I really enjoyed this gothic regency romance. It gripped me from the very beginning, completely immersing me in the story, and never let go.

The characters were great. Lewis had me so intrigued. He had such a horrible reputation. The townspeople avoided him at all costs, yet he was so sweet and charming whenever he appeared on the page. Were the rumors about him true? I was very curious about where that bad reputation came from.

Rebecca was feisty, courageous, and stubborn. I will say that there were a few times I got really frustrated with her, though. She'd stubbornly not listen to the wise advice from those around her and would actually do the exact opposite, which, inevitably, led to her finding herself in dangerous situations. I wanted to shake some sense into her sometimes.

My favorite characters were probably Aunt Jo and Sophie. Aunt Jo was loving and such a great companion and Sophie was pretty much the best kind of dog you could ask for.

This first book I've read by Abigail Wilson certainly won't be my last. I'm very much looking forward to reading more from her. If you're a fan of mystery-filled historical romances that feature a slow-building romance, I highly recommend this novel.