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!