Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Point
Pages: 321
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 12+

Lady Charlotte has everything that could be desired. She's beautiful, rich, and is expected to make a good match. But at sixteen, all she wants is adventure, freedom, and love. Janie is a kitchen maid, who only wants a home and a family. When they try to become friends, they are faced with prejudice from both below and downstairs. And then there is the matter of Charlotte's mysterious Aunt Beatrice, who appeared rather suddenly after having never been in England since Charlotte was born.

This book would be great from younger teens with an interest in historical romance and drama, taking place in the time period of Downton Abbey. However, for myself and maybe older teens, it might be a bit predictable. Within 20 pages I knew how the book would turn out. Having said that, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading this.

The writing is good, and Charlotte's world is well described. The upperclass world is bright and colorful, while the world below stairs is smoky and gloomy. The characters seem well developed, for the audience it seems intended for.

There is no language or sex, which makes it perfect for younger readers, though it does have themes of romance, family, and friendship.

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