The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail WIilson ~ Review

Hello, Sunshines, I have the huge pleasure to be apart of the blog tour for the wonderful; The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson. I can’t wait to share this book and my review with you all, firstly I want to say thank you to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours for the invite to this tour. Now, Let’s have a look at this book…

About the Book

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

Publication Date: January 26, 2021
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Format: Paperback & eBook; 336 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Regency

A story of second chances and secrets, this mysterious Regency romance will transport you to 19th-century England as one young lady reunites with her childhood love to find his missing sister.

Her friend is missing.

After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth.

Her only hope is the man who broke her heart.

Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner—the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.

The house seems determined to keep its secrets.

As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never return.

Settle in, because once you start The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, you won’t be able to put it down.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Praise

“Vanishing at Loxby Manor cleverly combines Regency romance with Gothic intrigue, and the result is a suspenseful, thoroughly entertaining read. Charming and lovely.”—Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of In the Shadow of Vesuvius

“Like each of Wilson’s novels, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor drew me in from the start and didn’t let go. From the heartfelt characters to the twists that kept me guessing, I relished each turn of the page. Wilson is a master at historical mystery, and I cannot wait for her next story.”—Lindsay Harrel, author of The Joy of Falling

“Abigail Wilson’s latest Gothic romance hits the notes readers have come to expect from her talented pen: romance, shadows and intrigue and a brilliantly executed atmosphere. She is a master at her craft and a rare stand-out in a popular genre.”—Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration

“Weaving a shadow of mystery among the gilded countryside of Regency England, Wilson’s tale of love lost, buried shame, and secret societies is a delicious blend of romance and intrigue. Splash in gorgeous historical Regency details, and murder brewing around every stone, and readers will be burning through the pages until the riveting end.”—J’nell Ciesielski, author of The Socialite

“A gothic romance that is filled with great characters and a mystery that unfolds chapter by chapter. A perfect blend of mystery, family relationships, lost years, and star-crossed love. Be warned, you won’t be able to walk away from these characters.”—Cara Putman, award-winning author of Flight Risk

Review

I have read my fair share of Regency romance, at times Regency’s do tend to grind for me a little as they can be very similar in prose – I mean why is that? I will be honest and say that with except of a handful of favourite authors who write regency – I do tend to via away from the era these days, there is only so much bowing, curtseying and ‘yes mi’ lord, no mi’ lord three bag’s full mi’ lord‘ that this little reviewer can take, but yet I am inexplicably drawn to the era and one of the reason’s I chose to review this book.

I was all ready for the stereotypical fluffy fun and charming Regency love affair, and what I got was something very different, it’s not your usual Regency it’s dramatic, mysterious and beautifully gothic – I would even say this had a more Victorian-edged feel to it then a glittering Regency and I thoroughly enjoyed it, its a breath of fresh air.

I was intrigued by this as soon as I saw it, the first line of the back blurb caught my attention straight away; ‘Disappearances, strange activities in the night, and secret organizations abound in this mysterious Regency romance.’ it reads like a trailer of a film, doesn’t it? Plus add into the mix that beautiful, eye-catching cover – which if you ask me it looks a little like Whitby Abbey.

I’ve not read any of Wilson’s books before, but I will defiantly be reading more of her work. I really like her swirling way with words and her compelling and richly textured historical detail.

After an incident years before, which she has kept a deep secret she has the opportunity to return home, she has spent five deeply unhappy and ashamed she desperately wants happiness and she hopes by returning home she can get that much wanted happiness and peace back again. To come face to face with the brute who broke her heart!

I really liked Charity, there is a fragility about her which makes you want to keep her safe, she’s almost child-like but there is kindness, caring and passionate nature beneath that vulnerable, shy and slightly naive exterior. My heart broke for her, you can instantly see that she and Piers are made for each other and yet there is that shared history which does tend to get in the way, plus the happenings at the manor.

There is so much to love about this story, and way too much going on to really go into too much detail as that would give away far too many spoilers (no spoilers will ever be found here) but with a long-lost romance, a mystery, scandal, secret societies, strange happening, charismatic and cheeky character’s, villains you love to hate all of which is entwined with a gorgeous gothic, tense and brooding atmosphere which hangs over the reader like a heavy mist, which I love!

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is a dark-edged, mysterious, atmospheric, imaginative, immersive and dramatic historical with a tantalising second chance romance which will pull at the heartstrings.

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 gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

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.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, January 19 Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Wednesday, January 20 Review at Pursuing Stacie

Thursday, January 21 Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Friday, January 22 Review at The Green Mockingbird

Monday, January 25 Review at Jorie Loves A Story / Review at Library of Clean Reads

Tuesday, January 26 Guest Post at Novels Alive

Wednesday, January 27 Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Thursday, January 28 Review at Read Review Rejoice

Friday, January 29 Review at Heidi Reads / Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, January 30Review at Nursebookie

Monday, February 1 Review at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Tuesday, February 2 Review at Amy’s Booket List

Wednesday, February 3 Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, February 4 Review at Hallie Reads / Review at Bitch Bookshelf

Friday, February 5 Review at The Lit Bitch / Interview at Books & Benches

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson! Five copies are up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Enter here – The Vanishing at Loxby Manor

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