Review: Edenbrooke

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Fans of Regency romance should not pass this book by! There was also a mystery thread with some action for readers who enjoy an adrenalin rush as well.

This is one of those stories where the characters are captivating and win you over, where you forget you are reading a book and feel like you visited with friends.

Marianne was a loveable heroine with a strong but gentle personality. I loved how she viewed the facts of what society wants versus who she wants to be and standing firm on her values. I loved every interaction between her and Phillip and their easy banter.

After getting to know Phillip in the novella, I would have loved a few scenes from his POV.

I was expecting different twists and turns and the ending placed a smile on my face.

The audiobook was very entertaining and captivating – I will recommend this story and audio to fans of regency romance.

Review: Novella - Heir to Edenbrooke 

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About the book:

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 Marianne 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.

About the author:

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. Edenbrooke is her first novel.

Review: Heir to Edenbrooke

Heir to Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
My rating: 💛💛💛

This novella did a great job of introducing all the characters and the reasons why Phillip acted the why he did.

This novella also made me want to pick up Edenbrooke to see what will happen between Phillip and Marianne.

View all my reviews

About the book:

Philip Wyndham has never envied his older brother for being the heir to Edenbrooke. He would much rather carve out his own destiny than live under the constraints of that position. But when his older brother dies unexpectedly, Philip's life is turned upside down as duty requires him to give up the life he planned. Philip takes on his new role as the most sought-after bachelor in London with alternating reluctance, boredom, and resentment. But all that changes the night fate leads him to an inn, where he meets the incomparable Marianne Daventry

About the author:

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. Edenbrooke is her first novel.

Monthly recap: Apr 2023

 

I first saw this monthly reflections idea on: Christian bookshelf reviews

Another crazy month at work which ended with some evenings me sleeping early.  Still managed to get some decent reading in.

What I've read:

(Reviews can be found under Book Review tag)

Kindle:

Audio:

What I would like to read in April:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Upcoming reads (hopeful):

Currently, I am just happy with managing reading for a few minutes in the evening!

Did I buy any new books?

Bought:

Yes, I bought two:

Did I read everything I wanted too?

No, there was a lot I had to defer to later this year:

I also have a lot of books I need to catch up on for a 18 month challenge which started Jan 2022 and ending June 2023.  When I joined the challenge I was thinking, 2 books a month is do-able, but then in a blink of an eye, I got behind (yellow crosses is everything I got to this month):

Also, another Goodreads challenge to try and read 20 of my TBR books this year - know movement...still currently reading the one started in March:

ARC/Netgalley update:

ARC/Netgalley books downloaded this month:

A bit better than last month:

ARC/Netgalley books read and reviewed:

At least I managed to review a few as well:

How was your month?

Can't Wait Wednesday! Expired Promise

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The third book in this suspenseful series releases May 16th. I'm enjoying this series by Sunrise Media Publishing where seasoned writers co-writes and help debut authors find their feet in the publishing world.

About the book: Expired Promise

She won’t stop until she’s proven her worth.
He promised to always protect her.

EMT Andi Crawford is close to achieving her goal. She’s reached probationary status as a firefighter with the Eastside Firehouse and only needs to convince her older twin brothers—and herself—that she’s cut out for the job. Yet the daily challenges of a female firefighter fade to the background when her family becomes the target of a dangerous drug cartel with ties to a client Andi’s mother represented as a defense attorney. Andi will stop at nothing to protect her family.

Even if that means accepting help she doesn’t think she needs.

ATF Agent Jude Brooks is back in Last Chance County tasked with uncovering information on the family that took him in during his summers as a teen. It seems impossible the Crawfords are connected to a dangerous cartel leader, but Jude’s by-the-book attitude won’t let him approach his job any other way. As he wades through a web of leads, the feelings he tried so hard to avoid resurface. Andi’s as headstrong as she was as a teen, but her acceptance of him is a balm to the hurts from his childhood. He’s determined to uncover the truth—for her and himself.

If the secrets of the past don't tear them apart.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Shifting Current

The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

If you are like me and you picked up this novella before you read book one through three, you will be in the same boat as me, but you will not feel like you have missed any backstory. The setting is different to the Coastal Guardian series and is unique on its own. It is a great novella to also introduce new readers to the author’s work.

This novella provides closure to those readers who have read the rest of the series and were hoping for more for Emmy and Logan but is also a great in between for introducing the readers to new characters coming in a new series – do I hear other “Yeahs!”.

The suspense and action was around every corner and it was fun to watch Emmy and Logan follow the clues and solve the mystery. This novella was also not without heartbreak for Logan.

There were a few open issues which I am hoping will be solved in the new series. And I am putting book 2 and 3 of the coastal guardian series on my priority TBR to read soon!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Review book 1: The Killing Tide

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About the book:

An elusive killer. A false identity. A deadly maze of lies.

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart.

About the author:

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic

suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.

From her early years eagerly reading Nancy Drew mysteries, to paging through Agatha Christie novels or watching on-the-edge-of-her-seat adventure movies, Dani has always enjoyed mystery and suspense. She considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves—full of plot twists and peril, love, and longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit danipettrey.com.

Top Ten Tuesday: The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf

  

Join in the Top Ten Tuesday fun! Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Here is the 10 paperbacks I randomly picked and still need to read:

1. Catching the Wind

2. Probing

3. Freedom's Ring

4. Another Day, Another Dali

5. You Belong with Me

6. The Tehran Initiative

7. Flash Point

8. Formula of Deception

9. Daughters of the Northern Shores

10. Hidden Peril

Weekend Wrap-Up: April 30th

 

 

It’s Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Book Date.

Work was busy, which resulted in early nights. Still happy with my reading progress this week.

Also ran another half marathon this morning and was happy with my PR 1:51!

Finished

(Reviews can be found under Book Review tag)

Currently reading

Next up:

What are you reading this week?

Blog Posts Recap:

Here is my past week's Blog Posts.

Top Ten Tuesday

Can't Wait Wednesday

Book Spotlight Fridays!

Saturday Series Discovery

Adding to the Bookshelf:

Which Avid Reader do not add to their shelves! I try to limit mine to review books since I have so many owned on my TBR to read.  So did I add to my shelf this week? 

Downloaded three ARCs this week: