I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I have generally enjoyed Abigail Wilson’s books so far, but I’m sad to say that Twilight at Moorington Cross felt a bit lacking to me. The premise is great, but I can’t help but feel like it didn’t fully deliver on it.
The book has a similar blend of mystery and romance to Wilson’s other work, although I feel like the effort went more into creating the right atmosphere for the mystery than developing the romance. I was consistently invested in the questions around Mr. Cluett’s mysterious death. The atmosphere is well-rendered, and I enjoyed the twists and turns as I tried to figure out what happened and who did it along with Amelia.
But the interpersonal drama felt tepid. I could understand Amelia as a character to an extent…if financial freedom is on the line for you, especially as a woman, you would consider the conditions. And given marriages weren’t primarily for love anyway at l the time, it didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility. And her having someone she’s interested in as a tempting alternative also felt believable. But other than the central couple (and even them at times), I struggled to maintain my investment in the characters and what was going on with them.
While this book didn’t work for me as well as her prior books did, I will say that I still believe Abigail Wilson is talented, and this was a case of the book not working for me. I can already tell from early reviews that, while some share similar sentiments, there are others who loved this one. If you like historical romances with a mystery plot and no sex, it might still be worth checking out to see if you like it.

Mesmerizing!

A mysterious illness, a murder, and an unwelcome stipulation to a will combine to create quite the conundrum for heroine Amelia Pembroke. Will she be forced to marry one of the two unwelcome suitors? And when the murderer sets his sites on her, will she be able to escape to find a true love of her own? Absolutely mesmerizing! (Pardon the pun!).

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

I love that Abigail Wilson’s books offer clean, fresh romance, as well as some intrigue and excitement. Twilight at Moorington Cross is certainly intriguing. When Amelia, who had been a patient at a hospital, is suddenly named heir to the doctor’s fortune, confusion is just the beginning. The stipulation of the will is that she must marry one of two suitors however. Then, the doctor is murdered that very day! As she and Ewan, the doctor’s, and now her, solicitor, set out to discover what happened and why, they find themselves falling for each other. But she must choose one of the two men in the will, or she and the other patients will lose everything.
I just say, I didn’t see the ending coming. I had it down to two people and I was wrong on both counts. Very good book. Kept me guessing until the end! Definitely a great read!

3.5 stars

A sweet story peppered with a bit of mystery. I loved the dynamic between the characters and the way things evolved from friendship to more. I loved the location. I loved the twists and the ambiguous situations.
Although it is a little bit repetitive and dragged in the middle, the romantic story is quite delightful and heartwarming.

A great nice, cozy book!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for allowing me to read this book!

This has the trappings of a Regency Gothic…a mysterious manor being used as a mesmeric hospital, a strong heroine facing impossible decisions and a questionable death.

Amelia, a hospital patient is surprised to learn she has been named heir to the manor with one caveat, she must marry one of two men. Unfortunately, she’s falling for another.

Some twists and turns, a sweet romance and a decent read.

My thanks to #NetGalley , #ThomasNelson and the author for providing me the free early arc of #TwilightAtMooringtonCross for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson is a romantic, mysterious Regency read. Main character, Amelia Pembroke, must choose between two suitors in order to inherit the estate, Moorington Cross, she has been living in while being treated for the last few years. The only problem is she may love someone else all together. She has no idea who to trust, and neither does the reader.

I am a huge fan of Abigail Wilson’s stories, and I enjoyed this one. There were several plot twists, surprises and love interests. The author does a nice job writing a happily-ever-after that still leaves you guessing to the end. Exploring Moorington Cross as a reader was marvelous and I wished to visit.

I greatly enjoyed this delightful story and highly recommend it for fans of mystery, regency, and gothic romance. Being swept away to Regency England was extremely enjoyable and I highly recommend Twilight at Moorington Cross.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book and not required to write a review.

Twilight at Moorington Cross, by Abigail Wilson, combines regency romance with gothic mystery. Amelia is a young widow and patient at Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital. When her doctor dies, under curious circumstances, she learns he has altered his will. She is the primary beneficiary, but only if she marries one of two men named in the will. While her financial future would be secure, Abigail is not sure she wants to be attached to either man, especially when she is attracted to the solicitor, Mr. Hawkins?

Mysteries abound and they can only be solved among the old forbidden corridors of Moorington Cross.

Twilight at Moorington Cross is beautifully written. Amelia has a hard decision to make, mary someone she doesn’t love, or loose everything. I had a hard time putting down this book all the way to the very end. Well done.

I have read and enjoyed 2 earlier books by Abigail Wilson and was looking forward to Twilight at Moorington Cross. I was excited to receive an advanced digital copy from NetGalley to review.
This book is about a young widow, Amelia, who inherits her doctor’s estate on the condition that she marry one of two men he has selected within 30 days of his death. However, just after her doctor lets her know that he’s written her into his will and introduces her to the two men he has chosen, he is murdered. The 30 day countdown has begun, and anyone could be the murderer. Interesting premise, right? Sadly, it ended up being a bit disappointing to me.
Wilson did a good job creating a dark, gothic atmosphere, and the last few chapters were filled with the fun twists and turns I’ve come to expect from her books. Unfortunately, I found the first two-thirds of the book to be slow, repetitive, and filled with plot holes.
For example, too much time was spent circling back to Amelia’s matrimonial choices without providing new insights to the dilemma. Also, at one point we learned there was a dilapidated section of the mansion/hospital that was locked, and only the housekeeper had the key to unlock the door. Amelia got it and turned it over to her solicitor, Ewan (a third romantic interest to her complicated situation). We later learn that other characters are locking and unlocking the door. How did they do that if there was only one key?
Twilight at Moorington Cross definitely fits the Proper Romance genre (more Proper Romance than Christian Fiction in my opinion). Sadly, it’s not the caliber of writing that I’ve come to expect and enjoy from Abigail Wilson.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#TwilightatMooringtonCross #NetGalley

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 taurn of events couldn’t merely be a coincidence—could it?
I just couldn't like this book which is in a genre that I devour but I couldn't get into it.
With a will that named her as primary beneficiary this is a tale that takes on a good storyline.

I have enjoyed past books from Abigail Wilson and this one was quite good as well. A manor house, a strange will requesting a young widow marry one of two prechosen men, skeptical medical procedures, a murder, a mystery, a bevy of suspects......all the ingredients for a great story!

Quite like reading a mystery by Agatha Christie, Wilson populates her story with good characters (even the not so nice ones) and manages to confuse the reader so that we never guess what is happening. I loved it! An old manor house, with a wing that nobody ever visits and is crumbling, was the perfect setting for this one. I confess, I never once figured out what she was going to do with this. She gives us more than one twist and then ties it all up rather neatly and happily. Well done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve enjoyed other books by Abigail Wilson but I did not think Twilight at Moorington Cross was very good. It felt less mature than her previous books, almost like an old draft she pulled out and polished up after writing and publishing her other books.

The plot is cliched almost to the point of satire – it reminded me of Northanger Abbey at times, although not in a good way. The old mansion with the boarded-up wing, the mysterious and dour employee, the awkward dance with the man she can’t marry (can she?), the reclusive patient spouting gibberish (or is it?), the missing document (is it a will?). And having the lead character narrate certainly ensured for me as the reader that nothing truly bad was going to happen to her. Amelia suffers from sudden sleeping spells and paralysis, and I thought that was going to play into the plot a lot more than it did. The endless indecision of which man (she didn’t love) to marry was tiring. Wilson is definitely off her game with this one.

I read an an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

"Twilight at Moorington Cross" is a romance set in 1819 in England. The author used a lot of incorrect words (like a woman referred to herself as a 'widower' instead of a 'widow'), odd phrases ("her voice a sickly gray"), and description errors (Amelia entered the library but left the drawing room). Some descriptions didn't clearly convey the scene. For example, three people read the discovery of the murder scene and we couldn't agree if only the head was underwater (with the man leaning over the edge of the bathtub) or his whole body. These many errors were distracting from the story. I'm hoping some of this was fixed in the final copy.

Further, some scenes didn't even make sense: They unlocked the doors to the unused, about-to-collapse east wing, entered, and then got locked into that wing. It didn't even occur to them to use their own key to get out (as the key was last in Ewan's hand). Trapped, they decided to abandon searching for the critical document in favor of chatting and making out. In the morning, they heard Amelia's maid's footsteps below them on the lower floor doing her normal routine...even though no maids go into the abandoned, dusty east wing. Hm.

The main characters were interesting enough but weren't very well developed. The mystery could have been solved rather quickly if they'd demanded answers from the people they knew had the answers. Which they finally do, after repeatedly abandoning their searches for clues in favor of chatting. The romantic bit was their falling in love as they learned to trust and respect each other. The forced marriage choice was much commented on but Amelia hardly spent any time with those men and didn't care for either. I'd guessed several of the twists, but there were so many at the end that it was nearly impossible to keep everything straight. There was no sex or bad language.

Twilight at Moorington Cross is another regency era gothic romance from one of the genre's best, and I couldn't wait to dive right into it. Over the years, Abigail Wilson has written many fantastic stories, and I always know I'm in for a treat when I have the chance to pick up one of her books.

This book truly has all the elements anyone could have ever wanted in a mystery novel. A mysterious disease, a unexpected inheritance, untrustworthy suitors, a dashing hero trying to help our protagonist piece everything together, and a sinister setting that overlays the entire story.

I feel with every book that Abigail Wilson writes, the mystery element just gets better and better, and this one really blew me away. I thought I had pieced together several big pieces of it, but I was completely wrong, and couldn't honestly believe the direction everything ended up going. I also loved the fact that she chose to make a minor character in a previous story the male protagonist in this one, as that was definitely an extra fun surprise for readers of her previous works.

I also really enjoyed the romance, and the depiction of Amelia's health struggles. I really felt for her, and it was refreshing to see her find someone that truly respected everything she's had to go through.

There were only two small things that kept this from being a five star read for me. It honestly took me quite awhile to be invested in this story, and that's never been the case with this author's stories for me before. The first third of the story really dragged, and I had a hard time getting into it. The rest of the story totally makes up for the slow start however. And secondly, I thought the mesmeric stuff was kind of weird and made me slightly uncomfortable, especially in a Christian fiction novel.

Overall, this was another great read by one of my favorite authors, but definitely not my favorite of her books.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After reading and enjoying Ms. Wilson’s Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, I was looking forward to reading Twilight at Moorington Cross. After a rather slow start, I found this Regency romance story gripping and suspenseful. The Gothic setting harbors murder, duplicity, and surprising revelations encased by an unusual romantic situation created by a peculiar will. A cast of unique characters and a complex and engaging, though slow moving, plot showcase the author’s excellent storytelling skill. Bits of humor break the tension and add to the enjoyment of the read. Although there are connections to the previous book, this one works well as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this book and recommend it especially for lovers of Regency period mystery and romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder, mystery, romance, arranged marriages, illegitimacy, and intrigue! Abigail Wilson’s Twilight at Moorington Cross has it all. Amelia Pembroke, a widow and patient at Mr. Cluett’s mesmeric hospital, can secure her future and her adopted family if she will choose between two suitors. However, there’s the issue of her solicitor, the captivating Mr. Hawkins. What’s a brilliant and narcoleptic (yes- that part) woman to do?

Wilson’s book is well-written, funny, and a page turner with lush scenes and developed characters. Fans of Jane Austen and Mia Vincey will enjoy.

This romance checks off so many boxes for the readers I work with -- it is not too spicy or graphic in terms of love scenes, and in addition to the Regency-era setting, there is a bit of a mystery involved to add extra interest. I truly look forward to recommending this title.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
I really struggled through the first half of this book. It could have been my mood, but the first half for me was slow, the characters lacked urgency, and I just was frustrated with the whole of it. But once I passed the 50% mark, everything got faster, more in depth, and more exciting. Amelia and Ewan finally made progress on the mystery of Mr. Cluett's death, finally got a little more romantic, and the pieces of who's who finally started falling into place.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions here are my own.

Amelia Pembroke has never been in control of her future. Afflicted with fits that deprive her of movement, she was shuttled from one relative to another during childhood until her despicable husband places her in an institution directly after their marriage. Now a widow at Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital, Amelia finds herself the beneficiary of Dr. Cluett’s will. The condition, however, is that she must marry one of two highly unsuitable gentlemen in the space of thirty days. And Ewan Hawkins, the handsome and devoted solicitor, is there to make sure she chooses the best one.

Badgered and beset, Amelia struggles with her obligations to the other inmates at the society and her own growing feelings for Ewan. If she refuses the inheritance, she will not be able to care for her destitute friends, but if she chooses one of her suitors, then she loses any chance to be with Ewan. Just what was Mr. Cluett thinking when he drafted this absurd will? And just who was Mr. Cluett anyway when nothing is as it seems?

In this atmospheric and mysterious novel, the science of mesmerism in Regency England is explored. Amelia enters the pages as a sympathetic heroine, while Ewan is a stoic and honorable hero throughout. The climax of the book reveals secret after secret in an action-packed finale, making this a Regency novel of romantic suspense not to be missed.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is my first Abigail Wilson book and I liked it. The premise was extremely creative and I wasn't able to solve the mystery until the author was ready to reveal it. I wish the story had been a bit faster paced but I hung in there and the payoff was worth the effort.