Title: Guardian Angel
Series: N/A
Author: Hayden Thorne
Genre: Paranormal Historical Gothic
Length: 439 pages
Publisher: Hayden Thorne (March 4, 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: When nineteen-year-old Dominic Coville’s parents die in an accident, leaving him not only alone but on the brink of poverty, he desperately searches for work and is thrilled when the post of secretary is awarded to him despite his obvious inexperience and ignorance. Mr. Wynyard Knight of Mandrake Abbey, however, gladly welcomes Dominic and earns the young man’s immediate sympathy for his fragile health as well as gratitude for the promising new life now awaiting Dominic.
Inside rock and timber, hungry shadows seek…
But unusual things soon happen and appear to focus solely on him, and Dominic begins to wonder about the true history of Mr. Knight, the strange young man haunting the third floor, and Mandrake Abbey. With the persistent and increasingly violent attempts at communication by an angry ghost shadowing his hours, Dominic struggles to unravel the mysteries of his new home. And even with the help of a handsome young gentleman who’s an aspiring supernaturalist as well as his clairvoyant sister, danger closes in far too quickly.
Then it’s only a matter of time before carefully constructed façades fall away, and the sickly, decaying underbelly of Mandrake Abbey’s centuries-old collection of stone and timber will reveal itself.
Set in an alternate England sometime before the mid-19th century, Guardian Angel weaves a tangled and dark tapestry of old magic, romance, and madness, a celebration of classic gothic fiction and its macabre sensibilities.
ISBN: 978152425030
Product Link: http://amzn.to/1pf65tN
Reviewer: Shorty
Review: Dominic Colville is desperate to find work after his parents pass away and cad steals the family fortune. He applies for a job as a companion and personnel secretary. Mr. Knight hires him and he travels to Mandrake Abby to begin his new job. But all is not as it seems and strange things begin to happen.
This book has an eerie, spooky feel to it after Dominic settles at Mandrake Abby. I didn’t quite trust Mr. Knight even though he appeared nice and friendly. I felt that something was off about him and I was right. The Manor itself had a creepy atmosphere to it from the beginning with haunting details of its description it fit well into the story.
Its past as revealed over time is horrifying to say the least. I felt both saddened and angry on behalf of the young men who were employed there before Dominic. The magic aspect of the book was a surprise but I did wonder why Dominic couldn’t really do anything but use an illuminating and warming spell. I thought maybe he could do more.
The story at the beginning seemed a bit drawn out to me though I did understand we had to be introduced to the characters. Once the story got going though it was a mystery that needed unraveling and what a mystery it was. Murder, deception, assault and one young man’s trials to uncover the truth before it’s too late for him.
I will warn you that there is mention of rape in this book.
Wonderfully written.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *