Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey: A Regency Romance

Abigail Wilson

May 2020 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

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

Ratings and reviews

I'm excited to be a part of the MASQUERADE AT MIDDLECREST ABBEY blog tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours from May 26th - June 5th, 2020! I received an ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review. All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication. Content Warning: Murder, Death by poisoning, Injury by gunshot wound "Here was the rake Brook had warned me about, the one who could sway any woman’s heart. And I had gone off and married him." Elizabeth Cantrell hasn’t had an easy lot in life. After losing both of her parents, having a child out of wedlock, and having a brother confined in prison, doesn’t place her in the best sights of society. Lord Torrington, highborn of Middlecrest Abbey has long had a reputation of his own. Charming, handsome, and somewhat of a womanizer, it’s completely unexpected when the longtime widow asks for El

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey By Abigail Wilson Elizabeth Cantrell is on her way to an obscure life as a housekeeper, due to her disgrace as the unwed mother of an infant son. But when her carriage is waylaid by a highwayman her life takes a most unexpected turn when Lord Torrington proposes marriage to her. He needs to protect his identity and offer Elizabeth the protection of his name. Elizabeth never expected to marry, considering her abandonment and shame she never thought any man would offer her his name. But for her son Elizabeth accepts Adrian's proposal. There is just one catch she has to convince Lord Torrington's daughters and his mother-in-law that she is in love with him. Can they pull off this masquerade and find the traitor in their midst? When a guest at Middlecrest is murdered Adrian and Elizabeth know that danger has followed them. Worse someone has taken a personal interest in Elizabeth? Was bringing Issac to Middlecrest a mistake? Or can her new husband indeed keep him safe? And can Elizabeth keep the secret of Issac's identity? Or will she admit the truth to the man who is threatening to win her heart? Now this book is not listed as being part of a series, but several of the characters in this book made appearances in Abigail Wilson's previous books In the Shadow of Croft Towers and Midnight on the River Grey. So you can read this book as a standalone title or enjoy them in the order they were written. As this book is set within the Regency Period of English history there is plenty of cloak-and-dagger action. And is often the case there is a French threat to English interests so plenty of secrets abound. Altogether a delightful read to while away a few hours of downtime. If you have not yet read Abigail Wilson's work give it a try with this newest offering you won't regret it. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey bursts into your imagination at full speed, and after many twists and turns gives you a satisfying feeling of sliding the last of the puzzle pieces into place. This is the second book I've read by Abigail Wilson, and I have loved them both! I love her style. The gothic feel. The twisty mysteries. The danger. The romance. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey has it all! Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite troupes, and I loved the additional spin of Adrian and Elizabeth having to keep up appearances for family and friends. It made for several entertaining scenes. I loved the strong theme of family--even if that family doesn't look or act perfectly--and how Adrian and Elizabeth worked together to solve the many mysteries of Middlecrest. It made such an expansive, dark, and creepy mansion feel like a home. The development of the relationship between Adrian and Elizabeth was perfect. So many sigh-worthy moments. It often hard to tell if you should call Adrian a rogue or a romantic, but it is easy to fall for him. And Elizabeth is an inspiring, strong, and courageous young woman who has endured heartache and shame in her life and still treats others with the utmost respect and love. I enjoyed seeing Middlecrest Abbey and all its secrets through her eyes. Although there wasn't a strong inspirational theme in this story, there was a theme of trust and forgiveness that is still thought-provoking and relatable to many. If you are a fan of gothic-type mystery and clean romance (The House at the End of the Moor, The Bridge to Belle Island), you will enjoy this book. I know I did! Abigail Wilson has become an author I will automatically read in the future! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the author

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.