Review: EDENBROOKE by Julianne Donaldson

EDENBBROOKE
by Julianne Donaldson
Paperback, 240 pages
Published: March 27th 2012 by Shadow Mountain

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!

Summary:
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 she 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.

Review:
From page one I was drawn into Marianne's world. Each character was vivid and real. I was pulled into the world of Regency England where rules are strict, women are limited, love was pure and things are not always what they seem. Marianne certainly has to deal with all of this. And she is unfortunate enough to be a free spirit limited by her circumstances.

I devoured this novel and found myself dreaming about living in that world...plus it's England, my favorite place I've ever visited! This book is truly a "proper romance". My heart soared with the joys, and was pulled by the tensions of the situations that Marianne finds herself.

Fans of Jane Austen will fall in love with this new look into the life of a spirited young woman constricted by the world, searching for her place, and finding love.

I very much look forward to more from Julianne Donaldson!