"Reading 'The Cruel Dark' by Bea Northwick was like stepping into a time machine, whisking me away to the enigmatic world of Millicent Foxboro in the year 1928. Millicent's haunting past and uncertain future immediately drew me in, setting the stage for a mesmerizing tale of secrets and shadows.

Millicent, haunted not by ghosts but by the anguish of her own history, seizes an opportunity for stability when she lands an assistantship to the reclusive Professor Callum Hughes. Little did she know, the once-magnificent estate of Willowfield, with its crumbling beginning and bitter memories, would become her new reality.

As Millicent delved deeper into the mysteries surrounding Professor Hughes and his world of flowers and folklore, I found myself captivated by the palpable tension between them. The professor's grim demeanor and hungry eyes ignited dormant passions within Millicent, while the secrets lurking within Willowfield threatened to unravel her own.

Bea Northwick's evocative prose transported me to a bygone era, where romance, mystery, and intrigue intertwine amidst the fading grandeur of a once-glorious estate. With each twist and turn, 'The Cruel Dark' kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly unraveling the threads of its spellbinding narrative.

This book not only captured my imagination but also left me yearning for more. I eagerly await the next installment in Millicent's journey, eager to uncover the secrets that lie hidden in the shadows of Willowfield."