Book: Man of Shadow and Mist

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: June, 2023

“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”

–Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumors. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

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I have been a fan of Michelle Griep for a long while and have read many of her books. I recently read Man of Shadow and Mist, which is Book 2 in the Of Men and Monsters series. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this book, since I read Book 1 when it came out a year or so ago.

The time is 1890 in England and Librarian Rosa Edwards is set to educate the people of North Yorkshire who believe that Vampires are alive in their town. Sir James Morgan returns to town and the townspeople really start gossiping about him. He is mysterious and the townspeople believed he is cursed. Sir James Morgan does not like anything about England but his mother is dying of a disease and he wants to help her and himself by finding a cure. Rosa is confident that she can prove the Townspeople wrong about their gossip about James. Rosa is finding that she is left with more questions than answers in her quest to discover who Sir James Morgan really is. Sir James Morgan feels that he has to stand his ground with the Townspeople. James and Rosa are also finding they are attracted to one another. Will Rosa find out who the Mysterious Sir James Morgan really is? Will Sir James Morgan find a cure for the disease that his mom is dying from? Will there be a Romance between Sir James and Rosa?

WOW, I didn't expect to enjoy this book more than the 1st, but that happened! I really got into the storyline from the very first chapter and could not put the book down. I really enjoyed the "Mysterious Man" and how the townspeople were fearful and filled with doubt. Rosa is a WONDERFUL character and very well-liked. Sir James Morgan was in town to help his dying mom, even though he didn't want to be in England and the townspeople didn't want him there. The fact that Rosa and Sir James Morgan grew attracted to one another was such a heartwarming part of the story. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who likes Christian Historical Fiction! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

And guess what? She loves to hear from readers! Feel free to drop her a note at michellegriep@gmail.com.

More from Michelle

A Visit to Whitby

Every time I skip across the pond, I make it a point to visit Whitby. What’s the draw? This northern Yorkshire town is steeped in history and is every bit as magical today as it was back in Bram Stoker’s day…when he went to visit and was inspired to set much of his Dracula tale there. In fact, that is exactly where he got the inspiration for the name Dracula when he visited the library and did a bit of research.

Sound interesting? Then come along with me on a virtual visit with pictures from my last trip.

When walking the windy, narrow roads of Whitby, you can’t help but let your imagination wander because it’s as if you’re there in the nineteenth century. Can’t you just see a long-gowned heroine glancing over her shoulder at you as she flees down this lane?

And overlooking these lanes is the infamous abbey ruins, an eerie sentinel that sits atop the cliffs. It is rumoured a ghostly woman appears in the window, but I didn’t see her.

Still in operation today is this old coaching inn, which of course I had to use in one of my scenes.

There are still fishermen who ply these waters for trade, but this harbor isn’t nearly as active as it was centuries ago.

Twice I’ve made the coastal hike from Whitby to Robinhood’s Bay. This is where I imagined librarian Rosa Edwards riding her bicycle delivering books.

And yes, indeed, the sea mists are a very real thing, sometimes so thick it’s disorienting.

So, see what I mean? Whitby is a magical place, well worth the effort to get to if you ever venture over to England. And if that doesn’t quite fit into your budget or schedule, never fear.