When Miss Rebecca Lane returns to her home village after a few years
away, her brother begs for a favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and
deliver his manuscript to an author staying there who could help him get
published. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she
reluctantly agrees.
The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is
rumored to be haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange
things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently
through the abbey's cloisters. For all its renovations and veneer of
luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with whispers of the
past--including her own. For there she encounters Sir
Frederick--magistrate, widower, and former neighbor--who long ago broke
her heart.
When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey,
Sir Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers
that several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane
and her brother. Haunted by a painful betrayal in his past, Sir
Frederick searches for answers but is torn between his growing feelings
for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly
hiding something. . . .
Review:
It took me a little while to get truly invested in this story, but by the end, I was caught - hook, line, and sinker! Reading this story also made me want to go visit an old monastery. One, because ruins fascinate me, and two, because I was having a hard time picturing what the cloisters and all the other parts of the building looked like. I admit, I'm used to reading Regency-era stories, so it kept throwing me for a loop whenever more modern conveniences were mentioned.
The author does a good job keeping the reader guessing. The reveal at the end was completely surprising to me, and very believable. All in all, an enjoyable story, filled with intrigue, mystery, family drama, and yes, even some romance.
About the Author:
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Andrea. Klassen is a gifted writer. I always enjoy her historical detail and character development. Setting the story at an ancient abbey was a great setup for the Gothic elements. I am looking forward to her next book.
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