Book Cover
While on her journey to Edenbrooke Marianne's carriage is stood up by a burglar who shoots the carriage driver. Marianne is drug from the carriage, but is saved by her maid who finds a hidden pistol in the carriage and shoots at the thief. They then go to an inn to find help for their driver. Upon their arrival Marianne meets a man named Phillip. She is not impressed with his manners as he does not initially help them with their driver. After all the excitement Marianne sits to rest and Phillip approaches her to apologize. He insists on covering the cost of their stay at the inn and for the care their driver needs after being shot in the shoulder.
Upon arrival at Edenbrooke is greeted by Mrs. Windham, the lady of the house. She informs Marianne that Cecily will not be arriving for another week, because she will be attending a masquerade in London. The next day, while out on a walk, Marianne falls into the river, and while attempting to extricate herself from it is found by Phillip. He helps her out of the river and back to the manor. Marianne discovers that Phillip is the son of Mrs. Windham and she is further embarassed because of the state he found her in.
The next several days Phillip and Marianne find themselves becoming close friends and spend much of the day together. Then Cecily arrives and discloses to Marianne that she is planning on winning Phillip's heart so she can marry into this wealthy family. Marianne, to her surprise, finds she is jealous of this, but decides her loyalty to her sister comes before her feelings to Phillip, and she begins to distance her self from Phillip, to his confusion and frustration.
One afternoon, while phillip is gone, Marianne goes out to do some painting and is abducted by the man who tried to rob her carriage. The man abducts her in the attempt to force her to marry him so he can get his hands on the fortune she will inherit. However, Phillips comes to her rescue, they confess their love for each other, Cecily supports Marianne due to not being able to win Phillip's heart, and the two are married.
MY REVIEW
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Dondaldson, J. (2012). Edenbrooke. London ; Salt Lake City, UT/USA: Shadow Mountain
PAGES/AUDIO BOOK TIME
423/9 hours
PURCHASING OPTIONS
Hardcover $30.99
Paperback $14.70
Paperback $14.70
NOOK $10.99
Audiobook $31.44
Audiobook $31.44
Kindle $10.99
Library Binding $30.99
Library Binding $30.99
Paperback $13.43
ANNOTATION
Marianne Daventry goes to visit Edenbrooke estate and finds more than she bargained for.
SUMMARY
Marianne Daventry lives with her ill-humored grandmother in Bath. She is depressed in the city. She prefers to live in the country. Her mother dies over a year ago, and her father has gone to France to mourn. Her twin sister is in London with a family friend. Unexpectedly she is invited to stay at Edenbrooke, a large and magnificent estate far in the country. Even better is that her twin sister, Cecily, whom she hasn't seen in a year, will be staying there, too. Marianne is also informed by her grandmother that she is to inherit her grandmother's fortune of 40,000 pounds upon her death, but she must first prove that she can be a proper lady, and that going to Edenbrooke will be an opportune time to learn how.
Upon arrival at Edenbrooke is greeted by Mrs. Windham, the lady of the house. She informs Marianne that Cecily will not be arriving for another week, because she will be attending a masquerade in London. The next day, while out on a walk, Marianne falls into the river, and while attempting to extricate herself from it is found by Phillip. He helps her out of the river and back to the manor. Marianne discovers that Phillip is the son of Mrs. Windham and she is further embarassed because of the state he found her in.
The next several days Phillip and Marianne find themselves becoming close friends and spend much of the day together. Then Cecily arrives and discloses to Marianne that she is planning on winning Phillip's heart so she can marry into this wealthy family. Marianne, to her surprise, finds she is jealous of this, but decides her loyalty to her sister comes before her feelings to Phillip, and she begins to distance her self from Phillip, to his confusion and frustration.
One afternoon, while phillip is gone, Marianne goes out to do some painting and is abducted by the man who tried to rob her carriage. The man abducts her in the attempt to force her to marry him so he can get his hands on the fortune she will inherit. However, Phillips comes to her rescue, they confess their love for each other, Cecily supports Marianne due to not being able to win Phillip's heart, and the two are married.
MY REVIEW
This book is the classic proper regency romance, and is painfully predictable from beginning to end. There is not a single part of the book that came as a surprise to me. Marianne, Phillip, and all the other characters in the book are as superficial and stereotypical as they come. It is a story of a bunch of white, privileged English people who get their predictable fairy tale happy ending. Although, the estate sounds exquisite, and I wouldn't mind vacationing at a place like that.
RATING
Quality Rating: Plastic
Popularity Rating: Rock
Quality Rating: Plastic
Popularity Rating: Rock
GENRE & SUB GENRES
Romance Fiction
BOOKTALKING
In order to get her grandmother's fortune, Marianne must become someone she does not wish to be. The more she tries, the more she disappoints her grandmother. Just when she is about to give up on trying to be someone else, things work out in a way better than she could have imagined.
This book shows the complex relationship between twin sisters, Marianne and Cecily, that many can relate to.
While there is captivating romance in this novel, it is clean and something any reader can feel comfortable reading.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Do you relate to Marianne's longing to be loved for who she is?
Does Marianne surprise you with her reactions to the highwayman and Mr. Kellet? Would you react the same way?
Were you surprised when it was Marianne's father who saved her at the inn? Why or who not? How was this significant? Would you have liked it more if it had been Philip who saved her? Why or why not?
Do our relationships with our father's determine our romantic relationships? If so, how?
Why was Philip so persistent on buying Marianne's painting?
Why do you think Philip kept his identity from Marianne for so long? Do you agree with this or do you think he should have told her from the beginning?
Philip is inheriting Edenbrooke only because his older brother, Charles, died. Had Charles not died, what do you think Philip would have done with his life? What career would he have pursued?
APPEAL FACTORS
This book is a regency era proper romance novel. It is as squeaky clean as it can get for a romance novel, so no reason to worry if you find your teenage daughter or son-or any child of any age for that matter-reading it. It is a classical good triumphs over evil and love conquers all type of story with a happily ever after ending.
In order to get her grandmother's fortune, Marianne must become someone she does not wish to be. The more she tries, the more she disappoints her grandmother. Just when she is about to give up on trying to be someone else, things work out in a way better than she could have imagined.
This book shows the complex relationship between twin sisters, Marianne and Cecily, that many can relate to.
While there is captivating romance in this novel, it is clean and something any reader can feel comfortable reading.
DISCUSSION POINTS
Do you relate to Marianne's longing to be loved for who she is?
Does Marianne surprise you with her reactions to the highwayman and Mr. Kellet? Would you react the same way?
Were you surprised when it was Marianne's father who saved her at the inn? Why or who not? How was this significant? Would you have liked it more if it had been Philip who saved her? Why or why not?
Do our relationships with our father's determine our romantic relationships? If so, how?
Why was Philip so persistent on buying Marianne's painting?
Why do you think Philip kept his identity from Marianne for so long? Do you agree with this or do you think he should have told her from the beginning?
Philip is inheriting Edenbrooke only because his older brother, Charles, died. Had Charles not died, what do you think Philip would have done with his life? What career would he have pursued?
WHY THIS BOOK?
Edenbrooke was a book being read by the book club my wife attends. When she told me about the book the club chose she ha no intention to read it, because this genre is not exactly either of our cup of tea. However, I said that we should, because 1.) She could attend the book club, and 2.) I could use it for my 35 book assignment for my class and, it would give me a romance genre book.
THE AUTHOR
REVIEWS
SIMILAR TITLES/AUTHORS
Drops of Gold by Sarah M. Eden
Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore
The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch
POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Classic regency era proper romance
- Beautiful English country setting
- predictable damsel in distress with rich, handsome hero
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