Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
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Synopsis:
Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she'll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.
From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.
My Review:
“You stole my heart the night we met, when you sang that ridiculous song and dared me not to laugh. and every moment I have spent with you since then, you have stolen more and more of me until when you're not with me..." He drew in a breath. "When you are not with me, I am left with nothing but longing for you.”
This book was such a refreshing surprise to a reader getting tired of the ‘same old thing’ with regency romances. This story has everything a good regency romance needs: action, romance, deceit, flirtation, suspense, and countless others. Donaldson created such a wonderful world to escape into with excellent character development and storyline. This is a well-written book you will fall in love with!
As some books will drag out getting to the romance for other things, this book does not do that. The romance starts quick, but the writer does a wonderful job of bringing a Jane Austen-like story to the romance full of misunderstandings and charged tension between the hero and heroine that never gets resolved until the ending. There is also a mystery to figure out and a healthy dose of danger on top of the typical intrigue involving inheritances typical for novels taking place during this time period.
Marianne’s internal conflict between her own desires and her inferiority to her sister were well played without being overdone. And the interactions between the characters and the effects they had on each other balanced perfectly to create a unifying story of love and friendship.
Donaldson's characterizations of her heroine are charming, funny, and very witty. Marianne found her way into my heart and earned my unwavering admiration. She is naive, yet bold with sharing her thoughts and opinions. Sometimes that gets her into trouble. She has a kind heart; she is giving and unselfish. She recognizes when someone else is in distress, and she puts aside her own hurt, to help that person. I connected easily with her and understand many of her struggles even though we live in such different time periods.
I also loved the fact that Mrs. Donaldson wrote her novel in the first person. She is Marianne. Everyone can be Marianne, and this is amazing. Every reader can be in the book, everyone can live Marianne’s adventures and feel happy, sad, brave, fearful, shy, envious. Everyone can live a dream until the book ends.
Philip, the love interest, is delightful, one of those characters you wish were real. Handsome, gentlemanly, honorable, and smitten beyond words. I loved the conversations he had with Marianne. He wasn’t put off by Marianne’s humor, or her naive misunderstandings.
Marianne’s grandmother is delightful. Rough around the edges with a warm, gooey heart. Her well-delivered quips made me laugh out loud! She may seem put-off-ish, but Marianne understands her prickly exterior.
The secondary characters are also fun. Each of those characters adds something special to the story. It's wonderful to find a book where you feel like all the characters play an important role.
Donaldson’s writing was also very picturesque and I could easily visualize Edenbrooke, its inhabitants and the lovely countryside. The subtle beauty of the garden complemented the lush details of the grand estate itself. From the descriptions of the estate to the details of the surrounding gardens, everything allowed me to place myself in 1800 England. It transported me into this romantic time, and I was sad when I had to go back.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
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