Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Mist of Midnight

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
MIST OF MIDNIGHT

In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

My Review:

Okay -- seriously -- if you read only one book this year make sure it is this one. Yes, I think I really mean that! Because this is beyond incredible. Hello -- Gothic romance at it's absolute best. Be still my Victoria Holt loving heart! Just thinking about this story sends me into a near swoon of spine-tingling, toe-curling ecstasy!

Exquisite details create the classic dark ambiance of this genre. Just the name, Rebecca Ravenshaw screams Gothic heroine, doesn't it? And an enigmatic Captain, usurper of all that is hers. Hero or villain or something in between? Then there's the mystery -- questions Rebecca asks that no one will answer. Meddling servants. Two-faced friends. Distrustful locals. A bleak shroud of danger that hangs over Rebecca page after page.

The characterization and historical aspects are sublime. Such incredible details, from mannerisms to the whole upstairs downstairs vibe and, of course, the social proprieties of the day. It all just thrilled me right down to my toes. Still does. And, someone hand me a paper bag to hyperventilate in, Mist of Midnight is the first of a new series entitled Daughters of Hampshire but -- sob -- they are being released one a year so we have to wait until 2016 when Bride of Poseidon comes out. I might just have to read this one a couple of times over to get me through until then.

In case you missed it -- I loved this book!!!! And highly recommend it!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Mist of Midnight please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April  26 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!


51 comments:

  1. I already have ladies from the church library lined up to read this book.
    Hope I win.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. When you said if you only read one book this year make sure it is this one, I knew it had to be a book I'd have to read! Thanks for the chance to win it.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. LOL -- I'm a bit passionate about this one, rubynreba. Honestly, I adored it!!!! What can I say? Sigh. Good luck.

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  3. Okay, with such high praise, Kav, I've got to throw my name in the hat for this one! Hope I win! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. I am a bit enthusiastic, aren't I? Well, it deserves oodles of enthusiasm. Good luck, Cheryl

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  4. Thank you for your fabulous review! I love Gothic romance. I couldn't wait to read your take on this book. I was extremely happy to have been able to get a free copy, but wasn't sure I wanted to read it. Now I will for sure! THX!! Please don't enter me...

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    1. Oh yes, Diana, you totally should read it. At least I think you should! What made you hesitate? It's very Victoria Holtish if that helps.

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    2. The blurb and everything sounded like my cup of tea. I was so excited about it, I showed the cover to the group on our blog and what some endorsers said about it. However, I just don't care for books written in 1st person. I gave up being an influencer to a very famous author, bc all of her books were in 1st person narrative. You know I have a thing about the number one. Lol On a serious note, if the book is really good I can overlook that -- I think.

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    3. Hmmmm....I think the first person narrative really works for Gothic novels. I'm trying to think if they are all written that way. It makes it edgier because we are seeing events fold through the heroine's eyes only so can't justify why the hero does something because we're as in the dark as she is. The words flow really well, so I hope it doesn't detract from your enjoyment of this novel.

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    4. Probably not, in this case. Judging from what so many readers and reviewers have said against first person narrative, I'm surprised authors still write them. But obviously that is the best style for them.

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    5. Sometimes I think it just lends itself to the story. You get deeper into only one point of view and that can be pretty intense. Plus you have to see things unfold right along with the heroine -- no clues into the hero's thought process. I don't mind reading first pov if it's done well. Hate when it's in present tense though. LOL

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  5. I love your review and now I am excited about this book! Thank you, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  6. Great review! This is a new to me author. The plot sounds very intriguing!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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    1. This is my first Sandra Byrd novel as well. She did a very popular historical series -- about ladies in waiting, I think. Anyway -- I loved this one. Good luck, Heidi.

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  7. I just finished this book (so please don't enter me) but I totally agree with you! It is a true Gothic mystery, I loved it so much! It is definitely on my top five list this year! Great review!

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    1. Thanks, Lis. I'm really enjoying the Gothic mystery revival in Christian fiction. So glad you loved it too. Gives credence to my ramblings. :-)

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  8. Ohhhh I do love these type of stories, that time is so intriguing, will be reading this one for sure. rrwalter34ATgmailDOTcom

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  9. This sounds like something I'd like :)
    dkstevensneAToutlook DoTC OM

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  10. "If you read only one book this year make sure it is this one." I love it when you say things like this, Kav!! And I just noticed that we have even more in common because I love gothics. Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney, Madeleine Brent - read them all back in the 70s and re-read them today. I have Mist of Midnight through NetGalley, so don't enter me. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your thoughts, Kav.

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    1. Oh, Carole, I'm with you on Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney but I haven't heard of Madeleine Brent. Must check her out. Hoping you enjoy Mist of Midnight as much as I did!

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    2. Here's Madeleine Brent's page on FantasticFiction, Kav: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/madeleine-brent/

      "Madeleine" is actually a man, the publishers of gothic romances just didn't think female readers would be drawn to a male author, hence the pseudo. The books are excellent, though. I haven't read all of these books, but especially loved the first two. I need to read Tregaron's Daughter again! I don't know where the unappealing covers on this page came from, because my books have wonderful covers.

      Mary Stewart was a favorite of mine. I read Madame, Will You Talk? again last year - loved it even more than back in the 70s, but had to laugh at the whole story/romance taking place over three days. Gotta love fiction!

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    3. Oh, thanks for the info on Madeleine Brent's books, Carole. And yes, I probably would have been dissuaded by a male author so the pen name was a good call.

      I think I've read all of Mary Stewart's books -- including her children's. Such a storyteller.

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  11. I am so intrigued by this book! Really want to read it! :)

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  12. oops - forgot to leave my email address - carriemschmidt (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. And intrigued you should be. It's awesome. Good luck, Carrie.

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  13. I'm currently reading Mist of Midnight and am enjoying it very much. It reminds me so much of the books I read years ago by Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Daphne Du Maurier. It's wonderful gothic romantic suspense.
    You don't need to enter me in the giveaway since I have a copy on my Kindle.

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    1. Thanks for sharing, Pam. Amazing how many of us enjoy this gothic genre. It was lost for a time, I think. Thankfully so many good authors like Holt and Whitney are available at the public library to keep the genre alive and now we're getting new authors writing. Yay!

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  14. This sounds like a book I would love to read.
    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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  15. Loved your review, can't wait to read this one! Would love to win it here!

    Thanks for the giveaway. : )

    sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

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  16. Wow, your review has just blown me away. The cover really grabs me as well. This is just my type of book. I am so looking forward to reading this, hopefully soon. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway opportunity !
    Deanne
    Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. LOL -- I enthuse good reader vibes over this one, don't I? Good luck, Deanne.

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  17. You sure did Kav, but I can see why !

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  18. ooooo This sounds good! :)

    Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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    1. So glad you told us how to pronounce your name -- and guess what? I've been thinking it just that way. How cool is that? Beautiful name. Good luck, Amada.

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    2. Thank you! :) And that is AWESOME! Usually people that notice it's spelling do a hard D instead of the hard TH. :/ I pretty much answer to it all except AmaNda! LOL! You are on the ball Kav! ;)

      Hugs, Amada

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    3. Thanks Amanda...oopps Amada!!! :-)

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  19. I would love to read a gothic romance.
    melissa dot snoopy at yahoo dot com

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    1. Maybe the will be your chance, Melissa. Good luck!

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  20. Ah, Gothic romance! Be still my heart. India, England, captains? Meant to me mine! :) :) :)

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. LOL - you're funny, Janka. But yes, I can see you and this book are destined for a wonderful interlude together. Good luck.

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  21. Please enter me!!! I would love to read this one as I enjoyed her other books. Thanks so much!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. This is the first book I've read by her so I have some catching up to do. Good luck.

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  22. I love your review and I can't wait to swept away by Mist of Midnight. Thanks, Kav!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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