About the Book
Title: Lily of the Valley
Series: The Gents #2
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Genre: Georgian Romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: April 11, 2022
Cumberland, 1786
Amateur inventor Kester Barrington prefers the peace and quiet of his estate to the bustle of Society. But when his tight-knit group of friends, the Gents, descends on Livingsley Hall for their annual gathering, he stoically joins in their activities. It all seems exhausting—until an unexpected addition to the party catches his eye: his new neighbor, the lovely Violet.
Violet Ridley longs to make friends in this new corner of the country, but her family’s fortune was made through investments rather than inheritance, and Society can be fickle. So when tragedy forces her family to shelter at neighboring Livingsley Hall, Violet is delighted to receive a warm welcome from the Gents. In particular, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kester. The pair is a study in contrasts: Violet, with her sunny disposition, and Kester, with his prickly facade. Their connection is impossible to deny, but both Kester and Violet harbor heavy constraints. As their association becomes increasingly tangled and confused, their only hope of pursuing a life together is to trust one another with the very truths that could tear them apart.
Grab your copy here!
About the Author
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2020’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, Forget Me Not, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.
Connect with Sarah: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub
My Review
Lily of the Valley
by Sarah M. Eden
Book 2 in the Gents series
Rating: 4.5/5
I don’t know how she does it but the author has written such a fun, charming, witty and heartwarming romance between two very interesting characters. I easily lost some sleep over this novel and must know more. (I actually have not yet read the first book in this series but from her other books, I am somewhat familiar with the characters at-a-glance) I am planning on going back to read the first book, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for your enjoyment.
First, the cover was just okay for me but after reading the story, it makes a bit more sense. I personally don’t find the cover model’s hairstyle attractive but that doesn’t take away from the story.
Second, the premise of the story was interesting since Kester Barrington seems to be an introvert while the rest of the Gents do not. The friendship between them is so refreshing and fun. I loved all their antics and larks. I also enjoyed seeing the Ridley family move up in the world. Trying to avoid the insecurities and the faux pas is not easy to navigate but the Gents and Julia were happy to help.
Third, the love story between Kester and Violet was beautiful though not perfect. The characters each must deal with their hardships before being able to come together. The way they complement each other is precious, and I love how the author didn’t shy away from the harder topics.
Fourth, I loved all the ingenuity involved with Kester being an amateur inventor and all that entailed. As someone who is also a “fixer/problem-solver”, I love exploring all the possibilities (especially during that time).
Highly recommend if you enjoy clean, sweet romance that makes you laugh and cry.
P.S. Kester’s speech at the end is perfect. There, I said it.
My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
More from Sarah
Research is one of my favorite aspects of writing. Lily of the Valley offered ample opportunities for researching incredibly interesting topics. One main character is an amateur inventor, which tossed me deep into the realm of innovations of the 1780s and 1790s. The other main character has an interest in engineering and mechanics, allowing me to delve into what was known and understood in these fields at the end of the 18th Century. Amongst the supporting cast are a variety of interests, strengths, and passions, all of which saw me pouring over everything I could find from this era on those topics.
A particularly fun area of research I tossed myself into was parlor games played in late 18th Century England. Among my favorites I learned about:
- The Three Kingdoms, a game very much like modern-day “Twenty Questions.” The guesser has up to six questions to gain clues about what the others in the group have decided among themselves is the thing the guesser is trying to discover. One twist: the first question is always “To which Kingdom does the item thought of belong? (meaning animal, vegetable, or mineral)
- Short Answers, a game of wits and creativity. The group sits in a circle and one at a time, ask the person to their right a question which that person has to answer in only one word. However, the word cannot be repeated during that round. Once someone has answered a question “Yes” no one else can answer with that word until the round is over. A round ends when someone cannot think of a one-word answer to the question they have been asked and is, subsequently, eliminated.
- A centuries-old version of musical chairs
- A game that involved determining which fabricated crime the various players would pretend to have committed.
- Plenty of games involving forfeits of kisses or handkerchiefs or other shows of affection that the very staid rules of Society would have otherwise looked down on.
Discovering more about the historical context of this book was intriguing and delightful. I hope readers will enjoy learning more of this bit of the past, lose themselves in romance, enjoy the delightful friendship between the characters, and perhaps even find a few new games to try.
-Sarah Eden
Blog Stops
Inside the Wong Mind, June 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 6
Inklings and notions, June 7
Reading with Emily, June 7
For Him and My Family, June 8
Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 8
Texas Book-aholic, June 9
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, June 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 10
deb’s Book Review, June 11
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 12
The Book Club Network, June 12
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 13
Pause for Tales, June 13
Connie’s History Classroom, June 14
Sylvan Musings, June 14
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 15
Rachael’s Inkwell, June 16
Wishful Endings, June 16
Through the Fire Blogs, June 17
Britt Reads Fiction, June 18
Labor Not in Vain, June 18
To Everything There Is A Season, June 19
Miriam Jacob, June 19
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, print copy of book, and Exclusive Sarah Eden vinyl stickers!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1e7ee/lily-of-the-valley-celebration-tour-giveaway
Also Available
Read my review of Charming Artemis here.
