Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 Miss Rebecca Lane is a paid companion to Lady Fitzhoward in the year 1820.  She has finally returned to her home village in England after traveling for the past few years.  She is surprised to find her brother in a state.  He has no room for her in the lodge he lives in, and he would like her to deliver his latest manuscript to a publisher that is staying at the nearby Swanford Abbey. 

 Swanford Abbey has been transformed into a high-class hotel.  Lady Fitzhoward is also staying at the Abbey and Rebecca is able to get a small room that fits into her budget.  Her childhood friend and crush, Sir Frederick, is also staying at the abbey. Rebecca starts to notice strange things such as a mysterious figure gliding around dressed as a nun and hushed secret conversations.  When a guest is murdered, Rebecca fears that it may have been her brother.  As Sir Frederick investigates, will Rebecca be able to prove her and her brother’s innocence?

 I loved this novel.  It is a perfect combination of gothic and romance.  It is like a Jane Austen novel and Charlotte Bronte novel blended together.  I loved all of the gothic details such as the mysterious figure, secret staircases, mysterious deaths, etc.  I also loved that everyone seemed to have a secret, but they all had a good explanation.  Rebecca is a great character.  I loved her world of being the daughter of a vicar but having to be a paid companion.  She’s not quite a lady and not quite a servant and is in a precarious social position.  I also loved Sir Frederick and the secret of his past with his first wife.  I love how he took over the investigation and helped to solve the mystery.    

 I have enjoyed Julie Klassen’s novels in the past.  This one is more of a suspense and historical mystery like The Secret of Pembroke Park.  I enjoyed it.

 Overall, Shadows of Swanford Abbey is a wonderful historical mystery with great characters and story.  I highly recommend it.

 Book Source:  Review Copy from Bethany House / Baker Publishing. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: Shadows of Swanford Abbey

·       Author: Julie Klassen

·       Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Suspense, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (December 7, 2021)

·       Length: (416) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·       Tour Dates: December 6-17, 2021

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.

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…

 

YOUTUBE VIDEO

Author Julie Klassen shares her inspiration for Shadows of Swanford Abbey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPQ24y7dl-E

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

"A brilliant Agatha Christie-esque whodunit by reader favorite Julie Klassen. Set in the creepy atmosphere of an old abbey, Shadows of Swanford Abbey will keep you guessing until the very end. There's plenty of danger, intrigue, and—yes—romance to delight Regency-era lovers of all ages. Truly a don't-miss read!"—Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

“If you enjoy historical fiction with equal blends MYSTERY (suspense) and ROMANCE, then I recommend Shadows of Swanford Abbey with you wholeheartedly without any reservations. This may just be my FAVORITE Klassen novel yet.”—Becky Laney, Becky’s Book Reviews

“Once again Julie Klassen has delivered an intriguing book with all kinds of mystery and a few ghosts added in made it all worth the midnight oil I burned because I didn't want to put it down!”—Lori Parrish, Red Headed Book Lady

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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AUTHOR BIO

 

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.

 

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