National Romance Awareness Month - Edenbrooke/Giveaway

Today is National Book Lovers Day!

To celebrate I am giving away a paperback copy of 

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson. (US only)

This is the book that started the Proper Romance Series

and it is a great one!

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Ends August 16th.

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Heir to Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Heir to Edenbrooke

Author: Julianne Donaldson

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: November 17th, 2015

ASIN: B0182T9IBW

Kindle: 53 pages

FTC FYI: I received a MOBI file from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

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.

My Review

I had been looking forward to reading this since I heard it was going to be released.  Julianne is an amazing author, and I was excited for even a small glimpse back to Edenbrooke.  I enjoyed getting to know the man that Phillip was before he met Marianne and what he had to put up with beforehand was frustrating.  I loved the scene at the ball, I was laughing to myself at the "mis-steps" of the young ladies.  I really appreciated seeing Marianne through his eyes, and the realization Phillip comes to when he first meets her was refreshing.  Very entertaining novelette by Julianne!

5 out of 5 stars.  

Author Links

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook  

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson -- Blog Tour/Giveaway

Blackmoore

Author: Julianne Donaldson

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: September 9th, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-60907-460-9

Paperback: 320 pages

FTC FYI: Received an ARC from the publisher for a honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart. It is Wuthering Heights meets Little Women with a delicious must-read twist.

My Review

Kate Worthington comes from a loveless family.  Her mother and her sisters only want what is best for them, even at the expense of others.  Kate is nothing like them.  What Kate wants most in the world is to go to India.  Her deplorable mother wants her to marry Mr. Cooper.  That disgusts Kate, mostly because she said she will never marry.  Her best friends are Henry and Sylvia Delafield.  Every year they go to Blackmoore, the estate which Henry will inherit, and Kate has always wanted to go.  She finally gets her chance, but she makes a deal with the devil.  Her mother. 

Everything about this book is beautiful.  The story, the setting, the characters, even the not so nice ones.  As much I loved Julianne's first book, Edenbrooke, I loved Blackmoore even more.  I was instantly taken into Kate's world.  Although she is a stubborn character, I enjoyed her sense of adventure and I loved that she knew what she wanted.  Even though it may not be what her heart wants.  I enjoyed her walks in the moors, her exploring the manor, and I especially loved it when she was with Henry.  There is a scene where they are on the beach together talking that I read several times.  There are some complications with her relationship with Henry.  I can't give anything away, but I could not put this book down until I was finished.  I had tears in the eyes many times, and the tears at the end were from happiness.  Also, the way that Julianne worked flashback scenes into the story was brilliant. 

5 out of 5 stars.  Edenbrooke won Best Romance for a 2012 Whitney Award and Julianne also won the Whitney for Best Novel of the Year for a new author. 

About Julianne Donaldson

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 about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Author Links

Facebook / Twitter / Blog

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Giveaway time.  Fill out the Rafflecopter US ONLY.

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Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Edenbrooke           

Author: Julianne Donaldson

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 2012

ISBN13: 9781609089467

Paperback: 240 pages

FTC FYI: Review copy

Goodreads Summary: 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.

My Review

This book is an absolute delight.  I loved everything about it.  Especially the twirling. :) I loved Marianne.  My heart would break for her at times, but it was all worth it in the end.  Phillip is a dream, he was my favorite.  He would light up the pages.  I laughed out loud at times, and smiled a lot while reading Edenbrooke.  Not only is this a great romance story, there is some page-turning suspense as well.  The author did an excellent job with the setting, and language of the characters.  I felt very regent while reading this. :)

5 out of 5 stars.  This is the Julianne's first book, and she did an excellent job.  I can't wait to read more from her.  

Find out more from the author here.  I also have the book trailer for you too.  Enjoy!

I have an extra copy of Edenbrooke to giveaway!  I won a copy at Storymakers.  Just leave a comment, and it could be yours (I would love it if you would follow this blog, but it's not required).  Contest ends next Wednesday.

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / DESERET BOOK / SEAGULL BOOK