Northargyle Abbie + Giveaway

When Abigail Morgan, a naive pastor’s daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother’s past—an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.

While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother’s mystery—and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago—than she ever imagined.

In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.

My Review:

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and Janelle Leonard did not disappoint! Impressive debut novel!

Love the family history angle that sends Abigail way out of her comfort zone on the hunt for her beloved gran’s secret story. (Hello! Road trip to Australia? Yes, Please!) She’s wildly imaginative and endearingly awkward. Each chapter includes whimsical Abbie musings in classic museum placard style which gives readers a glimpse of her quirky wit.

So, insecure pastor’s daughter finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as Leonard loosely reimagines Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’. But make no mistake, ‘Northargyle Abbie’ is most definitely a unique story all on its own.

This is as much a coming of age story as it is a delightful contemporary romance. But, oh my, when Colter makes his appearance, well, time to clear off you fainting couch. In Abbie’s words, “Ladies and gentlemen, I just experienced a meet-cute worthy of its own chapter.” ( p 70) And the man arrives with a certain air of mystery which was all kinds of fun to sort out.

The romance is swoonaliciously unhurried, there are mysteries to solve and bad ‘uns to thwart, all with an eye on the fairy tale promise of a scrumptious happily ever after. Divine reading that was impossible to put down.

31 thoughts on “Northargyle Abbie + Giveaway”

    1. I read Northanger Abbey a looooonnnngggg time ago. I brushed up by reading a synopsis before diving into this one. Not necessary to do that though, but it was fun to catch the similarities. Good luck, Rebecca!

      Like

  1. Thank you so much for your titillating review, which had me adding this book to my gotta read list. When you can pack an fabulous story along with armchair traveling, I’m all in. And the story, from the description and your review, is definitely a fabulous one. Can’t wait for the opportunity to dive into Abigail and the swoon worth Colter’s story.

    Greatly appreciate the chance to win a copy!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Oh, this sounds so good ~ wonderful review! I immediately went over to Amazon to read a sample. I love the writingstyle and now I want to read the rest of the book. :))

    mbaaij77 at gmail dot com

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment