Edenbrooke

When a book succeeds in making me feel happy, contended, sad, infuriated, sympathizing, breathless and leaves me turning the last page with a dreamy sigh and a silly lovesick expression, well yeah, I know that I've been reading an amazing book, and it's getting a five star rating.Edenbrooke is first and foremost a love story. It's basically a Regency fairy-tale. It's cliché and there are many far-fetched and implausible situations, which I admit grated on my nerves a little, and probably would have ruined the book for me if the romance hadn't made up for it. Because in the end, I decided that this book was supposed to be enjoyed for the romance, and read for fun, just like any other fairy-tale that has a few aspects that seem impossible or don't make perfect sense. This novel was not a comedy of manners or a romp, it was a love story. A beautiful, heart-wrenching, heart-warming and amazing love story, and I am completely in love with it.The setting, as Marianne would say, feels like paradise. Edenbrooke is a grand, magnificent home, resplendent with elegance and luxury. The extensive grounds are just as exquisite in their natural beauty and I'd give a fortune to go on vacation at a place like that. Coming straight from Bath, Marianne is absolutely delighted with the place and plans on making the most out of her visit by exploring the orchard, riding, painting the scenery and twirling around.At seventeen, Marianne Daventry is a young, innocent girl who has trouble fitting in and behaving like an elegant lady. She was a delightful heroine and I could relate to her in many ways. I liked that she was outspoken and determined one moment, and shy and blushing the next. She was able to pretend she was a milkmaid and sing a silly song in front of a stranger at in inn without the least embarrassment, but have a man tell her she's looking beautiful and suddenly she loses all her wits and that man is an arrogant, odious flirt! Her inability to take any compliments, especially from Philip, was quite irritating, but it was understandable at the same time because she hasn't really had any experience and is not generally disposed to flirt. So every time Philip said something nice to her, or started teasing her (which he did a lot and it was adorable), she immediately felt mortified and was exasperated that he flirted so much.Philip and Marianne become quick friends and have so many wonderful scenes in the first half of the book before Cecily enters the picture. They ride together, laugh together, confide in each other, explore the house, and they just have such an amazing time and you can really feel it and it is just soooo romantic!! Philip is so obviously madly in love with her, but she remains totally oblivious to it even though she's very much aware of him too.Ok, so now I just need to pause this a little bit and talk about Philip for a second here (come on, you all knew this was coming! :P). Where can I meet him please?!?! (Please don't answer Edenbrooke or I will cry!)I need that man in my life. Seriously. If we were allowed to marry anyone from literature, he would be my husband. I know that I gush about *almost* every hero I encounter in my historical romances, but Philip Wyndham is simply perfection itself and I'm madly in love with him, and I know that I am clearly crazy, but goodness he was so swoony!! (If ever a hero deserved the word, it is him!) Why do authors create such amazingly impossible dreamy men?! What I am supposed to do now??! Start shopping for cats, I think. ;)No but, seriously, even if for some deranged reason Philip doesn't make you swoon, surely their romance or his estate will! There is not an extravagant amount of description in Edenbrooke, but the house and grounds are detailed just enough to make you want to pack your bags and move there. And the romance, dear heavens, there is a scene where Marianne sleeps on Philip's jacket in the orchard (and he's lying down close to her), a breathtaking dance scene, another breathtaking one in the stables, one in library, THE LIST GOES ON! And then there is The. Kiss. which nearly made me lose my head, and I think I just sat staring at nothing for a few moments after re-reading it fifty times.If all this hasn't convinced you, I don't know what will, but I sincerely hope every romantic out there picks up this book and enjoys the rare treat it is, because you really don't know what you're missing. Doesn't matter if you're not normally into Regency or historical romance. Read it anyways. :D :D

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️What I loved:- Single, first person POV- He falls first- Strong, sassy, blind🤭 FMC- Gentlemanly 😉, kind, generous MMC- Beautiful setting- Riding horses together- He gives her Meg 🥹- The love letters 😍- Her grandma 😂- Lady Caroline 💕 and Rachel speaking their minds- Betsy 💕 is the hype woman we all need- She paints and he LOVES it 💕😍🫠- He takes care of her 🥹🥰- The library 💕 and how special it is for both of them⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I do not have all the words for how much I loved this book. The gorgeous world that this book creates I could live in forever. As long as the rollercoaster stayed far away from me and I could live peacefully at Edenbrooke 😅🤭😉The love between Phillip and Marianne is deep and profound. They both can see past the others walls and facades. They care deeply in a way I feel is so hard to capture in a book but so beautifully and completely captured in this book.There were so many twists in the book. Friends saw me call a few of the twists but then there were so MANY that I did NOT see coming from MILES away. I gasped, I blushed, I grinned, I cried, I cried more, I laughed, and I messaged it all to friends 😂😭 I’m still ready to throw Cecily out the window whenever you girls are ready 😉I love this book so much and I’m already itching to reread it just to be in Edenbrooke again 💕 I have hundreds of highlights and it was so hard to just choose a few. I will be talking about this book until the end of time 💕This is a clean romance book with only a few kisses in it and mentions of kissing.Content warnings: highwaymen, robbery, gun fight, kidnapping, dueling

The writing style is not as old fashioned as those written during Jane Austin’s time but that doesn’t mean this isn’t good. The writing style is easy to follow, sure, but the STORY unfolded beautifully. There’s a bit of a simpleness to the way it’s being told yet it’s easy to fall into. There is some humor to this book as well adding a lightness every now and then that’s refreshing. And the main female character is so likable, as is the male. In all honesty, it was a darling book and a delight to read. I couldn’t put it down!

Named Edenbrooke because it was thought to be as beautiful as the Garden of Eden, this grand estate was located in Kent, England. It was a glorious picture with beautifully manicured gardens, a river running through it, and an arched bridge spanning the water.This book is a delightful read that will touch your heart and put a smile on your face. This is truly a "Proper Romance" with beautiful characters that will take you back in time to the early 1800's.Twin sisters, Marianne and Cecily are so totally different. Cecily, who never failed to get what she wanted, was ambitious, beautiful , refined, and loved town life. She dreamed of marrying a man with a title. Marianne, who felt inferior to her sister, wanted to live in the country, to ride her horse, sit in an orchard and paint, and to do something useful with her time. Most of all, she wanted to be loved for who she was. She felt dull and quiet compared to Cecily. Sir Philip Wyndham, my favorite character, was simply charming with the intent of uncovering as much of Marianne's heart as possible. Is Phillip a collector of hearts - hearts he has no interest in keeping?This is such a refreshing read with a tender romance and storyline that just flows. I highly recommend.

I laughed out loud and felt the anxiety of the main character. Excellent book! Wish it was a series, so it lasted longer.

The plot is well thought out, the characters are believable and delightful. I would REALLY like to meet a real life version of Philip!You gotta read it!

This story had made my heart flutter. It's not just the way is written, which I find very enjoyable, but also the atmosphere that reminded me so very much the ones I have found in classic literature, and also I loved so much how well the characters were made and their internal dynamics, the way they interacted with each other.I have also really, really appreciated that this was a well written clean regency romance, ther was no vulgarity, no explicit scene of sex, just true romance. The one that doesn't need to describe in every detail how two lovers copulate to make you feel butterflies in your stomach, while reading I could feel every single emotion that the main character was feeling and my heart raced with hers. I greatly recommend this book to everyone, especially Jane Austen's novel lovers!

A very sweet romance. A somewhat clueless heroine and a man who knows what he wants. This was a very enjoyable read, and very well written and properly paced. It was a bit more money than I would normally spend for a kindle book, but it was also fairly lengthy so you get your monies worth.

Beautifully written from the heart with a great plot, arc and two finely thought out characters. Being written in the first person did not distract from the authenticity of the Heroines character and her struggles. Crafted to bring life to many secondary characters. A sentimental clean love story which was hard to put down — Mariannes love interest was appealing and believable — thank you to the author for a genuinely gorgeous tale

Imagine uma história digna de Disney World. Daquelas que te fazem suspirar e sonhar com seu príncipe encantado por semanas. É assim que você vai se sentir ao terminar de ler este livro.Pela primeira vez em muito tempo eu me senti como se estivesse lendo um romance de Jane Austen. Donaldson tem o dom de trazer à vida detalhes do período da Regência e o mesmo tempo torná-los atuais. Ela consegue de forma muito habilidosa manter uma linguagem menos rebuscada que a de Austen, sem no entanto perder a autenticidade do período.Os personagens são tão bem desenvolvidos que você realmente se sente parte da história, como se estivesse vivenciando-a. E que personagens! Eles vão te fazer suspirar, gargalhar e se apaixonar. O enredo também é muito bem elaborado e conta a história de Marianne Daventry que após o falecimento de sua mãe é enviada para morar em Bath (Inglaterra). Acostumada com o verde de sua propriedade rural, ela fará de tudo para escapar do tédio de viver em uma cidade como Bath e de seu pretendente um tanto quanto indesejado. Então, quando chega um convite de sua irmã gêmea, Cecily, para se juntar a ela na propriedade rural de Edenbrooke, ela agarra a chance pensando apenas em relaxar e desfrutar da bela paisagem inglesa ela não espera se deparar com o charmoso e tentador Phillip.Será muito fácil se relacionar com todos as angustias e inseguranças de Marianne. E o personagem de Philip é tão adorável que será difícil parar de pensar nele, mesmo após o fim do livro.Definitivamente uma bela história de amor lindamente escrita. A narrativa é bem fluida e poética. Só devo avisar que aqueles que gostam de um pouco de erotismo em seus livros ficaram decepcionados. Esta história é definitivamente água com açúcar para os fãs de “Cinquenta tons de cinza”. Considero leitura obrigatória para qualquer romântico.

For all who love regency time romances. Not one boring page, good humour, excellent story writing.Hope there is soon more of Julianne Donaldson (I read both books within 5 days).Congratulations.