12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep is a wonderful beginning to the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Having read Griep before, I was hoping for a good read and I was not disappointed. The characters were great--evocative, vibrant and likable. The story gripped me right from the start and just got better and better with twists to the plot and a delightful romance. The author brings Victorian Christmas alive as she brings out traditions such as the yule log, Boxing Day and wassail (for which she leaves a link to a favorite recipe!) Mystery, mishaps, and missing mice all add to this delightful tale. The mysteries just kept piling up in a great heap and sometimes all the characters had were questions...no answers as to what was happening. The author has a definite thread of faith in God woven throughout the story, reminding readers that He is a God who loves to give His children second chances. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor is a captivating book and I can't wait to read more in the series.

The characters in this book were rather unique. To the point that they will be hard to forget. I enjoyed the daily excitement and drama. The mastor of the manor was finally revealed and the reasoning behind staying for 12 days. That was very helpful in bringing the story to a close.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing. I was not required to give a review. All thoughts and opinions were my own.

Fans of Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie will surely enjoy this Christmas novella. The premise is one that you are familiar with in a storyline. Strangers receive invitations to come to Bleakly Manor and the one that remains until the end will receive the prize.

But the resemblance ends there. Michelle Griep has taken those bones of an outline and fleshed them out with characters and scenarios that are fresh and interesting. As the characters are added one by one and then leave one by one you can't help but like them. They are quirky to a fault and really make the story come alive. The manor house is a perfect setting. As the story progresses it just gets creepier and creepier.

Just like a good Dickens story, when you think you have the plot figured out a turn in the story comes and takes you in a whole new direction. I was surprised and pleased with the ending which is exactly what I want in a story like this. I recommend you get this for one of those cold winter evenings that you need a good book to curl up with. You won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

If you are a fan of Downton Abby or good English stories you will enjoy this one

This story is packed to the gills with an excellent atmosphere of old-country-house and Golden Age mystery. The story has plenty of action; guests are invited to Bleakly Manor to stay the twelve days of Christmas in exchange for a prize. Clara, impoverished by an embezzlement, need the promised 500 pounds. Ben, imprisoned unjustly for the embezzlement, is offered freedom. These two are the POV characters among the guests in the mysterious country house that seems to have no master.

There’s even a slight Gothic feel as the mysterious things start happening—fire in the night, damaged ice skates that cause someone to break a leg, and so on. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing for quite a long while. Pretty soon it’s evident that someone is willing to kill for the prize, and Clara and Ben have to work together to figure out the threat.

The main thing I didn’t like is a few slips in dialogue (“gone missing,” for example, is SO 1990s). Most dialogue, though, is excellent, and carries you right into the 1850 time period very effectively.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy. Favorable reviews not required.

12 days At Bleakly Manor is unlike any book I have read before. It is filled with mystery, intrigue, romance, humor, quirkiness, drama, and much more. The reader is kept in suspense until all is revealed the last few chapters. There were so many twists and turns. My opinion of this book changed with each one and I had to rreserve judgement until the end. I must say over all it was a good read and had a fun storyline.
There are a wide variety of characters- many of whom are very humorous. Each came to Bleakly Manor with the hopes of winning something of value as long as they remain at Bleakly Manor for 12 days. And as their hopes and wishes are revealed, a little more is known about each character. Some will be loved and others disliked. And many of the characters are just plain quirky and humorous.
I am fascinated that this book is based on a Charles Dickens’ classic named Bleak House. 12 Days at Bleakly manor is first in a series. This was my first Michelle Griep book but it won’t be the last. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I posted this on Amazon, Goodreads, CBD and will search for other sites to post a review. LInks were unavailable when review was posted.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor – Michelle Griep

This is the first book I have read by this author. A story taking place in the Charles Dickens victorian era, this is definitely not my normal style of reading. I was very pleasantly surprised and loved the book! It took me back to the times of playing the childhood game of Clue.

Many characters were in the book. You couldn’t put it down because you wanted to see how all the twists and turns of the book would end. The cast of characters invited by an unknown person to Bleakly Manor, has such different personalities, but all invited for the same reason – to see who would could last the entire 12 days of Christmas to win a special prize at the end of that time. Mystery, intrigue, wacky personalities, injuries, and near death experiences are all part of the book.

Former sweethearts, Clara and Benjamin are both invited. Clara and her family have lost all their wealth, and she is promised 500 pounds if she can stay the 12 days, while Benjamin, who was thrown in prison supposedly having embezzled Clara’s family’s money, is promised his freedom, should he endure the entire time. When they see each other at the Bleakly Manor, they are very shocked and the many twists and turns put them in many alarming and surprising situations.

I couldn’t wait to see who would be able to last the entire time, and to find out the person responsible for them all being invited.

I look forward to reading more books by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

It's not Christmas, its October, but I decided to read this alongside the audiobook borrowed on Scribd. The description of the book is pretty accurate, its pretty much like a combination of Dickens Bleak House with one of Agatha's Christie's darkest stories 'And Then There Were None' (which was originally entitled 12 Little Indians).

I'm rather in two minds about how some of the characters seemed to be directly lifted from Bleak House, especially Mr. Tallgrass (Mr. Bart. Smallweed, clearly was the inspiration there), and Miss Scurry with her mice, who was clearly based on Miss Flyte with her collection of prophetically named birds.
Whilst I am sure authors borrow from other works all the time, it's not something I'm always totally comfortable with when I spot it. This was still a great book though, and it does not detract from Dickens great tale. To be fair, its hard to beat the classics, so why not use them as an inspiration?

Aside from some of the inevitable Americanisms, and the American narrator of the audiobook who struggled with some of the accents, I did enjoy this book. A lot. Its great little short read for any time of the year, but also ideal reading on a long Winter night over the Holiday season incorporating intrigue, suspense, mystery, but also love and redemption.

I requested the ebook edition of this title from Netgalley for review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep is the first book in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas. Clare Chapman lost everything nine months ago. She is surprised when she receives an invitation to spend twelve days Bleakly Manor. If Clare lasts the full duration, she will receive a sum of 500 pounds. When Clare arrives at the manor, she finds she was not the only person to receive the unusual invitation and promised something in return. Ben Lane was arrested on his way to marry Clare for a crime he did not commit. He was promised his freedom if he stays through the twelfth day of Christmas. Their anonymous host has decided that only one of the guests will win their promised prize. Which guest will last the full twelve days and what is the person willing to do to win?

12 Days at Bleakly Manor is a well-crafted and entertaining novel. It is short, but it is packed full of action and intrigue. The mystery was delightful (see if you can figure out the culprit in this one) and the characters interesting. I like the Christian beliefs expressed in the story (compassion, prayer, faith, forgiveness, second chances, God is in control, trust, and hope). The Christian theme is light but the point is gotten across. My rating for 12 Days at Bleakly Manor is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The author combined Bleak House by Charles Dickens with And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie in 12 Days at Bleakly Manor. I appreciated the colorful, unique characters (especially the lady with the mice) that Ms. Griep created. I am looking forward to the next installment in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas in A Tale of Two Hearts.

This is Romance Suspense took place in the Victorian era 1800s in England. It is a fast paced historical fiction with so many twist and turns, false starts, who-done-it, and totally unexpected out-comes. This page turner takes place at Bleakly Manor over Christmas holidays with invited guest but no host. I rooted for Clara and Ben. Will they have a second chance at love or is the danger too great?

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

Rating: 5 out of 5

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Story Notes

Michelle Griep’s newest series will bring delight to her readers as she shares fictional accounts of Charles Dicken’s famed books, beginning with 12 Days at Bleakly Manor – inspired from the oft-overlooked classic Bleak House.

A great fan of Charles Dickens and the Victorian Era, I have both read and watched every book and BBC Drama created from Mr. Dicken’s stories. How exciting for me to discover that Michelle Griep was writing a series based on some of my favorite books/dramas! Bleak House is a truly wonderful story that is frequently overlooked given the popularity of “A Christmas Carol”, “Oliver Twist” and “A Tale of Two Cities” but next to “Little Dorrit” it remains my all-time favorite Dickens story. Ms. Griep offers a fictionalized account (based on the true story) of how Charles Dickens came to write “Bleak House” that was so good it earned a rarely given 5 star rating from me. Clara Chapman has spent the last year grieving both the loss of her family fortune and the fiance she believes stole the fortune and her heart. Receiving a mysterious note that offers her 500 pounds in return for staying at Bleakly Manor during the 12 Days of Christmas, Clara grasps quickly the opportunity to help herself and her aunt stay in their home. Benjamin Lane has been in gaol for over a year with no trial, no explanation, and is facing transportation for embezzling funds from two shipping companies including Clara’s family’s company. Two weeks before his ship departs he is sent a note offering him the chance at freedom and exoneration if he will spend 12 days at Bleakly Manor. Desperate to right the wrongs done to him, Benjamin agrees and is taken there immediately. But when Clara and Benjamin come face to face, will they believe the truth of what happened or is everything beyond forgiveness? Joining Clara and Benjamin at Bleakly Manor are 6 others who have been offered something they desire in exchange for remaining at the house during the full 12 Days. But with mysterious happenings occurring more often as the days pass by, the number of persons willing to remain begins to dwindle quickly. Ms. Griep did an excellent job of capturing the essence of Mr. Dickens characters. I loved her way of identifying them through their characteristics even as she gave each person an alternate name. I had fun recalling the story through new eyes and a new perspective – one that had less tragedy at the end but a perfect ending that would have made Mr. Dickens proud. His infamous way of always ensuring that everyone in his stories got “exactly what he or she deserved” is what makes me love his stories so. And Ms. Griep carried that theme well and added in a wonderful new love story that will leave her readers cheering and most satisfied. Ms. Griep also included the element of faith in her story and this served to make the story even better in my opinion. The two main characters both had to learn the incredible lessons of forgiveness and trust and further that love is willing to sacrifice one’s personal desires so that the loved one can be given what they need. This was a really wonderful story that had me looking forward to the holiday season that is fast approaching and encouraged me to be careful of prejudices and generous with kindness. I will definitely be recommending this story to others and will also purchase a hard copy at my earliest convenience. I look forward to the next books in the series, hoping they will be as delightful as this one.

I received this ebook free of charge from Barbour Publishing/Shiloah Run Press via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

Thoughts:

Inside 12 DAYS AT BLEAKLY MANOR: Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep, we are in England near Christmas of 1851, but for Clara Chapman, these times surrounding the holiday are not at all joyous. As the woman left at the altar without means, she is not homeless only since a loving Aunt takes her in.

Clara’s losses are piling up faster than the winter’s chills upon her skin, and the ache of betrayal doesn’t cease. Her financial situation becomes dwarfed by her guilt of severing the income for her former household staff.

How did all this happen?

Meanwhile, at the prison, the stench is overwhelming and the pain never heals from untold torments. Benjamin Lane’s cell is open, and he prepares for the torture, but he does not expect it from the Warden.

As he takes the proffered invitation, he is told that death will meet him if he tries to escape. Who would invite a falsely accused prisoner to the Bleakly Manor? Moreover, why?

The wealth that is there stings more than his fresh wounds.

Places such as this met his stature at one time. In the social circles of such things, he is now not a member.

Shunned by all who know him, Ben must face whatever will be his fate along with the reminders of all that he has lost during the holiday that holds the most meaning. Just as he thinks it could never become more painful, he realizes how wrong he is as the mystery unravels. The whole story behind his story needs real justice, but freedom from his jail cell does not mean unrestraint at all.

In a tale that is in part a Dickens and a Christie, you may be asking yourself if a mishap comes from the maid, in the parlor, with the candle or from the inspector in the carriage house, with the saw!

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

12 DAYS AT BLEAKLY MANOR: Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep begins as an invitation to a mansion, a mystery, and an answer for each invited guest.

However, the merriment may be missing as the plot thickens and the mystery comes apart!

Clara Chapman is invited to a celebration, the 12 Days of Christmas, by someone she does not know, but her sickly aunt insists she goes for there is a gift that Clara needs. She will receive it if only she stays to the end. Reluctantly, she goes with a feeling of foreboding nagging at her.

In prison garb and chains, Benjamin Lane is to reenter the high society of that is familiar for only twelve days. A chance to run is all he wants as he sees the woman who told him of her love only to set him up for a crime he didn’t commit.

The mystery surrounding them leaves both vulnerable and scared, but the answer they believe to be their way to happiness might not be it at all.

This book was so fun!! It started off with getting to know they 2 main characters and then kinda went into this almost who done it story. No one was murdered but that wasn't for lack of someone trying.

I loved the mystery aspect of it....who invited them to bleakly manor and who was the one who was trying to slowly get people who were there to leave for one reason or another.

I do want to know where the other characters came from but maybe we will find out in the next book and if not it's not that big of a deal

Set in England and contemporary with Dickens, it was an interesting plot of both romance and murder/mystery. As a librarian at an international MK school, I recommend it as a title to be added.

A different love story that required me to listen to each person's story in order for it to be believable.

Bleakly Manor Indeed......
Set in Victorian England, 1851, Michelle Griep has succeeded in creating an atmospheric mystery novel of eminent readability. The protagonist, Clara Chapman, receives a mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor house. Whilst suspicious, Clara is intrigued enough to attend the calling - particularly as she has been promised a handsome sum of money should she stay at the manor for 12 days. What has poor Clara let herself in for....? Really...would you?! It's a cleverly written whodunnit with plenty of twists, turns and surprising events but, most of all, a fun read for sure. A perfect choice for the festive season. Recommended.

I really loved the first 3/4 of this book! The plot line was compelling, and the characters likable. The way the story was written gripped me from the very beginning. I liked how the story unfolded, the mystery of who could be behind summoning all the people to the Manor, and the general mood of the book. The pace of the book was also well done, and kept me reading to see what would happen next. I've read a LOT of really bad mystery novels, so I appreciate the author's skill in keeping the reader guessing, and the mystery fresh.

I did, however, have some issues.

***SPOILER ALERT***
The last fourth of the book was really contrived and I felt a poor way to end the book. It would have been better to sprinkle throughout the story hints that 'Aunt' was involved in some way, rather than springing it on them on her death bed. The fact that she could do all of these things, when she had absolutely no money, and then to say that Charles Dickens was behind all of it, including putting up the money for the prize and getting Ben out of jail, yet he couldn't afford to hire staff or feed the people at the Manor properly was a real problem for me.

I also had issue with the faith of the two main characters only coming to light in the last half of the book. If Ben's faith was so strong, why didn't he comfort himself with it while in prison? If Clara's faith was so easily restored, why didn't she look for reasons God had allowed circumstances, rather than continually asking 'Why God why?'

Overall I enjoyed the book and will probably look for the second in the series from the author.

This book did not disappoint! If you are in need of Historical Christmas book, look no further! The book is a cross between Charles Dickens & Agatha Christie, giving you a bit a of a Christmas Mystery. It reminded me of the game of Clue. If a guest can stay the whole 12 days they will receive their own unique prize.

Looking forward to the next in the series!

As a fan of both Christmas books and mysteries, I was excited to read this new book that fits both of these categories. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep can be called a Dickens-style cozy mystery set in 1851. A group of strangers are invited to stay at Bleakly Manor for 12 days. Mysteries abound, including who invited them all and where their host is. Clara Chapman is the main character, a young girl who recently lost everything, from her family’s money to her fiancé. She is surprised to find her fiancé among the manor’s guests. Things quickly become dangerous and Clara must join forces with her ex-fiancé to solve the mystery and stay safe. This book was a fun, engaging read and I look forward to reading more books from this author. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Very interesting book. It has great lessons to be learned. Quirky characters and lovable ones too. All set at Christmastime. The house itself is a character! Strange things keep happening to these strangers brought together. Humor, mystery, intrigue, and tales of redemption await you as you read. Definitely an enjoyable read. I was given a copy of this book, the opinions expressed here are my own.