Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Okay, so this book is just downright romantic!  I loved reading this romance.  It was clean and filled with high morale and made me want to work on my home relationships.

Marianne has lost her mother.  Her father seems to have taken off after her mom's death.  Her twin sister is away for the summer in Town.  Marianne prefers the country.  Marianne is heading to Edenbrooke to be with her sister as her sister tries to get the eldest son to ask her marry him.  Her sister gets everything she wants. 

Marianne is so excited to go.  Not only because it is in the country but to get away from her Grandmother's critical yet concerned view.

Even her trip to Edenbrooke is eventful.   There are many twists and turns that I was really quite surprised about.

If you love clean romance, you will love this book.  I enjoyed every moment and couldn't put it down.

It was great!

Here are some characters: 

Marianne--main character

Philip--man Marianne meets

Betsy—Marianne’s maid

Marianne’s Grandmother—wealthy, cranky Grandmother

Aunt Amelia—Marianne’s Aunt.  Lives with Marianne’s Grandmother

James—the coachman

Mr. Whittles—guy who is crazy about her and writes poems and who is very slobbery

Mr. Kellet (cousin, a bit of a player)

Highwayman

Lady Caroline—wealthy mother who Cecily is going to stay and attempt to court the oldest son who has the inheritance

Wyndhams—Lady Caroline’s family (the children's names in order Charles, Philip, William

Rachel—Married to William

Louisa—Lady Caroline’s daughter who becomes buddy, buddy with Cecilly

Charles—Philip’s brother

Cecily—Marianne’s sister

Mrs. Fairhurst—old bitty who tries to discourage Marianne

Miss Grace—sweet daughter of Mrs. Fairhurst

Mr. & Mrs. Clumpett—also visiting the Wyndhams

Meg—the horse

Mr. Beaufort—a young man who likes Marianne.  ( a suitor)

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Catherine is quite the interesting girl. She would be the typical everyday girl in this period in England (1290). She lives in a manor. It is a small manor but she helps her mother to tend to sicknesses and embroiders a lot. She is not too happy with her lot in life. She is especially not excited to be told she has to marry who her father choses for her. This is a story of her defiance and her dreams of her own life.

I like this book. I thought it was most unique. Some parts could be a little crude such as talking about relieving one’s bladder and body parts but I think it helped to understand the crudeness of this period of time. This is not a lady like girl. The book is also written like a diary which is a fun way to get the idea across.

I learned much about this period of time especially about how their homes worked in regards to the king. I love how the author adds notes at the end. I didn’t realize what a Historical Fiction kind of person I am. This book is right along those lines.

Alternate covers: