Edenbrooke

Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance

By Julianne Donaldson
Shadow Mountain, 2012. 264 pgs. Adult Romance

After her mother's death, Marianne Daventry was sent to Bath to live with her grandmother, while her twin sister, Cecily, who has always seemed to shine brighter than Marianne, goes off to London to stay with family there. While Cecily has written to Marianne that she's found the man for her--the brother of a new friend who is the heir of a vast estate--Marianne is stuck trying to escape the attentions of an unwanted suitor. Then Marianne is extended an invitation to stay with Cecily and her friends at the friends' country estate, Edenbrooke. Marianne arrives ahead of her sister and develops a friendship with the second son, Philip, but can't quite believe that his flirtatious comments could mean anything real...but she also can't stop her heart from wishing that they were.

This is a perfectly delightful romance that will leave readers wishing Edenbrooke were real and they could go there to find a gentleman of their own. The witty banter between Marianne and Philip, the setting, and the plot line are all pretty much perfectly developed. There's not much not to like about this one. It's pretty much a must read for fans of Regency romance, Jane Austen, or awesome books in general.

5 stars. Clean read.