Mist of Midnight

Daughters of Hampshire #1

by Sandra Byrd

In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

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 intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Gothic, Historical, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2015

About the author

The author of more than fifty books, Sandra’s work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including a starred review-PW Pick from Publishers Weekly and multiple starred reviews and Best Book selections from Library Journal. Other awards include the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice, two Christy Awards nominations, a BookPage Top Pick for Romance, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list.

A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and service ware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family.

Reach Sandra Here: https://linktr.ee/sandrabyrd

Reviews

[Celia {Hiatus until August} · Rating 5 out of 5]

•| ⊱✿⊰ |• 4,5 Stars •| ⊱✿⊰ |•

O primeiro livro que leio de Sandra Byrd.
Tendo estado na prateleira, juntamente com o segundo volume a aguardar publicação do último livro da trilogia, pela Topseller, agora Penguin Random House, por mais de dois anos, desisti.
O terceiro volume terá de ser lido em formato digital e na sua língua original.
Não é novidade, visto as editoras portuguesas terem por hábito um desrespeito enorme pelo leitor, ou iniciam publicações de séries a meio, ou simplesmente largam as séries, esquecendo quem comprou os primeiros volumes e gostaria de terminar.
Whatever...
Reitero...
What's new?!?
Gostei imenso desta história, um pouco diferente do habitual de romance de época.
Ah, muito importante:
Clean romance, para quem possa questionar.
Rebecca chega a Inglaterra, que deixou aos quatro anos, quando partiu para a India com os seus pais e irmão, por serem missionários.
Quando volta, descobre que alguém se passou por ela, mas essa mesma pessoa, está morta.
Desconfianças recaem sob o capitão Luke Whitfield, um primo afastado que iria herdar a propriedade, caso Rebecca não tivesse sobrevivido à revolta na Índia, como aconteceu com os seus pais.
Coisas estranhas acontecem e a minha curiosidade aprofunda-se.
Quem era a misteriosa mulher e será que foi o capitão Luke que a matou ou realmente se tratou de suicídio?
Entretanto, temos uma Rebecca que não consegue evitar apaixonar-se pelo carismático capitão que tantos corações tem quebrado.
4,5 estrelas apenas por ser um pouco religioso demais para o meu gosto e pelo final que não "colou" para mim, relativamente à dama de companhia.
Também achei que o final fosse apressado e meio vago, gostaria que tivesse sido um pouco mais desenvolvido.
De qualquer forma, a escrita é fantástica e a história envolvente.



════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════

The first book I read by Sandra Byrd.
Having been on the shelf, along with the second volume awaiting publication of the last book in the trilogy, by Topseller, now Penguin Random House, for over two years, I gave up.
The third volume must be read in digital format and in its original language.
It's nothing new, since Portuguese publishers have a habit of disrespecting the reader, or they start publishing series in the middle, or simply drop the series, forgetting who bought the first volumes and would like to finish.
Whatever...
I reiterate...
What's new?!?
I really enjoyed this story, a little different from the usual historical romance.
Ah, very important:
Clean romance, for those who may want to know.
Rebecca arrives in England, which she left when she was four years old, that was when she left for India with her parents and brother, for being missionaries.
When she returns, she discovers that someone has impersonated her, but that same person is dead.
Suspicions fall on Captain Luke Whitfield, a distant cousin who would have inherited the property, had Rebecca not survived the uprising in India, as happened with her parents.
Strange things happen and my curiosity deepens.
Who was the mysterious woman and was it Captain Luke who killed her or was it really a suicide?
However, we have a Rebecca who can't help but fall in love with the charismatic captain that so many hearts he have broken.
4.5 stars just for being a little too religious for my taste and for the ending that didn't 'convinced me' to me, regarding the chaperone.
I also thought the ending was rushed and a little vague, I wish it had been a little more developed.
Anyway, the writing is fantastic and the story engaging.

════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been so drawn into a story in a while! Several things were in this story's favor from the get-go!

Sandra uses first person narration - my favorite! I love getting inside the head of the main character and really viewing the story from their perspective. Rebecca is a reliable narrator, but is very unsure of her situation at Headbourne House. There were a few times where I wish she would just say things outright, but this is always how I feel with books set during this time period - speaking out just wasn't done, especially if you were a woman, so it feels very true to the setting. Plus, there's the whole fact that she wasn't sure who wanted her there and who wanted her to disappear. Rebecca is by no means a pushover, and some of her lines of dialogue were so humorous! My favorite is when she calls Captain Whitfield on comparing women to peahens, ha!

The setting was reminiscent of Victoria Holt's books, which are old favorites of mine. I love the Gothic overtone throughout the entire story - there's misty hills, an abandoned chapel, the grave of the first "Rebecca" - what a delicious combo to create that air of mystery and intrigue. I also enjoyed the bits about Rebecca's time in India; it was obvious that being the daughter of missionaries was an integral part of who she was; it was very organic to her character and not heavy-handed at all. Captain Whitfield is the mysterious hero - discovering his intentions and his true heart throughout the story was so engrossing. I loved the uniqueness of Rebecca being a bit out of her element after spending so many years in India.

There were some marvelous bits of truth in these pages as well:

“Many have doubts; few voice them. The silent tended to quickly condemn those honest few who air misgivings dormant deep within us all.”

I basically devoured this book in two and a half days. I feel like this isn't your typical Christian fiction, and it definitely reaches the caliber of novels by some of my other favorite authors. It reminded me of books by Julie Klassen, Jessica Dotta and Dawn Crandall. I already loved Sandra's writing, but this is my current favorite of her books that I've read so far.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman returns to England after losing her entire family in a rebellion in India. Rebecca Ravenshaw has been away from her native country for many years and is eager to return to her ancestral home. Except that the reception she receives is anything, but what she expected. Rebecca, soon learns that the previous year, a young woman bearing her name had claimed to be Rebecca and she mysteriously dies. Now, Rebecca is on a mission to clear her name and discover who the deceiver was. Of course, she must first deal with misstrusting servants, inquisitive neighbors, and a handsome British officer who just might be responsible for the previous year's events.

I was immediately hooked into the plot and also curious as to how much I could trust the young narrator. The author managed to drop hints repeatedly as to remind her readers that all might not be as first appears. It helps that she also creates really creepy secondary characters like Rebecca's lady's maid, Micheline.

What prevents me from giving this a five is how the "truth" unravels. After all that build-up in the majority of the book, in which I was at the edge of my seat, I felt let down by the "big reveal." Or perhaps more accurately,I didn't buy into the romantic relationship.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not since Jane Eyre have I read a Gothic romance that has captured my heart so completely. From the exotic India to an English estate shrouded in mystery, Byrd’s eye for detail shines through on every page. Readers are sure to devour the tale of Rebecca Ravenshaw and her search for the truth behind the mysteries of Headbourne House and the handsome young captain who lives on the estate. As with any good Gothic story, there's a little mystery and of course there's a rambling estate covered with lands covered in mist and fog and, of course, a few characters you can't really pin down. Who is trustworthy? Who among them is full of lies and deception? Is someone going to meet their doom?

Byrd has really outdone herself with this story. The attention to period details make you feel as though you're reading a story by someone who lived during the time. While our heroine is a daughter of missionaries, and the story is threaded with Scriptures, it doesn't feel preachy or heavy handed in its delivery. Captain Luke Whitfield is certainly a quiet force to be reckoned with. The perfect Gothic hero with that mysterious air.

Mist of Midnight is, hopefully, part of a trend in Christian fiction towards more dramatic undertones and stories that toe the line between general market books and faith-based fiction. In a subgenre where I've read it all, seen it all before, books like Klassen's, Dotta's, and now Byrd's provide for a refreshing shift that explores the darker sides of the fictional world rather than just the saccharine sweet romance. Mist of Midnight is certainly one of the most intriguing tales I've read in a while, and I look forward to seeing where this series heads.

~ My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ~

*I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

[Caity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of missionaries to India, Rebecca Ravenshaw returns, orphaned, to Hampshire England to take possession of the home and finances bequeathed to her by her father, only to find that a mysterious imposter has recently appeared with the same intentions - laying claim on Rebecca's identity and inheritance - and then died; burying the trust and hospitality of those in the neighborhood with her.
Rebecca is denied the peace and security she came home searching for as she seeks to prove that she is the true Miss Ravenshaw, to reinstate herself in her home, and to solve the mystery of the woman within her grave.

Mist of Midnight is a tale shrouded in shadows and intrigue - a gripping gothic-style romance in which honor and truth must prevail over dark & selfish deeds, and love over doubt & the approval of others. A wonderful and compelling whirlwind of a novel!
I once again fell in love with Sandra Byrd's style and characters, and would willingly put this book into any of my historical-mystery-fiction loving friends' hands, with a charge to proceed cautiously between the twin stone lions and on into the halls of Headbourne House, where you must remain quietly in the background while you observe those in residence and mentally assign them each to their respective roles and duties in this intricate plot- making sure to keep them all accounted and not let one out of your sight! For loyalties often become unbalanced when the game gets shifty and accusations are insinuated, and you wouldn't want to let yourself be drawn in by some unassumingly treacherous character. (Or pushed away by the one person who may be your safe harbor.)
Oh, and do be sure not step on kitty.

[Lúcia Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Já estava a precisar de ler um histórico deste tipo. A história é passada na época vitoriana e conta a história de uma rapariga que volta para a Inglaterra após ter passado a maior parte da sua vida com os pais e o irmão como missionários na Índia. Foi uma altura em que se deram vários conflitos naquele país com os ingleses. Rebecca volta a uma terra praticamente desconhecida onde os pais têm uma propriedade e é aí que pretende refazer a sua vida. Não parece complicado mas não é assim.
A premissa é bastante simples mas foge bastante a clichés. Tem mistério e suspense.
Gostei bastante e mas últimas 60/70 páginas não pude parar de ler. É um livro cheio de ritmo e que agarra o leitor logo nas primeiras páginas.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mist of Midnight is a well done Gothic Romance novel. I was trying to figure out chapter after chapter who the fraudulent Rebecca was and why. In the midst of all that mind bending, there was a delightful romance developing between Captain Luke Whitfield and Rebecca Ravenshaw.

I especially enjoyed the historical detail woven into the story. Details including religions in England and English missionaries in India.

I recommend Mist of Midnight to fans of historical fiction that enjoy mysteries too.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself quite engaged with plot and characters, so much so I swept through this wonderful book in a matter of hours, the suspense and mystery working hand in hand holding my attention and curiosity.

The gripping plot took me by surprise. Along with Rebecca discerning the culprit of who actually was the identity theft wasn’t easy, I was pleasantly surprised when the thief was discovered. Byrd provides enough twists and turns to add interest only fueling the mystery aspect. The romance element was well done, the tension builds as Rebecca and Luke tip toe around each other uncertain of each other’s true character as they attempt to ignore the undeniable mutual chemistry. Lots to keep your interest high as the story unravels. I wish there was a tad more ‘horror’ however, what was provided was entertaining.

Of course I took to Rebecca instantly. A strong young woman, independent and determined to prove her identity. Considering her loss and unfortunate circumstances she holds her own and isn’t deterred by others disbelief. Cautious, prudent, careful with trusting, she guards herself well, very self aware especially regarding her feelings towards Luke. An intelligent young woman with plenty of self discipline and restraint.

Byrd paints a wonderful setting of England and India. Her descriptions allow both locations to come alive. Weaving both settings into the narrative was well done adding texture and further interest.

Byrd deftly threads faith throughout the narrative with delicacy and appropriateness. Given Rebecca’s family background of missionaries her insertions were well placed giving plausibility to entire narrative.

A delightful read capturing your attention from the start, full of mystery, no doubt you will be enthralled until the very end.

[Idril Celebrindal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I still want to read the book described on the back cover. It's an intriguing premise, with plenty of drama and creepiness and suspense seemingly built right in, but here the execution was so lacking. This was a clunky, awkward, silly mess.

Byrd shows no familiarity with the historical setting. The notes at the end appear to indicate that all of her research was on Christian missionaries in India, and none on what life in England (or India for that matter) was like at the time, which becomes a problem immediately when, in 1858, a woman is some sort of receptionist at a lawyer's office and a country estate (always, in the book, referred to as a "property" for some reason) has a "guest house."

The pacing was also terrible. In the first chapter, which is all of 10 pages long, we tick off:
1) Girl returns to England from India after 20 years
2) Girl finds out her identity has been stolen
3) Girl finds out identity thief may have been murdered
4) Girl meets distant relative who has inherited after her imposter's death.
Now, all of this is on the back cover, but told as it is, it's an anecdote, not a novel. Think about how much more exciting it would be if these things played out slowly and in a realistic timeframe, allowing both the reader and the characters to experience the emotions that would attend these events. What are you feeling, having heard both of your parents have been killed in a rebellion? What's it like, being in Victorian England after spending most of your life in India? What are your thoughts and feelings about living in your ancestral home now that your family has all died and you are alone in the world? What will become of you if you can't prove your identity? The book has no interest in these questions, or the author no skill to depict the answers.

By chapter 8 (page 90 of 366), everyone is satisified (on no evidence) that the dead woman, and not Rebecca, was the imposter, so that's out of the way, too. The rest of the time is spent in hilariously stupid flirting with Captain Whitfield and in attending the parties which he is, bizarrely, still hosting at Rebecca's home with Rebecca's money.

And about Rebecca's money: she comes home, everyone is rude to her, someone has stolen her identity and only means of livelihood, no one believes she is who she says she is, and yet all Rebecca does is thank Captain Whitfield for "his generosity" in inviting her to those above mentioned parties and spending, again, her own money on statuary.

So not only is it anachronistic and horribly paced, it's really boring as well.

[MomToKippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a while ago I read a book by Sandra Byrd call Eat Cake which was a contemporary story about a West coast woman who goes to France to intern as pastry chef. It was fun and interesting especially since I enjoy books that have some sort of technical focus on a hobby or occupation. There was also a bit of gentle romance. Then I saw Mist Of Midnight come up in my feed and noticed the same author but this was historical fiction with a gothic sort of feel. Quite different. When I initially read Eat Cake I had no idea that it was categorized as Christian Fiction until I saw it later on Goodreads. It did have a religious aspect to the storyline that I simply found interesting especially in terms of French society. To me, religion is part of the human experience for many if not most people so when it is part of a story I find that to be natural and it was particularly well incorporated in Eat Cake. So I expected the same with Mist of Midnight and was not disappointed with that aspect at all.

This story reminds me strongly of Victoria Holt's work but with a little less flair and bit more somber. Funny, because at the end of the book the author mentions that she was inspired by Holt. The daughter of missionaries returns home from India after losing her family in the mutiny to find someone has impersonated her to assume the inheritance of her estate (but has since mysteriously perished) and a distant cousin (dashing and handsome of course) has asserted his right to the estate. The story revolves around her attempts to prove her identity amongst a host of suspicious characters who's interests would have her out of the way.

Rebecca is similar to Holt's heroines - intelligent, clever and self-sufficient. Some portions of the story were a bit too glossed over (esp one of the epic moments which was not described at all) and some loose ends tied up a little too neatly but overall it was a nice clean gothic style mystery/romance. 3.5-4ish

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of stories by Victoria Holt, Sandra Byrd’s Mist of Midnight captures the gothic creepiness with an excellent atmospheric setting. Rebecca Ravenshaw the sole surviving member of her family has escaped the mutiny in India and only wishes to return to her homeland and find peace and security. However, upon her arrival, she discovers that another Rebecca Ravenshaw has already claimed her inheritance and passed away in mysterious circumstances. There are whispers about her death and suspicion cast on the current heir Captain Luke Whitfield.

The mists surrounding the estate, the dubious death of an impostor, and the doubtful motives of Captain Whitfield hamper Rebecca’s quest for the truth and her efforts to establish her identity adding a layer of mystique to this gothic romance. A la Mrs. Danvers, there’s the lady’s maid Michelin who adds the intrigue. The story progresses interestingly well and of course, all that talk of Tamil and Malayalam, Sitar, and Henna had me smiling throughout the story. I wasn’t aware that Henna was used so extensively by people in south India, as far as I know, it was distinctive to a particular section of the people only in Kerala. Well maybe I’m wrong, not that it is taking away anything in the story just that being aware of the customs here and also bcoz it has been used as a tool in the plot in many places, it kept knocking into my mind if at all the fact is true or just a ploy used by the author?

I loved Sandra Byrd’s storytelling and true to form as in gothic romances Captain Luke Whitfield and his actions remain mysterious until the end wherein every mysterious circumstance is revealed and viewed thru a different lens.

This is book #1 in the Daughters of Hampshire series but all of them are different stories and can be perfectly read as standalone. As a huge fan of this genre, no prize in guessing that the other books have already been added to my TBR 😆 😆 😆

Captivating 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, and Twitter.

[Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mist Of Midnight



Stolen identities, eerie happenings in a huge English estate, duplicitous characters. Mist of midnight has all the ingredients for a captivating gothic romance!

Rebecca Ravenshaw returns home to England after the tragic death of her missionary parents in India . But when she reaches Hampshire, England, to claim her family's estate. But she finds out that another woman with a Indian servant has already posed to be her! And has assumed her money and home. On top of that, the pretender had died a few short months after her arrival. (dramatic scream). Plus, the servant has fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. No one in town believes that Rebecca is, well...the real Rebecca.

Her home and fathers investments are under the care of her family's distant relative, the darkly charming, Captain Luke Whitfield. In the process of proving her identity, Rebecca starts to fall for Luke... But she is starting to question his motives of whether his feelings for her are real or is he after her property, which is what the locals suspects... she wonders if will her fate be the same as the first "Rebecca"?

This book definitely keeps you the edge. I really appreciated the first person point of view. I felt like it really added to the mystery and suspense of the story, it was like you were figuring everything out along with the main character, Rebecca.

The romantic element of the story left me with mixed feelings, but in a totally good way! I really liked the way Sandra Byrd wrote Captain Luke Whitfield. He is definitely one of those complex characters that can play out to be either a hero or villain. Throughout the story your not quite sure how the coin is going to land with him. This book also had a great theme of trusting God with your future and not trying to do things on your own strength, which in some ways hit home for me. If your a fan of books like Jane Eyre or Sir Sherlock Holmes this is definitely a book to add to your TBR! :-)

[Jan W. Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio, and as the book moved on, I realized the story was familiar. I was halfway through before I was certain that at sometime, somewhere in previous years, I had read this book. I have no idea how I felt about it the first time, but I really enjoyed the second time around.

Rebecca Ravenshaw returned to England from India after the deaths of her missionary parents in a native uprising. On arriving at Headborne, her family's country home that she had left as a small child, she found that the next in line of inheritance was in residence and that she herself had been recently buried in the family cemetery. An imposter claiming to be Rebecca had arrived several months ahead of her and had been believed to be the true Rebecca.

How could she convince everyone, including the handsome distant cousin Luke, that she was telling he truth? While the family solicitor sorted the mess out, Luke had proved a gentleman and vacated the house for Rebecca. After all, this was Victorian England. He stayed in the guest house, but the love story began with its heart-rending drama.

He author, Sandra Byrd, liberally laced this one with quotes from the Bible and Milton's "Paradise Lost." The heroine was strong and sensible, but not beyond belief. This is a plot that, considering the lack of ready communication and the social mores of the period, could have conceivably happened.

I couldn't wait for the next car ride for the ending. I finished it, phone in my hand, on the front porch on a gorgeous autumn day! A great way to end my fall break!

[Michelle Griep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot dang! I'm a jaded reader, so it's a rare occurrence when I find a new author that I actually like. Sandra Byrd is the lucky winner this year. In her book, MIST OF MIDNIGHT, I discovered some sweet turns of phrases in a setting that I wouldn't mind packing my bags and moving into right now.

What's not to love about a manor home in England? A handsome captain who may or may not be a bad boy? Lots of intrigue and a French maid that you kind of want to slap? All these ingredients make for a fine read to cozy up with this winter.

I loved heroine Rebecca Ravenshaw. She's brave, with just enough fear to make her believable. The entire story is told in her point of view. Honestly, I would've liked to have been in Captain Luke Whitfield's head a time or two to know his reactions and feelings to situations.

There's a twist at the very end that I didn't see coming. An interesting one -- that I won't give away. Just know there's a "Surprise" after the credits, so to speak.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's official. I'm two for two with Ms. Sandra Byrd's historical romances. I couldn't put either of them down until the very end. Maybe it's the slightly creepy vibe or the vulnerable yet strong heroines that the author features in her books. Maybe it's the strong historical details and interesting backdrop to her stories. Whatever the whole reason, it's also undoubtedly the strong, faith-based message that I've come to strive for in my daily life.

I've really enjoyed the two historical romances that I've read by this author so far. My only complaint is that the hero is never as developed as the heroine. It makes sense, since the hero in Ms. Byrd's stories is never the main protagonist, but I still would have liked to have a chapter or two from his perspective. All in all, I'm so excited to continue on with this series.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have "meh" feelings about this book. I didn't hate it, but it was slow and I skipped from 64% to 87% and don't feel like I missed much by doing so.

The MC h is the daughter of parents who were missionaries in India and she grew up to be a missionary as well, before going back to England when an Uprising that killed off her family occurred. So there is a thread of Christianity weaving through this book, which I enjoyed, though I know others may not appreciate.

I didn't really like the "love triangle" or the gas lighting that the MC h was going through and I REALLY didn't like no one telling her what the heck was going on, so she had to try to figure it out on her own, which was potentially dangerous, considering there was a potential murderer about. Many readers enjoy a mystery, I don't, when it's due to characters refusing to communicate with one another for what ended up being less than believable reasons.

This was a weak 2.5 stars, but the author's afterward boosts it up to 3 stars for me. She really researched the missionary work in India and those parts of the book were written very well and vividly. I kind of wish she had focused on India and not England to be honest. I also liked the Christian thread in the book. Not too in-your-face and not too shrinking violet. I felt it was balanced well.

Definitely a Gothic atmosphere with an interesting premise of the MC h going to England to claim her home, only to find that an imposter had claimed they were her beforehand. Worth a look if you are into Gothic romances and like having a strong Christian theme.

My thanks to NetGalley and Howard Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Ravenshaw has barely escaped India with her life and is still grieving the brutal mirder of her parents. She hopes to come home for a good rest—and, instead, is greeted by skeptical chill. She is shocked to learn that someone impersonated her only months before, took possession of her home, and died by suicide. She has an uphill battle to prove herself to the wary community and servants, and in addition she begins to fear that the woman who pretended to be her was, in fact, murdered.

There was plenty of suspense, and I loved how accurate to the time period Rebecca's voice was, especially since it's written in first person. There was only one thing that kind of suspended my belief For a young woman so devoted to converting the heathen, it seemed odd to me that she would only witness once to the man she fell in love with and to be content with him telling her at the very end that he'd "prayed in the church"...her whole life was supposedly devoted to saving souls, so her lack of witness to him suspended my belief quite a lot. Thus, for all the parts about her personal beliefs, the book did not seem to be evangelical at all; simply that her faith was part of who she was.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where I got the book: purchased on Amazon. I know Sandra Byrd personally. An IRL book club read.

I’d only read one of Sandra Byrd’s Tudor historicals (To Die For) in the past. I didn’t read the series, not being a big Tudor fan (although my oldest daughter IS a big Tudor fan and has read the lot). But now she’s diving into Victorian gothics, she’s got my full attention. I’m starting to think of Byrd’s books as “romance-plus”—there’s a strong romantic arc but there’s a whole lot more going on under the hood.

The plot of this one is nicely twisty. Rebecca Ravenshaw’s parents, missionaries in India where Rebecca grew up, have been killed in the Mutiny. Rebecca’s brother died years before, so Rebecca’s only hope of avoiding destitution is to lay claim to the family mansion. Which turns out to be inhabited by a distant cousin, Luke Whitfield, but that’s only the start of Rebecca’s problems. Jaws drop when she turns up, because this is the second time a young woman claiming to be Rebecca Ravenshaw has claimed the estate, and the first claimant is dead.

Mix in a dubious new friend, an even more dubious French maid, a cat who seems strangely attached to the room where the previous Rebecca died, and a countryside persistently wreathed in mist, and throw in the classic gothic am-I-losing-my-mind? ploy, and the fun can begin. In addition the heroine must do some serious pondering about her position as a single woman of wealth who will lose the whole lot to her husband the moment she marries, and encounter difficulties adjusting to England after a lifetime spent absorbing Indian culture. Layers of plot, which Byrd does a good job of keeping in hand on the whole (although I don’t think the cat’s behavior was ever sufficiently explained).

I like having more to think about than the romance, although even that was nicely played against a background of English snobbery about inherited wealth and position, power and appearance. I found the ending to be satisfying, and if you follow my reviews you’ll know that endings often disappoint me so it made a nice change that the Big Reveals were pretty good reveals. To talk about the two things I didn’t like in the ending would involve spoilers, and they’re definitely a case of YMMV so I’ll keep quiet about them.

Byrd is a Christian writer so there were references to the Bible and prayer and so on, but since Rebecca is a missionaries’ daughter you’d expect some religion. I don’t think any non-Christian readers are going to be thrown by any of it—indeed, some Christian readers may think Byrd doesn’t go far enough. Dare I say damned if you do . . . ?

Being English myself, I’ve always got my ears pricked for turns of phrase and references that don’t sound quite English enough, especially when it comes to the Victorians. There were some faint echoes of the American idea of England in there, but not so much that they bothered me. In the first 60-70 pages I sometimes found the language a little stilted, but by the end of the novel Byrd seemed to have thoroughly found her rhythm and besides, I was so absorbed in the story I probably forgot to notice.

All in all a sound read that should please anyone who’s fond of the gothic end of the romance field. I’ll be back to read further books in this series.

[Cecilia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this, looking for a classic Gothic novel, and it initially seemed ok. However, over the course of the novel, it moves from being annoyingly preachy to flat out cheeseball inspirational at the end (The chaperone turns out to be an angel or something - "Mrs. Ross was no ordinary chaperone, overseeing my comportment and guarding my reputation. She had been sent, protecting and ministering to my very being by divine decree, as Scripture claims— and I, unawares." . The writing generally is not particularly skilled. In terms of character, the motivations behind some of the villain's actions don't make any sense (and the implications of mental illness are wallpaper), and the various tendencies of the characters (being good, being nasty, being menacing) seem arbitrary and unconnected to anything much other than just the requirements of the genre. In terms of voice/syntax, the language choices are at times absurd.

There's this sort of thing:

“That’s to be expected, poupée,” Michelene cooed. “It’s very troubling to see one’s name on a grave. To then know that someone was . . . left life too early. Well”— she snapped her fingers—“ that would cause ill rest for anyone.”

and this sort of thing:

“No,” she agreed. “But I wanted to be different. And my family owns land upon which the sheep meander.”

Awkward and inauthentic.

Oh, the mists! I decried the fact that they were back and I couldn’t see the woman more clearly. Her dress was dark, and expensively cut.

So, watching from a distance, through mists, she can tell the gown is "expensively cut"? Absurd. And "decried"? Time to lay off the thesaurus.

And the inspirational factor:

I had, perhaps in pride, set aside the last chance for us to talk at length; he had, perhaps in pride, set aside his last gift to me without leaving a note. He had been cool to me, and I to him. I do not know whether to pray to see him at the ball or not. So I ask only Your will be done.

and

I finally decided to return her quote with one of my own, from Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. “ ‘I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.’” “Are ye instructing me, now?”

All of this emphasis on the heroine's religiosity comes across as trying to make her a good role model rather than a well-rounded character. Also, in the second quote, you can see a tiny bit of the use of Scottish dialect (doona, dinnae, etc.). Sigh.

I'm not surprised when the daughter of a Victorian missionary is religious, or quotes scripture, but (perhaps in infelicitous diction and syntax choices*), the religious aspects of the books were quite off-putting. Not to mention the whole business with converting people in colonial India; this element I think would be tricky to pull off in a way that accurately reflects 19th century attitudes while also being sensitive to the extremely problematic reality of colonialism. I don't think this book accomplishes that (or even shows much awareness of the issues).

*sorry, I couldn't help myself

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to this book for a long time now. I love Gothic romances and am a huge fan of authors like Victoria Holt. This book sounded like a Victoria Holt novel so I was totally on board to review it!

I love not knowing if the hero is implicated in the crime or not….you hope he’s not but with the evidence mounting, how can you deny that it looks suspicious? That’s what I like best about Gothic romances, the hoping that the hero isn’t really the villain.

In this book, there was plenty to make me question Luke and his motives. However, part of me felt that from the beginning he was cleared from any wrong doing. I was much more suspicious of others and not really of him so that was kind of disappointing.

Rebecca’s character was perfect as far as Gothic heroines go. She was sweet and likable, and a little naive and a little too trusting. She definitely embodied the traditional Gothic heroine. Luke was a little too agreeable and likable for my taste. He needed to be more brooding and tormented for me to really buy into him as a Gothic hero so that was a little disappointing.

The mystery was interesting. I loved the identity theft angle and that the woman had to have known at least a little about her family in order to pose as her.

Sometimes though I thought the novel didn’t focus enough on that part of the story. I thought it was so intriguing and a great premise for a Gothic novel, but I didn’t think that it was developed enough overall. I would have liked to have seen more in this area.

The ending was a little too neat as well. Things came together with a little too much explanation. Some things to me weren’t necessary and didn’t drive the story forward. For instance, Rebecca being locked in the horse paddock.

I didn’t think this really did anything for the story and the explanation was a little too convenient. I thought that could have been used to really keep the reader on edge but it just wasn’t important enough and the reason wasn’t vital to the story for me.

This was such a hard book to rate. On one hand I was thinking of putting it in the 3 to 3.5 star range for plot and story, but I liked the main character so much and the love story was adequate and enjoyable so overall I went with a 4 star rating based on that.

Overall it was a decent Gothic romance with a fresh, modern voice in the genre and I was compelled enough by the characters, romance, and the plot to keep reading. I would also read other books in this series as it appears to be the first in a new series.

See my full review

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mist of Midnight, drew me in from the very beginning. Byrd has masterfully written a very intriguing and compelling Gothic Romance novel. The characters come to life right off the page and keep you on your toes, guessing as to who you can and cannot trust. Hope battles doubts, and the story comes to ahead wonderfully at the end. A very satisfying read and conclusion! I look forward to Byrd's next novel Bride of a Distant Isle.
4 1/2 Stars!!!

[Cheryl Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Um, I forgot”- isn’t this a response that mom’s constantly hear from their darling cherubs who perhaps didn’t complete their list of chores? Well I have to say, after reading Sandra Byrd’s captivating Gothic Romance novel Mist of Midnight, that was my response- “Um, I forgot how much I love a great Gothic Romance novel!", especially when penned by the hugely talented Sandra Byrd who weaves the historical parts of the novel into the story seamlessly . It just adds to the enjoyment for the reader and lends some authenticity to the time period of the story. (Read the author’s notes in the back of the book- so fascinating!)

Mist of Midnight hits that perfect balance in the story between , that sort of dark Gothic mystery where things “go bump in the night” and a delightful romance that springs up between the two characters. We have the lovely Rebecca Ravenshaw, a child of missionaries who lost her whole family overseas in India to both illness as well as the Rebellion that took place there. She is now tired and heartbroken and is coming home to England to take up residence in her family’s estate Headbourne House in Hampshire England. One slight problem is that she discovers that there was an impostor who had come to Headbourne House just previous to her, posing as “Rebecca Ravenshaw” and claiming her inheritance as well as her home. She then died under suspicious circumstances. So when she, the real Rebecca Ravenshaw, shows up, the town is skeptical ,as many haven’t seen her since she was a little girl. In residence in Headbourne House, is the very handsome Captain Luke Whitfield who is a distant relative next in line to inherit Headbourne House with the supposed death of Rebecca Ravenshaw. Luke is everything that the perfect gothic hero needs to be, as he is completely swoonworthy, but has that edge to him where you wonder exactly what his secrets might be- (think Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre)- is he a good romantic hero or is he going to murder you in your sleep? This keeps Rebecca, and the reader, off balance throughout the story right till the end as the mystery of what happened at Headbourne House with the impostor comes to light.

Also in all good gothic tales the residence, or House, is almost always like a character unto itself within the story as there is usually some mystery within the house and Mist of Midnight does not disappoint in that respect either with mysterious messages showing up on the walls and rooms that are locked up where Rebecca cannot enter, letters hidden in the attic, etc. Sandra Byrd knows her stuff and I was completely engaged in this story from the beginning until the end (which was delightful by the way.) I would never give away an ending, but I will say that there was an especially endearing little twist that I was not expecting at the end that I thought was very charming and fun to read.

All in all, a really wonderful read and I was delighted to see that the author just mentioned via social media that she had finished the second book in this series and all I can say is – “sign me up, I’m in “ and this time, there will be no forgetting how much I loved this book and how I am thoroughly anticipating the next one!

5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely gothic setting complete with rumbling castle and military veteran turned brooding hero. It had the essence of Daphne DuMaurier with more than a sprinkle of Jane Eyre. Having long been enamoured with stories of the spices and mystery of the Orient, I appreciated the vivid tapestry of India interwoven with the British Colonial fervour.

As in her Tudor-set novels, Byrd is adept at interweaving taut verisimilitude with a crafty pen, a keen eye for detail and a favourable reading pace. Mist of Midnight starts at a slow trod but picks up to a fast gallop. You will speed, reader, through the final pages. Victorian gothic is a genre long close to my heart and while I did find that the Christian threads leaned toward being a little too overt ( especially in the case of italicized prayers), you can be darned certain I will seek out the next instalments in this promising series.

Feverishly romantic, stylish and sly, Mist of Midnight is an homage to yarns long past: where ladies were highly fashionable, witty and accomplished and the most desirable of men pitted familial honour with military service and just the right dash of mystery. The grandiose estates, the character depth and the secrets that keep our heroine's head turning hither and yon make this perfect catnip for lovers of BBC period pieces and all things Victorianesque.

[Stacy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery, but a little long.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review from 2015

B for narration / C- for content, 3.5 stars.

Although Sandra Byrd is known primarily as an author of Inspirational Romances and I’m not in the least religious, I’m not averse to an Inspy when there’s a good story and the religious element isn’t too prominent. In any case, I’ve got a soft spot for a good gothic romance and the premise of Mist of Midnight sounded interesting. Rebecca Ravenshaw is the daughter of missionaries who were killed in the Indian Mutiny. She was saved by the selfless actions of one of their household servants and eventually makes her way back to England with the intention of settling at her family home, Headbourne House in Hampshire – only to be informed that Rebecca Ravenshaw is recently deceased and now lies buried near the chapel on the estate.

Bewildered and not a little annoyed, Rebecca insists on seeing the man who now lives at Headbourne, Captain Luke Whitfield, a former officer in the Hussars and the very distant relation who inherited the house and estate following her father’s death. Naturally, he is sceptical about Rebecca’s insistence that she is the true Miss Ravenshaw, explaining that the young woman who has recently died arrived with a tale of sorrow, an Indian maid or “ayah” and that they had no reason to believe she was anyone other than she said she was. But recognising Rebecca’s exhaustion and distress, Luke offers rooms to her and her chaperone while she waits for news regarding the enquiries being made on her behalf and removes himself to the guest house in order to observe the proprieties.

This part of the story is well-paced and the author writes Rebecca’s emotions and reactions very well, so that the listener is drawn into her story and eager to find out how she is going to prove her identity. The servants are suspicious of her, but given Captain Whitfield’s continued, tacit endorsement of her presence, she does at least have a home whilst enquiries are made, and, she discovers, an entertaining and sympathetic companion in the captain himself, a man who attracts and intrigues her in equal measure.

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that the truth of Rebecca’s assertions as to her identity are proved fairly early on in the book, which means that the story can concentrate on her attempts to discover the identity of the imposter, her motives and what really happened to her. Rumours abound that Whitfield had a hand in her death – after all, his inheriting Headbourne is contingent on there being no other heir – but Rebecca can’t and doesn’t want to believe that such a decent man could possibly have had anything to do with it. Yet she also can’t deny that a wealthy estate might be a tempting inducement to murder…

Mist of Midnight has the ingredients one would expect to find in a gothic romance; a heroine who is a bit of an outsider and who finds herself doubting her recollections and even her sanity; a central mystery which poses a threat to her and a hero whose motivations are unclear. The opening is intriguing and very skilfully sets up the central mystery, but the story loses its way after the first few chapters, and doesn’t seem to go anywhere for quite some time. It’s true that this enables the author to introduce a number of other characters; the young woman who seems to be a rival for the hero’s affections, his snobbish, disapproving parents, Rebecca’s potential suitor and the French lady’s maid who becomes her confidante – but none of them are much more than two-dimensional, and while I enjoyed some of their interactions, I didn’t find any of them to be sufficiently engaging as to be able to hold my interest in those episodes which took place between the establishment of Rebecca’s identity and the final section. This is where the pacing picks up again, with Rebecca receiving some unwelcome news and believing that Luke has turned his back on her, all while she is at last on the trail of the imposter. Unfortunately, however, the big reveal is an anti-climax.

Gothic romances tend – in my experience anyway – to concentrate firmly on the heroine, so that the hero is often almost a secondary character. I wasn’t, therefore, expecting to spend as much time with Luke as with Rebecca, and this being an inspirational romance meant that the couple had very little “alone time”. Rebecca is almost always accompanied by her chaperone, but Ms Byrd does a fairly good job in the few times they are together in conveying their mutual attraction, even though it’s very low key.

Elizabeth Sastre is an experienced narrator, although she’s not someone I’ve listened to before. I enjoyed her performance; she has a pleasant, well-modulated voice which is a good fit for the Rebecca, sounding neither too young nor too old. She differentiates well between the various characters, maintaining a decent Scottish accent for Rebecca’s chaperone, Mrs Ross and adopting a credible accent for the couple of Indian characters who appear in the later section of the book. She lowers her pitch a little to portray Luke and gives him a slightly husky quality of tone; and her characterisations of the other male characters are suitably different from the females and sound fittingly masculine. The other ladies are all easily identifiable, from Micheline, Rebecca’s maid, who has a sultry French accent, to Delia, the young woman she befriends, whose tone is artificially bright and often masks an underlying petulance.

Ultimately, Mist of Midnight was a bit of a disappointment. Elizabeth Sastre’s performance is engaging and skilful, but I don’t think even a top of the “A list” narrator could have managed to cover the weaknesses in the storytelling. The pacing is very uneven, with the middle of the book being especially slow, and as a result, the suspenseful atmosphere the author creates in the first few chapters quickly dissipates and leaves a rather stodgy story.

[Colleen Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find my full review at http://aliteraryvacation.blogspot.com.

I became a huge fan of Sandra Byrd after reading her delicious Tudor Ladies in Waiting series and therefore snatched up this newest novel of hers, the first in a new series set in Victorian England, as soon as I got the chance. While this novel has a very different feel from those mentioned above it was still as engrossing as its predecessors.

When Rebecca Ravenshaw steps off the boat from India she is seeking nothing more than some warmth, peace and serenity in a place she belongs after the painful and frightening ordeal of losing her family. Much to her dismay she finds none of that when she arrives at her ancestral home, Headbourne House, and instead is confronted with confusion and suspicion that she is an imposter, come to try and steal the home and fortune of the Ravenshaws from Captain Luke Whitfield, the closest relative now that the young woman who previously claimed to be Rebecca Ravenshaw died mysteriously. The whole community - from Captain Whitfield to the staff of Headbourne House to the local gentry - treat her coldly and make it quite clear they do not believe her story. But Rebecca is determined to prove that she is who she states she is and that Headbourne House is by rights hers. Alone in a country where no one knows her and most think she is trying to commit a heinous crime, this proves a difficult task, one potentially fraught with danger.

Rebecca is quite a character. Having gone through so much and still recovering from not only the physical wounds remaining from her dangerous escape from the Indian Mutiny but the mental ones that plague her, she nevertheless refuses to give up proving her claim, even when almost everything about her points towards her being an imposter. I love how the author used the fact that she was raised in India and therefore does not know all of the English customs that would prove she is an English lady (the ability to play the piano, the delicate rules of protocol for visiting other ladies and having them come to you, etc.) as well as her continued recovery that further complicates her proof of identity (after an accident during her escape she is terrified to ride horses, something every fine English woman should do) as the catalyst that keeps everyone suspicious of her motives and the resolution of determining her true identity deliciously up in the air. I have to admit I had my own suspicions about her as there were instances when she saw things that didn't make sense or was told she had been in places or did something she had no recollection of. I loved that feeling of "is she going mad? Is she who she says she is?" and it really kept me turning the pages to find out.

Our Rebecca isn't the only suspicious character in this novel, however. In fact just about every single character makes you wonder about their motivations. Everyone around Rebecca has an air of doubt hanging over them but, at the same time, they all seems to also do things that make them seem trustworthy. It left me continually questioning what really happened at Headbourne House when the other woman claiming to be Rebecca showed up and then mysteriously died, who could be trusted and what dangers Rebecca might be facing whether or not she is proven to be the true Rebecca. This Gothic mystery element was my absolute favorite part of the novel.

The backdrop against which these characters revolved was so well described that it nearly became its own character. Headbourne house is delightfully crumbling, having dark passages with locked doors, a derelict chapel and a cemetery covered with bramble and mist that can't help but illicit a shiver. The surrounding countryside and the towns visited are just as well drawn and it was impossible not to become ensconced in this world.

Something to be noted for other readers is the fact that there is quite a lot of discussion about scripture and religion, something that fit in nicely given the fact that Rebecca's parents were missionaries but that some might not be expecting in a typical Victorian gothic novel. This element never veers into the "preachy" zone, which I appreciated, but there is an incident towards the end involving Rebecca's chaperone, Mrs. Ross, that I didn't really think necessarily fit in with the rest of the story. However, after reading the very informative author note at the end of the book and discovering that this incident is based on the author's actual experiences I can see why it was included. Something else to just be noted is that this is definitely a romance novel, with Rebecca and Captain Luke trying to overcome their concerns about the other person and their motives and dancing that delicate dance between giving in to their feelings and maintaining the expected propriety of the times. These two elements - the religious discussion and the romance - slightly pulled me out of that foreboding mystery feeling I love about gothic novels but do have their importance in the story arc as well, especially the religious element as at times this deep belief within Rebecca is the only thing that seems to keep her level headed and from completely going mad. And without the romance between these two characters I wouldn't have been completely satisfied with the story's eventual outcome.

Mist of Midnight was a very satisfying read and firmly upholds Sandra Byrd's place on my "must read" shelf whenever she has a new historical novel coming out. I very much look forward to the remaining novels in this Daughters of Hampshire series!

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this woman the "real" Miss Ravenshaw or was the Miss Ravenshaw that was at Headbourne House a few weeks ago the "real" Miss Ravenshaw.

Rebecca Ravenshaw arrived with her chaperone from India after her parents were killed in an uprising and she was the only one in the family that had survived. Miss Ravenshaw had no place to go but back to her family mansion in England. When she arrived, everyone was shocked beyond belief.

How can this be Miss Ravenshaw when she committed suicide not more than a few weeks ago and is buried in the estate's cemetery. Is this Miss Ravenshaw the imposter or was the f​irst Miss Ravenshaw the imposter? Was the first Miss Ravenshaw murdered for her inheritance? Will the current Miss Ravenshaw have the same fate?

MIST OF MIDNIGHT has a hint of sinister to it. None of the characters can be trusted especially her cousin Captain Luke Whitfield. As the days go on, though, Rebecca falls in love with Luke and he seems to return the affection, but is he simply pretending to have affection for Rebecca? Is he the one who killed the imposter so he could inherit the family mansion? Will he also murder Rebecca for the family mansion?

​We the readers will be taken into English society and attend balls and mingle with the English aristocrats as we try to figure out who is genuine, who is an imposter, and who is only out for money.​

MIST OF MIDNIGHT dragged a bit at the beginning, but the mystery and intrigue kept me going. As mist covers the estate grounds at night, it adds suspense, questions, jealousy, and finally love. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Jessie Pannell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Will some dear writer use all the talent, resourcefulness and creativity that is ours in Christ Jesus to write something that moves and is intelligent? Unfortunately, this is not it for me. This book further confirms my theory that Christian fiction is graded on a curved scale, which explains its 4+ reviews. This story is watered down and benign with tension that never tightened either romantically or mysteriously, although I enjoyed the British/Indian connection.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I liked this read, I did come away slightly disappointed because the entire book was setting up a more suspenseful mystery and the suspense was diffused instead of heightened. The fault is entirely in my expectations though. If you like a mystery that you know will end happily ever after without any heartwrenching conclusions, then you may like this (there was one aspect about the imposter that did surprise me and I felt it well done).

I didn’t feel the romance for most of the book because I was suspecting everyone and wanting to suspect them. ;)

There were quite a few verses quoted and a character who admitted to being a skeptic (I would have liked to see more of that character arc than just “I prayed” and that somehow being that they were all right spiritually).

I did enjoy it—the style and storyline were interesting. Like I said, I just expected more than it was.

[Sonia189 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this story offered many good elements.
I liked the gothic atmosphere, the constant doubts arising from every single situation the heroine was involved in, all the little details which were there to make us think and doubt everyone. I think the author succeeded in creating a tone as misty as the title indicates.
However, I think the romance part was too vague and undetermined - which I understand, since the hero wasn't always clearly defined as such - and when things are finally solved I just don't think it was romantic or sweet as the heroine needed.
The characters had their strong points but I wasn't very amazed by them. The end explained some things well, but the way it happened wasn't as smooth as I hoped.