Monday, February 11, 2019

In the Shadow of Croft Towers

GIVEAWAY
WILSON, ABIGAIL
IN THE SHADOW OF CROFT TOWERS

Croft Towers holds more than its share of secrets...and Sybil is determined to uncover them all.

When Sybil Delafield's coach to Croft Towers was robbed by highway men, she should have realized that her new position as companion to old Mrs. Chalecroft would be no ordinary job. Upon Sybil's arrival, Mrs. Chalecroft sneaks into her room in the dark of night, imploring her to relay messages to town that are to stay hidden from the rest of the family. Who exactly is Sybil working for and what do the messages contain?

When fellow passengers of the robbed coach are later murdered, Sybil's hunt for the truth takes on a new urgency. The only person she can rely on is Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Chalecroft's godson, but under all his charms he, too, leads a double life. Sybil must decide if he is the one honest voice she can trust, or if he is simply using her for his own advances.

With murderers, smugglers, and spies on the loose, nothing -- and no one -- in Regency England is what they claim. Can Sybil even trust what she knows about herself?

My Review:

Eeeeppp...Regency...Gothic...Mystery....Danger....Romance....I....I....I...can't find the words. In the Shadow of Croft Towers is speechless redefined! Truly indescribably good.

I was riveted from the very first sentence -- "I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had never learned the truth." Wilson creates the moody ambiance of a classic Gothic novel to sweet perfection. From highwaymen to an ancestral home shrouded in mystery and everyone who lives there harbors secrets. And I mean everyone! Some of them deadly. And the way the author weaves it all together is absolutely sublime.

So beautifully written that it begs to be read out loud and savored. All told from Sybil's first person point of view. I get delicious shivers of delight just thinking about it. She's the newly arrived lady's companion that takes everyone by surprise. Caught between upstairs and downstairs -- not quite a servant but definitely not one of the family either. But she feels inexplicably drawn to her elderly charge whose failing health has the family gathered round. They maintain the old woman is losing her mind, but Sybil can't help but feel there is a method to Mrs. Chalecroft's madness and she is soon thrust into the midst of desperate intrigue and danger.

And then we have Mr. Sinclair. Brush off your fainting couches, order in an extra stock of smelling salts and prepare to be...swoonified! Oh dear, I think I'm going speechless again. He's so...so...very Regency-gentleman-cloaked-in-mystery-masked-by-sardonic-wit-with-a-touch-of-heated-glances. Thud, that's me bouncing off my fainting couch again. I need to get that spring fixed. My swooning is turning into more of a jack-in-the-boxing which isn't at all the effect I'm after. Just know that Mr. Sinclair will turn your mind to mush and put curls in your toes and encourage irregular heartbeats in an all too regular manner. I can't even...

An atmospheric delight of intrigue and romance!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of In the Shadow of Croft Towers, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 16 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

58 comments:

  1. Sounds intriguing, Kav! Count me in, please!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. It's fantabulously intriguing! Good luck, Cheryl!

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  2. Fantabulous review, Kav! I really enjoyed this as well. Here's a FYI that'll make you SQUEEP!!! She has a book releasing this summer called Midnight on the River Grey! Included in book description, "darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall, midnight rides, etc." Oh yeah!

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    1. SSSSSQQQQQQQQUUUUUEEEEEPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!! This summer????? That's like two seasons away (providing winter loses his grip on my part of the world!)

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    2. I think I heard your squeep on my part of the world. hahaha Yep, in July. When we're swimming in sweat. Hard to believe, but that WILL happen again some day. lol

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  3. I love your description of Mr Sinclair.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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    1. Just seeing his name gives me palpitations! lol Good luck, Jana!

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  4. Your review makes me want to read this one!!! Thanks for the giveaway, Kav!
    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    1. Yes! You really, really, really want to read this on! Good luck, Jackie!

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  5. I need!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Well, it's true Diane...lol! Been wanting this since I first started seeing it :-) What reader doesn't NEED books...haha!!!

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    2. You definitely NEED this book in the worst of ways! Good luck, Trixi!

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    3. I heard the desperation in that "I need", Trixi. You do need!!

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    4. LOL!!! You guys crack me up!

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  6. New author to add to my TBR list of authors. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Her debut -- but now Abigail Wilson is high on my must-read-as-soon-as-the-book-comes-out authors. Good luck, Kim!

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  7. Shadows..Smugglers..Spies..Sybil..
    Sublime..Sardonic..Swoonified..Sinclair,
    All the yeSSSSSSSS! 😍

    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!! Good luck, Tracccccccccey!!!!

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  8. I’m so jealous that you read this before me. Haha 😆 Fingers crossed for this one. Thank you.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Oohh -- book twinning jealousy in reverse. You're usually beating me to the good'uns. Good luck, Lucy!

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  9. I just love the cover of this book!!

    dmandres5 at gmail dot com

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    1. It's a beauty for sure! Good luck, Melissa!

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  10. Thank you for your review on "IN THE SHADOW OF CROFT TOWERS". WOW! What an opening line! Sure had me sitting up straight and paying attention. Love the lovely cover too. I would love the opportunity to read this great sounding book. Appreciate the change to win a copy.
    2clowns@arkansas.net

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    1. It's such an amazing story, Kay. You really want to read it! Good luck, Kay!

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  11. I've been reading good things about this book. After your review, I know I MUST put this high on my wish list. Thanks for the chance to win In Shadow of Croft Towers.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Yep --- a must read for sure! Good luck, Pam!

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  12. I'm so glad to hear this is a good one! I've been intrigued since the first time I saw the cover (which is very eye-catching) !! Fainting couch is dusted and ready ;)
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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    1. I like a prepared reader. :-) Good luck, Nicole!

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  13. Read it and loved it! Your review is spot on, Kav. The very first sentence pulled me in as well. Love discovering a new author!

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    1. I love a good opening sentence! Sometimes I like to browse opening sentences at the bookstore. So much fun to imagine what's going to come next. Good luck, Pam.

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  14. I want to be swoonified!! LattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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    1. Yes you do! We should all be swoonified at least once a week! lol Good luck, Susan!

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  15. I've read some great reviews and endorsements for this book! I always love finding a new-to-me author!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  16. I've had my eye on this book! It looks and sounds wonderful! Thanks for the review, Kav!

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    1. Whoops! whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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    2. It's so amazing, Winnie! You have to read it! Good luck!

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  17. From what I remember, this is a debut novel... sounds like a great new author to be on the lookout for.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Yes -- and what a debut!!!! Good luck, Patty!

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  18. Wow you make it sound extra good 👍
    Thanks for sharing this book with us 😍❤ Thanks for the chance to 😃💖😍💗
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com 😍 😁 😍

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  19. What a book!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  20. Thanks for your incredibly, awesome review, Kav! Everything I love to read in historical fiction!! I am so looking forward to reading this book!!!
    ~Alison Boss

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I know right -- it ticks all the boxes and it does it all so well. You have to read this one, Alison. Good luck!

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  21. I've really been wanting to read this book since I first heard about it. I like to try debut authors and I have to say that with the last two I've tried, and loved, I have high hopes for this one.

    Blessings!
    Jasmine A.
    montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I love trying out debut authors too -- and this book is amazing! You have to read it, Jasmine! Everyone has to. lol Good luck!

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  22. I am not at all familiar with this author but she sounds wonderful! Thanks for the introduction!

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    1. This is her debut novel so we're getting in at the very beginning of her career! Good luck, CC!

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  23. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I was so tempted to pre-order this one, but since she was a new author, I chose to wait. Kicking myself. tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I was intrigued the first time I heard about it and then I read a couple of early reviews on blogs and I couldn't wait any longer! You have to read this one, Terrill. Somehow. Some way! Good luck!

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    2. No better encouragement than that!

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