Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson #LoxbyManor #AbigailWilson #HFVBTBlogTours

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

Publication Date: January 26, 2021

Thomas Nelson

Paperback & eBook; 336 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Regency

A story of second chances and secrets, this mysterious Regency romance will transport you to 19th-century England as one young lady reunites with her childhood love to find his missing sister.

Her friend is missing.

After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth.

Her only hope is the man who broke her heart.

Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner—the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.

The house seems determined to keep its secrets.

As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never return.

Settle in, because once you start The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, you won’t be able to put it down.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

My Review

5 stars / It was amazing

I love the aura of mystery and suspense in this moody Regency! Charity had a wonderful childhood with the neighboring Cavanaugh's, but after several years apart, relationships have shifted and she struggles to find her footing as Seline's disappearance weighs on them all. I admired that she had the confidence to pursue an investigation with the limited resources available to her, and did not give up on her friend. Each character in the story has secrets hanging over them, and the author skillfully alluded to the mysteries and unfolded them slowly throughout the story. I loved that Piers and Charity have a second chance at their young romance, even though it's fraught with difficulties. A steady pace with some twists and surprises made this a book I didn't want to put down!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

Praise for The Vanishing at Loxby Manor

“Vanishing at Loxby Manor cleverly combines Regency romance with Gothic intrigue, and the result is a suspenseful, thoroughly entertaining read. Charming and lovely.”—Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of In the Shadow of Vesuvius

“Like each of Wilson’s novels, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor drew me in from the start and didn’t let go. From the heartfelt characters to the twists that kept me guessing, I relished each turn of the page. Wilson is a master at historical mystery, and I cannot wait for her next story.”—Lindsay Harrel, author of The Joy of Falling

“Abigail Wilson’s latest Gothic romance hits the notes readers have come to expect from her talented pen: romance, shadows and intrigue and a brilliantly executed atmosphere. She is a master at her craft and a rare stand-out in a popular genre.”—Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration

“Weaving a shadow of mystery among the gilded countryside of Regency England, Wilson's tale of love lost, buried shame, and secret societies is a delicious blend of romance and intrigue. Splash in gorgeous historical Regency details, and murder brewing around every stone, and readers will be burning through the pages until the riveting end.”—J'nell Ciesielski, author of The Socialite

“A gothic romance that is filled with great characters and a mystery that unfolds chapter by chapter. A perfect blend of mystery, family relationships, lost years, and star-crossed love. Be warned, you won't be able to walk away from these characters.”—Cara Putman, award-winning author of Flight Risk

About the Author

Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A registered nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the national parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, January 19
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Wednesday, January 20
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Thursday, January 21
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Friday, January 22
Review at The Green Mockingbird

Monday, January 25
Review at Jorie Loves A Story
Review at Library of Clean Reads

Tuesday, January 26
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Wednesday, January 27
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Thursday, January 28
Review at Read Review Rejoice

Friday, January 29
Review at Heidi Reads...
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, January 30
Review at Nursebookie

Monday, February 1
Review at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Tuesday, February 2
Review at Amy's Booket List

Wednesday, February 3
Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, February 4
Review at Hallie Reads
Review at B**** Bookshelf

Friday, February 5
Review at The Lit B****
Interview at Books & Benches

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson! Five copies are up for grabs!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Loxby Manor 

Review: Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family's shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief.

Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they've been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?

My Review

I can always count on this author to transport me to an historical era with well-researched details and  mannerisms true to the time period. The harsh realities of early colonial life make me grateful for those early settlers, but the joys are focused on as well. Selah's relationships with her close family and few friends are what she cherishes the most. I especially enjoyed her father, mother and brother and their personalities and mannerisms. Even though the story seems to start out on the slow side, it allowed me to get a sense of their lives and the pace steadily increases as more complications arise. The turbulent political climate of the town itself, along with the additional strain of tensions with the Native Americans, are the background for the events in the lives of the characters. Secrets from the past are revealed to Selah as her relationship with Xander develops, and it's a bit heartbreaking to learn of injustices unresolved. Their romance is hopeful and sweet among long hard days of work, and their stolen moments together were all the more special. A wonderful reading experience and highly recommended for fans of historical fiction!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Glory Falls by Janine Rosche

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Glory Falls by Janine Rosche, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Glory Falls
Series: Madison River Romance #3 
Author: Janine Rosche
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 12, 2021

Two people scarred by past trauma have a chance to write a new chapter in their lives, overcome loss, and find love in the third entry in the Madison River Romance series. 

Screenwriter Cecilia "Blue" Walker is victim to life's worst plot twists. Having lost her daughter to the depths of the Madison River and her husband to the arms of another woman, she finds herself yearning for something to restore her brittle faith and once-vibrant career. 

Hope arrives in the form of her childhood friend, Thomas Beck, a firefighter with a legacy of larger-than-life rescues who doesn't see himself as a hero. Haunted by his past, Thomas only agrees to a movie adaptation of his story if Blue, his longtime crush, is the screenwriter. 

However, as Blue and Thomas work together to bring his heroism to the big screen, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood threaten to shed light on secrets that could tear their fragile relationship and their lives apart.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

 

EXCERPT

Before he reached the top step, the door opened. Out walked the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. She touched her hair, which had been curled and pinned back giving sight to her lovely neck. The few blond curls that framed her face also brought light to her striking eyes. Blue glanced down at her dress—sky blue on the bodice and lightening in color as the skirt flowed down—and smoothed the front of it. Was she insecure about the way she looked?

No, he didn’t want that. He needed to say something. Too bad there were better odds that his dog, back in Montana, could speak at this moment than him.

Actions would have to do. He finished his steps and met her at the top. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. The moment his lips touched her skin, it was as if an electric current passed between them, so he let the kiss linger several seconds until it got awkward. Robbie said he should be himself, after all. He was nothing if not awkward.

 

BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.

CONNECT WITH JANINE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a Glory Falls prize package including a paperback copy of Glory Falls, a Society 6 Mountain Dusk Tote Bag, “Nevertheless She Persisted” Journal, Huckleberry Haven Candle, Kawaii Pen Shop Feather Bookmarks, and a $10 Amazon Gift Card! (total prize package value $60)

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 25, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 1, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Year of Thorns and Honey by Amy Willoughby-Burle

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Year of Thorns and Honey by Amy Willoughby-Burle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: The Year of Thorns and Honey
Series: Stand-alone follow-up to The Lemonade Year
Author: Amy Willoughby-Burle
Release Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Clean Women's Fiction

Nina is a photographer who really appreciates control. She likes to set up just the right shot with the perfect composition, but life is not always as pretty as her pictures. The lighting is off, the timing is wrong, and the subjects just won’t do like she wants them to. 

She’s engaged to her ex-husband, her teenage daughter is testing all the boundaries, and her childhood memories have a For-Sale sign on them. She’s also keeping a secret about the chance of a lifetime, but what she’ll have to give up to get it might not be worth it. Just when she thinks she’s got it all figured out, an important someone resurfaces and forces her to take a hard look at what she really wants and why. 

Life can be as prickly as it is sweet. Will Nina be able to let go of the perfect picture she had in her head and let her heart find the sweetness that life has to offer.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

 

EXCERPT

 It’s just like me to force roses into bloom—more like me to find my finger pricked while pruning them. A bright red dot of blood blooms on my thumb, while outside, a gray sky parts to release an unexpected snow. It’s 10:00am on New Year’s Day, and already I’m looking for a loophole to get out my resolutions. 

Be more positive. Drink less coffee. 

Oh well. 

I push open the curtains that cover the glass doorway to my balcony, so that I can get a good look at the white nuisance falling from the sky. I don’t like snow, so sue me. 

Them: Isn’t it magical?  Doesn’t it make you feel like all the world is aglow? 

Me: No.

I check the sliding glass door just to make sure it’s locked, as if the snow has fingers and might slip them around the handle from the outside and slide the door open to let its cold self in. Safely on the inside, I turn the terracotta pot that contains my latest project—roses, orangey red ones whose actual name I have forgotten—around so that the sun can find the other side of the bush. Only, there is no sun. I reach into the plant to pluck a withered petal and am pricked again. 

I give up. New resolutions: Drink all the coffee. Wallow in negativity. 

Done. 

 Still, there are blooms on the bush, and that says something. On the way to the coffee pot, I put my thumb to my lips and taste the tang of metal. I shiver, having forgotten to turn the heat up last night and the air in the condo is still and cold. My bare feet rebel against the tiled floor of the kitchen. 

What’s the difference between a resolution and an empty promise anyway? And how does the changing of a single second from one year to the next produce significant change? I mean, I’m still wearing my pajamas, and I can technically say that I haven’t combed my hair since last year. Yes, that does it. Pressure off. No need to pretend to become a better version of myself overnight. 

 

RELATED BOOK

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Willoughby-Burle grew up in the small coastal town of Kure Beach, North Carolina. She studied writing at East Carolina University and is now a writer and teacher living in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband and four children. She writes about the mystery and wonder of everyday life. Her contemporary fiction focuses on the themes of second chances, redemption, and finding the beauty in the world around us.

Amy is the author of the short story collection, Out Across the Nowhere, and the novels, The Lemonade Year and The Year of Thorns and Honey. Amy says, "God didn’t give me the desire to understand algebra or the knowledge of exactly when and where to use a semicolon, and I’m not that great of a speller, but He did give me a wild imagination, the ability to string words together, and the desire to tell stories. I hope I can do Him proud."

CONNECT WITH AMY: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a The Year of Thorns and Honey prize package!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 26, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 2, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: For the Love of Joy
Series: Coastal Hearts
Author: Janet W. Ferguson
Release Date: January 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance / Southern rom-com

Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife—or former wife?—she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down. 

Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret. When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | BookBub

 

EXCERPT

 The sweet haze of Davis’s lips on hers still consumed her, though now he laced her neck with light kisses. Despite the pleasure coursing down to her toes, Joy tried to string together Davis’s profession of his feelings from moments before.

He loved her? Had always loved her and only her? That couldn’t be right.

A gust of wind kicked up, smelling of rain and rifling through her hair.

“Davis?” Her voice came out raspy.

“Hmmm?” His kisses slowed.

Why would she ruin a perfectly wonderful moment?

Reality smacked her. That little boy inside was why. She’d already let Hank become too attached. The good Lord knew she was attached too. She had to know more about how Davis felt. “We need to talk.”

With a breathy moan, he straightened and nuzzled his nose against hers. “Do we have to? Seems like I haven’t kissed you since Moby Dick was a minnow.”

She couldn’t help a chuckle. “We have to.”

Easing back, he brushed a wayward strand of hair away from her cheek, then cradled her face. “What’cha thinking?”

She captured her lower lip between her teeth. A thrashing ramped up in her chest, her heart thudding at the risk of more pain for both of them. But she needed to know. “You said you still love me? Even after everything I’ve—?”

He pressed a finger over her mouth. “We both made mistakes. I do love you, Joy. Always have.”

She caught his hand and searched his face for some hint of anger. None. Maybe he had forgiven her. “But what about Hank? Can you love Hank?”

 

BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner, FHL Readers Choice Winner, and a Christy Award finalist. She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.

CONNECT WITH JANET:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a wetcat Hug Yourself Turkish beach towel, beach bookmark, Meyers lavender soy candle, signed book, note, and shell from the author! Dream beach 2021!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 19, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 26, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Christmas Promise By Janice Carter

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Christmas Promise

By Janice Carter

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 216 Pages

January 1, 2021 by Harlequin Heartwarming

The Christmas season…

Is perfect for new beginnings

After a tragedy seventeen years ago, author Ella Jacobs never wanted to come back to Lighthouse Cove. Not to the whispered rumors, the judgment or even to Ben Winters, the boy she loved. Now she’s returned in time for Christmas—and some much-needed closure. But old flames burn bright. Can Ella find her way back to Ben…or will the secrets of their past extinguish their love for good?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Bookshop | Book Depository | Harlequin

Target | Walmart | BAM | IndieBound | Apple Books | Kobo | GooglePlay

 

Excerpt

 

As soon as he saw Ella’s tall, slender form standing outside the mall’s main entrance with two shopping bags clutched in her hands, all thoughts of the company and this new problem vanished.

She stowed her bags in the back of the car and climbed into the passenger seat. “That was fast!”

Ben’s heart was full at the pleasure in her face. “Successful expedition?”

“Very.”

Her blue eyes stayed on his, and she beamed a smile Ben remembered from years ago. This is the grown-up Ella Jacobs I’ve been waiting to see. He wanted nothing more in the whole world than to draw her close and kiss those cherry-red lips. They stared at one another, their breathing the only sounds in the car. Ben sensed that if he reached for her, she wouldn’t resist. Then another driver honked from behind.

“Guess we should get going,” Ben muttered as he shifted into Drive. He’d just turned onto the highway when she spoke.

“How was your visit?”

Small talk? Ben guessed it was better than acknowledging what they’d both been feeling seconds ago, and he felt a pang of sadness at the gulf between them. One that he wondered if even a kiss could span. But the day wasn’t over yet, and better still, Ella was staying.

About the Author

Writing has been a passion for Janice Carter since elementary school but her second career after teaching began with the publication of a Harlequin Intrigue, many years ago. Since then, she's been very lucky to be able to do what she enjoys most - writing about the connections between people, their families and the places where they live. And of course, love is always at the heart of those connections.

Heartwarming Authors Blog | Goodreads | Twitter

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

Three winners will each receive print copies of His Saving Grace and Her Kind of Hero along with a $10 Amazon eGift Card (open to US/CAN)

Ends January 27, 2021

ENTER HERE