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    Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey: A Regency Romance
    Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey: A Regency Romance
    Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey: A Regency Romance
    Audiobook9 hours

    Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey: A Regency Romance

    Written by Abigail Wilson

    Narrated by Laura Kirman

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In this new 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.

    Early Praise for Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey:

    “Murder is far from no one’s thoughts in this delicious new romantic mystery from Abigail Wilson. With scandal dodging every turn of the page, mystery hiding behind the visage of each character, and a romance brewing with an English rake of the worse—and best—sorts, readers will find nothing lacking! I was entranced, mesmerized, addlepated, and not a little bit bewildered as I wandered the halls of Middlecrest Abbey.” —Jaime Jo Wright, author of the Christy Award–winning novel, The House on Foster Hill

    “From the very first page, I was enraptured! Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey has intrigue, mystery, and suspense beautifully enhanced by the vulnerability revealed through memorable characters making this story impossible to put down. A must-read recommendation, this story is exactly what makes me love reading!” —Natalie Walters, author of the Harbored Secrets series

    “Suspicion shades the affluent grounds of Middlecrest Abbey in this riveting novel by Abigail Wilson. The artful balance of mystery and romance cleverly blends with the Gothic tones of Regency England. With exquisite prose and a layered plot, Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a compelling story not to be missed.” —Rachel Scott McDaniel, award-winning author of Above the Fold

    • Full-length Regency romance mystery (c. 90,000 words)
    • Perfect for fans of Sarah Ladd, Deanna Raybourn, Julie Klassen, Tasha Alexander, and Lauren Willig
    • Also by Abigail Wilson:
      • In the Shadow of Croft Towers
      • Midnight on the River Grey
      • The Vanishing at Loxby Manor (available January 2021)
    • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateMay 26, 2020
    ISBN9780785233015
    Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey: A Regency Romance
    Author

    Abigail Wilson

    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 diving meets, and curling up with a great book. Abigail was a 2020 HOLT Medallion Merit Finalist, a 2017 Fab Five contest winner, and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence Finalist. 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; Twitter: @acwilsonbooks.

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    Reviews for Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey

    4.5/5

    95 ratings12 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Well done! Great plot, writing, character development…and reading! Thank you!

      2 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Pleasantly surprised. A good change from the norm historical romance novels and I love the mystery. I truly enjoyed the author’s writing with this being my fist book. I would recommended listening/reading the book prior to this or some story points would not make complete sense, but easy to fill in the blanks as the novel goes on

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I quite enjoyed this Regency mystery. Enjoyed the characters and story. A refreshing change on a heroine.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      My 3rd book of Abigail Wilson's and I think it is safe to say she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This particular story had a few moments of "that can't possibly happen" but overall, this was still an incredible story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

      I listened to the audiobook and was not disappointed by the narrator and pace of the story. I definitely recommend reading, or listening to, "Masquerade of Middle crest Abbey."
    • 5/5
      This was the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I am not usually someone that gravitates toward historical fiction, but this one was recommended to me because the mystery was so good and it definitely was. I was quickly drawn into the storyline and it held my interest, I enjoyed the banter between the characters, and the mystery truly kept me guessing. I totally did not see the ending coming at all.I was given a copy of this story by Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
    • 5/5
      In Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, Elizabeth Cantrell finds herself in the middle of a scandal, a marriage of convenience, and a murder investigation. When Adrian Radcliff holds up her coach causing an accident in the process, she can hardly believe that the brother of her illegitimate son’s father, a man with a questionable reputation, is now claiming to be a spy working for Britain. And now to maintain his cover and for her protection, she must marry him. But the marriage of convenience quickly becomes a partnership in an investigation, and as the situation becomes more dangerous and more complicated, feelings begin to develop as they work closely with each other. But can Adrian keep Elizabeth and her son safe? And will he still feel the same if she reveals the truth about her son’s father?I was pleasantly surprised by Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey. I hadn’t read this author before and wasn’t sure what to expect, but I thought this book was great. The story was exciting and intense, always adding new and unexpected twists. The characters were easy to like and relate to. And the chemistry between Elizabeth and Adrian was palpable. And while it was a well-written romance, it was also clean which I appreciate. Overall, I think this is a book I would go back and read again. I really thoroughly enjoyed it. *I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
    • 4/5
      Elizabeth is on her way to a new job with her son Isaac – she hopes this is her chance to escape the whispers and stares as she is an unwed mother. On the way her carriage is attacked by a highwayman but all is not as it seems and that robber ends up being someone she knows. Lord Torrington is a spy for the Crown and he finds himself in a difficult position since he has been caught out, so he does what any good spy does – he marries the beautiful girl in the carriage to protect his hidden identity and slightly less importantly, her reputation.Elizabeth finds herself ensconced at Middlecrest Abbey as the Lady of the manor – or is she? The widowed Lord Torrington has two daughters from his first marriage and his former mother in law is still living at the Abbey. None of them are thrilled – or convinced – with this new marriage but Elizabeth and little Isaac soon win hearts.But all is not well as there is a murderer afoot and spies coming and going. Elizabeth helps her husband sort through the mystery and mayhem of as they grow closer and the family comes together. Will they be able to truly live in peace and harmony?This book was just what I needed right now. It was, despite the murder, mystery and mayhem, a light and easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and despite it being a completely implausible plot – I was very entertained. Sometimes you just want a book to fall into where you just don’t have to think and this was one of those books. Pretty setting, easy mystery, handsome people and (no spoilers here I am sure) a happy ending.
    • 5/5
      This one was such much fun!! I was excited to get the opportunity to read it because I love regency historical fiction and because this was an opportunity for me to read a new-to-me author’s work. Once I started it, I barely put it down.The book opens up right in the action after Elizabeth Cantrell and her very young son Isaac have been in a carriage accident. The accident involved a masked highwayman, who ends up being Lord Adrian Torrington, looking to rob the carriage and its inhabitants. Interestingly, the robber was the one that rescued Elizabeth and Isaac. It turns out that he is a spy who was using thievery as a cover for part of his spy work (not a spoiler!). Adrian and Elizabeth decide that they will marry in order to maintain Adrian’s cover. Elizabeth is an unwed mother anyway, so a marriage should work to salvage her reputation and give her son chances in life that he would not otherwise have.I love a good marriage-of-convenience story. I especially love it when the characters eventually fall in love. When Adrian brings his new bride to Middlecrest Abbey, it is a surprise to everyone there that they are married. I loved reading the thoughts of the staff and family that reside at the Abbey, because of course there is plenty of gossip. Even more, I love that Adrian and Elizabeth were fully committed to pretending to love one another while actually developing very real feelings. They both had some baggage from previous relationships that they brought into the marriage, but it was wonderful to read how they moved through these feelings of betrayal and formed a healthy relationship. In addition, Adrian is constantly surprised at how awesome Elizabeth is while Elizabeth learns that Adrian is much more than gossip made him out to be. Love, love, loved it!!For some reason, I didn’t realize that there would be a full-on mystery in the story!! And by gosh, I loved it. While loads of people are gathered at the Abbey, someone dies and murder is suspected. So while the men investigate the death, of course, Elizabeth cannot stand not being involved and working to help solve the mystery. I LOVED reading about how she used disguises and secrecy to help Adrian in his quest to figure out who killed their guest.This book is absolutely delightful. It reminds me of a Jane Austen story and with the added elements of suspense and mystery, and it is just so much fun. There were a few times that I found myself heading to the internet to look up examples of the types of hats and other details mentioned on the pages (example: Adrian’s beaver hat-I didn’t realize that was the name of those hats!). The detailing and language she used was so good that I was able to easily visualize the setting and the actions of the story as they were happening, which is so important to me when I read.I’m so, so excited to have found Abigail Wilson’s work. I’m not sure how I missed it before, but I’m thrilled to see that I have a couple of previously published books that I can read and that she has another work in progress. I would enthusiastically recommend this story to fans of Regency historical fiction with romance and fans of historical mysteries. This was such a GEM of a find for me!!I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, Thomas Nelson!
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      Series: None listedPublication Date: 5/26/20Number of Pages: 336This 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 descriptions of 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.
    • 5/5
      Do you love curling up with a book on a stormy night? If so, "Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey" by Abigail Wilson is the perfect book for you! Ms. Wilson’s book can be described as a Gothic Romance where everything is not as it seems.Ms. Wilson excels in describing her settings and giving them the perfect Gothic touch. Her descriptions are so beautiful, that sometimes I just stopped reading to soak it in. My favorite part of the book is how atmospheric it is. It reminds me a bit of Daphne du Maurier and her novel “Rebecca” (especially a certain character and scene). It’s a perfect mix of Bronte and Austen.The story itself is wonderful. I love the mystery and not knowing who you can trust. Our heroine, Elizabeth, is smart, independent and brave (move over Sherlock!). She is no simpering miss, even though she’s possibly living under the same roof as a murderer. Besides sleuthing, Elizabeth also learns about forgiveness and the power of the truth. I love "Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey" and would recommend it to fans of the Regency period, historical fiction, clean romances and Gothic Literature. We need more books like this!Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: talk of mistresses and ravishing someone; a child is born out of wedlock; a woman is called wanton and a trollop; men are drunk and utter curses, which are not written.Rating: I give this book 5 stars.I want to thank Abigail Wilson, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
    • 4/5
      Elizabeth Cantrell is astonished when her carriage is attacked by a highwayman. She is even more astonished when she discovers that the highwayman is, in fact, Lord Adrian Torrington. He confided his true intentions and asks for her help in exchange for preserving her reputation and providing for her son. As the pros outweigh the cons, she agrees to become Lady Torrington. But has she just put herself in more danger?This was...a complicated read for me. Parts of it, I really liked. Elizabeth was an interesting character. An unmarried woman with a child is bound to bring censure on herself, and she does what she thinks is best for her small family. Lord Torrington was a nice counterpoint to her, mysterious but kind.At the same time, while I could see the attraction between them, romance and love felt like a stretch. The plot felt like it dragged and there were several times where I was bored. I didn't find the scenario likely. I guessed the "villain" early on so it didn't come as a surprise. I know I had an ARC, so I really hope it gets a final edit. At times there were words that didn't seem like they meant what the author felt they meant.Overall, it was an alright read. I would probably read this author again. I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.