I have never knowingly read a "romance" novel before, other than the classics like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. But this one kept getting recommended by people whose opinion I trust. So I picked it up from the library and gave it a whirl... or twirl (a reference to the book).I read a few chapters, then put it aside. A couple of days later I picked it up as I was heading to bed late at night. I figured I would read a few pages until I was tired. Fast forward to 2:30AM when I turned the last page of the book! I couldn't stop reading it! There are a couple of silly parts, but otherwise it is very enjoyable. I love the characters, and the dialogue is savory. The male lead is fantastic. The writing style is more sophisticated than, say, a grocery story romance novel. I tend to be a picky ready and I like sophisticated books - my favorite authors are David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas, The Bone Clocks), John Le Carre (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold), and Winston Graham (Marnie, Poldark). Childhood favorites were C.S. Lewis, Daphne Du Maurier, Charlotte Bronte, William Golding, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie.If you like sophisticated books and have a soft spot for Austen or Bronte, then this book is for you. I've read it twice now as well as Donaldson's other book Blackmoore. Keep your expectations low going in, and you will be pleasantly surprised! I was very critical when my mom recommended this book to me. I thought it was just going to be another Jane Austen. This book was such a pleasant surprise to a reader getting tired of the 'same old thing' with romance. I wanted a story that could capture my imagination, wouldn't butcher the time period, and had characters you could believe actually fell in love. This was the book to fit all of those criteria. The first couple chapters were a bit tough for me to get through. But once I got past the third chapter I could not put the book down. I am not a huge fan of Jane Austen even though this book is set in the same time period and would be put in the same genre Edenbrooke was much easier to follow and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I fell in love with each of the characters and was routing for them the whole time. Another great book written by Julianne Donaldson is Blackmoore. When a book succeeds in making me feel happy, contended, sad, angry, sympathizing, and breathless and leaves me turning the last page with a dreamy sigh and a silly lovesick expression, that’s when you know you have read a good book. I decided that this book was supposed to be enjoyed for the romance, and read for fun, just like any other fairytale that has a few aspects that seem impossible or don't make perfect sense. This novel was not a comedy, it was a love story. A beautiful, heart-wrenching, heart-warming and amazing love story.
What do You think about Edenbrooke (2012)?
This was my all time favorite book! I've read it over and over and I never got tired of the story!
—Alyssa
A fun, fast read. Nothing deep but a cute, clean romance.
—Tt1020
Awesome romance!! No inappropriate stuff either!!
—Antod
