“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.

Elizabeth Cantrell is on her way to a new job to start her life fresh with her illegitimate son. En route her carriage is attacked by bandits and she is injured when her carriage flips. When she wakes she sees Lord Torrington, a widowed man who has been spying for the crown. When they are discovered together, in order to save both of their reputations, he convinces her to marry him. Unfortunately, arrival at Middlecrest Abbey only adds more and more drama and danger she never could have predicted.

This was a perfect Regent novel. It had some intrigue, some mystery, some shady characters, and of course some romance. It was a clean and enjoyable read. My only regret about this book is that we didn't get to see more of the actual romance! I enjoyed another of her books, "Midnight on the River Grey" and would love to read even more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for ARC for my honest opinion.

If nothing else Elizabeth Cantrell loves her son. It was with his welfare in mind that she was traveling to a friend (who would employ her as a housekeeper) when the accident happened. Although is it really an accident when you are run off the road by a Highwayman?

Adrian Radcliffe, Lord Torrington, was no ordinary Highwayman. After having waylaid Miss Cantrell’s coach, he believes he may have waylaid the wrong one. Unfortunately, this mistake could put the safety of no less than England herself at stake.

This all is within the first few chapters of “Masquerade At Middlecrest Abbey”. The rest gets even better.

Imagine how difficult it is to be a single mother in 1815. Even staying with friends and family can be problematic. Simply by association, they could be tainted by the Scandal.

Imagine how difficult it is to accidentally waylay the wrong coach and then have your identity discovered. What does one do when you have it so very wrong and are found out?

The leading characters in this novel are both in a bit of a predicament and it’s only together they can solve it. But solving it isn’t as easy as it might seem. Something is going on and they have to figure out what before it’s too late.

The author, Abigail Wilson, has a particularly interesting writing style. I love how you really feel like you can hear the thoughts of Elizabeth and see how she perceives the world around her. Add in lots of lovely plot twists and interesting characters and you end up with a thoroughly enjoyable read.

The third book in the series which began with Shadow Of Croft Towers, Masquerade At Middlecrest Abbey follows on the success of Midnight On The River Grey. I sincerely hope that there will be more books to follow and will certainly keep my eyes peeled for more from Abigail Wilson.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is my first Abigail Wilson read, but it won’t be my last! This story is so good! I really enjoyed everything about it.

I loved this storyline! I mean a marriage of convenience story with a charming hero? I’m in! I really liked both Adrian and Elizabeth and how their relationship grew! The mystery was excellent and kept me guessing until the very end and I was totally surprised at how it all played out. I also loved the feel of this story. It had a wonderful regency/gothic feel to it.

I can’t wait to read Abigail Wilson’s backlist and am looking forward to whatever she writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

Miss Elizabeth Cantrell finds her married to Baron Adrian Torrington, a British spy after he holds up her carriage, thinking it to be part of a plot against the government. Elizabeth agrees to the marriage as a means to care for her eleven-month-old son, despite his being the son to Adrian’s brother. However, the identity of Elizabeth’s son is unbeknown to Adrian. Soon Elizabeth finds herself assisting Adrian to uncover a killer in their midst, whilst trying to hide her growing feelings for her new husband.
This was a great read, with a story line that kept me enthralled to the very end. The dialogue between Adrian and Elizabeth was delightful and I loved the gentle teasing by Adrian. The secondary characters in this story was also so well developed and integral to making this more than just the average historical romance. This is one author that I will definitely be following.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson is a fast-paced, highly engaging, unputdownable read! I loved every minute of this suspenseful story, and I’m sad my time with Elizabeth and Adrian is over. The storyline is a solid mystery. I was kept guessing and guessing and guessing until the very end. I found the characters, both primary and secondary, to be well crafted. What I appreciate about the secondary characters is that they ALL are mysterious enough that at one point I thought each was perhaps the murderer. I really liked the marriage-of-convenience trope. The way Wilson utilizes this trope is fun and added another layer of unique tension to the storyline. I also very much loved the growth in the relationship between Elizabeth and Adrian. First, they must learn to trust one another in a very stressful and fearful environment, and then once the trust is established, they must learn to believe in their growing romantic feelings. Elizabeth and Adrian’s partnership grows into something that feels authentic and realistic. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a stellar Regency Suspense Romance that I HIGHLY recommend!

Elizabeth Cantrell is a complex character for sure. She is no mere simpering miss. Life has dealt her some really rough cards, and she has had to learn to take care of herself without help from anyone. Abandonment has become the pattern of her life. Her parents are gone. Her brother is gone. And the man she fancied herself in love with, who got her with child, has left her. Abandonment has forced Elizabeth to build protective walls around her broken heart. It’s also made her realize that if she wants or needs something for herself or her baby, she is going to have to figure things out on her own. She cannot depend on anyone. But one day, Elizabeth looks into her mirror and doesn’t like the woman looking back. Elizabeth isn’t the strong, sure woman she thought she was. She’s nothing more than a closed-off, untrusting, lonely, exhausted woman. She needs a perspective change. What if Adrian, her convenient husband, really is in her corner? Perhaps Adrian’s daughters really do want to be a part of her and her son’s lives? Could her life be fuller and richer if she lets down her guard a little?

I’m not answering these questions for you. You will have to read this fabulous novel to find out what Elizabeth decides. But, I do appreciate Wilson’s discussion about the walls we build around our hearts. This earth hurts us. It hurts us very badly. Some of us have built up walls that are so mighty dynamite couldn’t bring them down. But emotional walls only serve us for so long. Blink and a wall we erected to protect ourselves has now become a detriment to our mental health, our heart, and our relationships. How do we know when to tear our protective walls down? That’s a hard question to answer. Each person has a unique timeline. But, if we want a full life, a life with love and friends and meaning, we have to learn to put ourselves out there and trust again. We have to break the walls down a bit. Otherwise, we end up being like Elizabeth — closed off, untrusting, lonely, and so, so exhausted. I appreciate Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey for getting me to pause a little and check on my heart’s emotional condition!

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a wonderful story that I won’t soon forget. If you are a fan of Regency, Romance, and/or Suspense then this is definitely the book for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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

A marriage of convenience story between a spy and an unwed mother. This unconventional marriage between Elizabeth & Adrian begins when they marry to protect her reputation. As the story unfolds, we learn about the various characters at Middlecrest Abbey until the last moment when the devious plot is revealed. This Regency novel was a mystery and a clean, but swoon-worthy romance. The writing is beautiful and the descriptions of customs and manners during this time period add interest to the story. Don't miss this one.

This is what I think was my first gothic regency novel. Although I think I may have read a couple books that might fit that category that I didn't know. That being said, I loved this book and genre! It was so amazing, I loved how detailed the book was and how you could see and feel what was going on.
The first thing that drew me in was the cover and title. The cover is simply beautiful, I love the abbey and carriage and having Elizabeth front and center was stunning. The title of the book appealed to my imagination, I love masquerades and this just made me fascinated immediately.
Elizabeth was a very well defined character. She captivated me from the very beginning. The fact that she was so protective of her child and that nothing got her down for long is very stunning. I loved her sense of humor, imagination, compassion and spunk. She kept you on your toes from the beginning to the end!
Adrian was such a wonderful addition to this book. He was the most doting father, a fine leader and a wonderful spy. I loved how he had returned to God and was moving past mistakes. I loved how much he loved his family and cared for everyone around him.
Isaac was just the cutest. I could totally see him walking and crawling everywhere! What a cutie.
This was my first book by this author but I know it won't be my last. I am so excited to read her other books and the one to come.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Welcome to CSI: Regency
This is a fast moving mystery that has suspects galore and a beginning that did pull me in. The pacing of the story was really good and it had that gothic feel to the suspense.
I really liked Adrian, I thought he was an interesting character, filled with depth, a past and a sense of humor.
I had a hard time connecting with Elizabeth. I just never got how she didn't seem that concerned about the welfare of her small child with the danger that was happening around her! It made me want to scream "go check your kid!"
It seemed to me that her main focus was on solving the mystery and keeping her own secrets. The lack of maternal care seemed off to me. I know in that day it was common to have the children cared for the majority of the time, but man, with that danger..........
(I think my protective nature is getting out of hand!)
For those looking for a plot driven mystery with plenty of twists this one is definitely one to check out.
I think my personal preference is more towards character driven stories, but I will try more from this author.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are my own.

MASQUERADE at MIDDLECREST ABBEY by Abigail Wilson is the first book that I have read by this author and it was exactly what I was in the mood to read. It is a historical fiction book set in England in 1815 while England and France were still at war. While it is also billed as a romance, the romance definitely took a back seat to the mystery part of the book.

The main protagonists are a widowed Lord Adrian Torrington who is also a spy for the crown and an unwed mother, Elizabeth Cantrell. When Adrian poses as a highwayman and robs the wrong carriage and Elizabeth is unconscious, he proposes marriage to protect his identity as a spy and her reputation. But all is not well at Middlecrest Abbey. On top of that, both Adrian and Elizabeth are keeping secrets from each other.

From the first sentence, I was drawn into the book. The characters were compelling had depth; especially Elizabeth. Their goals were clear and their motivations were believable. The secondary characters were enhanced the story. The plot twists were believable and while I guessed correctly on some, there were a couple of surprises. The plot was suspenseful, fresh, complex and entertaining. Overall, this was an enjoyable and fabulous read. Mystery, romance, spies, murder and family dynamics abound in this novel. I recommend it to those that enjoy historical mysteries with some romance to go with it.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson—FICTION and Abigail Wilson for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

This book started well and intrigued me, but the second half didn't really hold together. It's exciting to read a Regency romance that's also a murder mystery. Unfortunately I felt like the development of the romance had the potential to be really interesting, but was sacrificed in favor of the mystery -- which was far too easily solved. At least for me as a reader; the narrator heroine and her somehow-a-spy-despite-total-lack-of-observation-skills husband took forever to get there. As a result, the overall story sort of felt floppy and unsatisfying.

Still, the book has a nice voice, and it's a quick and easy read. Inoffensive and certainly not challenging or dense, perhaps good for a slightly-different-from-your-usual-fare beach read.

(I also failed to notice before reading that it's apparently "Christian fiction"? I'm not quite sure how, except that the romance is kept really, really, really mild. There aren't any overt Christian themes that I noticed).

This is the first book I have read by Abigail Wilson and it was phenomenal! From the first page I could barely put it down. The writing flows beautifully, so that at no point did I have to stop and reread something because it was unclear or confusing. There were no misunderstandings or miscommunication to prolong the story unnecessarily. Ms. Wilson is a wordsmith.

From the very first paragraph I liked and cared about the main characters, Adrian and Elizabeth. They drew me in and I wanted to keep reading to find out what their story was. I am very happy they got their HEA. I loved that both the main characters had faced a lot of adversity in their past, but refused to be bitter and angry. They both loved their families and sought to make a happy home with them.

I enjoyed that the chapters were short and invariably at the end of each one, there was an exciting turn of events or an unexpected surprise.

The mystery was exciting and held my attention to the last page, and even though it is a regency historical romance/mystery, the plot was fresh and didn’t resort to the usual tropes of this genre.

I read this in about a day and will read the rest of Ms. Wilson’s books, especially since some of the characters from this book are also featured in them.

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

I really do enjoy a good regency novel. The titles and estates, manners and traditions are just a romantic glance at a bygone era. More than romance is involved in Wilson's newest book... spies, murder, and kidnapping are just some of the suspenseful elements you will find within its pages.

The story draws you in immediately with a highway robbery gone wrong. When the highwayman claims to be married to the coach's passenger (while she is unconscious)...and she has no real choice but to agree to the marriage when she regains her sensibilities, well...the questions and twists continue from there!

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey kept me on my toes. I can usually guess long before the ending 'whodunit,' but I was quite surprised at the ending to this story!

Though classified as 'Christian fiction,' this book was pretty void of any religious themes. Tales set in the regency era often at least reference church, God, or even a country vicar, but nothing was really said of these things. Any other true spiritual applications were non-existent as well.

I did enjoy Abigail's writing and look forward to her next book!

Abigail Wilson brings such atmosphere to her books that allows you to feel every Gothic, chilling, heart-racing moment. She excels at the historical mystery with heart. And marriage of convenience tropes are probably my favorite - I love when everything works out in the end (hopefully).

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is my second book by this author and I had a hard time putting it down. It intrigued me right from the start. When Elizabeth’s carriage is attacked by a highwayman, the last thing she expected was for the highwayman to propose marriage to her. It’s even more surprising that she agrees to it….especially when she realizes that the highwayman’s brother is the bounder who abandoned her after getting her pregnant.

I thought it was a bit unrealistic for her to think that Adrian’s brother would never return home and to think that nobody would recognize the child for who he was. That aside, I was impressed by Adrian’s spirit and generosity and Elizabeth’s trust in him right from the start. I was rooting for them to make a real go of their marriage as they seemed to fit so well together.

There are a couple twists and surprises that changed the course of the mystery. It was a great read and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I already reviewed this book and it disappeared. Good book with a bit of mystery. I would recommend it to readers who like a well crafted gothic tale for a change. This is part of a series but you read it as a standalone.


Received ARC from netgalley and the publisher free to read and the opinions are my own.

This book was full of twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. It pulled me in from the beginning. I enjoyed learning the background of Elizabeth and Lord Torrington. Both had complicated backgrounds that added to the mystery. Both had to learn to trust one another even while they were surrounded by deceptions, spies and murder. I enjoyed watching the chemistry between Elizabeth and Torrington. The book was written in first person which gave and in depth look of how insightful Elizabeth was. I recommend this book to those that love historical romance full of mystery and intrigue.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

3.5/5⭐️

This was third in a series, and while I was able to suss out most of the backstory, it probably would have helped to read the prior two.

While the mystery, which involved a murder and traitors/espionage, was a bit too convoluted and slow, I did enjoy the main characters of Adrian and Elizabeth. I felt their marriage of convenience story as well as their slow growth, both as individuals and as spouses, was more absorbing than the mystery element.

I would probably rate this more between a pick and a so-so. And while yes, I would go back to read the previous books, I’m in no hurry to do so right now.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

This was an enchanting regency mystery with an unexpected storyline. I enjoyed that nothing about Elizabeth really for the expectations for that time era and how women should behave. She’s made some mistakes but she’s learned from them. She is thrown together with Adrian in a most unexpected manner and the murder they set out to solve brings them together. There are many other side characters that only add to the intrigue of the story. Overall, very enjoyable!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the eARC!

#MasqueradeAtMiddlecrestAbbey #NetGalley

A gothic suspense that was quick to read. A highwayman discovered, results in a marriage of convenience. Secrets, betrayal, murder and espionage are all a part of this book. There's very little romance, this is definitely a suspenseful novel and kept me guessing.