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Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey

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Masquerade at Middlecrest is a historical novel set during the Regency period. Elizabeth is a young unmarried mother. She marries Lord Torrington in haste and goes to live at his estate. However, not all is as it appears at the manor. Lord Torrington is a spy for the king, and there is murder and mischief afoot. As Elizabeth gets to know her new husband, she also has to stay safe - and keep her young son, Isaac, out of danger.

I wanted to read Masquerade at Middlecrest because I love Regency fiction. The synopsis was appealing and the author was new to me.

What a fun read! This novel combines Regency romance, a Gothic setting, and a mystery with adventure. It is very fast paced and one of those "stay up past my bedtime" novels.

Elizabeth was a brave, resourceful, and intelligent heroine. I admired her great care for her son and her willingness to look out for Lord Torrington's young adult children as well. She was also very smart. There was a secret code in the storyline and it was interesting watching her break the code.

Adrian (Lord Torrington) was a thoroughly dreamy hero! He is strong, courageous, and just the right amount of vulnerable. From the beginning I thought he and Elizabeth were a perfect match.

The storytelling is clever and the descriptions really add to the book. I enjoyed the Gothic elements, like:

"The air turned bitter that evening as a harsh storm billowed against Middlecrest’s thick walls, rattling the windows like an anxious prisoner terrified to escape. Though I fell into a fitful sleep early on, I was shaken awake by the wind’s persistent howl and the ravaging bursts of hard rain. I sat up in bed, darkness haunting every corner of my bedchamber. The fire had smoldered to ashes in the grate, and the obstinate chill of night had already crept over the floorboards and climbed the bedposts, intent on covering every inch of the room. I hugged the coverlet beneath my chin as lightning framed the window, illuminating the unseen for seconds at a time before plunging the room back into a black abyss" (Kindle location 2210).

This is my first read by Abigail Wilson, and I look forward to reading her other novels. I recommend Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey for fans of historical fiction and Regency romance -- especially for anyone who also enjoys some Gothic and adventure elements. This was a very enjoyable read!

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Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a Regency romance and mystery that will have you turning the pages late into the night to figure out its secrets. I was rooting for the hero and heroine through all their action-filled escapades (that were also, somehow, SUPER romantic) to embrace their newfound friendship and solve quite the twisting puzzle.

The first person POV of Elizabeth creates empathy and understanding for the reader while it conveys the likability of Lord Torrington (Adrian) and an almost-tangible sense of the doubts, secrets, and questions about the well-plotted mystery.

The marriage of convenience trope is done wonderfully by Abigail Wilson in this instance. Time for a list (!!!) of things I love about Adrian: his humorous, personable nature; his trust and confidence in Elizabeth; the way he cares for his family. Elizabeth, too, is a very likable heroine whose revelations enlighten the mystery thread and inform her own character of the freedom to trust others and offer forgiveness freely.

I really appreciated that Elizabeth and Adrian are older than your average Regency romance couple– him moreso with his almost-grown daughters. This sets up a deeper romance plot because they are in a position to have grasped life lessons and experience already, allowing for moments of intention and emphasis of choice in their love story.



Thank you to HFVBT and the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

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When the widowed Lord Torrington agreed to spy for the crown, he never planned to impersonate a highwayman, let alone rob the wrong carriage. Stranded on the road with an unconscious young woman, he is forced to propose marriage to protect his identity and her reputation, as well as his dangerous mission.

Trapped not only by her duty to her country but also by her limited options as an unwed mother, Miss Elizabeth Cantrell and her infant son are whisked away to Middlecrest Abbey by none other than the elder brother of her son’s absent father. There she is met by Torrington’s beautiful grown daughters, a vicious murder, and an urgent hunt for the missing intelligence that could turn the war with France. Meanwhile, she must convince everyone that her marriage is a genuine love match if her new husband has any hope of uncovering the enemy.

Determined to keep her son’s true identity a secret, Elizabeth will need to remain one step ahead of her fragile heart, her uncertain future, and the relentless fiend bent on her new family’s ruin.

My Thoughts: This was an excellent read; it was full of adventure, mystery and of course romance. This book will not let the reader down. It's a fast read that grabs the readers' attention from the very beginning. The characters are believable and ones the readers will connect with. If you love historical fiction this is a good book to read. This book has a mystery that will keep the reader interested and keeps the storyline moving at a fast pace. This is not a book you can put down. I truly enjoyed this novel and look for more from Abigail Wilson.

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A Regency era gothic romance, the story follows Elizabeth Cantrell as she attempts to travel to take up a new position as a housekeeper, her baby son Isaac in tow. When her carriage crashes after an encounter with a highwayman she’s caught up in a plot involving secret messages and French spies, and somewhat to her own bewilderment ends up married to Adrian, Lord Torrington… the older brother of her erstwhile lover. Arriving at Adrian’s estate, Middlecrest Abbey, Elizabeth soon discovers the house party gathered to celebrate the wedding of Adrian’s eldest daughter conceals dangerous secrets - secrets which turn deadly for one of the guests.

Alone in a house full of strangers, Elizabeth has no idea who she can trust, but as it quickly becomes obvious both she and her son are in danger, she’s determined not to sit back and passively wait for things to happen. Her growing feelings for Adrian complicate things, as do the secrets they’re both keeping, all of which are slowly revealed over the course of the story.

I had my suspicions about the murderer from early on - there were a few clues which didn’t quite add up - but the reveal still had a few surprises, including some sad ones (trigger warnings for stillbirth of a child apply). I did feel annoyed by Elizabeth’s failure to come clean with Adrian about her son’s parentage earlier; she literally sat on her hands about it until the truth ambushed both of them, something any sensible person should have seen coming a mile away. It’s frustrating when the author makes otherwise intelligent and sensible characters make such an obviously dumb decision for the sake of the plot.

Historical accuracy wise, this was pretty good; I do wish authors would check out when special licenses were actually appropriate and how difficult they were to get, because you don’t just ‘nip out’ of an inn one morning to get one and get married before lunchtime. You had to go to Doctor’s Commons in London and apply to the Archbishop of Canterbury, a busy man who didn’t hand the licenses out to just anyone; it was a tricky and expensive endeavour. Especially considering that Adrian resided in a nearby parish and could just get a vastly cheaper and simpler common license.

Overall, these were pretty minor niggles. The pace of the story was a bit on the slow side for much of the book before picking up to breakneck right at the end, making it feel a little uneven, but it was still a good read and I did enjoy Adrian and Elizabeth’s romance. I’ll give it four stars.

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Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey was hard to put down and one that will stay with me for a while. I loved the premise of the story of a marriage of convenience after a masked robbery of the wrong coach that involved an accident. Lord Torrington is on a mission to intercept a spy working for France against Britain when he stopped the coach causing the accident. Miss Elizabeth Cantrell and her toddler son are in the coach on the way to Dover where she is to work as a housekeeper. When Elizabeth is injured, they are all moved to an inn and are put into a compromising position. To solve problems, the two are married by a special license. That is only the beginning of a string of events that include a murder, threatening letters to Elizabeth, a not so welcoming entry to Middlecrest Abbey, home of Adrian, Lord Torrington, and his daughters as well as other interesting inhabitants. As Adrian and Elizabeth get to know each other, they unite to find answers. This story includes a plot with layers to unravel, complicated characters, suspense, danger, and a mystery to solve. As Elizabeth adjusts to her new home and getting to know her new stepchildren, she has a secret that she needs to tell Adrian but can she trust him? Loved this story and want to go back and read a prior book but had no problem following this one.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

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So this book was definitely an adventure, both the actual story and the romance. FYI this is a not terribly steamy romance, as the love story is more of a subplot to the entire mystery, but the relationship is still compelling just without the more intimate bits 😉.

I really loved the heroine of Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, Elizabeth, and the hero, Lord Torrington. They both felt like really guarded characters that seemed to open up to each other as the book went along, even though they had plenty of reasons not to.

The dark and twisty murder mystery kept me glued to the pages and I honestly didn't know what would happen. I did figure out a few of the characters' roles, but not with any specific detail. I probably would have needed to keep track on a chart to really try and solve this plot.

I wish the ending has taken a little longer, because I wanted more payoff. After the book, and all of the buildup, I just wanted a little more time spent on the end. After reading about the spies, the murder, the building relationship, I really needed a few more pages about the couple and how they came together.

Otherwise, this was a great historical fiction romance even without my favorite parts, lol.

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Abigail Wilson is officially one of my favorite authors and I say this after having read this book, but I truly love her writing. I’m a huge fan of Regency, as I believe she is because her writing is superb.

From the first page I knew this book would be hard to put own and it was but sometimes life demands you do thing other than reading, but I have made my peace with that so after accomplishing what I needed to accomplish, it was back to Middlecrest Abbey with Elizabeth, Adrian and a whole host of wonderful characters. There is the perfect mx of family dynamics, new beginnings, secrets, mystery and of course romance. What you would expect in a Regency but this one is just captured my heart.

There are a few plot twists which is always fun, the inner strength of Elizabeth made me want all the best she could find in life and Adrian is an amazing character. I can’t think one single thing that I didn’t love about this book. Thank you to the publisher for the copy I received through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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I'm so happy to have found a new author to binge-read! I loved how this had the same kind of Gothic suspense that the Lady Darby Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber have (another binge-worthy series). It's not quite as gritty, but still a wonderfully satisfying read. The characters really came to life and the suspense kept me glued to the pages. The mystery kept me guessing which is always fun, and I felt like I was part of the investigation. It must have been so frustrating back then to not have the kind of advances in technology that we have now for helping solve crimes... but it's not like they knew what they were missing. I guess it's just frustrating for the reader ;)

Elizabeth is a character that I don't think I've ever read in the genre- a lady who has a child out of wedlock but is still able to keep him and move on with her life, however different it may be. She is traveling to take a position as a housekeeper when the story begins, and Lord Torrington throws her life into a spin. I liked how Elizabeth has a maturity about her, and is neither young nor old. She's a perfect partner for Torrington as she supports him and helps the investigation by thinking and seeing things in different ways than him. The more she gets to know him, the more she realizes that he is so much more than his reputation. I really liked how he is open with Elizabeth and finds in her a confidante and friend. It was sweet watching their friendship develop into romance... although at a most inconvenient time. A strong secondary cast of characters gave the story a variety of potential suspects, and the author skillfully brought out their personalities, revealing layer by layer as Elizabeth interacts with them. There are twists and surprises, an exciting climax, and a satisfying wrapping up of all the details. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

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Historical romantic suspense really needs to become its own thing, because that’s what this book really is. It’s straddling a line between historical romance, mystery and something that I want to call “heroine in jeopardy” because it’s all of those things at the same time.

Even though “heroine in jeopardy” isn’t actually a genre – although it probably ought to be.

As this story opens, our heroine is very definitely in jeopardy, just not the jeopardy she thought she was in when a masked man appeared in front of her coach telling the coachman to “Stand and deliver!” The traditional “battle cry” of the highwayman.

Not that Elizabeth has anything to deliver, at least not in the usual sense. She’s an unwed mother, abandoned by both her own family and the father of her little boy, on her way to take up a post as companion and governess to a friend and her children, in the hopes of, if not salvaging her reputation, at least being labeled as respectable enough to make a living to support them both.

In other words, she’s flat broke and relying on the kindness of, not exactly strangers, but certainly on the kindness of others. She doesn’t have anything that a highway robber could possibly want – or so she believes.

But that highwayman is not a real highwayman. And her coach and its contents are not exactly as innocent as she believed.

What began as a journey to what she hoped would be a new life for herself and her son, turns out, in the end, to be exactly that. But in absolutely NONE of the ways that she originally thought.

She never expected to marry. She never expected to be accepted back into the ton. And she certainly never expected to help her new husband bring down a nest of spies and saboteurs.

Or that the father of her little boy would be found right in the middle of the entire mess.

Escape Rating B+: A part of me wants to say this was a surprising amount of fun, but calling it fun doesn’t convey the spirit of the story. Because while it’s going on Elizabeth really isn’t having a whole lot of fun a lot of the time. At the same time, calling it a lovely read isn’t quite right either, because there’s a whole lot going on and not all of it is good for the protagonists.

But I had a grand time reading it. Howsomever, calling it fun implies a level of fluff that isn’t here – nor should it be.

It does, however, remind me more than a bit of the Bastion Club series by Stephanie Laurens, in both its historical setting and in the clandestine occupation of the hero – and eventually the heroine.

The era of the Napoleonic Wars, 1803-1815 is ripe for all sorts of historical drama – and occasionally melodrama, as Britain was at war with France. There was plenty of opportunity for spying and general skullduggery, including smuggling illicit but expensive French goods. The period also overlapped with the Regency period (1811-1820) made literarily famous by Georgette Heyer. This particular story is right in the “sweet spot” where the Regency was still in full sway and Napoleon had not yet met his Waterloo.

Elizabeth and Torrington are caught very much on the horns of multiple dilemmas, not all of which either of them are aware of even at the beginning. Torrington is looking for a spy – and for secret correspondence from that spy that is supposed to be in a carriage that looks just like Elizabeth’s. When he waylays her carriage and discovers that it is hers and not the spy’s, circumstances conspire to bind them in a marriage of convenience, so that he can maintain his cover and she can maintain what’s left of her reputation.

It’s really just an excuse to drag them together, but it works for the purposes of opening the possibility of their romance of convenience turning real. It also works to provide an opportunity for the real spy to continue with their illegal activities and make Elizabeth’s life hell into the bargain. Which is where those “heroine in jeopardy” elements come very much into the picture.

And that’s where things get really interesting. On the one hand, her former lover, her son’s father, very much qualifies as the “EVILEX” who must appear before the story and the romance can be finally resolved. On the other hand, that evil ex-lover is also the hero’s brother. I’m still on the fence about whether the multiple parts said villain plays in this story are a fascinating twist or a bit too much of the long arm of coincidence.

On my third hand, the invisible one that isn’t normally seen, while one part of the mystery seemed obvious fairly early on, the other part took me completely by surprise – and that’s always a good thing in a story that relies on suspense and dramatic tension to sweep the reader into the story. Which this one certainly has – and does.

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While this is not the type of book I would normally grab I ended up really enjoying it! Elizabeth is such a great character and I liked her immediately. The rest of the characters were good too but she was my favorite. I felt that this was very well written and flowed nicely. The english countryside setting was well done and a nice escape from being stuck at home! I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story and felt that it was really well done! If you like historical fiction, mysteries and romance this is a great read for you!

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Title: Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey
Author: Abigail Wilson
Genre: Regency, mystery, romance
Rating: 5 out of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! Sometimes, Regency novels are hard for me to read, with all the rules and constrictions that women were subjected to, but Elizabeth is independent-thinking enough to have a mind of her own and enough courage to make her own choices.

Adrian Torrington was also not your typical Regency hero. He’s a bit older with a past he’s not proud of and a determination to change things for the better. I like that he allows Elizabeth to be herself—without compromising either of their values. This is the first thing I’ve read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more!

Abigail Wilson lives in Texas. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

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Lord Adrian Torrington has good intentions, but make a mistake that brings him to a warm and promising future, but not before more than one problem along the way. Adrian set out to spy for the crown, but instead posed as a highwayman, which resulted in a very serious carriage accident that nearly cost three lives, including that of Elizabeth Cantrell and toddler son Isaac. On the one hand, Adrian seeks to prove it was all a misunderstanding, but on the other hand, he cannot reveal the real reason he was on the road in the first place.

Just before Elizabeth fades into unconsciousness, all she cares about is her son. For a brief second she thinks she recognizes the highwayman, but that just can't be so. When she awakens, she is certain she knows who is is, it is the brother of her son's father. As her son is illegitimate, she could not be more panicked. Before long she meets Adrian , and cannot wonder why in the world would the impressive, quiet man would be a highwayman! The last thing she feels can happen is that he discover who she is and of her former relationship with his brother.

Adrian not only reluctantly begins to explain to Elizabeth why he was playing the role that he did, his secret work for the crown, and his solution to their present circumstances, and his solution that protects his prior purpose - he has told his staff at Middlecrest Abbey that she is his wife. Elizabeth can hardly believe the man! Even more, Adrian strongly suggests that the ruse continue, because his work for the crown is critical and must remain secret at all costs.

How will they keep this ruse up? How will they act madly in love as he further suggests? And what of Adrian's grown daughters? Won't they know that something is amiss with their father and the sudden appearance of a woman and a baby?

What a great premise for this mystery. I definitely appreciate how this book is categorized - historical fiction first, then romance. This is quite appropriate because this story is much more a mystery than romance. Adrian and Elizabeth must find a way to work together to identify the dangers surrounding his family, even as those dangers get closer and closer. At the same time, Elizabeth finds it necessary to keep mum about the fact that Adrian's brother is actual the father of her son. That itself is a very good layer to this excellent story.

I truly enjoyed this book. I loved all of the characters and the excellent pacing. I also loved watching the evolution of the relationship between Adrian and Elizabeth, and loved the drama that I knew would ensue when it came to him discovering her former relationship with his brother. The story was exciting at times, especially the thrilling conclusion. Abigail Wilson is a new name for me, and I am pleased that I got to read this book.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson, HF Virtual Book Tours and to NetGalley for this ARC for review/ This is my honest opinion.

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

An Immersive gripping gothic style manor is the backdrop to this mystery book.
Abigail Wilson, newest book is a gothic tale interwoven into the perfect regency period romance.

1815 Southeastern England.

Elizabeth Cantrell is fiercely independent woman who has known much heartache. Having shouldered the burden of being an abandoned unwed mother of a precious little boy Isaac. Elizabeth is on her way to Dover to take a position as a housekeeper when her carriage comes crashing to its side. A mysterious would be highway man makes a disastrous mistake, causing a series of events. That ultimately changing Elizabeth’s path in life, when she is rushed into a marriage of convenience.
To none other than Lord Adrian Torrington, the brother of the man who betrayed her.

Finding herself the lady of Middlecrest Abbey, she and Adrian must keep up the pretense of the marriage. So as not to draw attention that marriage was not an actual love match.
Middlecrest Abbey has its own secrets as a questionable death rips the very seams apart in this suspenseful tale. Elizabeth and Adrian, along with his daughters and the other residents of Middlecrest, are thrown into a thrilling mystery. When clues and suspicions mounts this tale slowly comes together in this stellar complicated mystery.

The Abbey’s inhabitants are in question, when threatening notes appear in Elizabeth room. Trying to keep her young son safe, along with the sudden duties of being lady Torrington, Elizabeth will need to keep her wits about her. All the while she is falling for her captivating husband.

Darkish ominous atmospheric imagery, and the character driven storyline makes for an enjoyable experience. When the secrets start to mount you find find yourself completely immersed and guessing all the way to the satisfying end.

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I went into this book with expectation of historical fiction with a dash of romance and quickly found myself falling down the rabbit hole of the sub-genre of Regency romance.

I had not read much from this time period but was captivated by the history of the Napoleonic Wars. If you are looking for historical fiction from another time period, here is one to try. I was not disappointed.

Because I am a bit of a romance novice, the marriage of convenience trope was a stretch at first. But as the story developed, the well written characters came to life, and with the two protagonists having so much at stake it quickly became believable.

I found it especially easy to connect with Elizabeth as she sought to create a new and stable life for her son while protecting herself and him after even her own family turned her away.

There were several twists that I won’t get into to avoid spoiling the story but I will say that with every turn, I grew more invested in the history, the characters, and the danger they were in.

At a few points towards the end of the book, there were a few turns that felt like a reach and that is my only reason for knocking this down to a 4 star read. But overall, this book was a fantastic escape.

I am so glad I gave this book a chance. The only time I could put it down was to research something about the time period which only left me more impressed. The author’s historical knowledge combined with her sharp writing made for a great reading experience. One of my reading goals for 2020 was to try new genres and this will certainly not be my last Regency romance or book by Abigail Wilson – who happens to be a fellow Texan and graduate of my alma mater. What a small world!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for a physical copy as well as an eBook in exchange for my honest review and promotion.

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This was a great book! I loved how the romance between the main characters was very gradual and that they had to learn to overcome their past in order to trust each other. I loved the mystery aspect of this book. I had no idea who was behind the murder and other mishaps until she revealed it so that was great. I also loved her writing style. She kept my attention engaged the whole time I was reading. I constantly wanted to know what would happen next and if Elizabeth and Adrian would make their marriage work and fall in love. Also I love how Elizabeth and Adrian worked together to solve the mystery. I always love books where a couple are the sleuths. Great book and look forward to reading more by her!

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

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A great book for lovers of historical romance with some mystery as well!! I cannot imagine living in those days of swooning women, special licenses, etc.
This is a story of love and spies. What are you waiting for?

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This was a fast-paced and enjoyable read with many twists and turns. Nothing was as it seemed, there was always a question about who were the villains, and the relationship between Adrian and Elizabeth was believable and inspiring. The message: you can find love if you allow yourself to trust after being hurt.

Both Adrian and Elizabeth had been hurt by love, in different ways, but they found love with one another. The depth of the betrayal Adrian had suffered made Elizabeth’s seem insignificant, although hers alone would have been sufficient to add enough complexity to any plot. From the beginning, the reader knows that she had a child out of wedlock and the father of the baby refused to acknowledge her/the baby. When the reader finds out what happened to Adrian and his unexpected link to Elizabeth, it serves to build him into an even greater hero than he initially seems to be.

The writing is really good with descriptions that brought scenes to life, like this: “Shadows roamed the halls of Middlecrest, each wide passage painted black by the gloomy hands of night.” And I loved this one: “It was a warm silence that afternoon, the kind that went down my throat like gruel.”

The eventual conclusion, along with the revelations of the “bad guys” was both surprising and exciting, very unpredictable. I found myself unwilling to set the book down until I had finished. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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As in her last two books, Abigail Wilson pens masterful suspense as she slowly unfolds the story and gradually reveals hidden secrets from the main characters’ pasts. In this compelling novel, Elizabeth Cantrell finds herself forced into a situation she never anticipated. Has Lord Torrington chosen to act to protect her or himself? Surprises complicate the involved plot and add to the intrigue. This is a tale you don’t want to set aside. I am not revealing any spoilers, and if you don’t want to know too much, don’t read the book description either—but just dive into this heart-tugging Regency. Whether you love this genre or not, the powerful story should delight a broad audience. I received a copy on Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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Another unputdownable read for me! Abigail Wilson is a new to me author. I confess that I've eyed her first two books and debated about reading them. I sometimes hesitate with new authors because I just don't know what I'll be picking up. But after seeing reading friends who have similar tastes as me reading and loving this book, I took the chance. Now I'm kinda kicking myself for not picking up her previous books. Silly me! But I quickly checked and my library carries her books so I know what my next book checkouts will be.

The opening of the book starts out a little bit like a whirlwind. Several things happen at once and Elizabeth Cantrell finds herself heading a different direction that she originally was planning. Confused, disoriented and a little hurt she finds herself agreeing to a marriage of convenience with Lord Adrian Torrington.

I admit I was pulled completely in and turning the pages as fast as I could to discover what was happening. What mystery awaited Elizabeth and if she would uncover all the clues needed to solve the mystery and murder. Add to all of that, Elizabeth trying to adjust to her new home, husband and her husband's daughters, as well as the other lady living in the home, the servants and all the guests who were coming to celebrate her stepdaughter's upcoming wedding. So many unknowns and things to juggle.

I loved the gothic feel of this novel. It reminded me of some other gothic books I've read (and want to read) and how much I enjoyed that genre. I love a good mystery/suspense, with budding relationships, a sweet romance and self-discovery involved.

Adrian and Elizabeth were great characters. I really enjoyed the way that the author developed their first meeting relationship, to becoming a married couple who doesn't know each other, to becoming friends and allies, to having shared dreams and hopes. I looked forward to their scenes together, whether it was during wedding party festivities, meeting with family members, going for a walk or long horse ride, or their late night talks in the sitting room. *happy sigh*

There were several other relationships in this book as well and I liked how the author wove those into the story. They added a great depth to the whole book. I'm hoping that we might see a book with some of those characters in the future. I was sad to say goodbye to some of those characters but I was happy to know that some characters (mentioned a lot but not physically in a scene) are in this author's previous books. Hence my desire to read those. Of course I also want to read her previous books because I really enjoyed her writing style and want to enjoy more time with it.

If you're like me and Abigail Wilson is a new to you author and you're just not sure if you'll like her books, take a chance. Especially if you enjoy historical, mystery, gothic, and very well developed characters. Hopefully you'll be adding several more books to your ever growing TBR pile. ;-)

Content: Clean. There is no sexual content, only some kissing. Elizabeth is an unwed mother but the book does not go into detail about her past other than give basic information. There is a murder and some suspense in regard to the murder.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

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A page turning mystery. Lord Torrington is a spy who has brought danger to his doorstep. Elizabeth finds herself suddenly married and in the middle of a mystery. The author takes us on a pulse pounding mystery that keeps us guessing to the end. It is filled with wonderful characters and a vibrant plot that makes a great page turner.

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