Books of the Year ~ Bronze Medal Winner
Sandra Byrd
Howard Books
978-1476717869
BACK COVER:
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, would 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:
Hot dang! I'm a jaded reader, so it's a rare occurrence when I find a new author that I actually like. Sandra Byrd is the lucky winner this year. In her book, MIST OF MIDNIGHT, I discovered some sweet turns of phrases in a setting that I wouldn't mind packing my bags and moving into right now.
What's not to love about a manor home in England? A handsome captain who may or may not be a bad boy? Lots of intrigue and a French maid that you kind of want to slap? All these ingredients make for a fine read to cozy up with this winter.
I loved heroine Rebecca Ravenshaw. She's brave, with just enough fear to make her believable. The entire story is told in her point of view. Honestly, I would've liked to have been in Captain Luke Whitfield's head a time or two to know his reactions and feelings to situations.
There's a twist at the very end that I didn't see coming. An interesting one -- that I won't give away. Just know there's a "Surprise" after the credits, so to speak.