In this new Regency romance, Elizabeth knows she must protect her heart from the charm of her 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 … 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 murderer, 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.
more
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.
Abigail Wilson’s books keep getting better and better. I loved this one start to finish. It had all the right elements…mystery, intrigue, and romance. So good!
All these book publishers me keep creating some really awesome covers lately. Some totally missed the mark, but others, like Abigail Wilson’s latest Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, hit it right out of the park. I love these covers. Wilson’s new novel is a wonderful Regency romance that reads well as a mystery. Wilson definitely knows how to sew words together to capture a scene and the emotions of the characters. While the marriage of convenience has been done A LOT, Wilson still uses the mystery to entice the readers to come along. Sometimes when I read Regency novels, the romance seems a little over the top and unbelievable, but in this novel, Wilson actually allowed Elizabeth and Lord Torrington to hunt for clues while slowly falling in love. The climactic ending was exciting. Wilson is showing why she will be around for a while on the writing circuit. Fans will eagerly await to see what mystery she comes up with next.
I received a complimentary copy of Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
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.
Elizabeth Cantrell has gotten herself into quite a fix! After finally taking responsibility for herself and her young child, a carriage accident caused by a highwayman results in a head injury. After a begruding “marriage of convenience,” they begin the masquerade in Lord Torrington’s abbey with his two adult daughters, former mother in law, and a murderer.
I was glad to see that Miss Cantrell , now Lady Torrington, really has a heart, and I relate to her character more emphatically in this book. Her stint as an unwed mother has softened her some, but she is struggling in an honest attempt at being a good stepmother and wife to Lord Torrington. She has a lot going against her though – the Lord’s daughters are older and they are deeply suspicious of her. His former mother in law is also in residence and takes a nasty disliking to her. The couple is attempting to bond in the wake of their hasty marriage, not realizing that they have stumbled into the midst of a mysterious murderer. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the plots twists and revelations that the author skillfully incorporated into the story.
The author does an excellent job with the Regency era with a slight gothic feel, which is one of my favorites. If you haven’t read Ms. Wilson’s backlist, I highly recomend them. You will find the heroine of this story in her debut, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, which will give you a clearer understanding of her earlier life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
England – 1815
Miss Elizabeth Cantrell, 26, is traveling with her 11-month-old son, Issac, when her carriage is run off the road and overturned by a highwayman. When she comes to, she is surprised to find that the so-called highwayman, is none other that Adrian Radcliff, Baron of Torrington, 37. He happens to be the older brother of the father of her son. The man had led her astray and refused to marry her when she became pregnant.
Resting from her injuries at an inn, Adrian insists that they marry in a marriage of convenience and she and Issac go to live with him at Middlecrest Abbey. She meets Adrian’s daughters, Juliana, 18, who is soon to be married, and Phoebe, 16. Juliana is cool to her, but Phoebe is sweet. Juliana is to marry a man that Elizabeth has known for years and some of the other guests she already knows. When Juliana’s fiancé is murdered just before the wedding, things get very scary.
Adrian works for the crown, is on special alert and calls upon Elizabeth to help. Thus the investigations begin and knowing they are both in danger, they join forces to find the spy that appears to be residing right in their midst.
This is an OK story but Elizabeth’s acceptance of marriage to Adrian made me want to ask, “why?” Was she so desperate to not have to work for a living that she would jump at the chance to join the family of the man who had scorned her and her child? There just wasn’t much real emotion expressed in the book to draw me in. It’s a nice mystery though.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was fantastic! I loved every minute of this mysterious regency romance! Not only was the plot intriguing, but the characters were so well developed and everything worked together perfectly to create a page turning story! Abigail Wilson has become one of my auto buy authors as she continues to provide outstanding novels each and every time! I was totally captivated by the mystery elements in this story and as eager as Elizabeth and Adrian to solve it! The romance in this story was perfectly balanced with the mystery. It was organically woven into this story so that you were equally satisfied with both no matter which element was being addressed in a particular chapter. Adrian is perfectly flawed and I loved him! He was an absolute perfect hero with charm, humor, and a fierce protectiveness that made him all the more endearing! Elizabeth was intelligent and witty although she had a more reserved nature, she was always very blunt with Adrian and seemed to be most herself when he was around. Their personalities just clicked wh they were together and it was absolutely enjoyable! The conclusion of this book was action packed, full of danger, and definitely left me satisfied! This book is going on my top reads of the year list! Absolutely loved it!
When I saw the lovely cover of Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, I knew I had to read the story. With a colorful, well-developed cast of characters and an intriguing premise, I was hooked from the first page. Lord Torrington and Elizabeth Cantrell were both endearing, and I enjoyed the interactions between them. Of course, baby Isaac added an extra helping of cuteness.
The story was well-paced, and the mystery involved kept me guessing to the end. Filled with intrigue, suspense, adventure, and a dose of romance, this compelling book has a little of everything and should captivate those who enjoy well-written Regency tales. I’m eagerly awaiting the next Abigail Wilson story. 4.5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
A must read for fans of regency romance with a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue. All the elements of great regency writing are present as well as an infusion of something extra. That something extra kept me up until all hours of the night because I could not put it down! This story offers much more than the gentleman rescuing the damsel in distress. I adored the pluckiness and silent strength of Elizabeth, as well as her sound mind and ability to truly partner with Lord Torrington. Lord Torrington wins over all with his steady presence and consistent charm. There were some decidedly unexpected twists and turns that kept me well engaged all the way through. The characters and plot are well developed and highly enjoyable.
I received a complimentary of this book from the publisher and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
Series: None listed
Publication Date: 5/26/20
Number of Pages: 336
This is my first book by Abigail Wilson and I’m wondering how I managed to miss her first three books. This was a wonderful read! The mystery was outstanding and the suspects were many and varied. While I loved the mystery, I didn’t really see enough interactions between the couple to see the romance. Perhaps that is because the book is written in first person, so we only see one person’s perspective on the interactions. One thing that puzzled me was that it isn’t listed as being part of a series, but it obviously is. I enjoyed this book so much I went back to see what books she had written previously – with the intent of buying those to read as well. As I read the book descriptions on those previous books, I realized that those same people were mentioned in the book I’d just read. You can definitely read this book as a standalone, but I would have enjoyed knowing it was part of a series and perhaps reading the earlier books first.
Miss Elizabeth Cantrell was used and tossed aside by the father of her child. More fortunate than most, she had found refuge with some family members. However, her baby is eleven months old and it is time for her to be on her own and make a life for herself and baby Isaac. She is in a coach headed toward a new position as housekeeper — Then – a highwayman attacks – the coach crashes – she is injured and unconscious – and awakens in a room at an inn – with the highwayman sharing the room as her husband. Uh-Oh. Then – he offers her a marriage of convenience. Say What!
Baron Adrian Torrington has been a widower for almost twenty years and a spy for the Crown for nearly that long as well. When he is sent to stop a coach carrying a message to the French, things go terribly awry and the coach crashes injuring a lovely young woman. With her unconscious and people approaching, he does the only thing he feels he can do – he removes her from the scene and takes her to the nearest inn – as her husband. Besides – she was conscious long enough to see his face and recognize him. In order to protect himself and her, he offers her a marriage of convenience.
Has he just brought danger into his own home? When threatening notes appear and death happens, it appears the answer is yes. Or – was the danger there all along and he’s just brought an innocent young woman and her babe into it? Adrian and Elizabeth grow closer as they work together to solve the murder, find the spies, and thwart the French mission. As you learn the backstories of Adrian and Elizabeth you come to admire them and the way they’ve managed to overcome the adversities and betrayals in their lives. I really liked both of them and was glad to see them find each other.
This was an entertaining read and I will definitely be purchasing this author’s earlier works and reading them as well. Then, I can’t wait to find out what the next book will be. My only issue is that I didn’t really see the romance – it was just suddenly there. They had few interactions, and those were short and all ‘business’ rather than personal – yet, they were suddenly madly in love. Again, I think some of that is lack of page time for the romance and the lack of perspective from Adrian’s side because it was written in first person from Elizabeth’s point of view. I believe Adrian was the first to be totally smitten, but we never actually got to see that part. I deducted one star because the romance portion was just not quite what I like to see.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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 Isaac 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, Juliana & Phoebe. Juliana is due to wed in a few days time then there is 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.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it certainly won’t be the last. I love a romance that is also a mystery so this ticked both boxes. The book was totally written from Elizabeth’s point of view & this isn’t my favourite but in this case I found that it worked. The characters had depth & were well portrayed. I felt the romance took second stage to the mystery, I did work out who the villain was but it did take me a while. I found it to be an interesting engrossing read that I read in well under a day
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Wow! What did I love about this book? The mystery, intrigue, romance and humor, just to name a few. Wilson drew me in with her incredibly descriptive gothic writing. From the beginning, the story had twists and turns which had me guessing. The main characters were the type of people that I would like to be around. They both had made mistakes in the past, but were working to move on to their future in this marriage of convenience. What fun or should I say confusion, when romance enters that marriage. The humor along the way was a nice touch. Basically, Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey had everything I was looking for and more. Whatever Abigail Wilson writes next, I’m reading! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Mystery brought them together. To protect the crown, Adrian stops the stagecoach that single mother Elizabeth and her son is riding on. Adrian needs to find a letter from a French spy. To protect his identity and to avoid scandal, Adrian marries Elizabeth. When Elizabeth arrives at Adrian’s home, she finds a houseful of guests for the upcoming wedding of Adrian’s daughter. Within days of her arrival, one of the guests is murdered. Now Adrian and Elizabeth investigating while pretending a loving relationship. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I didn’t find it very believable that Adrian would have married Elizabeth. There is enough scandal attached to Elizabeth’s family even before she had a child out of wedlock. In regency time, an unwed mother would have been ostracized. I did like the mystery and the search for the French spy and his partners. I also like Elizabeth and Adrian and I found their relationship believable. This is a nice marriage of convenience story.
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!
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.
Another beautifully written gem from a favorite author!
Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is an atmospheric, layered historical romance from the talented Abigail Wilson. Elizabeth and Lord Torrington (Adrian) are a perfect match; he’s gregarious and outgoing but mysterious, while she’s reserved and careful, guarding both her son and her heart.
The author is skilled at setting and description, including utilizing the house as a character in the story. It’s incredibly well-done! The reader feels like they’re in Middlecrest Abbey with Elizabeth as she walks through the shadowy halls and pieces together events–and the people–around her.
I appreciated Elizabeth’s strength and intelligence, and Adrian’s patience and loyalty. Their romance begins with a marriage of convenience that puts all involved in an awkward and tense situation, and their plight wraps the reader tight as we dig deeper into their hearts.
If you enjoy Gothic romance and Historicals with equal parts heart and mystery, you MUST read Abigail Wilson. I’ve loved all of her books and eagerly await her next one!
*I received a copy of this book with no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Being an unwed mother in Regency times was very hard. You and the child were shunned. Elizabeth was on her way to a housekeepers position when her coach is set upon by a highwayman. The coach is overturned and Elizabeth is left alone and hurt. The highwayman rescues her and her son from the coach. Elizabeth pulls his mask down and instantly recognizes him as Lord Torrington. The brother of her baby’s father. Lord Torrington proposes a marriage to protect her from further tarishment of her reputation. Also, to help him keep his cover as a spy. The trouble for Elizabeth begins once upon arrival at Middlecrest Abbey. It seems the spy for France is in their midst.
This is an interesting mystery novel. I recommend it to all who like a good mystery.
I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in anyway.
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.
Who doesn’t love good Regency filled with handsome highway men, a bit of espionage and intrigue, an adorable baby, and a distressed lady? A mistaken identity in carriages sets a course of events in action that will drastically change Elizabeth Cantrell’s future plans.
Going from housekeeper to becoming the esteemed Lady Elizabeth Torrington literally overnight, Elizabeth Cantrell must decide what type of man she has married. Working together to uncover a mystery in their midst, Adrian, Lord Torrington, and Elizabeth must play the roles of their lives in order to expose the bad guy. The masquerade behind which they hide allows them some interesting insights into each other. Can they learn to trust each other when so much is at stake?
Read this intriguing tale to find out if trust is indeed dangerous and terrifying or if the truth will free both of them from their pasts to forge a promising future. A delightful read and my first book from this author! I am looking forward to reading the rest of her books. I highly recommend for people who enjoy historical fiction, Regency fiction, and Christian fiction.
This ARC copy was received from Netgalley.com and Thomas Nelson. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
Lord Adrian Torrington is a wealthy land owner by day and a spy by night. Out on a mission, he believes he’s robbed the wrong carriage and sent it crashing down the ravine. Inside he finds Elizabeth and her infant son. When he hears another coach approaching, he must protect his identity as a spy and proposes marriage to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is trying to support her young son after being abandoned by the child’s father. When Adrian proposes a marriage of convenience, she sees no better alternative and agrees. His only stipulation is that she must pretend to be madly in love with him. Can she fool everyone by pretending or will she truly fall for the handsome lord.
This was the first book I’ve read by Ms. Wilson and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The murder mystery was top notch and I didn’t see the final piece of the puzzle coming together until it was actually revealed. The author was masterful in how she teased out details of both Elizabeth’s past as well as Adrian’s first marriage. His daughters, Julianna and Phoebe added much to the story.