This took some dedication to get through. There was a LOT of build up needed for the plot to unfold. The characters weren't necessarily easy to forma connection with. That being said the author did an amazing job at the multiple layers woven into the plot. The plotting, treachery and greed led to some interesting twists. Plenty of tension between the main characters that form a basis for where the series can go. Overall I liked it.

All the Gold in Abbotsford by E L Daniel. Stephen rocks up back to his hometown and things have gone a bit weird and his wife is a being a massive pain. Obviously there is a murder and some town gossip and it’s actually a really lovely book. Poor Stephen he just wants some peace. I’ve seen people say the plot is complicated but I feel like it’s actually just a slow burn, there is a lot of walking around in the first few chapters but stick with it because it’s so good. There are a lot of people in Abbotsford but role with it. My take away from this is being nice to your husband

I am impressed that this is a debut novel with incredible scope of the historic background. Yet, overall, I have to admit I was a bit bored in places. I did like neither of the main characters and the dangling of the "master plan" all the way through the novel, only to be revealed in the last dozen or so pages... well, I felt a bit cheated by it.

In my very honest opinion, this was an enjoyable read. It wasn't mindblowingly amazing. It wasn’t mindblowingly awful, it was just enjoyable.

As far as the story overall, the plot is convoluted (as you can tell) to the point that if I didn't read at least 100 pages in one sitting, I would have no bloody idea what was going on or why people did certain things. By the end I just kept reading to see Elena and Stephan fall in love and disregarded the conspiracy entirely.

However, let’s have some positives. The worldbuilding was absolutely MARVELOUS. The author, both from her notes and what I looked up later online, did so much research for this novel it blew me away. She did an absolutely stunning job with making sure every event and timeline lined up and was as historically accurate as possible (the part of me that screams when regency writers screw up was very happy with this lol)

In addition, the writing was absolutely gorgeous. This author knows how to write 😌👌


Next, the characters.

The side characters were absolutely wonderful. Flawed, varied, relatable, understandable. Even the ones I hated were written beautifully.

However. The MCs. *inhales deeply and prays for patience* Those MCs had their good qualities, but they were the most stubborn characters I have ever had the misfortune of reading.

Elena kept choosing to believe the worst of Stephan to the point of complete lunacy. He’d explain exactly everything that happened to her and she was just like “no, I will now believe the exact opposite of what you said because I-can’t-trust-you.”

Stephan was just as bad. He refused to share any of the details of his master plan with ANYONE in order to “keep everyone safe,” to the point of me almost siding with Elena’s desire to distrust everything this guy does.

side note: WHYYYYYY do characters do this? what is this attitude like “oh, I need to save everyone and consequently not tell LITERALLY ANYONE, even the dang READER, what the heck is going on and what the heck I’m doing about it!”

If you’ll notice, this book is 524 pages long. If these two actually communicated, we’d knock off a good 150 pages.

and then that last 50 pages adffajdsijfaiojfaeijfiaef ok I won't spoil it, but here are my neatly categorized thoughts:
Elena has a very low IQ
Elena does not deserve Stephan
Stephan needs to learn how to walk away

*intense exasperated noise*

Now, I’m aware that my heavy critique of the MCs sounds like I’m dismissing the entire book. I am 100% not. This is a debut novel, and as such, there will always be room for improvement. While the main characters were annoying and the plot was confusing, I loved the worldbuilding, the prose was gorgeous, and the side characters were excellent. I think E.L. Daniels has a ton of potential, and I’d love to see more work from her in the future :))

Well, thank you all for reading this rather longer and more-professional-than-my-usual review, and I will now bid the lot of you adieu 🧡

In the small town of Abbotsford there is unrest, building on the Abbey church is halted, funds and low and taxes are high. Stephen Warde, the leader of the garrison is balancing his desire for his wife with plotting to overthrow a weak and ineffective king. His wife, Elena, wants her old estate back and despises Stephen. Then fortune appears to favour the Abbey, a golden statue is found, surely this is the end to all concerns.
There is a lot to like about this book. The setting is great, at the point where Isabella is in France with her young son and lover, Mortimer, plotting to overthrow Edward II. Rather than set this book amongst nobles and the court, it looks at the effects on the ordinary people. So far, so good. However it really dragged and seemed far longer than it was. The plot has gaping holes in it and the romance is unconvincing. The book could have been far better with some serious editing!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Admittedly, this book starts off slowly and while this genre of book is typically a favorite of mine, I feared it might not capture my attention. Thankfully, that reaction proved to be unfounded. The main character, Stephen, is an honorable, determined man whose mission is shaped by grief and a desire to protect his home and town. He is at once a likable character which I found myself rooting for through the story. His wife, in name only, Elena, is a person who has suffered greatly at the hands of the family enemies and loyalists to the King, her sole purpose is to gain back what she has lost and she seems to reject any possibility of a true marriage because she does not see that it will ever result in her getting what she desperately desires. Both characters make choices that they deem necessary, though wrong in the eyes of God.

The author weaves a tale of deception in the name of the greater good and you can’t help but want it to succeed for the main characters. Elena remains strong willed, unusual for a woman of that period, which I found admirable. Stephen remains committed to his secret goal in honor of his wife despite their often times less than cordial relationship. Suffice it to say, I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.