Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Lily of the valley by Sarah M. Eden

 

About the Book

Book: Lily of the Valley

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Genre: Georgian Romance

Release date: April 11, 2022

Amateur inventor Kester Barrington prefers the peace and quiet of his estate to the bustle of Society. But when his tightknit 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, Violet 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.

 

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My Thoughts:

Lily of the Valley is the story of family, friendship, and a sweet awakening of love and romance where one once thought there was really no need for it at all. We are introduced to two very unique individuals in a time where for society's sake, they must keep up appearances. This in itself is quite hard as Violet's family do not come from a long line of rich ancestors. No, her father was a merchant and that is how he made his riches. And while their money is attractive, the family's less than nobility is not. Yet Violet finds in her new neighbor and his friends a deep and loving acceptance and friendship she did not think was possible.

Kester Barrington has been rather forcibly pushed into this close-knit group of friends, called the Gents, through really no desire of his own. Yet, for all his gruffness and his wanting to be left alone, he is most thankful for their friendship and care and for them pulling them into their circle so many years ago. Now it is time, it seems, for each of them to find their better half. One friend, Lucas has already done so, and he is greatly overjoyed when it seems obvious it is now Kester's time.

There is much unraveling in this story as both Kester and Violet carry around and, in a way, hide a little bit of their true selves. Violet also has a secret she is most reluctant to share until she knows without a shadow of doubt the person can be trusted. Kester very much wants to be that person. However, when it looks like Violet does not share his feelings, will their carefully budding new friendship be dealt a harsh blow? Or will Kester retreat back into his previous shell? This was a sweet slow burn romance of a couple of cautious people who learn to be themselves. I had not read an author Eden novel in some time, and it was a treat to step into the pages of her newest Georgian novel.

I was provided a copy of this novel through the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

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.

 

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

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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