Julianne Donaldson

Delightful.

In some ways this book was a bit of the regency romp cliche. There were highwaymen, an abduction, mistaken identity, wealthy dowagers, etc. What set this apart for me was the main character, Marianne. It's not often I really love the heroines of novels. I frequently love the heroes, but its a lot more rare for me to love the heroine. And I loved Marianne. There was an emotional depth to her that really just struck a chord with me, and I imagine would with a lot of other people as show more well. Who in there life at some point hasn't experienced feeling lonely/unwanted/abandoned/etc? Marianne's sorrows were relatable to a wide audience I think which made her a more sympathetic character. I was almost in tears for her for part of the book (and there are only a small handful of books that have ever made me tear up). Marianne was just an excellently written character and made the book something more than the ordinary. There was also a solid amount of witty banter between Marianne and Philip that had me laughing out loud at times.

This book had humor, action, romance, and depth. A very enjoyable read. show less

First of all, you should be warned that if you're averse to a completely gushing review, you'd better pass on by. This is going to be ALL THE GUSHING.

I have a not-very-secret love of all things English, especially the Regency period. It's also not much of a secret that I've often felt that I was born in the wrong time period. There are days when I want nothing more than to be transported back to Regency England (in the upper class, of course, let's be honest) to find my very own Prince show more Charming among the ton.

Edenbrooke transported me there with very little effort and left me feeling breathless, hopeful, and very much satisfied. It's billed as a 'proper romance' and oh, let me tell you...it IS! The romance was absolutely perfect. I loved the interactions between Marianne and her unexpected paramour. I loved the flirting, the teasing, the serious moments, and OH, THAT LOVE LETTER! I died a little bit of happiness, I tell you.

Here, let me illustrate with a brief excerpt:

"When I look into your eyes, I lose all sense of time and place. Reason robbed, clear though erased, I am lost in the paradise I find within your gaze...Where is your compassion when I need it the most? Open your eyes, love, and see what is right before you: that I am not merely a friend, but a man deeply, desperately, in love with you." (Donaldson, 2012, pp. 143-144)

Oh, for the love of all that is good and holy...if a man said that to me, I'd be putty in his hands. I would swoon senseless. It would be over at that moment...resistance would be entirely futile.

See, this is the kind of writing that you're going to be treated to when you pick up Edenbrooke. The whole book is full of the most delicious prose. It's...I can't even find the right words. It just IS. It is ALL THE THINGS.

I could picture Edenbrooke itself as clearly as if I was there, which is maybe a little strange, since there isn't a huge amount of description. Donaldson left quite a lot to the imagination, and I love that she did that. I have my own picture in my head of what it should look like, along with the surrounding countryside. The descriptions that we did get were fantastic and added so much to the sense of reality.

As for characters (you know I couldn't do a review without touching on them), I loved them. Every single one played their role to perfection. Although I was quite certain that I knew what the eventual outcome would be, there were times when I wanted to shake a certain young lady and shout at her to open her eyes. She was so much a product of her upbringing: abandoned by her father, sent to live with an overbearing and impossible to please grandmother, and overshadowed by her twin sister (older by seven minutes, which Marianne is never allowed to forget). I could completely understand WHY she felt the things she did. She was practically forced into it by circumstances. Of course she'd question the affection of a man when her sister was in the picture. She'd been raised to feel completely inferior to her. Of course she'd think she had little to offer in the way of feminine wiles...she'd been told that her entire life, and was, in fact, sent away to learn how to be a lady. I LOVE that ultimately, she's true to herself.

Oh, and Philip! He's just catapulted to the top of my book boyfriend list. Talk about your perfect Regency gentleman. He's the type of man that I long for - the kind who can laugh and joke, and then turn around and write a letter like the one I referenced above. The kind who can turn your knees to jelly with a look and completely steal your heart with a simple touch. His looks aren't really discussed that much, but I definitely have a picture in my head. For me, he's definitely tall, definitely dark, and definitely handsome. I can't decide if he has blue eyes (I'm SUCH a sucker for dark hair and blue eyes) or dark eyes. Either way, my dream-Philip completely slays me. He's so much more than just looks though. Oh, so much more. He's loyal, strong, brave, true, honest, dependable, and SO VERY romantic. He's everything a man should be. (which leads me to ask, IS there such a man out there, or am I doomed to imaginings for the rest of my life?!) THIS is the man who makes me swoon.

I LOVED this book. I wish I could give it ALL THE STARS because 5 seems so paltry compared to how much I loved it. It really made me want to sing my joy out from the rooftops. I felt so good after reading this.

So hopeful and so completely full of all the good things. It's absolutely a very, very favorite, and a 5 Eiffel Tower book. show less

Read April 2026. Rated 4 stars. Read on Libby Kindle. Historical Regency Romance. Enjoyed this more than expected. Obviously the author has been influenced by Jane Austen. A main female character who does not quite fit into society's expectations. And the main male character who is very handsome but wants more than just a "trophy" wife. The reader can guess there will be a happy ending but the reading journey to get there is entertaining.

Historia ubicada en la época Victoriana donde Kate Worthington es una mujer que ha tomado la decisión de no casarse y antes de emprender un largo viaje a la India con su tía va de visita a Blackmoore, la casa solariega de sus mejores amigos y a donde nunca, ha pesar de todos los años de amistad, ha sido invitada. Para poder asistir tiene que recibir tres proposiciones de matrimonio y para ello su mejor amigo Henry Delafield le ayudará.

Por un lado tengo que admitir que me gusta como show more escribe Julianne Dondaldson y que me ha parecido refrescante que se toquen temas que en otras historias se mencionan pero que nunca me había tocado que lo vivieran los protagonsitas.

Los que hemos leído libros de esta época en Inglaterra sabemos que si una mujer caía en desgracia debido a un escándalo y en este caso Kate es una de esas hermanas, vemos como es repudiada por la sociedad y hasta cierto punto también humillada.

Hasta ahí bien, pero a pesar de que la autora nos ha pintado un personaje femenino fuerte y decidido, para mi ha sido incongruente como Kate aguanta y soporta humillaciones y con la cabeza gacha.

Si bien el libro no esta mal y que la historia principal es perfectamente contada y cerrada con un final incluso diferente a lo esperado, también es verdad que ha dejado a varios personajes en el limbo, personajes que para mi han sido importantes y que me hubiera gustado saber que fue de ellos y de otros temas en los que las cosas se quedan en el limbo.

No me ha gustado tanto como Edenbrooke y ciertamente me ha decepcionado bastante, sin embargo es un libro entretenido y se lee muy rápidamente show less