This is the third book in the Pure Romance line I've read and I'm looking forward
to more from this publisher. Read my thoughts on this newest addition below...
to more from this publisher. Read my thoughts on this newest addition below...
(Pure Romance)
by Ashtyn Newbold
by Ashtyn Newbold
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 272 Pages
December 1st 2016 by Sweetwater Books
Summary
When Annette Downing and her mischievous little brothers are sent to Kellaway Manor for the summer, she hopes for a relaxing escape. But Annette finds her closeted heart in jeopardy when reunited with the handsome Owen Kellaway, a childhood acquaintance and respected gentlemen. When Owen is enlisted to help the boys with their behavior, Annette wonders if he has just as much mischief up his sleeve as her brothers. Bound by a promise she made to her late parents, and amid a frightening mystery, Annette faces a difficult decision when she finds herself falling for Owen’s charm.
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My Review
MISCHIEF AND MANORS was equally humorous, sweet, and serious. The heroine felt younger than her supposed nineteen years in some sections and was a little tedious, but with delightfully mischievous little brothers and a charming hero the story redeemed itself in parts. Readers who enjoy light historical romance may enjoy this one.
I had some issues with this story, so I'll dig right in to likes and dislikes, starting with...
LIKES:
- I loved Owen! He is such a witty and fun leading man. I loved how he wasn't idle and how kind he was. He is almost always teasing and lightens Annette's heart as well as her charges.
- I loved Peter and Charles, who are Annette's little brothers. They were really fun characters with their innocence and ability to get into fixes as well as create mischief.
- I admired Annette's resolve to care for a protect her brothers. She has a warm heart and is very kind, but there is also a strength there that she doesn't even realize she holds sometimes.
- There were some sweet and swoon-worthy romantic moments that I absolutely loved.
DISLIKES:
- Annette felt rather young and naive in a lot of ways. Even raised as she was for the last five years, I felt she should have acted differently in parts, especially being 14 when her parents died and being 19 in the story. I also got a little annoyed with her refusal to see what was happening with her heart and her insistence on only loving her brothers as well as her issues with the color pink. I got parts of it, but I also wanted to see more gradual realization and change or development for her character. It just made her and Owen seem ill fitted.
- I had issues with some of the plot developments and characters' words and actions that felt very inconsistent with the time period. I've read a lot of historical romances from more formal writing, like Georgette Heyer, to less formal writing such as Sarah M. Eden. There were so many situations that would just not be possible for the time period or things characters would never say or do.
- The way Annette immediately starts calling Owen's grandparents grandfather and grandmother even in her head felt false. Most individuals would gradually move to less formality.
- Some plot points felt redundant, like Annette and Owen were having the exact same discussion or interaction with just slightly different circumstances. I think this was more a problem with me because I didn't always feel they were well suited or I felt like they had the same issues and I was starting to tire of the same things, particularly in regard with Annette.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Three stars is kind of my in-the-middle rating. I didn't love all of it or hate all of it. Parts I did love and parts I didn't really like. The writing was decent. If you don't have the same issues I did with the authenticity of the setting and characters then you'd probably enjoy this one. I wanted more quite a bit more from this story. Having said that, I think there is definitely potential for this author so I'm hoping she'll do more research and I'll enjoy her next book more than I did this one.
Content: Clean
Source: Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
I had some issues with this story, so I'll dig right in to likes and dislikes, starting with...
LIKES:
- I loved Owen! He is such a witty and fun leading man. I loved how he wasn't idle and how kind he was. He is almost always teasing and lightens Annette's heart as well as her charges.
- I loved Peter and Charles, who are Annette's little brothers. They were really fun characters with their innocence and ability to get into fixes as well as create mischief.
- I admired Annette's resolve to care for a protect her brothers. She has a warm heart and is very kind, but there is also a strength there that she doesn't even realize she holds sometimes.
- There were some sweet and swoon-worthy romantic moments that I absolutely loved.
DISLIKES:
- Annette felt rather young and naive in a lot of ways. Even raised as she was for the last five years, I felt she should have acted differently in parts, especially being 14 when her parents died and being 19 in the story. I also got a little annoyed with her refusal to see what was happening with her heart and her insistence on only loving her brothers as well as her issues with the color pink. I got parts of it, but I also wanted to see more gradual realization and change or development for her character. It just made her and Owen seem ill fitted.
- I had issues with some of the plot developments and characters' words and actions that felt very inconsistent with the time period. I've read a lot of historical romances from more formal writing, like Georgette Heyer, to less formal writing such as Sarah M. Eden. There were so many situations that would just not be possible for the time period or things characters would never say or do.
- The way Annette immediately starts calling Owen's grandparents grandfather and grandmother even in her head felt false. Most individuals would gradually move to less formality.
- Some plot points felt redundant, like Annette and Owen were having the exact same discussion or interaction with just slightly different circumstances. I think this was more a problem with me because I didn't always feel they were well suited or I felt like they had the same issues and I was starting to tire of the same things, particularly in regard with Annette.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Three stars is kind of my in-the-middle rating. I didn't love all of it or hate all of it. Parts I did love and parts I didn't really like. The writing was decent. If you don't have the same issues I did with the authenticity of the setting and characters then you'd probably enjoy this one. I wanted more quite a bit more from this story. Having said that, I think there is definitely potential for this author so I'm hoping she'll do more research and I'll enjoy her next book more than I did this one.
Content: Clean
Source: Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
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