Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.sarahmeden.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://mormonartist.net/interviews/sarah-m-eden/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2009055168
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2009055168
HEADING: Eden, Sarah M.
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378 __ |q Sarah Miller
670 __ |a Seeking Persephone, c2008: |b t.p. (Sarah M. Eden)
670 __ |a Sarah M. Eden website, via WWW, Apr. 30, 2013 |b (Sarah M. Eden; author of historical romances; bachelor’s degree in research)
670 __ |a Facebook.com, via WWW, Apr. 30, 2013 |b (Sarah M. Eden; Sarah Miller Eden; husband, Paul Douglas Eden)
670 __ |a UPB files, via WWW, Apr. 30, 2013 |b (Sarah M. Eden; Sarah Eden; Sarah Miller; graduated from Brigham Young University; resident of Utah)
670 __ |a Mormon Literature & Creative Arts Database, via WWW, Apr. 30, 2013 |b (Sarah M. Eden; author)
678 0_ |a Sarah M. Eden is a Mormon author in Utah.
953 __ |b rg04
PERSONAL
Married; husband’s name: Paul Douglas Eden; children: yes.
EDUCATION:Brigham Young University, bachelor’s degree.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Romance writer.
AWARDS:Novel of the Year, Association for Mormon Letters, and IndieFab Book of the Year for best romance, Foreword Reviews, both 2013, both for Longing for Home; Whitney Award for best romance, 2014, for Hope Springs.
RELIGION: MormonWRITINGS
Also the author of the novels A Fine Gentleman, 2008, The Price Paid, 2008, The Ramshackle Knight, 2008, Through All Hopes, 2008, Seeking Persephone, 2011, and Drops of Gold, 2013.
SIDELIGHTS
Sarah M. Eden is a romance writer. As a child, Eden and her siblings were encouraged by their mother to write, creating what was known as a summer writing challenge. She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in social science research. She later turned her attention to writing seriously.
In an interview at the Mormon Artist Web site, Eden talked about her writing process and how she got started as an author. Eden recalled that “I am one of those odd writers who never dreamed of being one. For me, this journey began on a dare.” As for her choosing to write in the genre of historical romance, she explained: “I don’t know that I could ever write anything that wasn’t a romance. For me, no matter the genre, every movie I watch, every TV program, every book I read, it is the relationships that pull me in more than anything. I always want someone to fall in love, and stay in love. I crave that happy ending. For that reason, I don’t think I could ever write a story that wasn’t a romance.”
Eden continued discussing her methodology for writing novels in this genre in the same interview. She admitted that “writing in an historical era means doing a great deal of pre-writing research. An author needs to have a feel for a time period, to know the events, world view, societal expectations, recent history, cultural influence, etc. of that era in order to even begin crafting a story. I studied the Regency era of English history for a decade before I ever wrote about it.” While she noted that “a great many of my ideas come from history,” Eden shared that the inspiration for her story or character ideas come from a range of places. “I have a notebook of story ideas that I am constantly adding to. Some of these ideas seem to come out of nowhere.”
As You Are
Eden published the regency romance novel As You Are in 2014. Wealthy horse breeder Corbin Jonquil is content to spend his life around the horses in his stable rather than the more opulent surroundings of his more outgoing brothers. When the mysterious Clara Bentford moves into his neighborhood, however, Corbin sees the need to step out from the shadows and make sure she takes notice of him. Corbin mistakenly follows the advice of his brothers to try to get Clara’s attention but fails to achieve the results that they assure him he will. Over time, though, the pair both lower their guards and get to really know each other. But Corbin is surprised by Clara’s haunting past and wonders whether his love for her will be enough to get them through her troubles together.
In a review of the book on the Dear Author Web site, a contributor noted that “parts of it are, indeed, delightful and fans of beta heroes will want to take note of this one.” The contributor added that “Clara’s determination to protect her children and watching her stand up for herself was great.” The critic noted, however, that “among all the family detritus dragged into this book were bizarre little things such as a strange woman who showed up, annoyed Corbin’s barrister brother for one scene and then was never mentioned again. And somehow Clara is the guardian of a young boy … but the relationship is never explained. I guess further elucidation is to be found in future books but here I’m merely left annoyed.”
Hope Springs and The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
In 2014 Eden also published the novel Hope Springs, a sequel to the historical romance novel Longing for Home. Set in the late nineteenth century in the little Wyoming community of Hope Springs, the story centers on the conflict between American-born and Irish-born farmers. Neutral local land owner Joseph Archer, who is in love with his Irish-born housekeeper, Katie Macauley, is trying to negotiate peace between the factions of the split community. Tavish O’Connor, Katie’s Irish boyfriend, must work with Joseph to help calm tensions in society. A contributor to Publishers Weekly observed that the author “puts poor Katie through one ordeal after another.” The same reviewer called the novel “tenderly written but sometimes emotionally manipulative.”
Eden published The Sheriffs of Savage Wells in 2016. Sheriff Cade O’Brien has grown tired of moving from one town to another to rid them of dangerous outlaws. He yearns to find a quiet town where he can settle down and simply maintain the peace without needing to exert much effort. He thinks he has found what he is looking for in the town of Savage Wells. But he quickly learns that the acting sheriff, Paisley Bell, is not interested in relinquishing her temporary post to him, as she believes she is doing a competent job. She is well connected to the town and its inhabitants and is desperate for the money that the job provides. When the town council dismisses her in a sexist manner in favor of Cade, he discovers that she had been instrumental at keeping the peace of the town. Cade has his hands full now and finds out that he needs Paisley in more ways than one. Booklist contributor Shelley Mosley stated: “Filled with snappy dialogue and lots of humor, this is a timeless tale.” Mosley also noted that Paisley’s relationship with her dementia-suffering father “adds an emotional thread.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly suggested that those “who favor a gentler historical with verbal sparring and modest flirting will find this novel appealing.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, August 1, 2016, Shelley Mosley, review of The Sheriffs of Savage Wells, p. 43.
MBR Bookwatch, January 1, 2017, Mary Cowper, review of The Sheriffs of Savage Wells.
Publishers Weekly, January 13, 2014, review of Hope Springs, p. 55; June 20, 2016, review of The Sheriffs of Savage Wells, p. 139.
ONLINE
Dear Author, http://dearauthor.com/ (December 3, 2014), review of As You Are.
Mormon Artist, http://mormonartist.net/ (November 1, 2013), Sarah Steele, author interview.
Sarah M. Eden Home Page, http://www.sarahmeden.com (March 17, 2017).
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today Bestselling author of witty and charming historical romances, including AML's "2013 Novel of the Year" and Foreword Review’s 2013 “IndieFab Book of the Year” gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, as well as 2014 Whitney Award winner for "Best Romance" and "Best Novel of the Year," Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty 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. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.
Sarah is represented by Pam Howell at D4EO Literary Agency.
My Mini-Autobiography
At the ripe old age of five, I wrote my first book. Entitled “The Sun,” this work of literary genius contained such awe-inspiring passages as, “The sun is yellow.” It was a ground-breaking success among the Kindergarten of Roadrunner Elementary. On the heels of this success, I went on to write absolutely nothing for many, many years.
One sweltering summer, my mother, in what can now be easily identified as a desperate ploy to keep her five children occupied for a few hours during the never-ending summer break, implemented a summer writing challenge. That summer's efforts produced the first ten pages of “The Mystery of the Broken Unicorn”--my first experience with a plot idea that simply didn't work.
Several years after earning a bachelors degree in social science research, marrying my wonderful, if rather tall, husband and the birth of our second child, I took up my pen once more. Mercifully, I did not revisit the unicorn story but ventured into the world of Historical Romance.
My first novel, The Ramshackle Knight, was published in May of 2007 and met with rave reviews from my mother and closest relatives. Spurred on by the unbiased acclaim, I wrote eight more Regency romances before being picked up by Covenant Communications.
Courting Miss Lancaster was released in 2010, followed by The Kiss of a Stranger (a re-publication of The Ramshackle Knight) in 2011. Seeking Persephone, a 2008 Whitney Award finalist for Best Romance, was rereleased in fall of 2011. Friends and Foes and An Unlikely Match followed in 2012.
Sarah M. Eden
NOVEMBER 2013 • INTERVIEW BY SARAH STEELE • #FICTION
Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Longing for Home, Hope Springs, and Whitney Award finalists Seeking Persephone and Courting Miss Lancaster. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She 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. Website
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PHOTO COURTESY ANNALISA ROSENVALL
Did you always want to be a writer? Or was there a particular instance that put you on the path to a writing career?
I am one of those odd writers who never dreamed of being one. For me, this journey began on a dare. I have long been a fan of historical romance. I was the obnoxious patron at the library who was constantly requesting books through the interlibrary loan because I’d gone through the entire collection at my local branch. But, I’m unusual compared to the vast majority of romance readers in that I prefer to read books with less “steamy” content, something that is extremely difficult to find. I also tend to grow quickly impatient with poor writing, unengaging plot lines, poorly drafted characters, etc. I often began a romance but didn’t finish it for one (or all) of those reasons.
One day I was visiting my mom and really got going on a long and wordy complaint about how hard it was to find the kind of romances that I preferred. My mom’s response wasn’t one of deep and abiding empathy, though I’m sure she understood my frustration. Instead, she said, “Well, why don’t you go write your own?” In my mind I thought, “I will. Watch me.” So I spent the next year and a bit learning what I could about the process of writing and how to be a better writer, then dove into writing my own romance.
From that point on, I was hooked.
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IMAGE COURTESY SARAH M. EDEN
What was the publishing process like for you? Are you agented or did you go directly to a publisher?
I am agented, though not all of my traditionally published books have been sold via an agent. I started out as a self-published author, but felt that I wanted to pursue publication through the traditional channels. After a few years, I found a good home for some of my books and those have been published directly through a publisher. My most recent title, Longing for Home, was sold by my agent. I am also part of the Timeless Romance Anthologies, which are indie published. I am what is often called a “hybrid author.” My publishing endeavors fall under more than one category: traditional, agented traditional, and indie.
You’re currently in the middle of your multi-state “Proper Romance Tour.” Do you enjoy being on the road and promoting your work?
Yes and no. I do love getting out and meeting readers and talking about books with other people who really enjoy reading. I find when I’ve been out doing promotion, it’s easier to stay focused on my current projects—I really get in my author zone. And as a mom, getting a break from the day-to-day of family life and running a home is really nice. But, I truly am a homebody at heart. I like being at home, with my familiar routine, my own bed, the food I’m used to. Most of all, though, I find I really miss my family when I’m away.
Why are you so drawn to historical romance novels? Have you ever considered writing in another genre?
I don’t know that I could ever write anything that wasn’t a romance. For me, no matter the genre, every movie I watch, every TV program, every book I read, it is the relationships that pull me in more than anything. I always want someone to fall in love, and stay in love. I crave that happy ending. For that reason, I don’t think I could ever write a story that wasn’t a romance.
Many historical writers are drawn to historical fiction because history can feel very exotic. It is very different from the world we live in now. And while, to an extent, I get that feeling from it as well, the real draw for me has always been how much the same it is. Cultures change. Societal norms morph. World views and ideals are shaped by different times and places. But at the heart of everything that has ever happened throughout history are people who, when we really get down to it, are very much like you and me. They had dreams and hopes. They fell in love. They had their hearts broken. They had families and friends and neighbors. They wanted and worked for so many of the things that we do now. That is what pulls me in to history. Looking at how much has changed and still finding the glimmer of familiarity that is there and seeing ourselves and our own struggles reflected in their lives.
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PHOTO COURTESY ANNALISA ROSENVALL
With a bachelor’s degree in research, do you often find yourself doing research long before plotting out a story? Or do you usually write first, research later?
Absolutely. For me, writing in an historical era means doing a great deal of pre-writing research. An author needs to have a feel for a time period, to know the events, world view, societal expectations, recent history, cultural influence, etc. of that era in order to even begin crafting a story. I studied the Regency era of English history for a decade before I ever wrote about it. When I first had the idea to set a story in the nineteenth-century American West amongst a group of Irish immigrants, I spent a year and a half studying the time period, the Irish immigrants of that time and place, and the culture of the American West as well as Famine-era Ireland. Only after that did I begin working on the story itself.
Of course, during the writing process more things pop up that need to be researched. It really is an ongoing process. But being a researcher at heart, I love that part of the journey. I often have to set a time limit for myself, a point at which I am required to step away from devouring history and get back to the task of writing.
Where do you generally draw your storyline and character inspiration from?
Where don’t I draw it from? Writers find story and character ideas everywhere. I have a notebook of story ideas that I am constantly adding to. Some of these ideas seem to come out of nowhere. Sometimes I’ll be watching the news and will hear something that sparks an idea. Sometimes the thought comes from an overheard conversation. (Writers are constantly eavesdropping—it’s an occupational hazard.) A great many of my ideas come from history. When I’m studying an era and read about a battle or an epidemic or a court case or law, I find myself wondering what it would have been like to live through that, to see it, to experience it. Every moment in history, whether quietly unnoticed or enormously significant, impacted someone’s life, and that someone had a story. And theirs is the story I want to tell.
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IMAGE COURTESY SARAH M. EDEN
Tell us about writing Longing for Home. Had you been thinking up that particular storyline for a while?
I first had the idea for Longing for Home almost ten years ago, and the idea simply sat in the back of my mind, waiting. The story is a complex one that I didn’t feel I had the skills to write a decade ago. I have a proud Irish heritage and, in writing this book so filled with Irish characters, wanted to do justice to that people and culture, and in my own small way honor my Irish ancestors and the struggles they passed through. About four years ago, the story began really nagging me, insisting the time was right. So I dove into the process, immersing myself in Irish culture—I listened exclusively to Irish radio via the internet, spent months reading nineteenth-century Irish literature, reading Irish newspapers and magazines, studying Irish music archives—as well as studying the experiences of Irish immigrants in the United States at the time the story is set. The characters began to take shape, their lives and histories becoming more clear. I could see in them my own ancestors and the influence that cultural inheritance has had in my life. This will always be a tender story for me because so much of my heart went into telling it.
You’ve recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. How does struggling daily with chronic pain affect your mental game of writing?
This sounds really cliché, but it has changed everything. My hands are so stricken by the RA that I cannot usually physically type, and even when I can it is slow and arduous and painful. I have begun using a dictation program, which is helpful, but also very frustrating. I have found the process of speaking out loud the words as opposed to allowing them to simply flow through my hands, is far more different than I expected. I can’t sit for very long, but neither can I stand. The pain is constant and often overwhelming.
But the physical challenges pale in comparison to the mental and emotional impact of chronic illness. Being newly diagnosed and still in the earliest stages of the disease when the symptoms are not well controlled and so much is uncertain, I am often mentally exhausted. Everything I do in every aspect of my life takes more effort, more time, and causes increased pain. To take my now diminished energy and time and spend it on writing is more of a sacrifice than it once was. As a result, I find myself thinking more deeply about what I am writing and, more importantly, why I am writing. It has added a depth of commitment to my efforts that wasn’t there before.
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PHOTO COURTESY SARAH M. EDEN
How do you feel the gospel influences your work?
While I don’t write stories that are religious, I think the themes that touch my work are certainly influenced by the morals and teachings of the gospel. My stories often involve journeys of forgiveness and redemption, characters who long to be better people than they currently are, individuals struggling to do the right thing when they don’t always know what that is, and the consequences of choices.
As an active member of the Church, how do you strike a balance between your writing career, home life, and church responsibilities?
That is a balance that has to constantly be evaluated and adjusted. At times when my family life needs more attention, my writing has to take more of a back seat. When I have had church responsibilities that required more of my time, the same thing had to occur. When I am under a writing deadline or the time requirements for my writing are greater, my family has been wonderful about stepping up and helping with home responsibilities, cooking meals or doing extra chores. Balance really is the key to making it all work, there has to be give and take and a willingness to make changes as necessary.
How do you see your writing helping to build the kingdom?
Romances, by their nature, are hopeful. Even when the characters pass through very difficult things, the ending is a happy and hopeful one. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope in a world that sorely needs it. I would like to think that in giving readers a story that is uplifting and enjoyable and hopeful I am helping to spread the strengthening power of hope and happiness to a world so often without it.
What upcoming projects can we expect from you?
I have three novel releases slated for next year, as well as a handful of short story anthologies. The full-length books are ones I had finished before my RA diagnosis, so after this year I’m not sure when or how frequently I’ll have new novels out. I have slowed down considerably but am still continuing to write and have every intention of releasing new books as I am able. ❧
The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
Mary Cowper
MBR Bookwatch.
(Jan. 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
Sarah M. Eden
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629722191, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Paisley Bell knows the eccentric people of Savage Wells. From the absentminded shopkeeper who always thinks she's been robbed to
the young man who has returned shell-shocked from the war, Paisley has compassion for them all. When the sheriff up and leaves town, Paisley
steps up and assumes the responsibility, partly because she loves the work, but also because she needs the income to take care of her sick father.
So when the town council decides that the position of sheriff should really go to a man, Paisley finds herself fighting to prove that she's the
perfect candidate for the job, even though she wears a skirt.
Cade O'Brien is heartily sick of shooting people. In his many years as a lawman, Cade has seen his share of blood and violence. So when he
answers an advertisement for a sheriff job in the sleepy town of Savage Wells, he believes he's found the peace and quiet he's always desired. But
when he discovers that his biggest competition for the job is a woman, he begins to question his decisions.
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Tension between the two begins to sizzle when both Cade and Paisley realize the attraction they have for each other, but when Paisley's former
beau shows up in town, along with a band of bank robbers, the blossoming relationship between the two sheriffs is tested. They will have to work
together to thwart the bank robbers and keep the town safe.
Critique: Sarah Eden's "The Sheriffs of Savage Wells" is another deftly crafted and unfailingly entertaining novel by an author who is a master of
the historical romance genre. While very highly recommended for community library fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "The Sheriffs of Savage Wells" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99) and as a complete and unabridged CD audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781504742054, $29.95).
Mary Cowper
Reviewer
Cowper, Mary
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Cowper, Mary. "The Sheriffs of Savage Wells." MBR Bookwatch, Jan. 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA479869303&it=r&asid=bab3dae477694cab7bc0eb7f1d1db112. Accessed 23 Feb.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A479869303
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The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
Shelley Mosley
Booklist.
112.22 (Aug. 1, 2016): p43.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Sheriffs of Savage Wells. By Sarah M. Eden. Sept. 2016. 336p. Shadow Mountain, paper, $15.99 (9781629722191); e-book
(9781629734538).
Eden brings a lively tale to the multiple-author Proper Romance series. Formidable lawman Cade O'Brien is looking for peace and quiet. After
years of going from town to town and ridding them of gunslingers, robbers, and other dangerous outlaws, he just wants to find a quiet, uneventful
place to be sheriff. He beliefs Savage Wells fits the bill. However, when Cade arrives, he soon discovers that the extremely competent acting
sheriff, Paisley Bell, has no intention of leaving her temporary post. She truly loves her work and the town's oddball denizens. And she needs the
money. But in a rousing show of male unity, the town council gives the job to Cade, who then realizes that the town is hardly quiet; perhaps there
is a reason for its name. Filled with snappy dialogue and lots of humor, this is a timeless tale of the war of the sexes. Paisley's relationship with
her rapidly declining dad, who has dementia, adds an emotional thread to the fabric of Eden's very funny western romance.--Shelley Mosley
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Mosley, Shelley. "The Sheriffs of Savage Wells." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 43. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460761731&it=r&asid=a3eeb3f1477e64eac1571ab1bd4370dc. Accessed 23 Feb.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A460761731
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The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
Publishers Weekly.
263.25 (June 20, 2016): p139.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Sheriffs of Savage Wells
Sarah M. Eden. Shadow Mountain, $15.99 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-1-6297221-9-1
Eden (Hope Springs) unites a spirited markswoman and a tough-as-nails lawman, each vying to be sheriff of the town of Savage Wells, in this
chaste and tender historical set in the rugged Wyoming Territory of 1875. Acting sheriff Paisley Bell brought down a notorious gang in her
normally peaceful town, but the mostly absentee sheriff got the credit. Now Paisley has to prove that a woman can be a full-time sheriff. She's
competing for the job against Cade O'Brien, a legendary lawman whose reputation sends criminals running. Paisley loves protecting her gossipy,
quirky, and well-meaning neighbors, and she also needs the income to support her father, whose dementia is worsening every day. Complicating
matters, there's money missing from the bank, and Paisley's ex-fiance shows up. Sparks fly amid witty banter between Paisley and Cade,
enhancing a slow-paced, character-centric Old West tale that emphasizes personal journeys. Readers who favor a gentler historical with verbal
sparring and modest flirting will find this novel appealing. (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Sheriffs of Savage Wells." Publishers Weekly, 20 June 2016, p. 139. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA456344748&it=r&asid=809c7978b6d2f442c9f050d944a59fe9. Accessed 23 Feb.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A456344748
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Longing for Home: Hope Springs
Publishers Weekly.
261.2 (Jan. 13, 2014): p55.
COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Longing for Home: Hope Springs
Sarah M. Eden. Shadow Mountain (Baker & Taylor, dist.), $15.99 trade paper (391p) ISBN 978-1-60907-810-2
The second installment of Eden's historical romance series (after Longing for Home) is an intriguing mix of personal morality and social justice,
masquerading as romance and bound with historical twine. In the late 19th century, the American-born farmers of the small Wyoming community
of Hope Springs are at war with their Irish-born neighbors. The primary force for peace is Joseph Archer, a neutral local land baron who's in love
with his housekeeper, young Irishwoman Katie Macauley. Tavish O'Connor, Katie's Irish sweetheart, must work with her and Joseph to save the
people of Hope Springs from themselves. Tenderly written but sometimes emotionally manipulative, this novel explores and to some extent
exploits the plight of the Irish after the great famine. Eden puts poor Katie through one ordeal after another, underlining a portrayal of the Irish as
unfailingly good-hearted despite endless suffering. Agent: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Foreword Literary Agency. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Longing for Home: Hope Springs." Publishers Weekly, 13 Jan. 2014, p. 55+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA355865581&it=r&asid=49efa49eb46d983791565f69de60a420. Accessed 23 Feb.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A355865581
December 3, 2014
REVIEW: As You Are by Sarah M Eden
JayneC- REVIEWSbeta hero / closed bedroom door / family / Historical / Regency5 Comments
As You Are by Sarah Eden
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?
Dear Ms. Eden,
Here at DA, Jane temps us daily with bargain book offerings. When “As You Are” was featured, I was caught by the description of the hero being shy and in need of his brothers advice in wooing his lady. The excerpt seemed fun with Corbin playing peek-a-boo in church with Clara’s daughter and I decided to take a chance on reading it. Parts of it are, indeed, delightful and fans of beta heroes will want to take note of this one but there are things about it that didn’t wholly satisfy me.
Corbin Jonquil is a fine beta guy. He has fallen in love with unassuming Mrs. Bentford about whom the neighborhood is madly speculating. Who is she, where did she come from and who are these two children with her? Corbin doesn’t care about any of that. With her first shy smile to him, he was a goner. But how to get her to notice him? Disastrous advice from his passel of brothers does him no good but in helping her quiet ward, Edmund who also loves horses, Corbin hopes he’s found a way to get past his tongue-tied shyness around her.
Corbin’s efforts to stand out and gain his lady’s notice are charming if obviously ill advised. Since he’s from a slightly higher social class, being the son of an Earl, brother of the current title holder and has grown up in aristocratic circles, Clara doesn’t know what to make of his efforts to be around her other than he’s arrogant and dismissive. Think shades of Mr. Darcy.
When half his immense family descends on his household and start to stick their oars in, things get very confused and the situation is even more mucked up. For me as well as Clara. I realized that this is well into a series so having past happy couples as well as future hero bait on show is to be expected but this was a generous, heaping helping of it.
Hints of Clara’s dark past are sprinkled through the book but the full force of it arrives at her doorstep with an almost crash of ominous thunder. Now Corbin finally gets to be the hero and save his lady love. Well sort of. He does offer the protection of his household but it takes a village, as the saying goes, or should I say it takes a family to straighten out the villains and see them off. It’s satisfying when they turn tail and flee yet given how blatantly persistent all of them were for so long in the face of superior social connections and manly threats, the ease with which they’re ultimately vanquished seemed far too flat and anticlimactic.
True love still doesn’t run smooth as Corbin and Clara have to agonize over “Does he love me’s?” “Could she ever love me’s?” for another chapter or two. By this point, I felt that these two had earned their HEA, shown their love and ought to be left alone to get on with it. To say I was getting impatient for The End was putting it mildly.
Had these been the only issues I was left with, my grade would probably be higher if only because Corbin is a sweetie. But among all the family detritus dragged into this book were bizarre little things such as a strange woman who showed up, annoyed Corbin’s barrister brother for one scene and then was never mentioned again. And somehow Clara is the guardian of a young boy – even she admits it’s odd – but the relationship is never explained. I guess further elucidation is to be found in future books but here I’m merely left annoyed.
I did enjoy Corbin the shy, beta guy. Seeing Clara’s determination to protect her children and watching her stand up for herself was great. But the unanswered questions, past/future character dumps and Snidely Whiplash villains didn’t help this book and make me excited about reading this series any further. C-
~Jayne