What follows is full of mystery and learning to trust.

The mystery is fabulous and while there are clues, they are hidden well. I suspected at the ending and the solution, but wasn't prepared for how deep it went.

This was a well written, fun and fairly quick read for me. I am new to this author, but would definitely read her offerings in the future.

I received and eARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

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This is my first experience with this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story started with a bang, and then kept on twisting. There are some things reminiscent of Rebecca, and then it switches again. A good read, I will be looking for this author for more if her books.

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Elizabeth is an unwed mother on her way to a new job when her carriage is overturned during a robbery. The highwayman, Adrian, is actually a spy, who also happens to be the father of her child's brother.

They enter a marriage of convenience due to the circumstances around Elizabeth's recovery from the carriage accident and return to Adrian's home and family, several members of whom are truly awful people. Shortly thereafter there is a murder which Adrian and Elizabeth are determined to solve.

This sounds like it should be a gothic mystery/romance, and the first 1/3 of the story really was great. Lots of mystery, the characters were intriguing, I was interested in how the main characters relationship was evolving. But as the story went on, the murder investigation aspect became stale and while it was clear that Adrian had fallen for Elizabeth, I couldn't understand why. She spoke to him coldly, showed him no regard at all. The only reason we knew she even liked him was because of her internal dialogue.

There was some more excitement toward the end when they are chasing down the murderer, which brought it back around though.

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Yet another amazing story from Abigail Wilson! I am a fan of this author’s books and am anxiously looking forward to her next creation!
This one has it all...mystery, intrigue, spies, romance...all wrapped up in my favorite time period, regency!
This story line kept me on my toes and kept my interest. The characters were well written and likeable. I was extremely sad to see this book come to an end.
I highly recommend this book and this review is my honest opinion!

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I have said before but I love marriages of convenience that turn into something more. Yet I have a hard time understanding why or how one could think it would be a good idea to marry the brother of the father of your illegitimate child and still plan on keeping the identity of the father a secret. Especially when you think the child bears a resemblance to his father.

That was my issue going into Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey. But I quickly came to the realization that it didn't stop me from enjoying the book. The first two sentences provided a good opening and I didn't want to put the book down after.

Elizabeth has been through a lot in her 26 years. Her parents died leaving her and her brother deeply in debt. Her brother tries smuggling as a desperate attempt to provide for her. Thankfully she has a cousin who takes her under her wing when her brother is arrested. During her 2nd Season, she falls in love with a man who seems to return her affections. He even asks his father about marrying her but her history doesn't make her marriage material according to his father and when she announces that she's pregnant, he abandons her altogether. Thankfully her cousins still allow her to live with them but she's secured a position as a housekeeper for a friend in Dover and decides to take her son and go. Unfortunately, she wasn't planning on being held up by a highwayman and involved in a carriage crash.

Adrian is a spy. He has spent the last 15 years keeping his family life from his spy life. But he made a mistake. He held up the wrong carriage. And being caught alone with an unconscious woman and then pretending to be her husband to get her set up at the local inn was fine until an acquaintance overhead him say she was his wife. Now they have the choice of continuing in their deception and getting married for real or ruining reputations that are already fragile enough. Staying married will benefit Adrian in almost every way. But what about Elizabeth? Will it benefit her?

On top of trying to fool Adrian's two daughters (eighteen and sixteen) as well as his household that theirs is a love match, the two arrive back at Middlecrest Abbey just in time for there to be a murder. And much of the book is trying to figure out who the murderer is and how they connect to the correct carriage Adrian was supposed to hold up for his spying assignment. I had a few pieces of this puzzle figured out but not how each piece connected.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey gets 4 Stars. I liked both of the main characters. I appreciated their journey to love. I don't always want a mystery in my historical fiction but I enjoyed this one. And it's always a plus when I don't figure out all of the pieces. Have you read Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey? What did you think? Let me know!

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I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit of mystery along with romance. I loved the twists and turns and it really kept me guessing throughout the book.

It's a bit of slow-burn but it pays off in the end. This is a clean romance but I didn't feel like it was lacking because of that fact.

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I started reading and stopped to make sure I had the correct book because the beginning is similar to The Shadow of Croft Towers in that there is a robbery gone wrong. But it quickly changes. It takes a different fun unique path I didn’t expect to go on. It brought a smile to my face when they talked about Croft towers (great story) in this novel. “I shot a quick glance at the window. It was strange how every storm felt so eerily similar to the night my brother abandoned me at Croft Towers. It had been years since that day, but with every subsequent storm, I found myself thrust back in time, forced to relive his rejection all over again.”

I liked watching these characters grow as they chase down a killer among them. I liked that the story was full of mystery, intrigue, intertwined with tender sweet moments as the two main characters come to trust and admire each other, and learn what real love is.

I enjoyed Elizabeth Cantrell, who is a brave, smart single mom who is not afraid to think for herself, she knows how to ride a horse and is grateful for her marriage even though it had a weird start as widowed Lord Torrington navigates a dangerous mission as he’s a spy for the crown. This story is full of surprises right up till the end and would make a wonderful book club pick. I’m excited about what this author will pen next.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

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Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie in this historical fiction novel from Abigail Wilson. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey was different from anything I’ve read before–and that’s saying something! I really loved the book.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey grabbed my attention from the very first chapter. It wasn’t the kind of book that I could predict, and it kept me guessing until the end.

SUMMARY
Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey opens with Elizabeth Cantrell in a carriage with her small son. Elizabeth is an unwed mother, and an outcast in society in Regency England.

She has secured herself a position working as a housekeeper for a friend in the country, where she’ll be protected from nosey society.

She hadn’t counted on her carriage being robbed on the trip. The robber is none other than Lord Torrington (Adrain), the older brother of her son’s absent father.

Adrian is not just a titled gentleman. He’s an agent for the crown, tracking a French spy and a secret document. In order to keep his cover intact, he proposes a marriage of convenience to Elizabeth.

She reluctantly agrees and goes home to Middlecrest Abbey as the new lady of the house. They arrive only days before Adrian’s daughter is due to be married.

When someone is murdered and the French spy is found on the grounds, Adrian and Elizabeth will put their heads together to solve the mystery.

But where is the danger? Is it someone who claims to be a friend? Could it even be a member of their own family?

And of course the masquerade won’t last for long, and soon real love will happen if Elizabeth can learn to trust again.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey cover
MASQUERADE AT MIDDLECREST ABBEY REVIEW
I love a novel with a strong female lead. I like a woman who can take care of herself.

But I am a romantic at heart, and I love a story where a man saves the life of his lady. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey has all of that, and more.

I loved that Elizabeth had a brain and she used it. But I also loved that she worked as a team with Adrian. They didn’t keep secrets and worked together to solve the mystery.

There were enough twists and turns to really keep me wondering. I had a few guesses along the way, but I never quite figured it out until the end.

There were a lot of good characters in the book. I thought they were pretty realistic, too. Sometimes it was hard to guess who was the good guy and who was the bad.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey seemed to have a definite ending. But I would love to see it turned into a series, and I would certainly read them all! What could be better than a husband and wife spy team hunting down spies in Regency England?

This was my first book by the author, and I really loved it. I have found a few other books she’s written, and maybe someday I can go back and read some more.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and I enjoyed it from the opening sentence. The narrator made the book an even better experience than just reading it. But it would be equally enjoyable to read with your favorite cup of tea–and maybe a scone!

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Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is such a fun book to read! Full of mystery, romance, and drama, the book is practically unputdownable. I would say the romance takes a back seat to the mystery, but both are enjoyable. I did (accurately) identify the villains fairly early on, but the story was still quite enjoyable.

The book is written in first person from Elizabeth's perspective, a point of view I really enjoy in Regency fiction. I do wish that the romance had been a bit more pronounced, but overall, I liked the novel very much, and I would love to read author Abigail Wilson's other novels (which are set in the same universe as this one).

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Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey was another great Regency from Abigail Wilson, a relative newbie author (her first novel came out two years ago). It is essentially a marriage of convenience story, but with espionage, mystery, a murderer on the loose and plenty of twists, turns suspense and surprises. (I do feel that he highwayman part could have been followed up a bit more. One of the characters is posing as one, and we get the impression that it's central to the story, but after the first scene, no more is heard of that.)

I will say that in some ways it seemed quite similar to the author's other two books, especially with the espionage story-line and the possible French spy. I got the impression though that this was intentional, and the espionage is meant to be an underlying plot line throughout the books.
Which makes sense, as Elizabeth Caterell, the heroine in this story actually featured quite prominently in the first book The Shadow of Croft Towers. So although the books are not formally part of the series, there are connections between them.

Things were a little confusing at the beginning with all the different characters, servants friends and family members, but the main characters were well drawn. Adrian was one of those characters who defies appearances. Or rather, when the heroine cannot see his good points or cannot bring herself to trust him, the audience can see through his actions that he is a good man. A good man with a past admittedly, but a man who was probably more sinned against than sinning. (Which is not so say he was without sin).
It was also interesting to see Elizabeth come into her own, as she had previously been cast as quite a shallow and self-centered character. Although I would have appreciated being shown her love for her child a little more, rather than just told about it.

The faith elements were a fair bit stronger in this story than they were in first book. The central theme was truthfulness and trusting others, which the characters who had both suffered betrayals found difficult. Neither came to them easily or naturally, as would be expected, but developed over time.

Recommended for Regency Fans, and fans of clean reads. Although this one sometimes pushes the boundaries of 'clean' a , it never goes too far.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the PDF copy to review. I also listened to the audiobook of my own volition and all opinions expressed are my own.

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I'm constantly on the lookout for new books to read, but I'm very, VERY picky about what I read. It's hard to find a book that I want to finish--a book that engages my interest so much that I don't want it to end! Immediately, when I finished the first chapter, I thought, "Okay, this could be a book I actually finish!" I expected it to be mainly about the romance between the two main characters, but that was more "dessert", while the mystery itself became the main course. Don't get me wrong: The romance between the two main characters held my interest, but I found myself more caught up in the mystery more than anything else. I was actually surprised by several choices Ms. Wilson made in the plotline, in the best way. She had me guessing until the very end! In a nutshell, this is the story of a young woman who is dealing with the aftermath of betrayal and her attempts to navigate choices afterwards in a way that doesn't hurt others in her life. Throw in some French spies, some family drama, and a little bit of kissing, and you've got yourself a book that you won't regret reading. High praise, as far as I'm concerned! I can't say more as it might spoil the fun for future readers!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R23EN4NOYG5VFZ/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8

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This book was completely engrossing for me. I couldn't put it down. Wonderful characters, including a swoon worthy hero, who I loved from the moment I met him, a great plot (which I never figured out the culprit), and it just totally captivated me. The marriage of convenience trope is a favorite, too. Loved every minute. Well done!

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I am an avid historical Regency romance reader and have been for years. I think this is the first time I've read a story that was written in the first person. It kind of thru me to start with. But eventually I got used to it.
That said, the story itself was excellent. A murder mystery to solve and a romance to blossom , all in one book.

I really liked the hero, Adrian. He was a gentleman, thru and thru.

The heroine, Elizabeth, grew on me. The more she grew stronger and took control of her life, the more I liked her.

It was a sad life for both of them but fate has brought them together, to give them love and happiness.

41/2 stars. I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

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I’m the first to admit that gothic regency is typically not a genre I gravitate towards but when this author’s debut came out something intrigued me and I had to check it out. I was quickly swept away and became a fan of her unique writing style! This is Abigail Wilson’s third novel and I have to say it’s my favorite so far! I somehow managed to get a good bit into the book before realizing the connection to the first novel and the fact that we had indeed met this heroine before!
Elizabeth had changed quite a bit since we saw her last and I really liked her in this book! I admired her spunk and the brilliant way she thought through things. Her love for her son was also endearing. Adrien was a hero we could all root for and the more you learned about him the more you saw just how great of a man he was!
I loved the slow build in the romance and you know I’m always here for a marriage of convenience story!
The mystery was intriguing and while I guessed a lot of the pieces I couldn’t quite figure out how they fit together!
In short this was an absolutely wonderful and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!

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I really enjoyed this book. There were a couple of twists to the mystery that kept it interesting, and I loved that Adrian and Elizabeth partnered to solve the crimes. While it wasn't necessarily believable, I really loved the characters in the story and I wanted things to work out for them! There were some historical details that could have been filled in a bit better to help explain things, but overall a pleasant read! I would definitely recommend this book.

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This was a FANTASTIC mystery! I could not read it fast enough to see how everything fit together and who the bad guys were. I really enjoyed the characters of Elizabeth and Lord Torrington and the ways they worked together to solve the mystery. I loved the way Torrington included Elizabeth in everything rather than shutting her out simply because she was a woman. This was such a fun read and I highly recommend it.

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

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Story of Elizabeth Cantrell, after her family falling into debt, her brother in prison and her reputation in tatters. She was travelling with her son to become a housekeeper. On the way, they were stopped by a highway man who became her husband. Then coming to Middlecrest, investigating a death, learning about the family etc.

I love the story as a whole. The mystery seems to have prolonged the story (there were clues that appears to be a given on who to suspect) but I didn't mind it. It paved the way to the evolving feelings between Adrian and Elizabeth. (more believable than a whirlwind romance). In the end, after everything unfolded, it seems there were second chances for everybody (except for those with wrong-doing of course)

I recommend reading this story. (This is my first story by Abigail Wilson. Defintely won't be the last)

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I found this romance unique in that it's written in first person. I don't find that very often with historical so that might be a plus for readers as something different. However, I am not a fan of first person. I just don't like reading it, it doesn't give me the same 'fly on the wall' feeling I get with third person and love. Plus when it says I am doing this or that, which I would never do because I disagree with the heroine hahaha well it makes it awkward for me.

I LOVE the hero's perspective. And I was really enjoying the hero. I wanted to be in his head. I wanted to feel what he was feeling. And I didn't get that and that stunk.

This book is very mystery based. Very gothic feeling to me. It seemed something was always happening and the couple just weren't together for most of the story. Or if they were together they were focused on something else. I just want my romance to be the heat between two people falling in love and this had a lot of extras going on in it.

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The highwayman caused her carriage to crash—and completely changed the course of Elizabeth's life. As an unmarried mother in Regency England, her life was complicated enough. Now a spy for the crown is insisting that she must marry him to maintain his cover, and when he promises to take care of her son, Elizabeth agrees.

Adrian's information about a message with sensitive information passing into France led him to the wrong carriage. Or did it? Elizabeth's quick wit and determination could be assets to his cause. How will his two nearly-grown daughters react to the sudden and most unexpected—to him as much as anyone!—news that he has married again?

The pressure mounts at Middlecrest Abbey when a guest is murdered, rooms are ransacked, and threatening notes begin turning up to taunt them. Did Adrian make a mistake to bring Elizabeth and her young son into his home?

Elizabeth might not be skilled at playing the part of a woman in love with her new husband, but she won't let Adrian fend for himself in tracking down the murderer and uncovering the traitor in their midst.

I enjoyed this fast-paced Regency suspense novel. The beginning felt a little contrived, and occasionally I felt lost following all the clues and relationships, but overall there was a nice blend of story and chilling revelations. I had suspected who one of the culprits would be, but even then I was surprised at how it played out. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I look forward to catching up on her previous releases.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

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