MASQUERADE AT MIDDLECREST ABBEY by Abigail Wilson
GENRE: Regency Romance (Clean and Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2020
PAGES: 333
In this “delicious” Regency romance, a young unwed mother must protect her heart from the charms of her convenient new husband, Lord Torrington. She is not, however, prepared to protect her life.
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.
A young woman on her way to a better life, leaving her troubled past behind her. A handsome lord who spies for the Crown, posing as a highwayman to rob a stagecoach. If that sounds a trifle familiar to you, then you must have read Wilson’s debut novel, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, like I did. I loved that novel – and I loved the nod to it at various times throughout Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey. You don’t need to have read one to read the other, though; they work just as well as standalones and have their own respective dynamics and tone, apart from each other.
Oh Elizabeth & Adrian, how I love thee. I adored the slow burn romance between them and the delicious tension that a marriage of convenience creates, not to mention their individual personalities. Elizabeth is a strong heroine, both independent and intelligent, and I appreciated the layers that her unique situation added to the plot. She’s been wounded in love, and the secrets she carries with her may undo everything she and Adrian are beginning to build between them. I loved their late-night conversations in their shared sitting room, especially getting that front row seat to their growing affection and easy camaraderie. And Adrian… pardon me a brief twitterpation of heart. He has secrets too, and the further we unearth them the more I fell in love with him. He’s just such a genuinely good man, and he is exactly what Elizabeth needs.
Bottom Line: Abigail Wilson’s writing voice is so engaging and evocative, immersing you completely in the story world and holding you captive there until the last page. The words flow effortlessly in Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey and keep the story moving along at a steady but comforting pace, and the characters? They are layered and relatable, despite the differences between our time periods. Mystery and secrets also abound in this story, adding intrigue to the narrative and turning the mood quite delightfully atmospheric more than once. Gothic, romantic, and compelling, this is another richly-written must-read from Abigail Wilson!
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read via Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!
KissingBook Level: 3+ / may forget to breathe on occasion
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Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five Contest and ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children. Connect with Abigail at acwilsonbooks.com; Instagram: acwilsonbooks; Facebook: ACWilsonbooks; and Twitter: @acwilsonbooks.
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What about you? What makes you want to read Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson?
Sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent review! I like the sound of this one.