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Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Thornbrook Park Book Review



Due to be released June 2014
Author : Sherri Browning
Pages : 359
Publisher : Sourcebooks Casablanca

Thornbrook Park is a period piece set in the early 1900's, the Edwardian Era. 
Eve Kendal, our leading lady, is compelled to return to England after the death of her husband. Having been disowned for marrying beneath her, and unable to unravel the mystery of her lost savings, Eve is forced to rely on the kindness of her close friend Sophia Averford for a place to live. 

Stopping in London before continuing to Thornbrook Park (Lady Averfords residence), Eve has the experience pleasure of meeting Sophia's brother in-law Marcus Thorn. He's completely inebriated  not exactly at his best in that first meeting, but he still leaves quite an impression...aka....He's super hot ;) The next day Eve is off to Thornbrook Park and Marcus is left wondering if he'd imagined the lovely blue eyed woman from the night before ;)

While residing at Thornbrook Eve learns several things:

1, Lady Averford and her husband the Earl have some serious marriage issues.

2, Sophia (Lady Averford)  has all intentions of marrying her 
sister Alice off to Marcus (whether they like it or not)

3, Gabriel (the Earl) and his brother Marcus absolutely loathe each other


All the while Eve is trying to uncover what has happened to the investments her husband made so that she no longer has to rely on Sophia. Unfortunately, not everyone wants that particular truth revealed. One life has already been taken.....and Eve may be next!

My Thoughts :D
We'll, most of you know I'm a Scifi/Fantasy kinda girl. So when I got the chance to read this ARC I was excited to be out of  my comfort zone. I've never read historical romance, or any romance for that matter,
 so it was all new to me :D 

I'll start by saying, this book has romance, (and good romance ;) but I couldn't strictly confine it to one genre. It has murder and mystery, comedy and turmoil, adventure and plot twists. The characters are well developed and multifaceted. It flowed beautifully, so much so, that I read the second half in one sitting.......... I couldn't put it down ;)

Eve is a strong female lead, and I love that! At a time when women were still unable to vote, she was independent and feisty, educated and opinionated, traits that were frowned upon in women of that era.

Marcus also was very forward thinking. Enjoying a woman who asserted her independence instead of condemning her for it as so many others did.

Women's equality has come a looooong way. 
But Eve's story still hits home even today, as women juggle career and family. For a woman, "in charge" is often synonymous with being bitchy, bossy or severe. And still there are men who are appalled by it....and men who embrace it ,and love them for it :D

Enough seriousness! I have to give an honorable mention to Aunt Agatha, the not so crazy Aunt that sees, and speaks to ghosts. She's simply delightful and I'd love to have her at any boring dinner party...
Shes my kind of gal ;)


My sincerest thanks to the author, Sherri Browning for allowing me to read and review this ARC.  

You can find Sherri Browning and information on her previous books and upcoming releases at :