Escape to Everly Manor
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Escape to Everly Manor
by Charlon Linton
Edition: ARC, 2019
Synopsis: Nineteen-year-old Lizzy and her young brother, Thomas, find themselves orphaned after a tragic accident claims the lives of their parents. Their estranged Uncle Cline arrives to claim his inheritance, and his roguish ways cast a shadow over the manor. Both the family estate and guardianship of his niece and nephew were left to him, and diabolical Uncle Cline is determined to indulge in his newfound wealth and rid himself of his charges. Desperate to save her brother from a dangerous life at sea, and herself from being married off to a detestable old gentleman, Lizzy knows there is only one choice left—they must run.
Lizzy and Thomas sneak away and find refuge in an abandoned cabin. There they remain hidden until fate acquaints Lizzy with Mr. Barton, a charming gentleman who is immediately intrigued by the mysterious young woman. Concealing her identity, Lizzy is unaware that there is much more to this compassionate man than meets the eye. Through his kindness to herself and her brother, Lizzy begins to trust him. Soon Lizzy realizes Mr. Barton may be her best hope for a life in which she can live—and love—as she chooses . . .
To keep her younger brother sent to sea and to escape from her uncle’s cruel nature, Lizzy Stafford runs away from the only home she’s ever known. Things do not go as planned, and when she meets Mr. Barton, she comes to realize this gentleman might be the help she needs.
For the most part, I did enjoy this romance. Lizzy was an enjoyable character, even if at times she was annoyingly selfless at times. it was lovely to watch her bravery in the face of the unknown, and her interactions with her brother were sweet. I also liked that the romance was built on trust between herself and barton, which made the last third of the book infuriating with Lizzy’s behavior.
There were times the characters did not act as I would have expected from the time period. It was annoying but I was more willing to tolerate it because I enjoyed the characters.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to readers of Regency romance.
