Michelle Griep. Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour Publishing, 2017. 192 pp. (Paperback).
Bleakly Manor? Must be set in Victorian England, right? Right! Some people love stories set in Victorian England. I don’t. But for readers of The Alabama Baptist who cried when “Downton Abbey” ended, I thought I would share this book with you.
“12 Days at Bleakly Manor” is about an impoverished young woman who was invited to spend the 12 days of Christmas at a grand English manor house. She doesn’t want to go but the promise of cash at the end of the 12 days lures her in. When one of the other guests turns out to be her former fiancé who disappeared just before the wedding with her family’s fortune, she knows it will be a long 12 days.
The cast of characters, the setting, the wry twists of plot and the sprinklings of humor are all carefully crafted, making this book distinctly Victorian. I couldn’t quite decide whether some of the elements (especially the characters) were created with the author’s tongue in her cheek or if she was just trying too hard. Overall, though, it was a nice little read that wove the birth of Jesus throughout.
______________________
Meet the reviewer
Martine Bates Fairbanks, Ed.D., reviews books and movies for The Alabama Baptist. She is a university professor and retired principal. She is a member of Central Baptist Church, Decatur.
Share with others: