A New Favorite

Goodreads.com lets you follow authors you like, and one of my favorite authors does a really good job of posting on her blog. One of her weekly entries is if you like ____, try ____. One of the books she recommended was Edenbrooke, by Julianne Donaldson.

Here is the summary from Goodreads:

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.

I absolutely adored this book. It reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in a way, though it is very different. There is a case of mistaken identity, family conflict, love, drama, and a fantastic hero. The story was well written, and a great escape. This isn't ever going to be considered a piece of classic literature like P&P, but I think it is a great vehicle to introduce young girls to the classics, and a lot of fun for us older folks who love to read and love a good story. This is a book I highly recommend for all P&P fans out there.