This book is a perfect blend of mystery, romance, and intrigue with a historical setting that brings it all together. It all starts with an attempted stagecoach robbery, an overturned carriage and injured Elizabeth Cantrell. When help comes from the most unlikely of sources, she is thrust on a path with danger and risk around every corner. The last year has been hard with Elizabeth having to grow and find strength to support herself and her young son. She is confident in one thing, she does not need a man to help in any way. Then she finds herself linked to a man she never imagined to ever see, let alone join on this dangerous journey. Adrian Torrington long ago decided his country came first, spying to help England in any way he could. He never meant to endanger Miss Cantrell but they now need to work together to solve who the spies are, who the murderer is, and stop them before important information crosses the channel to France. He is continually impressed with Elizabeth and her sound reasoning. This was suppose to be a situation of convenience, but hearts are impossible to control. The closer they work together, the harder it is to deny the attraction. But secrets are dangerous things and threaten the growing attraction between them. All will have to come out for full trust to develop.
Abigail Wilson masterfully develops characters that have a depth and richness that brings them off the pages and into a circle of friends. Their relationships are real and draw the reader into a story you don't want to finish. Finishing the book was a hard goodbye to friends you want to keep around. Add in a historical setting that is rich in detail and the reader is transported to 1818 England. This book should be an immediate add to anyone's to be read list. The only bad part is finishing the book because I wanted more to read. I can't wait to get my hands on the next Abigail Wilson book! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a historical fiction novel written by Abigail Wilson.

Summary: Elizabeth Cantrell’s life has been filled with challenges. Now, as a single unwed mother, she is to be a housekeeper in a new town-hopefully far from prying eyes and gossip.

But a highway robbery gone wrong has changed everything. In a twist of fate, she finds herself married to Lord Torrington-the older brother of her son’s father.

Will she be able to keep up the ruse of her marriage, and still protect her son’s identity?

And what of the missing French intelligence her new husband is determined to find? Is it important enough for someone to have committed murder?

My Thoughts: This was so good. I loved it. Mystery, intrigue, action, romance-this book has it all. The writing is superb, the plot twists are intricately woven together, and the characters are unique and fascinating.

I highly recommend this book, and would definitely purchase it for myself, which is the highest praise I can give any book. In fact, I am already thinking about reading it again-something I almost never say.

Pick up this book-it is definitely worth it!

As always, I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson is so well written that you could feel the gloomy atmosphere and you expected creepy things to happen. . This book is a gothic romance with gloomy buildings and secret passageways, romance with a hero and a heroine who is in trouble and lots of intense emotions.

Elizabeth Cantrell and her son Issac were on their way to a friend’s home to be a housekeeper despite an illegitimate child. On her way to a new opportunity, her coach is held up and she wakes up to Lord Torrington’s saving her, but she knows he was the person who held up the coach. They ended up married and that is when things get even more interesting!

Adrian and Elizabeth start their marriage with his two almost adult children (one on the verge of getting married), her son (another secret), his ex mother-in-law, and a murder in the first week. Then it gets even more interesting. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson is a good read.

Loved this story! What an adventure and mystery with a slow romance. This was my first book by Abigail Wilson and I am excited to read her other novels. This was really well written in first person POV which is hard to do and hold your attention and keep the mystery but Ms. Wilson did it. Adrian is a good hearted spy, in order to save his reputation and Elizabeth's he proposes a facade of being a married couple. Elizabeth feels she cannot pull off this charade but in order to secure a good future for her son she agrees. Add into the fact that Elizabeth already knows a member of Adrian's family, someone gets murdered, and someone gets kidnapped - you have a very intriguing storyline.
Overall I couldnt wait to read this and got sucked into the story, it is very well done. No sex, a mild kiss scene. First person point of view so you only get Elizabeth's take on things but this does not detract.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for a review but I would recommend this novel and will be purchasing it as I would read it over again.

Confession: I was WEARY of historical romance when I cracked open this book. It's my favorite genre, but it was all I had been reading lately. I was reluctant to start, but had signed up for the blog tour - and I am so glad I decided to start reading it the day I did. I WHIPPED THROUGH this book, reading nonstop until I fell asleep that night, and then waking up and starting work later than usual to finish it the next morning! Because this book is, in my opinion, more of a mystery with a strong romance that lends heavily to the plot, it really got me out of that "over it" funk, and I was desperate to find out what was going on!

This book is told in first person, from the point of view of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a young mother who has been hurt before, shunned from society for having a child out of wedlock. The father did not take responsibility of acknowledge the child, Isaac - who is an absolute cutie at not quite one-year-old. Elizabeth is leaving her cousin's home to find work as a housekeeper so as not to burden them when her carriage is overtaken by a highwayman. Only the highwayman isn't really a robber - it's Adrian, Lord Torrington, working as a British spy. He's overtaken the carriage mistakenly in search of someone else. When more travelers come upon them, Elizabeth is unconscious due to injuries sustained from the accident, and Lord Torrington does the only thing he can think of to stop the travelers from uncovering his identity as a spy. He claims Elizabeth is his wife.

The two are forced to marry and make an interesting pair. But what Lord Torrington doesn't know is that Elizabeth's child is his nephew. Elizabeth's former love interest who abandoned her is Lord Torrington's younger brother.

Elizabeth is quickly wrapped up in Adrian's world. He brings her back to his home, where preparations are underway for the marriage of his oldest of two grown daughters. But when a member of the wedding party dies, the investigation Lord Torrington is involved in touches his family. Elizabeth works alongside him to solve the murder and find a French spy in their midst, all while the pair begins to fall in love. This is a clean romance with a few sweet kissing scenes, but I still felt the romantic tension between Adrian and Elizabeth, perhaps even more strongly than I generally do when I read smuttier novels! This was a 5 star read for me. It completely stopped me from getting into a potential reading slump! Thank you to Abigail Wilson, Harper Collins, Net Galley, and HF Virtual Book Tours for generously providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the explosive start to this novel, it is both engaging and intriguing. I also appreciated the understanding of the historical perspective and the way the author leveraged it in the storyline. Sadly, I found the latter part of the book a little less rewarding and had managed to work out the force behind the murder ahead of time, which took a little of the pleasure out of the reading.

I'm sure that there are many who enjoy Regency, murder mysteries that will thoroughly enjoy this storyline!

With thanks to #Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and the author for my Advanced Reader Copy. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The premise of this story was promising, but it just didn’t measure up. I think I would have enjoyed the story more, if not for the constant use of phrases that just didn’t sound natural, like when a person’s body “dissolved into a pile on the floor.” I didn’t feel any connection with the main characters, and several times, I was left wondering who they were referring to.

I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson is a delightful regency mystery. Elizabeth is traveling to Dover, with her illegitimate son Isaac, to work as a housekeeper when a highwayman runs the carriage off the road injuring her. The highwayman, actually a widower Adrian Radcliff, is truly a spy trying to intercept a message sent to the French. He is trying to help them when another carriage comes by and Adrianne introduces Elizabeth as his new bride. He convinces her to marry him the next day to keep his true work a secret. They arrive at his home, where the wedding of his oldest daughter is about to take place. When her fiancé is murdered, both Elizabeth and Adrian try to untangle the connection between the spying and the murder and untangle the feelings beginning to grow between them.

There are lots of characters, twists, and turns until finally the mystery is solved. If you enjoy regency period stories and intrigue, you will enjoy this book.

They have been chased by a highwayman and he demands that the carriage "stand and deliver." The carriage flips over onto its side and she is injured badly but her son is safe. A gentleman slipped into the overturned coach to see if he could help. To her surprise, he turns out to be the very man who tried to rob them. He turns out to be Lord Torrington, Adrian Radcliff. Torrington talked her into helping him and they had a special license marriage. She had to think of Isaac, her son.
It is a different type of story. I must admit I really enjoyed it. The was some action, romance, and definitely an adventure. Lord Torrington had been a spy for fifteen years and had been chasing a French spy trying to get a missive to Napolean. It was easy to read, decisive, and written very well. The characters were charismatic. They tried to treat everyone with respect even if they did not deserve it. There were a lot of secrets in that house. I highly recommend this wonderful mystery and hope you enjoyed it as much as I did..
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Downton Abbey meets Clue. That is how I would describe this book.

Since learning about the Regency Romance genre and being made aware that one of my favorite reads (Edenbrooke) falls within that genre, I've wanted to read more. Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson publishing, and TLC book tours for my gifted advance copy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's funny that it's technically a romance, because it was definitely a murder mystery too. I could never figure out whodunnit either! I did feel like there were a lot of parts that maybe weren't tied together super smoothly or were a little confusing, but I was engaged enough to let it go.

Also, while this book is romance, it is 100% clean of steam and language.

Full of intrigue and mystery, Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a book you will be unable to put down! Forced to accept a marriage of convenience, 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 her new husband’s beautiful grown daughters, a vicious murderer, and an urgent hunt for the missing intelligence that could turn the war with France. Elizabeth and Lord Torrington must convince every that their marriage is a genuine love match if they have any hope of uncovering the enemy amongst their home, but what if their seemingly happy, loving marriage actually became real?

I absolutely loved this book. I started reading it and finished reading within 18 hours (with sleep included!). There are many reasons this story is difficult to cease reading. For one, the intrigue of missing intelligence and the mysterious death of a guest of the Torrington’s leaves you curious and speculative. With every interesting or strange interaction, I found myself questioning every character and only found peace in the dependable Lord Torrington. Second, every character is harboring their secrets close to their chest. No one is as they seem to be. Third, every interaction between Elizabeth and Adrian only makes you hungry for more! Every double meaning conversation or lingering touch is so endearing! I adore marriage of convenience stories and this one does not disappoint!

The theme of forgiveness and overcoming hardships flows quite strong as both Elizabeth and Adrian seek healing for all their past mistakes. Although published by Thomas Nelson, Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey does not discuss God or faith. I wish there were elements of faith as an undercurrent to the theme of forgiveness, but it was still a good message.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is the third novel by Abigail Wilson. I have not read the other two by her, but this book does contain characters featured in “In the Shadow of Croft Towers” and “Midnight on the River Grey”. You do not need to have read the other books, but you will want to after reading Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey!

If you enjoy historical fiction, romance, and mystery… then Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is just the book for you!

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey will be released on May 26, 2020 and I look forward to reading more from Abigail Wilson!

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Red Review: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
***5 Stars: Compelling Characters, Well-Written, Interesting Storyline, Unable to Stop, Desire to Re-read

"Within those redbrick walls I'd assumed a life I hardly recognized, certainly one I'd never dreamed of"

What another delightful and mysterious read by author Abigail Wilson!
Elizabeth Cantrell is set out to build the best life for her wee son, Isaac, who should not pay for her mistakes. But on the way, little did she expect her carriage to be robed by one of the last people she ever wanted to see. Even worst, she is left to marry the man who has no idea about their connection. Can she come to trust Lord Torrington, a man known for a rogue reputation, and who unapologetically makes out of whim decision without thinking of the consequences?

Adrian Radcliff is willing to make it right towards Elizabeth after the mess he's gotten her into. But when Middlecrest Abbey does not turn to be a safe place for them, can he convince her she can trust her with her son, their future, and her heart? Most importantly, when it comes to building an honest marriage, will Elizabeth and Adrien find the courage to come clean, believing in redemption and a season for reaping what is good?

The author is new to me and I am happy to note that she has written a couple of other books which I have marked to read in the near future.

As the pretty cover indicates Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is historical fiction of the regency romance kind and it also has a dash of mystery in the mix. The two main characters are forced into a marriage of convenience and spend the rest of the book falling in love and solving a series of dangerous crimes.

It all sounds rather predictable but the author handles her story with style and it is a pleasure to read. The characters are pleasing, the dialogue entertaining and the mystery has a clever twist at the end. I read it practically in one sitting and enjoyed it very much.

This is a really lovely romantic mystery. The pace is slow, and in a period piece that’s something I appreciate. I do think that the author could’ve improved this with one more proof read and rewrite. The leads are a cute couple but it is hard to see their emerging romance early on. I also thought the drama of the heroine’s former lover could’ve been handled better. He’s obviously a bad dude but we don’t really know anything about why until the very end. I think the book could’ve been improved by sharing that story at the very beginning. (3.5 stars)

*an ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was such a nice surprise! I haven’t read any Regency England historical mysteries, but after reading this novel by Abigail Wilson, I will definitely be looking for her next book.
The opening chapter provided a great hook to keep me reading and the story kept up the pace until the end.

Elizabeth Cantrell was traveling by carriage when it was overtaken by a highwayman, resulting in an accident. Turns out, the highwayman is really not who he appeared to be and ends up rescuing Elizabeth and her young son.

Elizabeth, who was jilted by a former lover, realizes that her rescuer is none other than his older brother, Adrain. Through a strange set of circumstances, Adrian is forced to propose marriage, never realizing that Elizabeth knew his younger brother.

Upon arriving at the family estate, the newly married couple is immediately drawn into a dangerous situation that forces them to work together, and the result ends up making their marriage into one that is based on love rather than deception.

Many thanks to First Editions, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing to read an advance copy and offer my honest review.

This is the first time I have read a book by Ms Wilson and it was full of adventure and exactly what I love - marriage of convenience to True Love! I loved these characters and couldn't put it down! I loved how easily I could follow the characters and how truly clueless I was until the end! Great page turner - romance, mystery!

Masquerade At Middlecrest Abbey is described as a Regency romance but it is so much more! It's also an excellent mystery that doesn't give up all its secrets and surprises until the very exciting conclusion. Adrian and Elizabeth are both well written characters who come together at a difficult time. Adrian mistakenly tries to rob the coach she and her son are riding in and causes it to turn over. Adrian is mortified and convinces her to marry him and return to Middlecrest Abbey. As he and Elizabeth grow closer they work together to uncover a French spy and to solve the murder of Adrian's daughter's fiancé. There is not alot of romance but what there is is sweet and natural. Perfect for this story.
I really enjoyed this story...more than I thought I would and I can heartily recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a fun mix of regency romance and mystery. The middle of the book drags a bit for me, but the ending was very exciting. The ending made the book worth it. it was a better wrap up then I had been expecting.

Another great regency read from an author who is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. This was an outstanding story!

“Some things in life are not chiseled into perfect lines and boxes, Elizabeth. They are far more complex, messier, glorious versions of the original. You have to look hard to see what’s hidden.”

How perfectly this line sums up the relationship between Elizabeth and Adrian in Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey. What starts out as a misunderstanding ends up with something so sweet, so genuine, that it would have been a shame to miss. When Elizabeth’s carriage is tipped over, and the bandit turns out to be someone she knows - Adrian, or, Lord Torrington - life gets…interesting. She and her 11 month old son, Isaac, are swept into a ruse: a fake marriage with a purpose. Yet, neither character was prepared for what would happen next.
I loved watching the romance between Elizabeth and Adrian blossom out of the farce and become something beautiful. It was a slow build just right for this novel and kept me interested. Abigail Wilson took her time with these two and refused to rush anything.

As for the mystery that is a large part of Middlecrest Abbey, I was hooked. For me, the best mysteries keep you guessing until the end, even if you have an inkling of “who dunnit” and why. I had my suspicions from early on, and though I was almost positive of one, I wasn’t completely sure of another. This is what makes a good mystery in my opinion - trust no one, even the most innocent - and the author captured this perfectly.
Everything changes, though, when you add in a small child, and I always have a difficult time when there’s an abduction or threat of any kind. However, I will say for those who are sensitive like me, that it ends up well and no harm is done.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a good mystery and a budding romance with characters you want to trust but don’t know if you should. This is the first novel I have read from this author, and I plan on reading more from Abigail Wilson.

I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.