Sebastian Gage returns home to battle the ghosts of his past and prevent them from destroying his future with Kiera in the latest exciting installment in this national bestselling series.July 1831. It’s been fifteen years since Sebastian Gage has set foot in Langstone Manor. Though he has shared little with his wife, Lady Kiera Darby, about his past, she knows that he planned never to return to … never to return to the place of so many unhappy childhood memories. But when an urgent letter from his grandfather reaches them in Dublin, Ireland, and begs Gage to visit, Kiera convinces him to go.
All is not well at Langstone Manor. Gage’s grandfather, the Viscount Tavistock, is gravely ill, and Gage’s cousin Alfred has suddenly vanished. He wandered out into the moors and never returned. The Viscount is convinced someone or something other than the natural hazards of the moors is to blame for Alfred’s disappearance. And when Alfred’s brother Rory goes missing, Kiera and Gage must concede he may be right. Now, they must face the ghosts of Gage’s past, discover the truth behind the local superstitions, and see beyond the tricks being played by their very own eyes to expose what has happened to Gage’s family before the moors claim yet another victim…
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have been anxiously awaiting this book after the little teaser the author left us with at the end of As Death Draws Near, but it was definitely worth the wait.
Gage takes Kiera to his home, Langstone Manor. A place he hasn’t been since his mother’s death 15 years ago. His grandfather has summoned him to get there as fast as possible but the trip from Ireland took a little time. They arrive to find the Viscount Tavistock, deathly ill and his heir, Gage’s cousin, Alfred missing. Not sure if has been injured or killed out on the moors, or if he has been kidnapped, or just took off all on his own, his grandfather demands Gage find him. Then Alfred’s brother Rory disappears too. Gage and Kiera step up their investigation to find both men. Could their disappearance have something to do with the past? It is said, Langstone Manor is cursed. Gage vows to find the men and the truth.
Another fantastic story from Anna Lee Huber. The cover of this book is breathtaking too.
Ms. Huber returns with Kiera and Gage and the servants Bree and Anderley in a story so well written filled with vivid imagery. It is so easy to imagine being in the dark and dim castle or out on the moors or on horseback through the countryside.
Gage himself has been a mystery so I truly enjoyed learning about his past and what shaped him into the man he is now. All of Ms. Huber’s stories are very character driven and to peel away some of Gage’s layers was delightful.
Kiera is a little nervous to meet Gage’s relatives, but over the years she has learned to cope with those who judge her by her past. She quickly takes every opportunity to spend time with the Viscount. Even sitting at his bedside with her sketchbook while he slumbers to give the servants a break.
Gage and Kiera are a wonderful couple, they love and trust each other and are equals, something very strange for this time period.
Searching for the missing cousins takes our lead characters visiting neighbors and Bree and Anderley trying to get information from the staff. The author draws readers into the mystery quickly. Searching the vastness of the moors seems impossible, so it was important to look for other clues. Clues at first that were confusing to me as much as Gage and Keira. The twist that revealed what was really happening absolutely shocked me. Wow! I didn’t see that coming at all.
Anna Lee Huber is an amazing storyteller. She paints pictures with her words that allow readers to escape fully into her stories. She continues to surpass my expectations. The plotlines are tight, the dialogue is stellar, and her characters leap off the pages.
Each story stands on its own, but the Lady Darby mysteries are best enjoyed from the beginning to witness the character development and world building.
This book received my Paradise Rating because it deserves more than 5 stars. The is a book not to be missed.
A Brush with Shadows, give us a bit of background on Sebastian Gage’s family. Gage had vowed to stay away from his mother’s family after her death. When he learns his grandfather is ill and his cousin is missing, he decides to answer the summons of his grandfather and see if he can find his cousin. Gage and Keira head back to the home he grew up in, and the adventure begins!
I love Ms. Huber’s writing. The amount of research she puts into her books is evident in the extensive background regarding the time in history she is writing about. She knows how to tease just enough as the book goes along, leading you down many paths, then turning the plot back on itself to a smashing conclusion!
This is the 6th book in the Lady Darby series. I hope there are many more!
I was thrilled when I won an advanced reading copy of this book. I love this series and the unusual circumstances of Keira’s background. I liked how we finally got to see some of Sebastian’s family background. I didn’t like some of the characters but then it wouldn’t be a good book if that wasn’t the case. I’m not going to do any spoiler alerts. I thought the flow was good and the story wasn’t too long or too short. I was actually surprised at the ending as to who was behind it all. It was suspenseful and engrossing and at times funny and poignant. I highly recommend this whole series and can’t wait until the next installment! I am hoping we get to see some more of Anderly and Bree. Kudos to Anna Lee Huber!
Continuation of a series that I thoroughly enjoy. Well written within its genre.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book is part of the Lady Darby series, and it is wonderful. This is the first book in this series that I have read, but I wasn’t lost. Kiera and Gage are called to his childhood home because one of his cousins has gone missing. They are to help find him before he is feared dead. The wonderful characters and setting help keep you engaged and turning the pages as we learn about Gage’s childhood and the family that helped shaped him. We learn new things about Kiera and Gage in the end as well. This is a great addition to the series.
Love all of Anna Lee Huber’s books. Great characters, strong plots that make sense, but with enough intrigue to keep you guessing.