256 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2020
Source: Borrowed from the library
Nottinghamshire, 1785.
Julia Cummings has
long been acquainted with loss—her mother, her brother, her sister, her
friend, all gone too soon. But the loss that pushed her grief to the
limit as a young girl was that of her best friend, Lucas Jonquil, who
abandoned her without looking back. Now, eight years later, Lucas has
returned to Lampton Park, and Julia has steeled herself—she will never
forgive the man who broke her heart.
After losing too many of
his friends and family to early deaths, Lucas vowed to live life to the
fullest. And after traversing the world, he has returned from his
adventures to find his family and home as he left them—except for Julia.
The little girl he left behind has blossomed into a captivating lady, a
lady who makes it clear she despises him. With little hope of
reconciliation, the former friends are blindsided when their parents
make a shocking announcement. Lucas and Julia have been betrothed
without their knowledge and are to marry immediately. Now Lucas must
rely on the help of his closest friends to win the heart of a lady who
loathes him—a lady he’s coming to love more deeply every day.
My Review: 5 Stars
This. This is exactly the type of story I've come to expect from Sarah Eden and I loved every single page. There's nothing I adore more than discovering a beautiful love story. Eden's Jonquil series is one of my favorites and I completely enjoyed reading about how their parents came to fall in love. True to her style, this author delivers a story that pierced my heart in all the ways.
Lucas is the type of man who is swoon worthy one minute and a jerk the next, thanks to his oblivion. While I couldn't help but to fall for his kindness, streaked with mischievousness, he was frustratingly clueless at times. Watching him determine what was important to him and wholeheartedly go after it was satisfying. Julia broke my heart. After so much loss, she's the shell of the fun-loving girl she once was and a surprise marriage was almost her undoing. This girl is so resilient and I loved watching her bloom, but that wedding day had me laughing so hard.
Not only are Lucas and Julia likable characters, but "the gents" completely won me over. Anyone would do well in life to have the camaraderie these friends share. I loved the way they rallied around Julia and razzed Lucas. The whole package of elements and emotions this book delivered was enchanting. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!
Content: mild romance; talk of death
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