Regency gothic _______2.5

This story started with an intriguing proposition. The premise behind this gothic romance set in 1815 was both unusual and fascinating. Located in a sanitarium in Kent, far from London, patients attend the hospital prepared to undergo experimental and alternative methods of healing to combat their various complaints. One such client is Mrs Amelia Pembroke, the widow of a solicitor whose private face was so much darker than his public one. Mr Cluett the owner of Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital practises various aspects of mesmerism. Cluett has been attempting to cure Amelia from “sleeping” sickness. She has been in the sanitarium for two years.
Mr. Cluett is very attached to her. We’re not sure why. Maybe because she’s the guinea pig for his research looking at the patient being able to self-mesmerise.
Confusingly, Amelia is made aware that she will be the sole beneficiary in Cluett's will if she marries one of two men he determines. Once more men are attempting to order her life.
Cluett’s sudden death devolves into the possibility he might have been murdered. With his death Amelia is left trying to work out what to do, who to marry, and should she trust the solicitor sent from her husband’s firm to alter Cluett’s will just prior to his “accident.”
Truly I was all out of patience with Amelia by the time I reached near to the end. I really wanted to enjoy this but the drawn out, lack lustre resolution had me falling asleep. Yes, there’s an aura of suspense, but things sort of fell away.
I guess bullied and abused over years left Amelia unable to move forward quickly enough for me.
I so wanted to enjoy this Regency Gothic tale, but in the end I barely crossed the finish line.

A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In the 18th century Franz Mesmer developed a therapeutic system that revolved around his theory of an invisible natural force possessed by all living things. He referred to the system as mesmerism. Others referred to it as animal magnetism. It was at a mesmeric hospital that Amelia Pembroke found herself nearing her second year of therapy for her sleeping sickness. A situation that became more and more complicated after the announcement of her doctor's new will, quickly followed by his death.

Twilight at Moorington Cross is filled with as many twists and turns as the seen and hidden passages of the Cluett Mesmeric Hospital. Very little about this book is predictable, and that is a feature I greatly enjoy, a feature that one can count on from author Abigail Wilson. With a gothic flavor, this book of mystery, romance, and intrigue is the perfect read for a cold winter day. I highly recommend it.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Twilight at Moorington Cross from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Amelia is in such a hard spot in this book. I've read other reviews that couldn't understand her predicament, but I get it. I don't like letting people down and could see sacrificing my happiness to help so many others. I really felt for her, especially as we got to know Ewan better. I wanted so badly for things to work out for these two wonderful people. As I've come to expect from an Abigail Wilson book, it always seems like so much is standing in the way of things working out, but then there are twists after twists that tie everything up into a nice little bow. This one wasn't maybe as nicely tied in the end, but I enjoyed the twists and turns, intrigue and suspense that kept me reading and even had me jumping ahead at one point to make sure things really would work out.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Amelia Pembrook has spent her entire life at the mercy of others. Orphaned at a young age, Amelia finds herself passed between relatives and guardians. No one wants to keep her once they discover her strange condition. As her condition worsens, others restrict her life. When her late husband commits her to Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital shortly after their marriage, Amelia finds a father figure for the first time.

After spending two peaceful years at the hospital, Mr. Cluett names Amelia in his will—much to her shock. For a Regency-era widow, such a potential windfall shocks everyone. Amelia doesn’t understand Mr. Cluett’s stipulation that she marry within weeks of his death. And she finds his stipulation that she marry one of two men even more perplexing. Neither man seems remotely interested in Amelia.

Within hours of Mr. Cluett’s announcement of his new will, one of the patients finds him dead in his bedchamber. Amelia and the handsome Mr. Hawkins both suspect Mr. Cluett’s death came about from unnatural causes.

They race to find the killer’s identity while Amelia resigns herself to Mr. Cluett’s strange requirement. Both would-be suitors have ample motive for murder—and little motive for marrying her. Except for marriage to her includes her inheritance. If she chooses neither man, the money will go to charity. Amelia finds little to admire in either suitor while admiring much about Mr. Hawkins. Will others always determine her fate?

What I Loved About this Book

Wilson has mastered the Regency gothic genre and readers will find themselves drawn into the moody atmosphere, chilling suspense, and quirky characters. Don’t start reading the book on your way to work! You’ll want to drop everything and keep reading to discover the identity of the murderer.

Fans of Michelle Griep and Julie Klassen will enjoy Twilight at Moorington Cross.

I really enjoy a good Regency and this story is a page turner that kept me involved from beginning to the end. With a cast of interesting characters in an unusual setting, everyone is not as they appear and there are many surprises throughout while the story unfolds. The setting is in a hospital in a private estate and the owner is a doctor of Mesmeric medicine, where he uses magnetism to help patients with ailments. Three patients are currently living in the hospital, including widow Amelia Pembroke, who suffers with a sleep disorder and freezing of muscles brought on by severe emotions, and an older lady and gentleman. The doctor stuns Amelia and others when she is included in his will with some strange stipulations. She has a choice of two gentlemen that she has to choose between and agree to marry one within thirty days of the doctor's death with other demands. The gentlemen are there when he reveals his will to all with the help of his solicitor, Ewan Hawkins. Then the doctor is murdered. With a house of possible suspects. Amelia finds herself in a mess as she does not see that either man will suit. Surprises abound with the reveal of their true identity and then why Amelia was chosen to be a recipient. There are lots of mysteries and suspense in this intriguing and entertaining story. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a great mystery in the historical and/or Regency period.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Amelia's health issues have troubled her all her life, but at least Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital has provided her with a safe place to live - until the day that Mr Cluett tells her he's changed his will to leave everything to her as long as she marries one of two gentlemen he's chosen. Having survived one unpleasant marriage, she's reluctant to enter another, but there seem no other options when Mr Cluett is found dead mere hours later. Fortunately Mr Cluett's solicitor, Mr Hawkins, is ready to help her work out her future plans - and is as determined as her to work out who murdered Mr Cluett. But neither of her two suitors seems to be a man she can trust or care for, whereas the same could not be said of Mr Hawkins. Can the pair solve the mystery of the murder before she irretrievably loses her heart? And what is the right decision to make about her future?

I think this is my favourite book by this author to date - it didn't feel as dark as some, and I particularly enjoyed watching the relationship between Amelia and Mr Hawkins unfold. The mystery was also ingeniously planned and very well executed - the one thing that didn't feel like it quite fitted to me was the idea that Mr Cluett should want to force Amelia to marry one of two men who were obviously in no way men she would want to marry; the reasons given didn't seem sufficient if he really cared about her is is presented. Nevertheless, it's an interesting and well written story. Recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson is a captivating historical romance that is sure to sweep you off your feet. A story with an enigmatic illness, a mysterious manor, an unforeseen inheritance, and a suspicious death all add up to a maelstrom of misfortune. Twilight at Moorington Cross is perfect for fans of historical romance.

A REGENCY MARVEL

Oh how I adored this book -- histfic at its finest! Set in Regency England (1819 in Kent), we meet a character I soon grew to love: Young widow Amelia Pembroke. She suffers from an unidentified sickness, falling asleep at the most unfortunate times, and while in Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital for care, learns her doctor has just named her the main beneficiary in his new will.

One stipulation: She must marry one of two men specified in the will, even though she's fallen for another, solicitor Hawkins.

TWILIGHT AT MOORINGTON CROSS layers gothic, mystery, and romantic elements into a story you MUST read until it's done. A perfect book to savor before a roaring fire, hot libation in hand. Cheers!

Out January 11.
#TwilightatMooringtonCross #NetGalley.

Thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a sort of gothic regency novel. I tried several times to read this novel but couldn't get into it. The characters, mrs. Pemvroke, Mrs. Fuzriy or Major Balfour, Ewan, didn't pull me I to their story. I wanted to like this to find out who Mrs. Pembroke chose but just couldn't get into it.

Abigail Wilson's Twilight at Moorington Cross was a wonderful Regency era novel. I really enjoyed it. Four and a half stars.

Shortly after making Amelia the beneficiary of his will, the owner of Moorington Cross Mr. Cluett dies. Amelia doesn't like the terms of the will. To inherit, Amelia must marry either a cold man or a rake. If she doesn't meet the terms, others will feel the effects of her refusal. Complicating matters, Amelia's benefactor died suspiciously and Amelia is drawn towards the solicitor Mr. Hawkins. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I really enjoy reading this gothic regency romance. I love that Amelia and Mr. Hawkins work together in solving the mystery of the death of Mr. Cluett and a missing document. Since Amelia had seizures, I like that Amelia had friends and a home at Moorington Cross. I love how Mr. Hawkins found ways to work around her seizures to open her world. I also enjoy the twists in the story which kept me guessing until the end.

Absolutely loved Twilight at Morrington Cross! Abigail Wilson knows how to craft a spellbinding mystery along with heartfelt romance. She’s definitely one of my favorite Regency romance authors. This book had all the elements for a great story: a compelling mystery, a creepy gothic estate complete with a closed off wing and secret passageways, multiple suspects, witty banter, and a swoonworthy forbidden romance. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end and the heart-pounding action when the murderer is discovered kept me quickly turning those pages.

I adored Amelia and Ewan! Amelia is intelligent, clever, and compassionate. She’s had a difficult life being shuffled from one guardian to another, suffering from an unknown sleeping ailment, and recently becoming a young widow. After the suspicious death of her doctor, she’s presented with an impossible choice by a handsome attorney. Amelia must choose a husband from two virtual strangers or the entire fortune of Morrington Cross will go to a mesmeric hospital in France. Amelia cares greatly for the other two residents of the clinic and considers them her responsibility. She’s willing to consider the terms of the will if only she wasn’t so attracted to the funny, sweet, charismatic attorney who has caught her attention.

Ewan Hawkins (whom readers of previous books will recognize as the ward of Lord Torrington from Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey) is the attorney who catches Amelia’s eye. He’s full of hidden talent, thoughtfulness, and witty charm. Struggling to do his duty all while trying not to fall in love with Amelia, Ewan tries to advise her the best he can. But, there’s also a potential murderer on the loose and he and Amelia work together to solve the mystery of Mr. Cluett’s suspicious death.

Filled with romance, interesting suspects, fascinating historical details, thrilling suspense and mystery, this book was riveting and difficult to put down. Highly recommend this amazing story and look forward to the next book by Abigail Wilson. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First, let the cover draw you in. Then, let the crafty storyteller effectively captivate you with this atmospheric, gothic, mesmerizing, and intriguing regency romance. Don’t think for a moment you can predict where this going, the outcome, or even the rationale. Abigail Wilson has created a stunning regency mystery that simultaneously honors regency style boundaries while forgoing all patterns of normalcy. The heroine, Amelia, has been sent to this facility because of a sleeping disorder and becomes very fond of the fatherly figure physician treating her. When he dies and stipulates the changes in the will in order to see her provided for, all chaos ensues. The changes threw a wrench in everyone’s plans and the unraveling is gripping and enthralling. I highly recommend this clean, mystery romance.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Twilight at Moorington Cross was such a delight to read. It was quite a ride. The hero was awesome. I loved Ewan. Wow! He was intelligent, witty, and protective of Amelia.
The heroine, Amelia was wonderful. She was also intelligent, witty, and cared for others. The book had suspense, mystery and romance. Things I love in a book.
*I received a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

"Amelia Pembroke is in a unique position in Regency England: She can obtain financial freedom. But in order to do so, she must marry one of two gentlemen. The trouble is, she might be falling in love with another man entirely.

1819, Kent, England - Everything changed the moment Amelia became heiress to Moorington Cross. A young widow and patient at Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital, Amelia is stunned to learn that her doctor - and the only father figure she's ever known - has altered his will naming her his primary beneficiary. Such an opportunity is beyond what any Regency-era woman could dare to dream - especially one with a sleeping disorder that finds her falling asleep at the most random of times.

There is, however, a perplexing condition attached to the will: she must wed one of two named men, wholly unknown to her. Doing so would provide her with a secure future. But how can she marry one of these men when her heart is intrigued by the charming solicitor, Mr. Hawkins?

Everything takes on a new sense of urgency - and danger - when Mr. Cluett is found dead in his bedchamber only hours after announcing his updated will. Now Amelia only has thirty days to decide which man she will marry. But she is just as determined to uncover the truth of her benefactor's demise with the help of Mr. Hawkins. After all, this sudden turn of events couldn't merely be a coincidence - could it?

From award-winning author Abigail Wilson, Twilight at Moorington Cross is a mysterious Regency romance full of intrigue, mesmeric treatments, and abandoned corridors that proves love is the greatest testament of all."

I mean, it's Regency so I'm here, but mesmerism!?! SO HERE!

This is my first read from this author and I was pleasantly surprised. It is definitely more of a murder mystery then I anticipated, but I very much enjoyed it. The story is intriguing and suspenseful and the characters interesting and engaging. I think the midsection of the book was a little drawn out and could have been shortened. I would have liked the ending to have more mention of Henry… (no spoilers) Over all I enjoyed the book and would like to read more from this author. It is a clean, wholesome romance with a large emphasis on suspense and mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Read if you like historical mysteries.
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Amelia is living in a kind of hospital/institution for her sleeping spells. While there, her doctor is murdered and she is set to inherit his estate-if she chooses between two gentlemen to marry.
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Amelia is frustrated and wants to be able to make her own decisions but feels like she must choose because her decision impacts other people too. While the mystery was intriguing, I thought the decision was a little weird and I wanted a bit more romance.
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CW: murder, domestic abuse, abandonment, hospitalization, imprisonment.

In Twilight at Moorington Cross, by Abigail Wilson, you will meet Amelia Pembroke on the opening pages. She is not only a widow, but also a patient at a specialty hospital, where she is being treated for her sleeping disorder. After Mr. Cluett, the gentleman who runs the hospital, names her as the primary beneficiary in his will, he suddenly winds up dead. Amelia has no idea what to do!

Not only does Amelia need to discover the cause of Mr. Cluett’s death, but according to terms of the will she must choose between two men, who will be her new husband. Unfortunately, neither man seem to be an ideal choice!

This situation is further complicated by Mr. Ewan Hawkins, the hospital solicitor. Amelia is drawn to this man as a friend and possibility more; however, she cannot help but wonder if he could be involved in Mr. Cluett’s demise!

When Amelia and Ewan begin to work together in earnest, you will not believe what they discover in the end!

Lots of unknowns and mystery throughout this tale!

I loved the mysteries in this novel. It added so much to the plot. I was constantly guessing what would come next. I thought the romance was very sweet and subtle. I have read and enjoyed other books by Abigail Wilson. I had a slight problem understanding and getting into the Mesmeric Hospital and treatment given there. I had to remind myself it was from 1819 time period. I loved her characters even though many were not lovably. I found it to be a very interesting book and enjoyed the read.
I want to thank Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions in the review are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading Twilight at Moorington Cross because I had read and enjoyed other books from this author. This book, however, didn’t live up to its predecessors.

Mrs. Amelia Pembroke has had a difficult life. We didn’t learn anything of her parents, how they met their deaths, or how they came to leave their young daughter’s future so unplanned. We do know that she was in the hands of a guardian by the age of five, and that guardian was a loving and caring one. Although not loving and caring enough to assure she was protected – he left for France and left her in the care of yet another guardian. She was passed from uncaring guardian to uncaring guardian until she was old enough to marry and then she was foisted off on an unsuspecting bridegroom. You see, Amelia has a sleeping disorder (narcolepsy I assume) and is apt to fall asleep at the most inopportune times. In times of severe stress, her entire body locks, and she falls – totally paralyzed. None of her guardians could deal with that – nor could the bridegroom who knew nothing of the disorder when he married her. They were only married a week before he placed her in the Cluett Mesmeric Hospital where she has been for the last two years. Though she is now a widow, she is still in residence at the hospital.

Ethan Hawkins has been summoned to the Cluett Mesmeric Hospital to formalize Mr. Cluett’s will. It is definitely a strange will, but it isn’t his job to judge – it is only his job to assure that the will is legal and binding. He is amazed when Mr. Cluett decides to share the contents of the will with the beneficiaries as soon as it is finalized. However, Mr. Cluett wants all who will be affected to be aware of the clauses in the will and what it will mean to them. You see, Mr. Cluett is leaving his considerable fortune and property to Amelia – as long as she marries one of two gentlemen he has named. Should she choose not to honor that clause in the will, the ENTIRE fortune and property will be awarded to the mesmeric school in France.

Later that same evening, Mr. Cluett is found dead in his bath. Accident or murder? The bumbling magistrate rules it an accident, but Ethan and Amelia are sure it was murder. Everyone in the home was accounted for at the time of death, so it couldn’t be one of them. Or could it? The house was locked up for the evening, so it couldn’t have been anyone from the outside. Or could it?

The characters were almost cardboard and I just couldn’t find any affinity with them, and the mystery was so very slow – and – well – boring – until you got to the end and then all sorts of weird and unexpected things just came out of the woodwork. Almost the entire book has Amelia vacillating between the two possible suitors – but she really prefers Ethan – but she really has to choose one of the other two men – but she really prefers Ethan - and on and on. It was very tiresome and really didn’t move the story along. I will certainly try another book by this author, but I cannot recommend this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.