12 Days at Bleakly Manor (Once Upon a Dickens Christmas, #1)

by Michelle Griep

A mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home may bring danger...and love?

England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend--for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds.

But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests--her former fiance, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he's given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it--and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters.

What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

Pour a cup of tea and settle in for Book 1 of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series--a page-turning Victorian-era holiday tale--by Michelle Griep, a reader and critic favorite.

• ISBN10: 1432842153
• ISBN13: 9781432842154
• Publish Date: 18 October 2017 (first published 1 September 2017)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 16 December 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Cengage Learning, Inc
• Imprint: Cengage Gale
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English

Reviews

[Molly J(Cover To Cover Cafe)]

I love Christmas, and I love a good cozy mystery and this book has both! Ms. Griep has talented hands and created a story that not only captured me instantly, but kept me hooked on this book the entire time. Her twists and turns, her characters, her messages woven through out the book, truly made for a wonderful, one sitting read!

Clara and Ben are chiseled wonderfully for their roles. Clara, stood up at the altar, and Ben, the one who caused the pain. I wanted to throttle Ben a time or two but if he wasn't the way he was, I wouldn't have loved the story half as much! These two come to life among the walls of Bleakly Manor and the story unfolds in a most fascinating way!

I definitely recommend this book to all who want a wonderful, clean romantic story, that is pieced together among a Christmas mystery. It's 4 star worthy and one of my favorite Christmas stories of 2017! I am looking forward to adding the print version to my keeper shelf and to reading more amazing books like this in the future from the talented Michelle Griep! Bravo!

*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Blog Tours and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

[readingwithwrin]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.



Clara lost the love of her life and her family's fortune nine months ago. Now living with her aunt she is given an opportunity of a lifetime. All she has to do is stay at Bleakly Manor for the 12 days of Christmas and then she will get 500 pounds. With nothing left to lose she takes the chance and on arrival, she meets the other six guests
(Mr. Minnow, Mr. Pocket, Miss Scurry, Mademoiselle Pretents, and Mr. Tallgrass) all promised something different if they stay for the 12 days. With the owner of the house nowhere in sight and only a few members of staff, the guests wonder what exactly they are supposed to do during their time at Bleakly Manor. Each new days bring them a different task to complete and possibly new risks as well.

One thing that Clara was not expecting to happen was for her ex-fiancee Ben (we also get to see things from his point of view) to be there as well wanting his own freedom in exchange for making it to the end.

Overall I really liked this story. The mystery of why they were there and then the mystery that was just Clara and Ben's that shows why he had been arrested and charged with something he says he didn't do. The other guests I found to be enjoyable and at times it reminded me of the movie Clue (one of my all-time favorites). 12 Day's at Bleakly Manor is very fast paced and one that I did not want to put down. I would consider this a must read and it really made me happy to see the real 12 days of Christmas that happen after Christmas instead of before. (can we make that a thing again, please? The time after Christmas is always so sad when all the decorations come down.) I can't wait for the next book to see what happens and if Clara and Ben will be in that one as well.


"There was freedom if he stayed. Revenge if he didn't."

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[chymerra]

It has been a long time since I have read a Christian book and even longer since I have read a Christian mystery. So when I saw 12 Days at Bleakly Manor offered on NetGalley, I decided to download it. I was a bit leery on reading it because I have been burnt by Christian books in the past. I have found that some books can be a bit preachy and that is a turn-off. So I usually pass on them. Don’t get me wrong, I have found a few gems that I enjoyed but for the most part…nope.

The plot of 12 Days at Bleakly Manor was very simple. Clara was to go stay at a manor over the Christmas holiday with several other guests. If she can hold out for the 12 days, she will receive a lump sum. That will be enough to bring her brother back from America. Sounds simple but it wasn’t. There were several roadblocks thrown in the way. A big one is the reappearance of Benjamin, Clara’s fiancé who had disappeared on their wedding day.

What I liked about this book was the Christianity was not pushed on the reader. You were aware of it and it was mentioned a few times in the book but it didn’t overwhelm the story. It wasn’t preachy at all. Which I enjoyed.

The author also did a great job with the mystery part of the book. There are two mysteries. One mystery being who stole Mademoiselle Pretents jewels. The other mystery being who was the mystery benefactor behind the invite. The author did a great job at keeping who the mystery benefactor was until the end of the story. I was pretty surprised with who it was. The mystery about the stolen jewels was also kept a secret until the end of that storyline. I was very surprised at who it ended up being.

I liked Clara. She had to deal with so much over the past year. Her fiancé disappeared on her wedding day. Then, she finds out that her family’s fortune is gone and her brother has to go to America to try to get it back. She moved in with her aunt and was barely keeping things together when she got a mysterious invite. If I were invited to a strange manor with people who I don’t know from a hole in the wall, then I wouldn’t go. But the incentive, $1k pounds, was what drew Clara there. What she wasn’t counting on and what shocked her was Ben being there.

I felt awful for Ben. When he is introduced into the story, he has been in jail for over a year. He is serving time for stealing Clara’s fortune….something that he didn’t do. So when the warden says that he has a deal for Ben, he takes it. The deal: Stay 12 days at Bleakly Manor. If he completes the 12 days, then he gets a pardon. If not, he goes back to jail and is shipped to Australia on the first transport ship that comes into the harbor. He was told that Clara sent him to jail, that Clara was to blame for his incarceration. Imagine his surprise when he finds out that Clara is there…

I did find it odd that an unmarried woman in that era would be allowed to go unchaperoned to a house. A house where the majority of the guests are men. In my readings for that era (Victorian), that would be enough for a girl or woman to be ocasterized from the ton. So, yes I did find it very odd and going against what I know about that era. Other than that, I didn’t have any other complaints about the book.

I loved that the author included what the 12 Days of Christmas included at the end of the book. Few people, myself included, know what the English do (or used to do) for the 12 days of Christmas. I found it fascinating.

The end of the book was your typical HEA. There was a very sad scene where the mystery benefactor was revealed. But other than that, typical HEA.

4 Stars

Summary of 12 Days at Bleakly Manor

12 Days at Bleakly Manor was a great read. A mystery with Christian overtures, I got sucked into the plot. The Christian theme was not overpowering and the mystery kept you in the dark until the end of the book. I did have an issue with an unmarried woman being alone in a house with men.It did not go with the era that the book was written with. Other than that, it was a story that I enjoyed reading and I cannot wait to read the 2nd book.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older Teen

Why: Some mild violence, no language, and no sex

I would like to thank Michelle Griep, Barbour Publishing and Shiloh Run Press for allowing me to read and review 12 Days at Bleakly Manor

All opinions expressed in this review of 12 Days at Bleakly Manor are mine and mine alone

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**