Just as their friendship is starting to develop into more, Miriam's past comes calling.  The exposure of her secrets could mean the end of Miriam's new life and love.  What will Gideon say when he hears the truth?  Will there be anything left of their friendship or will both of them walk away with shattered hearts?

Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden stars one of the minor characters from its predecessor, The Sheriffs of Savage Wells.  Gideon and Miriam are less colorful leads than Cade and Paisley, but they're no less likable.  Both are sympathetic, selfless people who deserve a happy ending.  Their romance is sweet and slow-building but swoony all the same.  Although they're not as fiery as Cade and Paisley, there's still plenty of tension and playful banter flying between them to keep things interesting.  Like its predecessor, Healing Hearts is clean, fun, upbeat, and entertaining.  I found it just as enjoyable—maybe even a little more so—than The Sheriffs of Savage Wells.  If you like light, funny historical romance, you can't go wrong with this series.  It really is a satisfying, swoony delight.

(Readalikes:  The Sheriffs of Savage Wells by Sarah M. Eden, as well as other proper romances by the same author)

Grade:

To the FTC, with love:  I received an ARC of Healing Hearts from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Legendary lawman Cade O'Brien is certain that man is him.  Assuming his reputation will have proceeded him, he expects to waltz right in and take the position, no contest.  He's shocked when he spies other applicants—one of whom is a woman.  Cade never expected to have to prove himself capable but after a decade of bloody battles with violent criminals, he'll do anything for the easy tranquility Savage Wells offers.

Paisley Bell knows it's unusual for a woman to want to be sheriff, but the truth is she's been doing the job for months, even if the former sheriff took all the credit for her hard work.  She may not have a chance against someone as infamous as Cade O'Brien, but Paisley will not back down.  Not only does she need the money to care for her ill father, she knows and loves Savage Wells like no one else.  No one can do the job as well as Paisley and she won't back down until the position is hers.

While Cade and Paisley vie for the job, they have to contend with quirky townspeople, the return of Paisley's ex-fiancé, a threat to the town bank, and most troublesome of all—their growing attraction for one another.  With so much at stake, who will win and who will lose?

The Sheriffs of Savage Wells by Sarah M. Eden is a fun historical romance filled with likable characters, lively banter, and an entertaining storyline.  Sweet and clean, it has a swoony love story at its center that can be savored by readers of all ages.  At 336 pages, the novel is a good 100 pages longer than it needs to be, which bugs a little.  Still, despite the book's unneeded length and the subplot that is too thin to justify it, overall I enjoyed this funny, upbeat romance.  If you're looking for an uplifting read to make you smile, look no further.  You just found it.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of its sequel, Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden as well as other proper romances by the same author)

Recently retired from the Royal Navy, 24-year-old Linus Lancaster is finding himself hopelessly bored with his new-found life of leisure.  Lonely and craving a diversion of almost any kind, he agrees to attend an extended house party at the Jonquils' estate in Nottinghamshire.  Cavorting with his siblings, their spouses, and their in-laws should make for an entertaining two weeks.  While Linus expects fireworks (especially between the surly Duke of Kielder and foppish Lord Lampton), he's shocked when a mysterious woman hiding in the shadows unwittingly ignites his passions.  Mesmerized by the lovely Miss Hampton, Linus vows to bring the reluctant young woman out of obscurity—and into his arms. 

Although of differing stations and backgrounds, Arabella and Linus are nevertheless drawn to each other.  Can they find the purpose and belonging they both long for in each other?  Or will their haunted pasts drive them apart forever?

Sarah M. Eden has become known for her warm, witty romances.  They're clean, they're fun, they're sweet, and they're enjoyable.  Her newest, Loving Lieutenant Lancaster, is no exception.  Featuring likable characters, a warm, upbeat tone, and capable prose, it's as entertaining as its fellows.  Because this novel brings together the casts of two of Eden's Regency series, there are a lot of characters in Loving Lieutenant Lancaster.  Those who have read the previous novels will no doubt delight in seeing what's become of their favorites; those who are not acquainted with all the Lancasters and Jonquils will likely be confused.  I, for one, had trouble keeping them all straight.  While their antics kept me reading, this novel definitely started to feel overly long.  Admittedly, I'm not a big romance reader.  When I do indulge, I prefer my love stories to be short and sweet, especially if there aren't any subplots to keep me interested.  Despite those things, I still enjoyed this fun Regency romance.

(Readalikes:  Other books in the Jonquil and Lancaster series [titles listed in Note above] by Sarah M. Eden)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for mild innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Loving Lieutenant Lancaster from Covenant in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

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*June 5th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/, https://atransparentmom.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/,  http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/ 

*June 6th: http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/, http://readingismysuperpower.org/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

*June 7th: http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/

*June 8th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/

 http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/, http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/

Mariposa hatches a bold—probably ridiculous—plan to get help from Jason Jonquil, a London solicitor.  She can't tell him the true reasons behind her request.  In fact, the success of her mission depends on playing an exaggerated role, one that will camouflage her true identity and purpose.

As the son of an earl and a man striving to become a fine gentleman in his own right, Jason feels duty-bound to help the damsel in distress.  He can't make heads or tails of silly Mariposa.  Jason can't quite believe she's as ditzy as she seems, but then why the show?  The more he gets to know the infuriating female, the more intrigued he becomes.  Soon, Jason finds himself traipsing across the globe to help her find her family.  Along the way, he finds—inexplicably enough—that he might just be losing his heart to the enigmatic señorita. 

If you've ever spent time in the company of Sarah M. Eden, you know she's a petite woman who's big on spunk, humor, and charm.  If you've read her books, you know her sparkling personality comes through very strongly in her stories.  Her newest, A Fine Gentleman, is no exception.  The Regency Romance exudes Eden's trademark warmth and wit.  Yes, it deals with serious subjects (war, loss, mental instability, etc.), but overall the novel provides a light, fun, romantic read.  Although it reaches a very predictable Happily Ever After, there's enough substance in A Fine Gentleman to keep the story interesting.  You won't find a lot of originality here, nor will you be blindsided by shocking twists in the tale.  But, if you're looking for a bright, swoony story that's clean and ultimately satisfying, this one should serve you very well.  

(Readalikes:  Reminds me a little bit of Lady Emma's Campaign by Jennifer Moore)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

  

for scenes of peril and mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of A Fine Gentleman from the generous folks at Covenant Communications in return for my participation in the book's blog tour.  Thank you! 

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(Image from Barnes & Noble)

The Great Famine devastated thousands of Irish families, causing widespread starvation, disease and death across the Emerald Isle.  Katie Macauley knows the horrors of that dark period only too well.  Though but a wee lass during its most miserable points, the 26-year-old can't forget the terrible losses the Famine brought to her family.  Or the suffering she herself caused them.  Her only hope is to rectify her mistakes.  The harder she works, the more money she can save to put toward that goal.  As soon as she earns enough, she will return to Ireland, buy back her father's land, and set everything she ruined to rights again.  That trip can't come soon enough for the determined Katie.

In an effort to earn money faster, Katie accepts a position as housekeeper in the home of a farmer living in the Wyoming Territory.  From the correspondence she's received from her employer, Katie's expecting to wait on an elderly gentleman.  She's shocked to discover that "elderly" Joseph Archer is less than 10 years older than she and is the father of two young girls.  She's even more incredulous when he refuses to hire her the minute he hears her broad Irish brogue.  Unbeknownst to Katie, she's landed herself in the middle of a vicious town feud between Hope Springs' American residents and its Irish immigrants.  When stubborn Katie manages to secure the position she came to fulfill in spite of her roots, she earns the ire of one side of the conflict and the respect of the other.  The Irish housekeeper doesn't want any of it—all she cares about is collecting the paychecks that will buy her passage on a ship home.

Whether she likes it or not, Katie must choose a side in the brewing battle.  It doesn't help that her heart's torn between two men, one Irish, one not.  Katie knows she can't give her loyalty to anything or anyone, not until she's paid her debt to her family in Ireland.  But, with each day she spends in Hope Springs, it becomes harder and harder to leave.  In the end, she can only follow her heart.  The question is: Where will it take her?

The second novel (after Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson) to be published in Shadow Mountain's new Proper Romance line, Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden does what a proper romance should—it tells a wholesome love story in a pleasing format that's not going to make anyone blush.  It's clean, it's fun, it's readable.  The story's vintage Eden, just in a more modern setting and with a tragic back story that makes it a more serious novel than her others.  Eden's gift for writing amusing banter between her male and female characters shines especially bright in Longing for Home.  Overall, it's an enjoyable book.  I would just leave it at that, but of course, I had a few issues.  My biggest beef was Katie herself.  Although she's a sympathetic and courageous character, she's also a very self-absorbed one.  I'm still not quite sure why all the other characters loved her so much—she didn't really do anything and the things she did do mostly just benefited herself.  Add that to a few other irritants—the story's ending is pretty anti-climactic, one arm of the love triangle doesn't get any kind of resolution (I know there's a sequel in the works, but still ...), Katie's inner conflict seems really weak, etc.—and I ended up liking, but not loving this one.  I remain an Eden fan, I just hope she works out some of these story wrinkles in the next book (Hope Springs, coming in Spring 2014).  

(Readalikes:  Reminded me of Borrowed Light by Carla Kelly)  

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