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Edenbrooke
(Edenbrooke #1)
by
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, M
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Paperback, 264 pages
Published
March 27th 2012
by Shadow Mountain
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Anne
Perhaps that is because some of us do not need nastiness to make us get excited.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Edenbrooke (Edenbrooke, #1)

Update 12/30/12
Readers, please note that this is a negative review and contains negative elements, namely because I despised the book. I have gotten a lot of negative feedback from readers telling me their opinion and what I should or should not write in the review. Please note that I am not going to change a word of this review, and further repetitive comments WILL be deleted, since they all seem to be from the same people, or at least, focused on the same point. I encourage readers who are unh ...more
Readers, please note that this is a negative review and contains negative elements, namely because I despised the book. I have gotten a lot of negative feedback from readers telling me their opinion and what I should or should not write in the review. Please note that I am not going to change a word of this review, and further repetitive comments WILL be deleted, since they all seem to be from the same people, or at least, focused on the same point. I encourage readers who are unh ...more

finally, some good fucking food
what if mr. darcy were more of a flirt & elizabeth was more of a shy anne shirley. that's this book. i adored it. ...more
what if mr. darcy were more of a flirt & elizabeth was more of a shy anne shirley. that's this book. i adored it. ...more

Being the clean romance, Jane Austen lover that I am I LOVED Edenbrooke.
What a fabulous way to spend a morning. Edenbrooke was a book I couldn't put down. I picked it up to read just a few pages before getting out of bed but didn't quit reading until I finished the book. While there may never be another Mr. Darcy it is possible that his twin is found roaming the grounds of Edenbrooke.
Squeaky clean, full of romance, humor and great characters this is a book I highly recommend. Perfect for lovers ...more
What a fabulous way to spend a morning. Edenbrooke was a book I couldn't put down. I picked it up to read just a few pages before getting out of bed but didn't quit reading until I finished the book. While there may never be another Mr. Darcy it is possible that his twin is found roaming the grounds of Edenbrooke.
Squeaky clean, full of romance, humor and great characters this is a book I highly recommend. Perfect for lovers ...more

I will admit that I have an unfair, blanket aversion to "Deseret Book fiction". I'm not sure why or how the stereotypical cringing came to be, but it exists for me, nonetheless. Having acknowledged that, I was already wary at my first introduction of this book, but since I'll try any clean read, more so if it's recommended to me by someone I love, and doubly if there is talk that it is in any way Austen-esque, I curled up ready for...whatever.
I would have to strongly disagree with the general cl ...more
I would have to strongly disagree with the general cl ...more

Edenbrooke is a sweet, unabashedly romantic story set in Regency England. Marianne Daventry, age 17, has always felt overshadowed by her more confident, more beautiful twin sister Cecily. While Cecily is enjoying the social life in London, Marianne has been rusticating in Bath with their grandmother for the last fourteen months, since their mother died and their father took himself off to France to grieve alone.
Grandmother makes an unexpected offer to make Marianne her heir, to the tune of 40,0 ...more
Grandmother makes an unexpected offer to make Marianne her heir, to the tune of 40,0 ...more

Nov 23, 2012
Malin
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one, it sucks!
Marianne Daventry is an innocent 17-year-old whose mother died the year before in a riding accident. Her father's scarpered off to France to grieve, her twin sister's in London with family friends enjoying a season, while poor little Marianne is wasting away with boredom at her grandmother's in Bath. Her gran, a cranky and unpleasant old biddy, decides to disinherit her no good scoundrel nephew and bestow her fortune of forty thousand pounds on Marianne, as long as the girl will learn to behave
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3.5 stars
Bff and I have a long and complicated history. We were introduced by our mothers soon after my family had relocated to her hometown. My mother, ever anxious for me to make friends, called me over to point out her new friend's daughter, a girl about my age with long, curling blonde hair, wearing a frilly dress, and . . . twirling.
I was not impressed.
This is a story that's been told many times, and not just b/c we did eventually become the good friends our mothers had hoped we would, but ...more
Bff and I have a long and complicated history. We were introduced by our mothers soon after my family had relocated to her hometown. My mother, ever anxious for me to make friends, called me over to point out her new friend's daughter, a girl about my age with long, curling blonde hair, wearing a frilly dress, and . . . twirling.
I was not impressed.
This is a story that's been told many times, and not just b/c we did eventually become the good friends our mothers had hoped we would, but ...more

Love!
Each time I read this I seem to fall in love just a little bit more. It really is one of my very favorite regencies. I remember when it first came out I was drawn to its beautiful cover, it really fits the story so well.
Marianne is a likable heroine, a bit blind at times and so modest that she couldn't possibly imagine that anyone would chose her over her beautiful twin Cecily. After the tragic death of her mother, she is separated from her twin and sent to live with her grandmother in Bat ...more
Each time I read this I seem to fall in love just a little bit more. It really is one of my very favorite regencies. I remember when it first came out I was drawn to its beautiful cover, it really fits the story so well.
Marianne is a likable heroine, a bit blind at times and so modest that she couldn't possibly imagine that anyone would chose her over her beautiful twin Cecily. After the tragic death of her mother, she is separated from her twin and sent to live with her grandmother in Bat ...more

This was delightful. The heroine is very guileless, mainly because she is only 17. But she makes up for it with humor and a strong sense of loyalty. This is a clean romance but it's not what I would consider YA. It had a couple of moments that really hit me in the feels. There were also some moments that I wanted to shake the heroine, but in the end I enjoyed this book overall and read the whole thing in a day.
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I hope you do not let anyone else's expectations direct the course of your life.” -Julianne Donaldson, Edenbrooke
O Edenbrooke, O Edenbrooke!!
There are some books that come along that you know you will instantly love, and Edenbrooke is exactly that for me. Reading this story was equivalent to eating chocolate!!
This book was just delightful! This story had everything you want in a Regency romance; endearing characters, dashing hero's, humorous and quick-witted dialogue, and villains that wi ...more

I adore Georgette Heyer and her Regency romances and was excited that I might find a new favorite author in this book. I drove my little Volvo home from the library in a flurry of excitement to get started on this book. This is where the story turns sad. I had to abandon this book and I am a little leery of posting my scathing review here because it was recommended by a friend and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. That said based on the Goodreads reviews LOTS of people loved this book and
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May 06, 2013
Anne
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
All the hopeless romantics of this world!
Recommended to Anne by:
Soph, Alice, Becca, Kathryn, Tadiana, Tweety, Maria, Beth & so many others!! Thank you all!
This book had been recommended to me ever since I joined Goodreads, and by so many people that I have lost count. When it finally arrived in the mail about a week ago, I pounced on it like a tiger and started jumping up and down in excitement. And if it hadn't been for all the furniture, I might even have twirled... ;) Hahaha just kidding, I don't *ahem* twirl.
So, with exceedingly high expectations after having heard Edenbrooke praised to the skies for so long, I plunged in it wholeheartedly, p ...more
So, with exceedingly high expectations after having heard Edenbrooke praised to the skies for so long, I plunged in it wholeheartedly, p ...more

(UPDATE: As amazing the second time, if not more!)
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could!
It really was a 'proper romance' like it says - it satisfied, more than satisfied, my romantic wishes and I am such a hopeless romantic!
I loved the whole story and some parts came as a complete shock. It kept me on tender-hooks which is always the best way in a story.
I loved all the major and minor characters. The heroine, Marianne, is the best heroine! Being my age, I could relate to ...more
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could!
It really was a 'proper romance' like it says - it satisfied, more than satisfied, my romantic wishes and I am such a hopeless romantic!
I loved the whole story and some parts came as a complete shock. It kept me on tender-hooks which is always the best way in a story.
I loved all the major and minor characters. The heroine, Marianne, is the best heroine! Being my age, I could relate to ...more

First of all, Apologies to a Dearest Friend of mine who gave me this book as a b'day present and hoped I would enjoy it as much as she did ....
I tried my Dear, I truly did, BUT ..... and this is the BIGGEST BUT EVER .... I had to give up because:
UUUUUUGGGGHHHHH! I CAN'T EVEN...
The MC is a surefire medallist in the Stupidest-and-Most Annoying-Heroine-Ever competition & and not even the fact that she is surrounded by nasty b**ches makes her appear less so.
I won't even start on the twirling thing ...more
I tried my Dear, I truly did, BUT ..... and this is the BIGGEST BUT EVER .... I had to give up because:
UUUUUUGGGGHHHHH! I CAN'T EVEN...

The MC is a surefire medallist in the Stupidest-and-Most Annoying-Heroine-Ever competition & and not even the fact that she is surrounded by nasty b**ches makes her appear less so.
I won't even start on the twirling thing ...more

This was a very well-done Regency period novel. Other reviews are drawing parallels to Jane Austen. That's a fair assessment based on time period only. Let me share a shocking secret with you...Ready? I do not love Jane Austen novels. There, I said it. I do not love Jane Austen novels. It feels good to have that out in the open. I don't feel light or free when I read those books. I feel weighted down. I don't like the societal customs. I don't find the romance engaging and I am bothered by the l
...more

Sep 21, 2012
Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...)
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Heidi by:
Michele
Words cannot express how much I adore this book. I totally relate to Marianne, her insecurities and strengths, and Phillip is the perfect hero in my mind. The romantic tension is off the hook. I can't count how many times I've read it (especially my favorite parts). Also highly recommend the prequel novella, Heir to Edenbrooke.
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This is my umpteenth time reading Edenbrooke and I love it more and more each time! Julianne Donaldson is a fabulous author and storyteller!!! If you are a regency era fan this is the next book you need to grab and read! Warning: you probably won't want to put it down once you start so don't start when you have lots going on or you will either putting everything off or rushing to finish it so you can read! Lol.
I love both of the MCs. Marianne is a sweet girl who is hurting from losing her mothe ...more
I love both of the MCs. Marianne is a sweet girl who is hurting from losing her mothe ...more

This is one of those books you all have been telling me to read for YEARS. (I'd be embarrassed to add up how many times I've checked it out of the library and returned it unread.) When yet another due date approached, I finally read it—in a single day!
This is a squeaky-clean Regency romance, strongly reminiscent of Georgette Heyer and often recommended for Jane Austen fans. (I wouldn't hesitate to pass this on to my 10-year-old.)
Fast and fun for Janeites and historical fiction lovers. ...more
This is a squeaky-clean Regency romance, strongly reminiscent of Georgette Heyer and often recommended for Jane Austen fans. (I wouldn't hesitate to pass this on to my 10-year-old.)
Fast and fun for Janeites and historical fiction lovers. ...more

Even though I spend most of my time rushing around like a hummingbird on meth, I consider myself a true romantic at heart in that whimsical, day-dreamer kind of way. This book is for true romantics. It's not Jane Austen and it is not- necessarily- one million percent historically accurate but it is funny and smart and it made me sigh and my chest all achy. The hero is heroic and the heroine is sweet. I loved it and have already re-read it. It was by far my favorite romance of 2012.
...more

This is the first book I've read by this author. It has everything you want in a Regency , a dashing hero, a beautiful heroine,traveling,shy looks,stolen kisses, a duel,trickery,kidnapping,rescuing. Ahhh, this book was pure bliss as I could imagine being there at Edenbrooke and experiencing it all myself.
...more

This is one of those books I hesitate to rate since everyone seems to love it and I didn’t. It’s the same old story with a new title. Self-admitting less attractive younger women unknowing to herself falls in love with dashingly handsome and rich heir to an estate. The same man her beautiful blonde, blue eyed, supposedly refined older twin sister (along with several other eligible girls) has been trying to ensnare for over a year. He falls for less refined twin but has to convince her his love i
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Absolutely the best recency romance I've read to date. Emotional, clever. I cried and laughed. 100% recommend.
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I absolutely LOVED Edenbrooke. I won an ARC in a blog giveaway and cracked it open yesterday...I was immediately so captivated that I didn't want to put it down. I wasn't able to finish it in one sitting, but rather had to muster the self control to put it down in order to tend to my 21-month-old throughout the majority of the afternoon, but I immediately picked it up again after putting him to bed and read late into the night. I finished the book this morning and I can tell you that I was thoro
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I do not get the popularity of this book. Marianne annoys the stuffing out of me and I can't get past her bone-deep stupidity. What six year-old carries a grudge against a doll and won't even touch it with her bare fingers even though nobody is around some eleven years later? A mentally deranged one, that's who. Marianne has taken a single instance of her twin, Cecily, getting her way and magnified it into pre-planned self-defeat in every aspect of her life. I don't find this sympathetic. I don'
...more

If I could describe this book in one word it would be cute. Honestly while reading I had the most ridiculous grin on my face the entire time. Most of it was because of the dialogue between Marianne and Phillip. Honestly, I have never read of a couple more perfect than these two, and they compliment each other really well.
Marianne's just a normal sweet 17 year old girl who doesn't really see herself as anything great compared to her sister, but as you read, you see that she's endearing, funny, a ...more
Marianne's just a normal sweet 17 year old girl who doesn't really see herself as anything great compared to her sister, but as you read, you see that she's endearing, funny, a ...more

I don't really read romance novels, so I lack a frame of reference. Edenbrooke tells an exciting regency story while giving insights into the main character. I stayed up really late in order to finish the second half of the book. It really is like nothing I have ever read--in a good way. This book is special.
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One of my favorite books of all time! I can't believe I just said that. But I haven't stayed up all night reading a book in a VERY long time. This one did it to me. Why? Donaldson hints at some of it herself in the Q & A section at the back of the book. She loves the Regency Era, (who doesn't) but she wanted to make it more accessible to modern readers, so she eliminated the sometimes entangled 1800's language and kept it simple. She also streamlined the plot for accessibility, leaving out the s
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Play Book Tag: Edenbrooke - 2 stars | 1 | 9 | Jun 10, 2020 09:56AM | |
Clean Romance | 1 | 16 | Jun 29, 2019 07:28PM | |
Book Choice | 2 | 10 | May 17, 2018 09:07PM |
Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing. She writes historical romance when she is not busy with her four young children and husband. Edenbr
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Get in the mood with our list of the top 100 romances of all time. We narrowed the field by limiting our results to books aimed at...
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“To my unsuspecting love.
When I look into your eyes, I lose all sense of time and place. Reason robbed, clear thought erased, I am lost in the paradise I find within your gaze.
I long to touch your blushing cheek, to whisper in your ear how I adore you, how I have lost my heart to you, how I cannot bear the thought of living without you.
To be so near to you without touching you is agony. Your blindness to my feelings is a daily torment, and I feel driven to the edge of madness by my love for you.
Where is your compassion when I need it most? Open your eyes , Love, and see what is right before you: that I am not merely a friend, but a man deeply, desperately , in love with you.
Longing for you.”
—
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When I look into your eyes, I lose all sense of time and place. Reason robbed, clear thought erased, I am lost in the paradise I find within your gaze.
I long to touch your blushing cheek, to whisper in your ear how I adore you, how I have lost my heart to you, how I cannot bear the thought of living without you.
To be so near to you without touching you is agony. Your blindness to my feelings is a daily torment, and I feel driven to the edge of madness by my love for you.
Where is your compassion when I need it most? Open your eyes , Love, and see what is right before you: that I am not merely a friend, but a man deeply, desperately , in love with you.
Longing for you.”
“I hope you do not let anyone else's expectations direct the course of your life.”
—
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More quotes…