My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Abigail Wilson’s books have been popping up on my recommendation list for some time and after reading The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, I must say, I should have got to them sooner. Historical romance has always been a favorite genre of mine but when combined with good mystery and intrigue, the story takes on different flavors that please the palate.
Charity Halliwell has returned to her home soil after spending many years in Ceylon but her arrival at her friend’s abode is nothing short of a disaster. Like the house of cards tumbling at a slight breeze, the first night sees her best friend Seline vanishing from the Loxby Manor. As events escalate Charity has to use every power in her arsenal to get to the truth of Seline and her various pursuits. With rumours of secret organization and whispers in the corridors, secret lights in the haunted abbey there are many a thing that is waiting to unravel in this mysterious story.
Charity as a character was absolutely delightful, her demeanor and solid nature offering a soothing presence to the goings on inside Loxby manor. I adored Piers too with his deep love for Charity unwilling to harm her reputation and the rekindling of love between Piers and Charity was definitely the highlight of the novel. The twisty surprise at the end was a total gobsmack moment for me coz I had considered all the options but failed immensely with that reveal.
I am so glad that I found this new author who has captured the romance, emotions, family dynamics, secrets, murder and mystery into an utterly captivating tale with perfect historical background. As each mystery in this complex tale unfolds, I was surprised with the ease the threads have been woven to form the brilliant story.
Disappearances, strange activities in the night, and secret organizations abound in this mysterious Regency romance.
Haunted by the assault she’s kept hidden over the past four years, Charity Halliwell finally has a chance to return home to the quaint village she left more than five years before and the happy life she wants so badly to reclaim. All she needs is good conversation with her old friend and an opportunity to find a governess position, and she can leave the fear and guilt behind. But the family who agrees to her yearlong visit turns out to be a far cry from the one she thought she knew, particularly when her friend disappears and the one man she made certain would not be at the house is forced to return. How can she possibly heal and claim her independence when day in, day out she must face the only gentleman who ever held a piece of her heart?
Piers Cavanagh was branded a coward when he failed to show up for a duel he arranged. He had his reasons, of course, but disclosing them would hurt far more than continuing life as an outcast. And worse, with the mysterious departure of his sister, the strange nightly occurrences in the ruins of an old abbey, and the uncomfortable whispers of a secret organization, Piers must overcome his aversion to society and work with the last person he ever thought he would get the chance to speak to again—the girl whose heart he had no choice but to break.
This post contains affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
This review is published in my blog Rain’n’Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Wow! Lots of things to entice this reader – onto my TBR list!
This is my first book by this author and now I have to try and read them all, coz I just loved the sensitive portrayal of love in this.