Book Review: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

(reading)

How’s your April going? Mine has been fantastic! Lots of time with the kiddos. Lots of vegging. And even some yard work (though not nearly enough). Every year I seem to forget how beautiful spring is in Michigan. It’s breathtaking. There are flowering trees and bushes everywhere. Dogwoods. Weeping peaches. And the green is soooo green, especially after a rain storm like this weekend. Wow.

.

.

In my newest novel, the main character, Carrie Ashworth, would be going nuts right now. (Hopefully you’ll get to meet her soon. She loves all that kind of stuff.) Here are a few pictures from my yard which don’t even BEGIN to do spring in Michigan justice. 

>

Anyway, I haven’t blogged much in April, but I wanted to drop a note to let you know what I’ve been reading. With all the sitting at orthodontists offices and waiting in carpool lines, I’ve had a lot of reading time, which I love.

The one I read over the weekend is my favorite so far this year. It’s called Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson. This is the first novel by Donaldson and it’s only been out a month or so, so it’s new. Here’s the synopsis:

Even has a spring-ish cover. 🙂

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.

To me, this was like reading a slightly-faster paced Jane Austen novel. Since Jane Austen is my favorite author, this book was perfect! I LOVED it. I’ve read some other regency novels that lose the feel, innocence, or authenticity of Austen, but this one nailed it. It was a very fun, very easy read. I loved the love interest–which is a must. I loved the plot twists. And although I’m not a twirler by nature, this book tempted me to do a little twirling. 🙂 So if you love Jane Austen, you gotta read this one.

Have a great, beautiful, fun day!!!

What about you? Have you done any reading lately? Anything that makes you want to twirl?