REVIEW: Bleddyn Hall (+Giveaway!)

Title: Bleddyn Hall 

Author: Amanda L.V. Shalaby

Series: N/A

Pages: 220

Date Published: 2015

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Format: Kindle

Genre: Mystery/Romance

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
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Synopsis:
After a whirlwind romance during the London Season, Lady Isabel Sutton finds herself quickly engaged to the handsome Lord Tresham Bleddyn, Earl of Dancy. When his father passes away suddenly, however, his period of mourning delays their marriage and ruins the season for Tresham’s younger, twin sisters, Annalise and Rosamund.

After the girls invite Isabel to their Yorkshire home, Bleddyn Hall, Tresham seems an entirely different man than the one she fell in love with in London. Not only that, but all is not well within the walls of Bleddyn Hall. The house’s dark secrets lead to murder, mystery, and a gruesome discovery.

Was Isabel’s happy future with Tresham nothing more than an illusion? What is more, will she survive her stay at Bleddyn Hall?

~My Thoughts~

Bleddyn Hall is a fantastic historical fiction that tickles your fancy in all the right places and has a sweet and dramatic romance that will have you swooning!

Lady Isabel has found herself affianced to the dashing and handsome Earl of Dancy. However the untimely demise of the Earl's father delays their wedding and keeps the Earl's sisters from partaking in the delights of the season themselves.  When the girls invite Isabel to Bleddyn Hall, their Yorkshire home, Tresham is withdrawn and sullen, and not at all the man that had won her heart in London. The ensuing mystery surrounding Bleddyn Hall might have the power to eat Lady Isabel whole...if she doesn't figure out her feelings for Tresham and the secretive world of skeletons in the Family closet doesn't take her down.

I was thrilled that this wasn't just another historical romance. While I love a good bodice-ripper, mixing romance with mystery and murder is just so much more enjoyable! Did that sound weird? I love a good plot twist and Bleddyn Hall is far from the expected kind of story of this time period. 

My absolute favorite part of this was Amanda's writing style. She gives you the sense that you are actually living out a day in the life of the actual historical period. Her character's language never slips into modern tongue, but they are still remarkably understandable. I loved this book and would read anything from Amanda Shalaby that came my way!

~Try an Excerpt!~

“Have you seen my dear Max?” Selina asked. “He ought to be on horseback somewhere on the Row.”

Isabel had not seen Lord Maxwell Darrow, Selina’s elder brother, and was not the least bit disappointed for it. He was a handsome enough man but had all the unlikeable characteristics of a spoiled, eldest son.

“I have not,” she confessed, with as neutral an air as possible.

“Oh, I am sure he is very disappointed,” Selina told her. “Between you and me, he has been an entirely different man since meeting you last evening. I am sure he set off this afternoon with the hope of finding you especially.”

Lord Darrow had indeed paid her particular attention the night before, but Isabel was by no means impressed. He put on a great pompous air and prior to singling her out made considerable effort to flirt with every female in attendance.

“I am sure he held no such expectations, but I thank you for the compliment,” Isabel replied.

“Oh, to be sure, I am quite correct on the matter. Sisters can comprehend their brothers’ intentions before even they themselves know it.”

Isabel thought this was perhaps true, as she was in no state of shock when her own brother turned her out of the house. Happily for Isabel, the subject passed, as Selina seamlessly moved to another topic of conversation.

“There is a new gentleman arrived in London this week,” Selina said with no small amount of felicity. “They say he is part Egyptian and quite the tall, dark, and handsome type. Not only, but they are saying he is worth a significant fortune.”

“And have they married him off to anyone yet?” Isabel asked, smiling.

Selina laughed. “No, but they say he will be at Lord and Lady Tyrwhitt’s ball tonight. You are going to be there, are you not?”

Isabel nodded. “I am.”

“I am glad of it,” Selina said with a satisfied sigh. “If he is as stunningly handsome as they say, it should be nothing to finding him in the crowd. I am sure Max will quite hate him, though as you know, my brother is not in the least unattractive or without his own substantial inheritance.”

Isabel did what she could to ignore Selina’s blatant promotion of Lord Darrow by refocusing the conversation on the newest London arrival. “Does this magnificent creature have a name?” Isabel asked.

“Oh, how could I be so remiss? He does, indeed, and it is undoubtedly the loveliest ever to fall upon my ears. Lord Tresham Bleddyn, Earl of Dancy. Is it not the most romantic name you have ever heard?” Selina did not give her time to respond, but added, “Also, he will have his mother and younger twin sisters with him, whose dark features are also, supposedly, startlingly beautiful. Not that they shall outshine us, is that not right, Lady Isabel?”

“Well, not in their brother’s eyes, I would hope,” Isabel teased.

“To be sure!” Selina said, leaning forward so far Isabel feared her bosom would escape her bodice.

~Meet Amanda!~ 

Amanda L. V.Shalaby’s passion for all things Jane Austen was inspired by her mother and grandmother.  She now writes her own historical romantic mysteries. Amanda’s previously published works, Rhianna and Audra, both were nominated for the prestigious InD’Tale Magazine RONE Award.  Bleddyn Hall is her most recent novel.  

Amanda will be awarding a free ebook of Bleddyn Hall to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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