About the Book
Book: In the Shadow of Croft Towers
Author: Abigail Wilson
Genre: Historical fiction, romantic suspense
Release Date: January 15, 2019
From debut author Abigail Wilson comes a mysterious Regency tale of secrets and spies, love and treachery.Orphaned Sybil Delafield jumps at the opportunity for a position at the mysterious Croft Towers. She believes she was hired to act as companion to a dying woman, but a highway robbery and a hostile welcome from the Chalcroft family cause her to wonder if she was actually hired to help someone spy for France.
An unsolved murder adds intrigue to this already secretive family, and Sybil recognizes Mrs. Chalcroft’s handsome grandson as one of the infamous highwaymen who robbed her. Sybil must determine if this man’s charming smile and earnest eyes speak the truth or if he is simply using her like others in the house. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and Sybil must decide who to trust while also coming to terms with the truth about her own past.
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My Review
“In the Shadow of Croft Towers,” from debut author Abigail Wilson, has easily become one of my favorite books of 2018! I love a good Gothic romance and this book is certainly just that. Ms. Wilson is very good at setting the Gothic tone.
The story starts off with danger and a highway robbery during a storm. I was hooked! Our hesitant heroine, Sybil, arrives at house shrouded in mystery and secrets. There are all the elements for a perfect Gothic read in this story: mysterious rooms, hidden motives and identities, secrets and resident ghosts.
Not only that, but Ms. Wilson is a fabulous writer. The story and writing style can be described as a mix of Dickens and Daphne du Maurier. I loved this book and looked forward to reading it every night! I highly recommend it!
Content: I give this book a PG rating for some content. Some examples of the content are: the word devil is used; mention of a woman’s bosom; people drink alcohol; mention of illegitimate children; mention of “ravishing” a woman; a man is drunk and tries to apprehend a woman.
Rating: I obviously give this book 5 stars!
Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Gothic; Regency; Mystery; Romance
I want to thank Abigail Wilson, Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson 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.
About the Author
Excerpt from the Book
1813
THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had never learned the truth. I wouldn’t have set off as I did for Croft Towers. I never would have met him.
It’s strange what I remember about the day I left London. The mail coach was late; the weather wretched. The clock had struck midnight long before two strangers and I ducked beneath the postmaster’s outstretched umbrella to board the Royal Mail and rumble across the North Downs.
That difficult journey east marked the beginning of an unseasonably cold autumn. Frigid rain pelted the coach windows. The undercarriage squealed beneath the seats as a metallic scent wound its way between the drafty boards. I gripped the windowsill, wondering if the coachman intended to hit every bump in the road.
“Far to go, miss?”
The woman’s voice startled me. Dressed head to toe in red
satin, she’d endured the last few darkened hours with a handful of smelling salts and a tongue hot for complaints, but she hadn’t spoken to me until now. Not until the first hint of rain-soaked daylight peeked over the horizon.
I lowered my gaze and fiddled with my bonnet ribbons. “Yes, ma’am . . . well, not too much farther, I hope.”
Taken from “In the Shadow of Croft Towers” by Abigail Wilson. Copyright © 2018 by Abigail Wilson. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/.
Blog Stops
Just the Write Escape, December 20
Faery Tales Are Real, December 20
The Avid Reader, December 20
Reflections From My Bookshelves, December 21
seasons of opportunities, December 21
Mary Hake, December 22
Carpe Diem, December 22
Inklings and notions, December 23
Blogging With Carol, December 23
A Baker’s Perspective, December 23
Stories By Gina, December 24
Remembrancy, December 24
Madeline Clark, December 25
The Christian Fiction Girl, December 25
For the Love of Literature, December 26
Blossoms and Blessings, December 26
Janices book reviews, December 26
Back Porch Reads, December 27
Book by Book, December 27
Daysong Reflections, December 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 28
Godly Book Reviews, December 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 29
Bigreadersite, December 29
Inspiration Clothesline, December 30
A Rup Life, December 30
Bibliophile Reviews, December 30
A Reader’s Brain, December 31
Texas Book-aholic, December 31
Just Your Average reviews, January 1
Bookworld Reviews, January 1
Pause for Tales, January 1
Reading Is My SuperPower, January 2
Simple Harvest Reads, January 2
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Abigail is giving away a grand prize of one finished copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d777/in-the-shadow-of-croft-towers-celebration-tour-giveaway
Danger.Highway Robbery.Nighttime.Storm.Haunted Mansion.Hesitant Heroine. I love it! This one sounds incredible and you make me want to pick up a copy, curl up in my favorite chair with a fire burning and read until I'm finished. Wow. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention and for your great review. Wow! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for you interest!!! I can't wait for everyone to read it.
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DeleteHaha, I like the beginning of your reply! It all sounds so dramatic (which it is). Yes, this is a good one to read in a comfy chair, particularly on a dark and stormy night ; ) Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Thanks for having me on your blog, Megan! So glad you liked the book!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this opportunity to read this wonderful book!! I loved it!!
DeleteEnjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's such a great book! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Kim!
DeleteSounds like a very interesting book. Vivian Furbay jtandviv(at)q(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi Vivian! It is really interesting! Good luck in the giveaway and thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteThe early things I've seen/been told about this one is all good, so I am curious. Plus, I do enjoy a good Jane Eyre-esque Gothic tale. :)
ReplyDeleteOooo, yes this is another of my favorites of the year! It sounds like you would love this book if you love Gothic type tales. Thanks for you comments : )
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