Sarah M. Eden – LDS Women's Book Review

A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Regency Collection

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Jan 122015

A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Regency Collection

Authors: Anna Elliot, Sarah M. Eden, Carla Kelly, Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore

Publisher: Mirror Press

Published: January 5th, 2015

ASIN: B00RR8AJ72

ebook: 320 pages

FTC FYI: Received a Kindle copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Summary

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Regency Collection. Readers will love this collection of six regency romance novellas.

In THE WEDDING GIFT: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE STORY, an enchanting novella by Anna Elliott, the story opens two weeks before Elizabeth Bennet’s wedding to Mr. Darcy. He has given her the perfect wedding gift, and now she must come up with one for him. But what do you give a man who has everything? Elizabeth soon discovers that the gift of love is more important than any one thing.

DREAM OF A GLORIOUS SEASON, a sweet novella by Sarah M. Eden, we meet Elizabeth Gillerford who envies her sister only one thing—that she’s been intended for Julian Broadwood since they were children. The trouble is that Elizabeth is hopelessly in love with Julian too. When Julian discovers that Elizabeth has been denied a Season because her older sister is yet unwed, he undertakes his own stealthy measures to introduce her to society, only to find himself falling in love with her himself.

In THE MENDER, a captivating story by Carla Kelly, Thankful Winnings takes a sea voyage with her cousin on the Ann Alexander, in a last adventure before she settles down to marry one of her beaus. Unexpectedly they come upon the aftermath of a fierce ship battle, and Thankful is commissioned to help in the place of an injured surgeon on one of the Royal Navy ships. Adam Farnsworth, surgeon, has been at sea for years. Tired of war, but devoted to his post, it takes a resourceful lady such as Thankful to give him the hope of love and help heal his own wounds, the ones that show and the ones that don’t.

In BEGIN AGAIN, a charming novella by Josi S. Kilpack, Regina Weathers gives up on marrying for love the day that Ross Martin walks out of her life. Now, fifteen years later, Ross shows up at a ball and thinks he can woo Regina. But she is set on her lonely path and stitched-up heart, no matter the excuse Ross gives for his years of silence and neglect. When Ross insists he wrote many letters during his military years, Regina discovers a secret long-since buried by her father, and the revelation might be enough to thaw the coldness of her heart.

In Annette Lyon’s endearing story, THE AFFAIR AT WILDEMOORE, Mrs. Ellen Stanhope escorts her three daughters to a ball. As her oldest flirts with a beau, Ellen is reminded of her courtship and early years of marriage with Anthony, before tragedy struck with the death of their infant son. The marriage has faded and dulled. Not until she sees Anthony dancing with a woman he courted years before does Ellen realize how much she misses him, still loves him, and yearns for him to yet feel the same way for her.

In the delightful novella, THE DUKE’S BROTHER, by Heather B. Moore, Mr. Gregory Clark is having an awful day, and it only gets worse when he’s ran over by … a woman. Mabel Russell reluctantly visits her sister in London for the Season, even though she’d rather stay in the country cataloging insects and aphids. When she runs into Gregory Clark, quite literally, she’s afraid to show any interest, especially since he’s a member of the dreaded ton. But getting to know Gregory becomes an unexpected delight.

My Review

Another perfect offering for the Timeless Romance Anthologies. Each story was unique and very enjoyable. I loved the romance, the language, the settings, and especially the characters in each novella, immensely. I am finding more often that novellas are here to stay, especially with this series. I am a huge TRA fan! I loved knowing I will read a quick, enjoyable book from authors whose books I love. I hadn’t read anything from Ms. Elliot before and I am excited to read more from her. It was hard to pick a favorite in this series. Each story had just the right amount of all things wonderful. What I like most is the promise of a happy ending and the journey to it.

5 out of 5 stars. Use the links on the author names up top for their websites.

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

For Elise by Sarah M. Eden — Blog Tour/Giveaway

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Sep 162014

For Elise

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: September 2014

ISBN13: 978-1-62108-787-8

Paperback: 258 pages

Regency romance

FTC FYI: Received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

In the sprawling gardens of their neighboring estates, childhood friends Miles and Elise spent countless pleasant days together in the spirited adventures of youth. They were inseparable—until Elise vanished without a trace. Miles searched, but Elise could not—or would not—be found.

After years spent laboring on the family plantation in the West Indies, Miles Linwood is shocked by the unexpected news: he has inherited his distant cousin’s estate and the title of Marquess of Grenton. Miles’s return to England is tarnished by only one thing—he is still haunted by Elise’s mysterious disappearance. So when he glimpses a woman with a startling resemblance to his lost friend, he’s shaken to the core. This is no mere shadow of the past: it is truly Elise. But his dear friend has changed—to the point that he questions whether it is really her, though he knows it is. Accustomed to rescuing Elise from childhood escapades, Miles takes her and those in her care back to his estate, even as he struggles to understand her fear and mistrust. As their friendship and feelings slowly blossom again, the shocking truth of their separated years is revealed, and Miles realizes more than ever that he must protect Elise. She slipped away once, and he cannot lose her again.

My Review

Miles finds his long-lost friend Elise and is surprised to see that she has a child. He takes them both right away to his estate. Elise is very close lipped and Miles can tell that Elise is troubled. Little does he know it has everything to do with him. Elise is a widow now and has been raising her daughter with her mother-in-law. They have survived on close to nothing, and it is hard to Elise to accept Miles’s help, even though she has so little. Once they arrive at Miles’s home, mysterious things start happening. Can Elise let go of the past and ask for help?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved Miles, he had me at the first page. His humor, spirit, and especially his devotion, will make him a character that I will compare others to. All of the characters are magnificent. Elise especially. I also really liked Mr. Langley, Miles’s brother-in-law. He was a great comic relief. His sister Beth was a delight, too. I really enjoyed the turn the story took with Elise and the secrets she was keeping. The romance with a touch of mystery added in, was a perfect mix. I liked how the events came about and one thing really surprised me!

5 out of 5 stars. A perfect book from a perfect author. I will read anything from Sarah. Her books are always well-written and entertaining.

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book / Seagull Book

Blog Tour Schedule:

*September 15th: http://www.charissastastny.com/, http://www.minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

*September 16th: http://www.iamareader.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com

*September 17th: http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://bookgeekreviews.com/

*September 18th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://www.fireandicereads.com/

*September 19th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://brooklynberrydesigns.com

*September 20th: http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/

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As You Are and Hope Springs by Sarah M. Eden – Countdown to Summer 2014

Posted by Shanda Countdown to Summer, Special Features

Jun 072014

14 days until summer!

Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Whitney Award finalists Seeking Persephone, Courting Miss Lancaster, and AML “2013 Novel of the Year” Longing for Home. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference and acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary Agency.

Visit Sarah: WEBSITE/BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

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LDSWBR: What book or movie reminds you of summer?

SARAH: The book that, to me, just screams summer, is The Glass Unicorn, a literary masterpiece in unfinished form by a 12-year-old, as-yet-unknown author. This young writer in the rough wrote her bit of genius under extreme duress as part of a mandatory summer activity designed by her mother to keep a house full of bored children from climbing the walls. In this book’s pages (all 4 of them) we find intrigue, angsty pre-teen drama, highly derivative paranormal elements, and the vaguest hint of a storyline. One can almost sense that the author knew she was in the wrong genre and would grow up to one day write, not middle grade urban fantasy, but Romance with lots of romancey-ness and a limited amount of magical knick-knackery.

LDSWBR: Do you hike during the summer? If so, where is your favorite place to hike?

SARAH: I think my favorite hike right now involves the five stairs required to get out of my house. On good days, I can make that grueling hike on my feet. On not so good days, I make the journey on my backside. On super bad days, I stand at my door and gaze longingly at the world beyond knowing I’m stuck because there is no way out of my house that doesn’t involve stairs. Perhaps someday I’ll conquer the “Hike of the Twelve Stairs Going to My Basement,” but let’s not get crazy!

LDSWBR: What is the best book you’ve read so far this year?

SARAH: It’s always so hard to pick a “favorite.” But I will say, I just recently finished Before the Clock Strikes Thirty by Aubrey Mace and thought is was absolutely lovely. Such a fun and enjoyable read!

LDSWBR: Thank you, Sarah! (UPDATE- For those of you who might be concerned by my asking Sarah about hiking considering her RA diagnosis: I create the interview questions and author invitation email well ahead of considering which authors to ask to participate in the Countdown then send the same interview email to every author. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the connection with the hiking question in regard to Sarah beforehand. Sarah assured me that the question wasn’t at all offensive to her, that our friendship is such that she knows that I would never purposefully ask an inconsiderate question, and she answered it with her usual good humor. As someone whose mother suffered with RA for several years, I am aware of the struggles and pain that RA causes. There was no malice intended by including this question in the author interviews.)

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DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | GOODREADS

A horse breeder by trade, Corbin Jonquil is more at home in the stables than in the ballroom of his sprawling estate. Corbin is the quietest of the Jonquil brothers and has always faded into the background, contentedly unnoticed. When a mysterious young widow, Mrs. Clara Bentford, moves into the neighborhood, however, Corbin quickly comes to realize that being noticed has its advantages. But how to catch the eye of the lady? According to his brothers, Corbin need only make a few simple changes to transform himself into the object of any woman’s desire—dubious advice, indeed. Following a series of misadventures, Corbin and Clara slowly lower the facades behind which they’ve been hiding, leaving Corbin shocked by the horrors that haunt the woman he’s coming to care for so ardently. When the menace of Clara’s past threatens to tear them apart and tensions mount, will the couple have the courage to fight for the promise of forever?

* * *

DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | GOODREADS

Katie Macauley gave up her lifelong dream of returning to Ireland in order to make a home for herself in Hope Springs, Wyoming, but her future has never been so uncertain.

Katie’s heart still remains sharply divided between playful Tavish and steady Joseph, though she feels ill-prepared to make a decision. Furthermore, the town is more divided than ever with both the Irish and the Reds stealing property, burning buildings, and endangering lives. In the midst of the growing unrest, temperatures drop quickly, too quickly, and Irish nightmares of famine and cold resurface as the little Wyoming town struggles to beat the harsh winter.

Katie makes one sacrifice after another to keep the peace and help see her loved ones through the difficult days ahead, but will her efforts be enough? Can the town make amends before their hatred consumes them all? And will Katie find the love she has been searching for as well as a home to call her own?

I still have stories I wrote in junior high and high school, though I shudder at the thought of reading them now. Did you write stories when you were growing up? If so, do you still have them?

* * *

**To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2014, leave a thoughtful comment below.**

This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. Because this is a raffle-style drawing, commenting on each Countdown to Summer 2014 post will give you more chances to win. Please click through to the website as only comments submitted directly on this post will be accepted.

Prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and the author-donated books listed below. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions below.

Following LDSWBR is not required but you may want to consider doing so during the contest so you don’t miss any posts or chances to enter the drawing. You can follow us through email, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest (links in our sidebar.)

If one of our reviews has ever helped you find a book you enjoyed, please consider helping us spread the word about the LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2014. A link posted to your friends and family either in email or on your favorite social network would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Summer 2014, you agree to the contest rules below:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins June 5, 2014 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight June 30, 2014 Mountain Time; to enter, complete the required entry on each post and any additional entries of your choice if listed; LDS Women’s Book Review reserves the right to determine what is considered a thoughtful comment as per each post’s required entry; giveaway prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and a variety of book prizes donated by featured authors; the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning; LDS Women’s Book Review is not liable for technical problems which may affect entry into the giveaway; winner identity will be verified by email address; winner will be selected July 3, 2014 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winner will have until July 10, 2014 to claim their prize; if any prize winner forfeits or does not claim prize, prize will be re-awarded to next winner in sequence; all prizes will be awarded; limit of two prizes per entrant; this contest/giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified; by entering the giveaway you give LDS Women’s Book Review the right to publicize your name on the LDS Women’s Book Review blog; winner agrees to release LDS Women’s Book Review from any liability as a result of winning; email comments and questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Book Prizes (as of 6/7/14 – more to be added to this list!)

Unraveled by Julie Daines (signed paperback)
Any book by A.L. Sowards (choice of paperback or Kindle version)
An autographed copy of any one Sarah M. Eden book of the winner’s choice

Longing For Home: Hope Springs by Sarah M. Eden – Blog Tour

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Feb 252014

Longing For Home: Hope Springs

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: February 2014

Softcover/Kindle: 416 pages

Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60907-810-2

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary (Goodreads)

All is not well in Wyoming. Katie Macauley gave up her life-long dream of returning to Ireland in order to make a home for herself in Hope Springs, but her future has never been so uncertain. The town is more divided than ever, with both the Irish and the Reds stealing property, burning buildings, and endangering lives.

Katie’s heart remains sharply divided between her love for playful Tavish and steady Joseph, a decision she feels ill-prepared to make. In the midst of the growing unrest, temperatures drop quickly, too quickly, and Irish nightmares of famine and cold resurface as the little Wyoming town struggles to beat the harsh winter.

Katie makes one sacrifice after another to keep the peace and help see her loved ones through the difficult days ahead, but will it be enough? Can the town make amends before their hatred consumes them all? And will Katie find the love she has been searching for as well as a home to call her own?

Review

As with the first book, Longing For Home, I feel inadequate to express how much I enjoyed Hope Springs. I devoured every word of it. The wait to read the conclusion of Katie’s story was bittersweet for me. I longed to know how things would turn out for her, yet I didn’t want my time in Hope Springs to end.

I was pulled into the story from the first sentence. The townspeople’s struggle with pride, resentment, hate, compassion, and forgiveness makes this more than a good romance. I don’t remember turning any pages except for the last one because that meant it was over. Things ended as I hoped they would, even if the journey was more difficult and heartbreaking than I expected.

Hope Springs is a satisfying conclusion to a well-loved series. If I could have one wish, it would be to visit Hope Springs again in the future through another character. The Longing For Home series has become an all-time favorite of mine and I highly recommend it.

Visit Sarah:

BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Find Hope Springs:

Follow Shadow Mountain:

FACEBOOK | TWITTER

As You Are by Sarah M. Eden

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Feb 102014

As You Are (The Jonquil Brothers #3)

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: January 2014

Paperback/Kindle/ebook: 193 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 9781621085751

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary (Deseret Book)

Review

In As You Are, we read about Corbin Jonquil, one of the quietest of the Jonquil brothers. He is brilliant, especially with horses, but he struggles to express himself to others. When he is won over by the beautiful smile of the mysterious woman who has moved into a nearby cottage, he longs to get to know her. Considering how difficult it is to speak to his own family, carrying on a conversation with Clara seems an impossible endeavor.

Corbin is so endearing. I couldn’t help but love him, even though I cringed (and laughed) at some of his attempts to get Clara to notice him. He was trying so hard, not realizing that it was enough just to be himself. Clara is a very likable character. Because of her past, I related well to her. I love that there is a bit of suspense in As You Are, as well as several cameos of characters from Sarah’s other books.

I look forward to each new book in the Jonquil Brothers series. (Good thing there are lots of brothers!) As grateful as I am for the digital review copy of As You Are provided by Covenant, I will be buying a copy of the physical book as well. First, I need Sarah to sign it for me, then it will be placed on the bookshelf reserved for my treasured Sarah M. Eden collection.

Visit Sarah:

BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Find As You Are:

AMAZON | KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK | GOODREADS

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection by Karey White, Krista Lynne Jensen, Diane Darcy,Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Heather B. Moore-Review

Posted by Sheila Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Feb 092014

Product Details

Title: Love Letter Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology)
Authors: Karey White, Krista Lynne Jensen, Diane Darcy, Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Heather B. Moore
File Size: 2022 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Mirror Press (January 22, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00I20ABJU
FTC FYI: Received a review ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Just in time for Valentine’s Day…

LOVE LETTER COLLECTION

Three Contemporary Romance Novellas
& Three Historical Romance Novellas
in one anthology

In Maggie’s Song, a charming story by Karey White, Maggie Jensen is part of a trio of best friends with Lucas and Dan. Together, they own and run Wild Country Hiking Tours. When Lucas returns to the company after getting his college degree, Maggie realizes that the crush she had on him as a teenager has now blossomed into so much more. But Lucas still treats her as one of the guys, and Maggie worries that if she tells him her real feelings, their relationship will be damaged forever.

In Just Fly, Krista Lynne Jensen’s captivating novella, Wren is faced with the devastating news of her grandfather’s death. But when her mom finds a mysterious letter from a woman named Dot in Seattle, Wren decides to visit the woman herself to deliver the news in person. Wren learns of the bucket list Dot and Gramps had put together with the help of Dot’s grandson, Seth, and Dot challenges Wren to take her grandfather’s place in completing the list. Before the week of adventure is over, Seth has impressed Wren in more ways than one. But is that enough to overcome Wren’s fear of losing those she loves?

How to Rewrite a Love Letter, an enthralling novella by Diane Darcy, high school teacher Julie Ashburn believes she’ll never live the “event” down in which she wrote her true feelings in a love letter to Principal Dane Parker, and he laughed out loud, mocking her. Now that her honors English students want to write love letters for the school fundraiser, Dane turns down the idea flat. Julie tries to convince him that it was her students’ idea and not any sort of payback. But when a student writes a fake love letter from the principal to Julie, everything gets even more mixed up, and both Julie and Dane are caught up in a series of misunderstandings that might be impossible to sort out.

In Sarah M. Eden’s delightful story, A Thousand Words, Shannon Ryan has been waiting half a year to be reunited with her fiance, Patrick, with only the letters between them keeping their relationship alive. He finally sends for her after securing a good job with the Sidney newspaper, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, swept up in his arms and thoroughly kissed. And of course, married as soon as possible. But when she arrives at the train station, there is no Patrick waiting for her. Shannon must discover if the man she loves still has feelings for her.

Between the Lines is a sweet romance by Annette Lyon. Jane Martin is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the enchanting novella, Blackberry Hollow, by Heather B. Moore, Lucy Quinn travels to England to inspect her inherited estate. Unfortunately, as a resident of New York and nearly engaged, Lucy needs put the house on the market. But first, she wants to learn more about her ancestors. What she doesn’t expect is Calvin Bevans, the man living next door. The two families have been divided by a misunderstanding decades old, and when Lucy discovers a set of love letters, she learns the truth. As Calvin helps her unravel the hidden secrets between the two families, Lucy finds that she has more reasons to stay in England than to return to New York. And Calvin is at the top of that list.

My Review:

The new Timeless Romance Anthology, The Love Letters Collection, is a perfect read for Valentines Day. I loved the combination of contemporary and historical stories. There is a story to fit your every mood and reading tastes. The unique thing that binds all six stories together is that there are love letters in every novella. From the first story, Maggie’s Song, where two best friends finally confess their love through some letters (This happy ending gave me chills and I gave a huge sigh) to the last story, Blackberry Hollow where two great grandchildren of former lovers become close themselves(and maybe more…you need to read it yourself!). These romance stories are high on the clean factor and zero on anything erotic. All of the stories are written with appealing characters whose stories stayed in my mind days after reading them.

I love how each of these stories are told. I have become a true lover of these novellas. The Timeless Romance Anthologies are always quick easy reads. They never fail to make me smile. As a busy woman I like to be able to read a story and have it resolved quickly. A full length novel doesn’t always work with my busy schedule of working full-time and being a single mom.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this new collection of romance stories. They are well written by authors I’ve come to trust, and they know how to deliver a great story.

You can purchase your copy here at Amazon.

Older Entries

14 days until summer!

I still have stories I wrote in junior high and high school, though I shudder at the thought of reading them now. Did you write stories when you were growing up? If so, do you still have them?

**Book Prizes (as of 6/7/14 – more to be added to this list!)**

Product Details

Book Prizes (as of 6/7/14 – more to be added to this list!)