12 Days at Bleakly Manor

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep is the first book in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas. Clare Chapman lost everything nine months ago. She is surprised when she receives an invitation to spend twelve days Bleakly Manor. If Clare lasts the full duration, she will receive a sum of 500 pounds. When Clare arrives at the manor, she finds she was not the only person to receive the unusual invitation and promised something in return. Ben Lane was arrested on his way to marry Clare for a crime he did not commit. He was promised his freedom if he stays through the twelfth day of Christmas. Their anonymous host has decided that only one of the guests will win their promised prize. Which guest will last the full twelve days and what is the show more person willing to do to win?

12 Days at Bleakly Manor is a well-crafted and entertaining novel. It is short, but it is packed full of action and intrigue. The mystery was delightful (see if you can figure out the culprit in this one) and the characters interesting. I like the Christian beliefs expressed in the story (compassion, prayer, faith, forgiveness, second chances, God is in control, trust, and hope). The Christian theme is light but the point is gotten across. My rating for 12 Days at Bleakly Manor is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The author combined Bleak House by Charles Dickens with And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie in 12 Days at Bleakly Manor. I appreciated the colorful, unique characters (especially the lady with the mice) that Ms. Griep created. I am looking forward to the next installment in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas in A Tale of Two Hearts. show less

Clara's family fortune was stolen nine months ago, so she's compelled to accept an invitation to spend Christmastide at Bleakly Manor. If she remains for all twelve days, she'll receive five hundred pounds. Yet, besides bringing her face to face with the former fiancé who jilted her, there's something more mysterious, even dangerous, about this whole setup in 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, a tale by author Michelle Griep.

Well! As the first book of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series, there's certainly something Dickens-esque about this Victorian holiday mystery. It's cold and dreary but with drafts of light and humor that slide in, and it features an eclectic cast of distinct characters with a range of personalities and motives. What show more first drew me most into this story is its style, with excellent imagery and rare turns of phrase—a classic touch that's refreshing to find in a modern read.

I was fairly enthralled through the first third of the book or so, and though I didn't remain as gripped through the rest of it, my interest wasn't lost. Now, there are bits of backstory that seem belatedly thrown in to help make sense of everything. I think "bringing it all together" works better when the right details are mentioned earlier in the book, instead of popping up suddenly to assist a late explanation or event. Also, there's a slur in the book that I find culturally offensive and am sure the story could have done without.

Nevertheless, fellow fans of historical Christmas ChristFic should enjoy this tale, and I hope to read the second book in the series when it comes out next year.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. show less

This was a really fun Christmas read, especially if you enjoy a novel with that Dickensian feel or are an Agatha Christie fan (like me). Old school, good books. When I was in 8th grade, I read And Then There Were None, and it was one of the biggest influences on me for years to come -- as a reader and future writer. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor brought me back to that feeling I had when I read Ms. Christie.
Not to mention, who doesn't enjoy a good Victorian romance now and then? If you want to add a pleasurable Christmas read to your list with a little bit of mystery, quirky characters, and a sweet romance, give 12 Days at Bleakly Manor a try. And don't you just love that title? Charles D. would smile.

When seven people are invited to spent the 12 days of Christmas at Bleakly Manor and offered some sort of reward for staying the entire time, the clash of personalities, not to mention the lack of food and heat, provide the backdrop for the re-igniting of a relationship. Clara Chapman is offered enough money to save her from the poor house. Her ex-fiance Ben Lane is offered his freedom from a prison sentence that he doesn't deserve. They'll have the chance to discover the truth behind what broke them up, but only if they can survive the other guests--especially after the revelation that only one of the guests can get the prize.

This is a nice Christmas-adjacent mystery with some romance, set in 1850. I enjoyed the way the guests show more interacted, for the most part, and while the mystery elements were fairly predictable, I still liked the way it all came together at the end. I liked the atmosphere that was built both with the descriptions and in the writing itself.

One of my biggest disappointments with this book was the way both Ben & Clara were so quick to assume the worst of each other. Even when they began to understand their misconceptions, they still took longer to let go of them than I thought they should. I know that 9 months of believing the worst of someone else can sour the mind, but...in the end, 9 months isn't really all that long. And even later, without spoiling anything, both of them had opportunity to trust in the other after they have had a chance to get past their issues, and both failed, at least to some degree. It's not the most solid basis for a relationship.

There was one particular guest that I really didn't like--both his personality and how he acted, but also how he was described and portrayed in the text. And in the end, he was barely involved in much and left without making much of an impact. There were a few other things here or there that never ended up making much sense for the story, but they were mostly minor things.

Overall, it was a fun read, short and sweet. I liked the old-fashioned traditions involving Christmas that were shown, and there was one particular thing that was revealed at the end that I felt like I should have guessed, and think many would, but I didn't, which made it better for me. It definitely has some Christian elements scattered throughout, and the romance is clean (there are some physical desires brought up, but not acted upon). I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick Christmas read, for a historical book with mystery elements, or for a Christian romance. show less

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep is a fun Christmas read. With its Victorian setting and a big nod to Charles Dickens, it captures the spirit of the season. This novella has quirky characters galore (with equally quirky names a la Dickens), a heartwarming message of second chances, and sweet romance just perfect for a long winter night’s reading experience. This one is a recommended read!

Clara Chapman was left at the altar months before this cold December. With her fortune gone, stolen she believes by her fiancé, she is living in reduced circumstances. An invitation to Bleakley Manor for the Twelve Nights of Christmas celebration promises a way out of her financial difficulties — if she stays the full 12 days. Benjamin show more Lane was arrested on the way to his wedding and has been held without trial awaiting transportation to Australia. He has become bitter and vengeful, but a chance to be released and restored to society has him also at Bleakley Manor. Clara and Ben, along with 8 other guests, are all hoping for their deepest wishes to come true.

A bit A Christmas Carol and a bit Then There Were None, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor has all the ingredients for a quick, quirky, and thoroughly satisfying read. The characters provide amusement and intrigue as the mysterious Master of the house manipulates the action. Odd occurrences and threats put them in danger, and they and the reader never know who is to blame. The novella is filled with Victorian details, especially those that surrounded the Christmas celebrations of England. I really enjoyed the trip back in time. The romance is filled with obstacles of betrayal, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings, but also the promise of love restored. When all seems chaos, the characters depend on a God that is in control.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor is the first in Griep’s Once Upon A Dickens Christmas series, and it has definitely made me want more. A great start for a promising series!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone. show less

Prepare yourself to be highly entertained by this delightful book! "12 Days at Bleakly Manor" by Michelle Griep is the first book in the "Once Upon a Dickens Christmas" series. Ms. Griep fills her story with danger and mystery, leaving the reader guessing as to what will happen next!

"12 Days at Bleakly Manor" is a mix of Charles Dickens's "Bleak House", Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", and pure genius. I love BBC's version of "Bleak House", so I was excited to pick this book up. I've never read "And Then There Were None", but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the book. It was fun for me to pick up the "Bleak House" nods throughout the story. Ms. Griep reminds me of Dickens in the way that she show more shows and describes the conditions of prisons, the plight of the poor in Victorian England and the unfair and corrupt justice system.

This story is a fast-paced read with amazing characters and a gothic, mysterious setting. Ms. Griep employs great descriptions and word pictures. There is a darker side to the goings-on at Bleakly Manor. I appreciate how Ms. Griep gives the readers a helpful list and description (at the back of the book) of the Victorian Christmas traditions that are mentioned in the story.

If you think the people at your Christmas get-togethers are crazy, check out this group at Bleakly Manor! Some of the characters have very funny and weird idiosyncrasies and eccentricities, which makes the story all the more interesting. With everything going on in the house and mystery looming everywhere, can the characters trust that God is in control?

"12 Days at Bleakly Manor" is a novel of second chances and choosing between revenge and forgiveness. There is a theme of trust and a strong faith element. I very much enjoyed this book!

Content: This is a clean read. There is a scene where a man is in prison and the conditions are described vividly, which might make sensitive readers uncomfortable. It also mentions that a character swears, but the word is not actually used.

Rating: I give this book 4.5 stars.

Genre: Christian historical fiction; Victorian England; Mystery

I want to thank Michelle Griep, Shiloh Run Press and Barbour Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255. show less

I'm a sucker for historical fiction and mysteries. Michelle Griep weaves both of these together into an enjoyable read. The book was labeled as Christian fiction but I didn't feel like it was preachy. Just don't expect a bodice ripper! Several guests are anonymously invited to Bleakly Manor for the 12 days of Christmas celebration and offered a reward if they stay the duration. The owner of the manor never makes an appearance and potentially deadly accidents start happening to each guest shades of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". Throw in a romance and I'm there. I always watch Lifetime holiday movies and I always like to read a holiday themed book around Christmas. This one would be perfect if that's your thing. Kudos to show more Griep for the historical accuracy and helpful footnotes! show less