Review: Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd

Title: Mist of Midnight
Author: Sandra Byrd
Publisher: Howard
Pages: 374
ISBN: 978-1-4767-1786-9
Publication Date: March 10th, 2015

Synopsis:

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, will she suffer a similar fate as the first "Rebecca"?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intriguing and danger, Mists of Midnight will leave you breathless.

Review:
I've been anxiously awaiting Mist of Midnight ever since I head it was coming out. Ever since I was a teenager, I was a fan of Jane Eyre and the Gothic, romantic, writing style. There is just something about the mystery and darkness of it all that draws me in.

From the first page of this story, I was hooked. Questions kept popping up and it was hard to stop flipping through the story, I wanted answers! The story didn't give them up right away, oh, no! Sandra Byrd has a fantastic way of writing that kept you guessing and pulling you deeper into the story. I will admit, there are some mystery books that it drags out too long and I'm ready just for answers, so I will skip ahead. Mist's is not that type of story. Each bit of information and questions open a look into the characters a little more, revealing more information layer by layer.

This book had two different backdrops and switching between the English moors and the rich and exotic India, and it went back and forth between these two areas flawlessly, with Rebecca as an anchor to both sides.

Then their is the richness of the characters. Throughout reading this book, I kept questioning myself on almost every single one of them. It was wonderful not knowing who was up to what, for what reason. The questions, the intrigue, it was a thrilling read!

I was sad to have this story end, but I'm so glad that this is just the start of a series. Sandra Byrd is a new to me author and I can't wait to read her other stories.

If you like Jane Eyre or the new Price of Privilege series, this is a book for you!

Too Read!
5 out of 5

About the Author:

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published more than forty books. Her adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named by Library Journal as a Best Books Pick for 2011 and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012. Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I published in April, 2013.

Sandra has also published dozens of books for tweens and teens including the Secret Sisters Series, London Confidential Series and a devotional for tweens.

A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra has published many nonfiction articles and books. She is passionate about helping new writers develop their talent and their work toward traditional or self publication. As such, she has mentored and coached hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each year.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more, or to invite Sandra to your bookclub via Skype.



Thank you to Howard Books, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.