Twilight at Moorington Cross: A Regency Romance

Written by Abigail Wilson

Narrated by Laura Kirman

Amelia Pembroke is in a unique position in Regency England: She can obtain financial freedom. But in order to do so, she must marry one of two gentlemen. The trouble is, she might be falling in love with another man entirely.

1819, Kent, England—Everything changed the moment Amelia became heiress to Moorington Cross. A young widow and patient at Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital, Amelia is stunned to learn that her doctor—and the only father figure she’s ever known—has altered his will naming her his primary beneficiary. Such an opportunity is beyond what any Regency-era woman could dare to dream—especially one with a sleeping disorder that finds her falling asleep at the most random of times.

There is, however, a perplexing condition attached to the will: she must wed one of two named men, wholly unknown to her. Doing so would provide her with a secure future. But how can she marry one of these men when her heart is intrigued by the charming solicitor, Mr. Hawkins?

Everything takes on a new sense of urgency—and danger—when Mr. Cluett is found dead in his bedchamber only hours after announcing his updated will. Now Amelia only has thirty days to decide which man she will marry. But she is just as determined to uncover the truth of her benefactor’s demise with the help of Mr. Hawkins. After all, this sudden turn of events couldn’t merely be a coincidence—could it?

From award-winning author Abigail Wilson, Twilight at Moorington Cross is a mysterious Regency romance full of intrigue, mesmeric treatments, and abandoned corridors that proves love is the greatest testament of all.

Praise for Twilight at Moorington Cross:

“Shimmering with atmosphere and suspense, Twilight at Moorington Cross weaves classic Regency romance with threads of gothic mystery to page-turning effect. An absolute pleasure to read.” —Mimi Matthews, USA TODAY bestselling author

“An enigmatic illness, a mysterious manor, an unforeseen inheritance, and a suspicious death all add up to a maelstrom of misfortune for Wilson’s stouthearted and winsome heroine, especially when she’s falling in love with the ‘wrong’ man. Twilight at Moorington Cross has all of the atmospheric trappings of a classic Regency Gothic along with a sweet and stirring romance. Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Kristi Ann Hunter.” —Anna Lee Huber, USA TODAY bestselling author

“I was drawn in from the very first page of this unique Regency story. Wilson's engaging prose and expert mystery-telling kept me turning pages and left me guessing until the end. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book!” —Kasey Stockton, author of the Ladies of Devon series

• Stand-alone Regency romance with strong Gothic and mystery elements
• Kisses-only romance, HEA
• Book length: approximately 97,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jan 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9780785253297

Abigail Wilson

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 diving meets, and curling up with a great book. Abigail was a 2020 HOLT Medallion Merit Finalist, a 2017 Fab Five contest winner, and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence Finalist. 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. Connect with Abigail at acwilsonbooks.com; Instagram: @acwilsonbooks; Facebook: @ACWilsonbooks; Twitter: @acwilsonbooks.

Reviews for Twilight at Moorington Cross

[M. Malcolm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was quite clever. I thought I had figured things out early on, but the connection I found as I listened was only one of the very clever threads woven by the author. Well done!

[Kathleen Flanagan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too long and too many characters to keep track of

[tcjrogers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Twilight at Moorington Cross, Amelia Pembroke is a patient at Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital where she’s being treated for a sleep disorder. Amelia has been at Dr. Cluett’s hospital for nearly two years, and although she has seen no improvement in her condition, she and Dr. Cluett have become good friends. Amelia is shocked, though, when she finds out that Dr. Cluett has changed his will to make her his main beneficiary, but upon his death, she will only inherit if she marries one of two men he has designated. She’s even more shocked when Dr. Cluett turns up dead. With the help of Dr. Cluett’s solicitor, Ewan Hawkins, Amelia is determined to find out how he was killed even as she must try to decide which man man to marry. But what if one of them is a murderer? And what if she has already fallen in love with someone else?Twilight at Moorington Cross kept me guessing. There are plenty of plot twists and unexpected turns. I really liked the chemistry between Amelia and Ewan. It had a nice slow build, but it was so emotional and so strong. And I loved how the author tied the characters into the story of The Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey and gave a clearer picture of Lord Torrington’s first wife. I also think just the setting, a mesmeric hospital, is an interesting historical backdrop for this story. I wasn’t familiar with mesmerism and mesmeric hospitals, so I had to look that up and do a little side reading. I always enjoy when authors include little pieces of history that have been largely overlooked, so I can learn something new and interesting. Overall, this author continues to bring well-written, well-thought out mysterious romances, characters with depth and heart, and plot twists that will keep you guessing. I look forward to whatever she has coming next. *I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[eyes92c · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Regency gothic This story started with an intriguing proposition. The premise behind this gothic romance set in 1815 was both unusual and fascinating. Located in a sanitarium in Kent, far from London, patients attend the hospital prepared to undergo experimental and alternative methods of healing to combat their various complaints. One such client is Mrs Amelia Pembroke, the widow of a solicitor whose private face was so much darker than his public one. Mr Cluett the owner of Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital practises various aspects of mesmerism. Cluett has been attempting to cure Amelia from “sleeping” sickness. She has been in the sanitarium for two years.Mr. Cluett is very attached to her. We’re not sure why. Maybe because she’s the guinea pig for his research looking at the patient being able to self-mesmerise. Confusingly, Amelia is made aware that she will be the sole beneficiary in Cluett's will if she marries one of two men he determines. Once more men are attempting to order her life.Cluett’s sudden death devolves into the possibility he might have been murdered. With his death Amelia is left trying to work out what to do, who to marry, and should she trust the solicitor sent from her husband’s firm to alter Cluett’s will just prior to his “accident.”Truly I was all out of patience with Amelia by the time I reached near to the end. I really wanted to enjoy this but the drawn out, lack lustre resolution had me falling asleep. Yes, there’s an aura of suspense, but things sort of fell away.I guess bullied and abused over years left Amelia unable to move forward quickly enough for me.I so wanted to enjoy this Regency Gothic tale, but in the end I barely crossed the finish line.A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley

[claudia.castenir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the 18th century Franz Mesmer developed a therapeutic system that revolved around his theory of an invisible natural force possessed by all living things. He referred to the system as mesmerism. Others referred to it as animal magnetism. It was at a mesmeric hospital that Amelia Pembroke found herself nearing her second year of therapy for her sleeping sickness. A situation that became more and more complicated after the announcement of her doctor's new will, quickly followed by his death. Twilight at Moorington Cross is filled with as many twists and turns as the seen and hidden passages of the Cluett Mesmeric Hospital. Very little about this book is predictable, and that is a feature I greatly enjoy, a feature that one can count on from author Abigail Wilson. With a gothic flavor, this book of mystery, romance, and intrigue is the perfect read for a cold winter day. I highly recommend it. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Twilight at Moorington Cross from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[barbararogers-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was really looking forward to reading Twilight at Moorington Cross because I had read and enjoyed other books from this author. This book, however, didn’t live up to its predecessors.Mrs. Amelia Pembroke has had a difficult life. We didn’t learn anything of her parents, how they met their deaths, or how they came to leave their young daughter’s future so unplanned. We do know that she was in the hands of a guardian by the age of five, and that guardian was a loving and caring one. Although not loving and caring enough to assure she was protected – he left for France and left her in the care of yet another guardian. She was passed from uncaring guardian to uncaring guardian until she was old enough to marry and then she was foisted off on an unsuspecting bridegroom. You see, Amelia has a sleeping disorder (narcolepsy I assume) and is apt to fall asleep at the most inopportune times. In times of severe stress, her entire body locks, and she falls – totally paralyzed. None of her guardians could deal with that – nor could the bridegroom who knew nothing of the disorder when he married her. They were only married a week before he placed her in the Cluett Mesmeric Hospital where she has been for the last two years. Though she is now a widow, she is still in residence at the hospital.Ethan Hawkins has been summoned to the Cluett Mesmeric Hospital to formalize Mr. Cluett’s will. It is definitely a strange will, but it isn’t his job to judge – it is only his job to assure that the will is legal and binding. He is amazed when Mr. Cluett decides to share the contents of the will with the beneficiaries as soon as it is finalized. However, Mr. Cluett wants all who will be affected to be aware of the clauses in the will and what it will mean to them. You see, Mr. Cluett is leaving his considerable fortune and property to Amelia – as long as she marries one of two gentlemen he has named. Should she choose not to honor that clause in the will, the ENTIRE fortune and property will be awarded to the mesmeric school in France.Later that same evening, Mr. Cluett is found dead in his bath. Accident or murder? The bumbling magistrate rules it an accident, but Ethan and Amelia are sure it was murder. Everyone in the home was accounted for at the time of death, so it couldn’t be one of them. Or could it? The house was locked up for the evening, so it couldn’t have been anyone from the outside. Or could it?The characters were almost cardboard and I just couldn’t find any affinity with them, and the mystery was so very slow – and – well – boring – until you got to the end and then all sorts of weird and unexpected things just came out of the woodwork. Almost the entire book has Amelia vacillating between the two possible suitors – but she really prefers Ethan – but she really has to choose one of the other two men – but she really prefers Ethan - and on and on. It was very tiresome and really didn’t move the story along. I will certainly try another book by this author, but I cannot recommend this one.I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.