Aug 082013
 

anunlikelymatchAn Unlikely Match

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: October 2012

Softcover/Kindle/DB ebook/CD: 184 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60861-566-7

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

The future has never looked brighter for once penniless Nickolas Pritchard. Now in possession of an unforeseen legacy from a distant cousin, he can finally woo the exquisite Miss Castleton, belle of the London Season. What better setting for matchmaking than Ty Mynydd, his ancestral home nestled in the untamed hills of Wales? Ideal, indeed … except for the ghost.

For nearly four hundred years, Gwen has walked the halls of the home in which she lived—and died a mysterious death. But despite centuries as the reigning force within her ancient residence, nothing prepares her for the charm and unexpected appeal of Englishman Nickolas.

A deep and abiding affection grows between the two, tempered by the unbreakable barrier that separates them. They cannot possibly hope for a happily ever after. there can be no future between a man yet living and a woman long dead.

But how can Nickolas possibly give Gwen up? And how can Gwen face an eternity without Nickolas?

Review

It takes particular talent to present a situation as improbable as the one in this book and turn it into a believable and endearing romance. Luckily for us readers, Sarah possesses the skill to do just that.

An Unlikely Match has a paranormal element that sets it apart from Sarah’s other books and shows off her flexibility. I was actually a little nervous about it, because it was different from her other books (with a ghost as a main character), but as I began to read I was soon reassured that I would not be disappointed.

Another thing that makes An Unlikely Match different from Sarah’s other books is that it is set in Wales, which is perfect for the more superstitious elements of the story. It’s a bit spooky, with a few scarier moments and a more intense ending than her other books. Sarah is great at writing suspense, which doesn’t surprise me at all.

Though the list of characters is limited to a small house party, there is enough variety among them to cover everything from a beautiful young woman who was the most popular of the Season to an older gentlemen who fancies himself quite the ghost hunter, and a young Welsh vicar who is friendly with a ghost to a tell-it-like-it-is housekeeper.

I really like Nickolas and his friends, Dafydd and Griffith. Gwen is an intriguing character with a tragic history. The way Sarah directs the unfolding of Gwen’s story is excellent. There is a different, more poignant longing between the two main characters because they can’t physically touch. I wondered the entire time how things could possibly work out between them.

I found the ending incredibly romantic. The description during the culmination of events is outstanding. I could envision everything that was happening clearly in my head, like a movie.

This is a good book to read during October, in the spirit of Halloween and Nos Galan Gaeaf (a traditional Welsh holiday that plays a part in the book), but don’t wait until then to read it if you haven’t yet. It is signature Sarah–good, clean Regency romance with well-written characters and a healthy dose of wit.

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Aug 062013
 

glimmerofhopeGlimmer of Hope

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: June 2013

Softcover/Kindle/DB ebook/CD: 208 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 978-1621084655

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free temporary digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Stunning Miranda Harford once had the world at her feet. She was young, carefree, and desperately in love. But when her new husband left for London without her, her world fell apart. Devastated by his abandonment, Miranda fled their home, taking residence at her husband’s rarely visited countryside estate. For three years, she lived alone. But now, as the holidays draw near, an unexpected visitor arrives . . .

Carter Alexander Harford, Seventh Viscount Devereaux, is a man driven to succeed. His work is his life, and the position of Prime Minister of England is within reach. But in truth, Carter is a man haunted by lost love. Estranged from his beautiful wife, Carter is shocked to find Miranda—the woman he’d loved and who he believes has left him—in residence at his country home.

As plans for a holiday party move forward, the uneasy couple realizes that to avoid further scandal, they must keep up appearances in a charade of marital happiness. Thrust together by fate, it quickly becomes clear that they have both been living beneath a conspired cloud of misunderstanding. As family, career, and social pressures threaten to keep them apart, can love have even a glimmer of hope?

Review

Glimmer of Hope is a bittersweet yet tender love story of two people, united once in love and marriage, separated by misunderstandings and the selfish deception of others.

Sometimes I start a book during a break intending to read just a few chapters but end up getting so caught up in the book that I must finish it. Sarah’s books are always like that for me. I know once I start reading I won’t want to put it down.

I loved the loyalty Miranda inspired in all who knew her at Clifton Manor. I appreciated how Carter, despite still being angry at what he saw as Miranda’s “abandoning” their marriage, noticed that his heart was still affected by her and softened enough to want to try to build at least a friendship with her.

While a good conversation could have clarified the situation between Carter and Miranda, pride, stubbornness, and Miranda’s weakened constitution prevented it. This isn’t difficult to believe, considering how often, in reality, the same things get in the way of solving relationship issues in almost everybody’s lives.

I didn’t mind that I figured out well ahead of time what had kept them apart because I was more interested in how it would all be revealed and what Carter’s reaction would be when he discovered what had happened. I was not disappointed. Carter’s tenderness toward Miranda and his reaction upon discovering the deceit surrounding him was just what I was expecting.

Sarah’s writing is excellent, effectively pulling me into the story and the emotion of the moment. My heart ached for what had been lost and hoped for what was to come.

Sarah is one of those few author’s whose books I do not hesitate to purchase even before reading them. I have yet to read one of her books that I haven’t loved. While Glimmer of Hope has a slightly different feel than some of her other books, a bit more serious rather than light and humorous, it was no less enjoyable than the others. As always, I happily recommend Sarah’s books to anyone who likes a clean, well-written romance.

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Aug 052013
 

dropsofgoldDrops of Gold

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: January 2013

Softcover/Kindle/DB ebook/CD: 192 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60861-569-8

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: I purchased my own copy with my own money and followed Sarah around until she signed it. (I’m kidding. About the following Sarah around part. I did buy my own copy. And Sarah did sign it. Because she’s awesome like that.)

Summary

When her father dies and leaves her completely destitute, Marion can think of only one thing to do–make a new life for herself. Commencing a life of duplicity, Marion transforms herself into Mary Wood–governess. In possession of a forged letter of recommendation and cloaked in the anonymity of her new identity, she enters a life of self-imposed servitude as teacher and caretaker of young Miss Caroline Jonquil of Farland Meadows. Her idyllic daydream vision of life at the Meadows is dashed when she finds a child desperately in need of hope and a cold and sorrowful home haunted by the past. With her characteristic sunny disposition, Marion casts her spell upon the household and slowly brings to life the long-forgotten joy of those within.

Layton Jonquil is a man tormented by the lies surrounding the death of his late wife, but he cannot deny his growing attraction for the beautiful governess whose goodness and optimism have touched his dormant heart. Their connection grows ever stronger, and despite the impropriety of harboring feelings for a servant, Layton’s heart whispers that this is the woman he’s destined to love. But when Layton’s fears about the past become too much to bear and the falsehoods in which they are entangled threaten to shatter his and Marion’s blossoming attachment, will true love conquer all?

Review

Drops of Gold is another Sarah M. Eden masterpiece. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I would have finished in one sitting if my body didn’t insist on sleeping at night.

I liked both Layton and Marion. Layton is a good father to Caroline as far as he is able through his grief and struggle, but not a particularly friendly person, even with his brothers. When faced with a very difficult situation, Marion doesn’t hesitate to do what is necessary to get by with as much dignity as she can. Despite her desperate and lonely circumstances, she retains a cheerful disposition and doesn’t hesitate to show love and understanding to others whenever possible. I liked Marion’s stories and the glimpses into her history and character they provided. Caroline is cute, if a bit mature for a four-year-old, though as an only child in that time period it is entirely plausible that she could have been comparatively more articulate and mature than the four-year-olds I know.

I loved how everything in the story played out, especially the ending. I felt for Marion, stranded between two worlds, belonging neither above nor below stairs. Layton was torn between preventing his staff from isolating Marion even more if he showed her any favoritism and his daughter’s desire to include Marion in events that, as governess, she really shouldn’t be participating in, especially because he found that he wanted Marion included as well. My heart broke for Marion as I learned her story, and for Layton’s as well, once the truth of his situation was discovered.

I love reading about the Jonquil brothers and can’t wait to read about more of them, specifically Corbin. I enjoyed seeing Philip and Sorrel from Friends and Foes again.

Drops of Gold is one of my favorites of Sarah’s books, which is saying a lot because I love all of them. I know when I want to read a good, clean, well-written romance that I can pick up anything by Sarah Eden and be happily satisfied. For those of you who have read Sarah’s books, I’m preaching to the choir. If you haven’t read any of Sarah’s books, what are you waiting for?

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Jul 222013
 

thehouseatrosecreekThe House at Rose Creek

Author: Jenny Proctor

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: July 2013

Softcover: 251 pages

Genre: Contemporary LDS Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60861-894-1

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Kate Sinclair wasn’t planning on inheriting her family’s 100-year-old farmhouse. She wasn’t even planning on going back to Rose Creek. But when her aunt unexpectedly passes away, leaving her the house, she finds herself forced to confront her past, including the family she hasn’t spoken to in years.

When she finds a journal belonging to a distant ancestor in the attic of the old house, she begins a journey that reconnects her with her faith, her family, and herself.

But trouble looms. Kate’s new love interest, Andrew, has a past full of secrets. And the state department of transportation wants to bulldoze the old farmhouse for a highway project. Will Kate be able to see through Andrew’s past? Most importantly, will she find a way to save her house and hold onto the fragile threads that tie her to her family?

Review

The House at Rose Creek is a well-written debut novel with a deeper, more layered story than I expected. While it was definitely a love story, the romance was not always front and center. There was a rediscovering of love of home and family as well as a developing love and respect for those who came before. In a way, there was also a retelling of romance past as the main character reads about Ian and Jennie in his journal.

I didn’t really care for Kate at first but she quickly grew on me. I could feel the connection between her and Andrew right away. Andrew was really great, but I’m glad he had a bit of a history to keep things real. The secondary characters had dimension and personality, even if I didn’t like how they reacted some of the time, but that’s what made them more realistic. The situation with Kate’s family was relatable, tense at times and not quickly or easily resolved, but efforts and progress were still made even if everything wasn’t tied up in a pretty bow at the end. There was only one part, the sudden appearance of a former love interest, that felt a bit contrived to me.

I liked how the journal of her ancestor tied into Kate’s story and inspired her, not just in her investigation into the Church but in learning more about her family history. I, too, felt inspired to delve back into my family history. I enjoyed learning about Ian and looked forward to reading each of his journal entries throughout the story.

Readers who like a story with history and a nice romance will enjoy The House at Rose Creek. The writing is clean and easy to read, effectively evoking the emotion of the scene. I hope Jenny is hard at work on her next book because I look forward to reading more from her.

**There is a Goodreads giveaway for The House at Rose Creek open until July 31, 2013!!**

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Jun 102013
 

awaybacktoyouA Way Back to You

Author: Emily Gray Clawson

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: 2013

Paperback/ebook: 208 pages

Genre: Romance

ISBN# 978-1609075217

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a temporary digital review copy that will be removed from my device after a short period of time

Summary

What would you do if you were given a second chance?

Annabelle, whom nearly everyone calls Anne, has been stuck in the past for two years. Numbed by grief over her husband’s unexpected death and overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising their three young children alone, Anne agrees to let a friend take the kids for the weekend while she tries to get some much-needed rest at her parent’s home.

But when Anne wakes up the next morning, she is suddenly sixteen again. And it just happens to be the worst day she spent as a teenager.

High school the second time around brings unforeseen changes and frustrations, but remembering that her future husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town gives Anne hope. Getting Mitch’s attention (for the second time) is more complicated than she could have imagined, but Anne discovers she is stronger than she believed possible—and there just might be a future for her after all.

Review

I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like this one. As a reviewer, I love to discover books that surprise me. A Way Back to You did so more than once.

The book starts out on a more serious note with Annie, a mother of three young children and a widow of three years, struggling through one of the hardest days of her life since losing her husband. Instead of coming across as depressing or overly heavy, though, it was an intriguing and relatable opening, at least as far as the hard mothering days. By midway through the second chapter I was emotionally invested in Anne’s story, even blinking back a few tears as I read.

It had been a while since I read the summary for A Way Back to You, so I was pleasantly surprised when Anne awoke as a teenager. I enjoy time travel books, but don’t read many where the character travels back to a time in their own life. The clothing descriptions took me back to my own high school years. The frequent tears and mood swings experienced by Anne as her 38-year-old intellect dealt with frustrating teenage hormones made me grateful I would never be a teenager again.

The romance aspect of the story embraced both the more mature love of married adults as well as the teenage crush-turned-love experiences. I was satisfied with the romantic resolution and glad for Annie, though I could see how some might consider it a little too convenient. My romantic heart was happy with the ending, though, and I think other readers who enjoy a good clean romance will like it, too. I definitely look forward to reading more from Emily.

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May 062013
 

TIMELESS darkerA Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection

Authors: Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon, Heather Justesen, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Aubrey Mace

Published: February 1, 2013

Publisher: Mirror Press

Format: ebook

FTC FYI: Received an ePub copy in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Mindy and Shanda

Goodreads Summary 

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection. Readers will love this collection of six sweet contemporary romance novellas, centered on a Spring Vacation, all with one thing in common: Romance.

In Moonlight Kiss, a delightful story by Josi S. Kilpack, Sarah is looking forward to the company retreat, namely because she’ll finally meet Clint—the man she’s been Instant Messaging for a few months. As a single mom, Sarah gets out . . . well, never. So adding vacation days onto the retreat so she can spend time with Clint is daring, yet exciting. She just hopes that the suave on-line Clint will live up to the man she hopes to share her heart with.

In Annette Lyon’s charming novella, Chasing Tess, Tess had been patiently waiting through three years of law school for James to pop the question. The night has finally arrived—at his graduation party. But his big announcement turns out to be completely unexpected . . . and devastating. Tess flees the party, promising herself she’ll never let herself waste time on James again. But as she makes a desperate cross-country drive, James makes his own plans on how to win her back.

Dancing at the Flea Market is a sweet romance by Heather Justesen. Mara, fresh out of the cold North Dakota tundra, spends her spring break in Texas with close friend, Anna. When the two women run into Carter, an impatient man with a painful past, it takes hearing Mara’s stunning voice at the local Karaoke club to thaw his heart. But as Mara gets to know Carter, she has to decide if the distance between their lives and homes is worth trying to bridge.

In Sarah M. Eden’s captivating novella, The Best Laid Plans, Madison gives up a vacation to Cancún with her office friends to return home and babysit her mother, who is in another sketchy relationship. The only problem with returning home is running into Derek, her ex-boyfriend who she decided to break up with before he could break up with her—Madison believes in always being one step ahead. When Derek teams up with Madison to investigate whether her mother is dating the right guy, Madison has a hard time ignoring what her heart is telling her about giving Derek another chance.

Picture Perfect, an exciting story by Heather B. Moore, follows Gemma who has never done anything out of the ordinary, until her boyfriend Randy starts to ignore her. But even cutting and dyeing her hair doesn’t get his attention. She decides to join her old high school friends for spring vacation, only to be faced with Drew, her best friend who suddenly seems interested in her as more than a friend. Gemma must determine if her heart is on the rebound or if it’s finally met its true match.

In Aubrey Mace’s enchanting romance, The Science of Sentiment, Rosie will do anything to forget Kevin, his completely perfect kisses, and the fact that he dumped her. When she arrives at her grandfather’s mountain cabin for a spring getaway, she discovers her worst nightmare—Kevin has been invited to stay the weekend too. Since there is only room for one in such a small space, Rosie is determined to kick Kevin out. But Kevin has other plans . . . which might include a reminder of why he’s the perfect kisser.

Mindy’s Review

This is a very enjoyable book full of six well-written and fun short stories.  Each one is very unique, and most importantly, clean romances with awesome characters.  I was quickly taken into each story with their fun plots and spring settings.  As I was reading each story, I was sure it was my favorite, then I would start the next one, and it became my new favorite.  Each story has its share of great kisses.  The kiss in Heather Moore’s Picture Perfect… WOW!

5 out of 5 stars.  As you finish each story, you will be happily wanting more.  I can’t wait for Summer Wedding Collection in May.  

Shanda’s Review

The A Timeless Romance Anthology series has proven that a short love story can still be big on romance. I enjoyed each one, amazed at how well each author packed a full story into a smaller page count without making it feel rushed or incomplete.

My favorite was Sarah Eden’s The Best Laid Plans. I’m going to quote my notes directly: “Sigh (big smiley face). Loved it. Maddi & Derek – great couple. Good story. Nice romance.” I agree with Mindy about the kiss in Picture Perfect. I was pleasantly surprised with the little turn the story took in Chasing Tess. It was happily not what I expected.

If you like a good romance, check out A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection. I’m anxiously looking forward to the next installment, A Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection. I got a sneak peek at Melanie Jacobson’s Love Bytes and, well, I loved it.

 
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