More and more, it's hard to find good clean romances that also have a great story line with compelling characters. Mischief and Manors has so much what readers are looking for. We meet older sister Annette who has two younger brothers who she feels she must take care of. They are orphaned and at the mercy of a mean aunt who is tiring of the younger boys and their horse play. She threatens to send them to an orphanage if they don't shape up. Soon Annette and her brothers are sent away to Kellaway Manor for the summer where Annette meets up again with Owen Kellaway, who was very much like her brothers when he was young.
I liked the two brothers Peter and Charles who are typical boys for their ages and they bring much humor to the story, along with Owen helping out with said humor. Annette seems very serious in much of the book, but she has had to be the one to watch over her brothers since their parent's deaths five years earlier. Basically she's sacrificed many things in her life for her brother's benefit. It was fun to see how Owen brings Annette out of her shell as he is also helping her brothers. This book isn't all about humor though, there is mystery, plot twists you may or may not see coming, and of course the romance that blossoms throughout the book. There were a few times I wanted to bop Annette up side the head and help her see what was right in front of her. Eventually things head in the right direction. There is definitely much witty banter in this book, which I truly liked. There were a few inconsistencies with some of the dialogue concerning the time period the story takes place in. This could bother some readers, though mainly I overlooked them. I got carried away in the story and just wanted to keep reading to see when Owen, whom I truly liked a lot, would charm Annette enough to win her over.
This was a fun, clean, and refreshing debut novel. I look forward to reading more books from Ashtyn Newbold.
This was a fun read! Annette Downing and her two younger brothers are orphans being raised by an aunt who has lost all patience for them since the boys are a bit rowdy. She sends them to live with the Kellaway's, who were close friends of their parents, telling Annette that if the boys don't learn how to behave, they will be sent to an orphanage. Annette reunites with Owen Kellaway, who was a mischievous boy himself, and has to continually remind herself not to fall in love with him.
Annette is an easy character to like. Her aunt hasn't treated her or her brothers very well so she's happy to leave for a while. She loves her brothers and, while she wants them to behave, she also wants to allow them to be boys. Her brothers were funny and did cause a bit of trouble. It was good to see the changes in them once they were in a safer environment. Owen is a charming hero. He took to the boys right away and never made any of them feel unwelcome. I enjoyed Owen and Annette's relationship and thought they had great chemistry!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end! There were some plot twists which kept it from being too predictable and kept me reading one more chapter until I was done. If you enjoy clean, regency romance with a little bit of mystery, this is a book you will want to read! It's a strong debut novel from this author and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way
This was such a fun book to read. I picked it up one night and was not able to go to bed until I finished. I loved it so much.
When Annette and her brothers were left with their aunt when their parents passed away, Annette had to take care of her brothers, and protect them from their Aunt.
The boys always seem to be getting into to trouble, and Annette is always taking the blame to protect them. One day it became too much for the Aunt and she sent Annette and her siblings away to the Kellaway Manor. She told them they couldn't return until the boys were better behaved, and if they weren't they would be sent to an orphanage.
Kellaway Manor was like a dream come true for Annette. The Kellaway's were dear friends of Annette's parents and welcomed Annette and the boys with open arms. All of them were happy to be with the Kellaways, and then the story begins.
There is mischief, friends, family, and new romances happening. This story was so beautiful. The writing was so beautiful, I was engaged from the very first words. The characters were so fun, and entertaining. I love the world that Newbold built and once you start reading, you will not want to quit.
This story had all the feels for me. It had humor, romance, friendships, a beautiful historical setting and love. What can be better than that? Pick this book up for yourself, you won't be disappointed.
Source: I was given this book as part of a blog tour. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
I love a good, clean, Regency romance novel, and Ashtyn Newbold's new novel, Mischief & Manors, is just that.
The cover is eye-catching and the story is sweet. My attention was captured right away with Annette's little brothers causing trouble, and once they went to Kellaway Manor we really got to see Annette's spunky personality through her interactions with Owen.
As is common in this genre, lack of communication almost kept a loving couple apart, but it made for an entertaining story. The romance is clean and there is even some suspense that kept things exciting.
I'd recommend Mischief & Manors and would read more from Ashtyn Newbold.
I loved this book from the very first page! I loved Annette, her parents had died leaving her with the challenge to take care of her two very mischievous brothers. Unfortunately, Annette and her brothers live with their Aunt Ruth and she's very unkind, even abusive at times. And her brothers have been mischievous one too many times. So she sends them to stay with the Kellaways until the end of the summer, or until the boys behave. And if they don't...well, the boys will be sent to an orphanage.
This would have been a huge burden to have been placed on Annette, always caring for her brothers, at the beginning of the story they are 5 and 7, when her parents died they would have been a baby and 2. I love the way she cares for her brothers with kindness and grace and the way she protects them from her aunt as much as she possibly can.
Aunt Ruth is horrible in this book. I grew up with all brothers, so I know how crazy they can be, but you can't just demand they be good and have them do it, you have to show them examples, and kindness, forgiveness, and charity. Things we all need. I was glad that she was at the beginning of the story and not really anymore. Plus, how do you just send people to someone else's house for the whole summer without warning the people you are sending them to?
I loved the Kellaway's. Grandfather and Grandmother were so kind and were always doing something for either the boys or Annette. Mrs. Kellaway was gracious and kind, even with the circumstances that her family was kind of forced into. I loved the way she was still feeling bad about Annette's parents dying, even 5 years later she felt that she owed an apology to Annette and her brothers.
And then there's Owen...I loved him in this book. I loved the reason he became a doctor and how he felt he had to hide his circumstances from everyone to get a true feeling of how people felt about him. He was a great character, always teasing, flirting, and I loved the way he took Annette's brothers under his wing immediately, trying his very hardest to be a good example for them.
This book has an interesting plot, great characters, and such a fun romance! I didn't want to put it down.
I loved this book. I read it in two days, and I am planning on it again this Christmas break! Ashtyn does a wonderful job of drawing you in, creating realistic and loveable characters, and making you root for that happy ending that comes in such a satisfying way. I loved it! One of my favorites!
I loved reading this book! It is beautifully written and instantly pulls you into another world. The characters are believable and personable and they grow in realistic ways. The book is sweet, and has enough twists and turns to keep me guessing without getting lost. I can't wait to read other books written by Ashtyn Newbold!
This book pulled me in from the very beginning and kept me intrigued until the end. The characters are very likeable with great chemistry. The mischievous little brothers are a great addition to this novel that you don't often see in other Regency era books and the love story makes it worth reading again and again! I loved this book and highly recommend it. I give it 5 stars.
There are times you come across a book that just makes you smile. This is one of those books for me. I loved the humor and the precocious little boys. They are so full of mischief that I couldn't help but enjoy them!
This is a regency book that is more than a romance. It is about a young lady, Annette Downing, who has taken on the responsibility of her brothers. Five years ago they were orphaned and she promised to watch over and protect the little trouble makers. Her life revolves around her brothers and when their guardian threatens to send the to an orphanage, she has to figure out a way to keep them. She didn't count on her childhood nemesis, Owen, to be the one to help her.
The book is full of characters that you can't help but love. There are also a few that you can't help but dislike. Annette is full of love, compassion, forgiveness, and loyalty. A quality that turns out to be misguided in the book is her ability to put everyone's needs before her own. She is so used to sacrifice that is hard for her to live any other way.
Owen is very likable. He has his own motivation and feelings that he hides. I loved how Owen and Annette gradually learn to open up to one another and move past the hurt that they have bottled up. The boys are a great platform to putting them together. He is trying to teach the boys manners, which leads to some cute and entertaining situations.
This is a fun book to read. I liked the writing. The book held my interest, even though there were a few parts that could have gone a little faster for me. I LOVED the boys. I loved the time period and setting. I'm glad that I read the book and I will be looking for more of Ashtyn Newbold's books to read in the future.
Annette has a big responsibility to raise her young brothers after her parents die. Full of mischief, as typical boys are, the trouble they constantly get into forces their aunt to send them friends of their deceased parents--five years later. Annette's reunion with their son, Owen, is quite humorous.
For as strong as both Annette and Owen are, they each have their flaws and insecurities. They each have issues from their pasts that they can't move beyond. Owen handles his in a teasing manor, which makes him a perfect man for the boys to emulate, as he can relate to them. Annette is more serious and reluctant in forming bonds, but she's fiercely protective and loyal to her brothers. I admire that quality in her. The boys are charming, the grandparents are hilarious, and the characters are all a lot of fun.
There are times that situations in the book feel a little repetitive, but it's still an enjoyable story. I really liked the romance development in the story, as there is tension, teasing, and humor. This is a great debut novel by this author and she has the potential to write great things. But...the dialog and language used aren't consistent to this time period, so if you're a stickler on accuracy, this may bother you. I also thought it was a little odd that Annette immediately refers to the grandparents as "grandmother" and "grandfather."
Overall, this story is pleasant with lovable characters, clean romance, and a hint of danger. I'm already looking forward to what this author will write next!
Content: mild romance (including a man attempting to force himself on a woman with no details).
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts are opinions are voluntarily given and are my own.*
I love a good regency romance and this one surely kept my interest and made me smile. This book felt a bit like a breath of fresh air as it was a bit different than the usual regency's I read.
Annette is a protector. Circumstances have led her to a most undesirable place with a vicious aunt and two young brothers to take care of. Annette has shored up the walls of her heart to survive except when it comes to her mischievous brothers who are her whole world. I loved watching Annette and her brothers thrive under gentler care. The smiles and happiness that came as a result of a little kindness made all the difference. For Annette, it meant that those walls of defense slowly came tumbling down. It was a sweet process and one I enjoyed very much.
The little brothers brought humor and levity to many situations and Owen was a champion in my opinion. I just loved him. The characters really make this book come alive and the added bit of intrigue and mystery was a bonus.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be keeping my eye on her for future books.
Content: Clean, some mentions of abuse
- I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was under no obligation to give a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way. I really loved this book, because it was clean yet very emotional. I could feel the emotions of each character as they were introduced and throughout the story. It kept my interest throughout the whole book. I am grateful I had the opportunity to read this book!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!! It is on my favorites list now! I thought I would read a chapter or two before I went to bed and ended up reading it till the very end as who needed sleep while reading this!!?! I didn’t even highlight anything because I couldn’t stop to do it! The book had me spellbound! The writing is incredible. Every word made me feel as if I was Annette Downing and I found my heart hammering a few times with her. The scenes were so eloquent and descriptive that I could see every scene in my head! The emotions were palpable. The characters either loveable or a foe. I laughed a lot too! The mischief was utterly too cute! Ugh, I cannot express how good it was! It is one of those books that you can’t get out of your head even days later!
Annette is a kind person. She is taking care of her two young brothers at her aunt’s house after her parents died. Her aunt is very cruel. Her brothers get into too much mischief and their aunt doesn’t like them or the mischief at all. So she sends them off to fix the mischief or they will go to an orphanage. She sends them to her parent’s friend’s home where her parents were last before they died. This is also a place Annette remembers fondly and where a young boy had some mischief with her and a tree that didn’t end well with her.
This boy is now a grown man and is Dr Owen Kellaway. He still has a lot of mischief in him. He makes it hard not to like him. He is caring and kind too! Annette and Owen have an instant attraction. But Annette has had her heart locked and her tears imprisoned since her parents died with a promise to take care of her brothers. She had no time or place for love because she didn’t think there would be room for love for the boys as well by a man. Owen has a way of wiggling the truth out of Annette and seems to know her heart well. He knows when to give her space but always comes back to her. He is the best of men for sure! Anyway, he is charged with teaching the boys how to be gentlemen. He is very good at it and the boys become well behaved.
As all this is happening, Annette believes that he isn’t falling in love with her. She also doesn’t understand what her own heart is feeling. She chastises her heart often to remember its promise. Of course, we always have to have another women vying for him. That does crazy things to Annette!
I love the ending, it is adorable or an “a” word anyway! You have to read it to know what it is! I love the little lessons throughout! I love the mystery that was also in the book! I love the questions posed at the end to make you think even more! I thought it was funny that I covered my mouth several times and my heart too during parts of the book! I loved that the author made me shed a few tears too! I will read it again and again!
I loved this book. I had the chance to get a free copy of this book (this did not affect my opinion). I am so lucky to have gotten to be one if the few to already read this book. Such a great read. Ashton Newbold, When is your next book coming out?
"...the past is powerless unless you grant it power. And it can do so much harm with that power. It can haunt and frighten and deceive. But the past is completely insignificant next to the present. And if you continue giving it power to haunt you, it always will."
When Annette is left to care for her two rambunctious younger brothers, after the death of their parents, her greatest obstacle is herself and learning how to overcome her past. A humorous, romantic story with themes such as the importance of family and how love can expand to fit others.
I found myself laughing at the humorous parts and even reading sections out loud to my husband! Ashtyn Newbold's debut novel is a great, clean romance that I can honestly recommend to anyone.
(I received a free copy of this book from the author. It did not affect my opinions in any way.)
