ARC Review: Edenbrooke

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson, March 27, 2012. 240 pages. Published by Shadow Mountain. Source: Blog Tour.

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, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.
From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.  

First Sentence (ARC):
It was the oak tree that distracted me.
So, Edenbrooke was not something that I would normally pick up, but I ended up absolutely loving it and will probably purchase a finished copy at some point because it was just that good.

While Edenbrooke was not something I would generally read, I found it to be kind of refreshing because it was just so different and fun. I also thought that Marianne and Philip were two really great characters, plus the way they meet and get off on the wrong foot with each other will definitely leave you laughing.

Another thing that made Edenbrooke such a great read would have to be the setting, and Ms. Donaldson's writing. I really liked how she was able to pull me into the world she created for her characters, as well, as her description of the English countryside and Edenbrooke itself. She definitely knew how to set the scene for her characters and the story while still keeping things moving along.
Marianne was definitely an interesting character, especially when you take in to account the time in which she lives. I really enjoyed how free-spirited and proper she was in comparison to her sister and her sister's friends.The one thing I did not like about Marianne would have to be how she always felt/treated herself as second best to her sister. Frankly, I thought it was kind of weird for her to always step aside so that Cecily could have her way.
Philip was in a way one of the male protagonist/love interest that I have read about in ages. He had so many good qualities that I couldn't help but root for him and Marianne to realize their feelings for one another. What really makes him a great character would have to the he was a nice, good guy. And you just do not find many of them in books these days. I really liked all the little ways that he showed how he felt for her.
Surprisingly enough, what I found to be my favorite aspect of Edenbrooke would have to be the relationship between Marianne and Philip. I thought that made for an excellent pairing, and their banter kept me in stitches and left me wondering if they were ever going to realize that they liked each other.
If I had to peg one thing that drove me crazy while reading Edenbrooke it would have to be that I kind of figured out the whole mystery, that Marianne found herself drawn into, pretty early on in the book. I just found it incredibly easy to determine who was behind the misfortune that befell Marianne early on in the book. Even though the mystery was not too complex I still found myself enjoying Edenbrooke because it was pretty lighthearted and had me laughing.
Final Verdict: If you're looking for something different that will not leave you blushing, then Edenbrooke is most definitely for you.

Edenbrooke earns 4.5 out of 5 pineapples.