Product Details
- Title: Ashes On The Moor
- Author: Sarah M. Eden
- Series: Proper Romance
- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Shadow Mountain (March 6, 2018)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1629724025
- FTC, FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Book Synopsis
When Evangeline is sent to live in a small mill town in Northern England as a schoolteacher in 1871, she finds herself struggling to fit in with an unfamiliar culture. Raised with the high-class Victorian values and ideals of a sophisticated upbringing, she is unprepared for the poverty she finds in the gritty factory town of Smeatley, where the locals speak with a hard-to-understand Yorkshire accent and struggle to thrive with few resources or opportunities.
Though she has no training as a teacher, she must prove herself successful before her grandfather will release her substantial inheritance to her and allow her to be reunited with her younger sister, the last remaining member of her family after a fever claimed the lives of her parents and brothers.
Evangeline's sudden change in circumstances is complicated when her aunt--a woman who values class distinctions more than her family relationships--forbids her from acknowledging any connection to her or to her grandfather, Mr. Farr--the man who owns nearly the entire town. For the first time in her life, Evangeline is truly alone.
Heartbroken, she turns to the one person in town who has shown her kindness--an Irish brick mason, Dermot, and his son, Ronan. Despite the difference in their classes and backgrounds, Evangeline and Dermot become friends, due in part to her ability to connect with Ronan, whose behavior requires special attention. The boy is uncomfortable around strangers and rarely even speaks to the other children in town. He often fixates on details other people ignore, and he adheres to specific, self-made rules that give his life order and structure; for example, Dermot's coat must be hung on a specific peg next to the door.
Evangeline attempts to prove herself a worthy teacher and earn the respect of her hard-to-understand students. Determined to find a way to introduce them to "proper English" while still honoring their unique language and culture, she enlists the help of a local family to write down familiar stories in the Yorkshire vernacular. Because of her efforts, the students and their families warm to Evangeline and she continues to look for ways to give the children a chance to become more than factory workers in the local cotton mill.
When the town learns of her upper-class status, Evangeline must work twice as hard to win back their trust--especially Dermot's. In the end, Evangeline and Dermot discover that, even though they come from different social spheres, together they can overcome social prejudices, make a positive difference in the lives of even the humblest people, and enjoy the strength that comes when two hearts find each other.
Ashes on the Moor is the inspiring love story of one Victorian woman's courage to fight against all odds, and the man whose quiet strength gives her the confidence to keep trying.
Though she has no training as a teacher, she must prove herself successful before her grandfather will release her substantial inheritance to her and allow her to be reunited with her younger sister, the last remaining member of her family after a fever claimed the lives of her parents and brothers.
Evangeline's sudden change in circumstances is complicated when her aunt--a woman who values class distinctions more than her family relationships--forbids her from acknowledging any connection to her or to her grandfather, Mr. Farr--the man who owns nearly the entire town. For the first time in her life, Evangeline is truly alone.
Heartbroken, she turns to the one person in town who has shown her kindness--an Irish brick mason, Dermot, and his son, Ronan. Despite the difference in their classes and backgrounds, Evangeline and Dermot become friends, due in part to her ability to connect with Ronan, whose behavior requires special attention. The boy is uncomfortable around strangers and rarely even speaks to the other children in town. He often fixates on details other people ignore, and he adheres to specific, self-made rules that give his life order and structure; for example, Dermot's coat must be hung on a specific peg next to the door.
Evangeline attempts to prove herself a worthy teacher and earn the respect of her hard-to-understand students. Determined to find a way to introduce them to "proper English" while still honoring their unique language and culture, she enlists the help of a local family to write down familiar stories in the Yorkshire vernacular. Because of her efforts, the students and their families warm to Evangeline and she continues to look for ways to give the children a chance to become more than factory workers in the local cotton mill.
When the town learns of her upper-class status, Evangeline must work twice as hard to win back their trust--especially Dermot's. In the end, Evangeline and Dermot discover that, even though they come from different social spheres, together they can overcome social prejudices, make a positive difference in the lives of even the humblest people, and enjoy the strength that comes when two hearts find each other.
Ashes on the Moor is the inspiring love story of one Victorian woman's courage to fight against all odds, and the man whose quiet strength gives her the confidence to keep trying.
My Review
Oh, how I loved this new novel by one of my favorite authors, Sarah M. Eden! It amazes me how quickly as a reader you are immediately swept away to Victorian England of 1871.
The book starts with such sadness as Evangeline and her sister Lucy are reeling from the death of their parents and brothers. In sweeps their cruel Aunt Barton, who reminded me a lot of Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter. Honestly, I haven't read any book since that I disliked as much until this bitter Aunt shows up. As the sisters end up separated, and Evangeline is thrown into a cruel, dusty, unknown life, depression hangs in the air. Eden paints this bleak atmosphere so well that you want to cry right along with her main character. Thank goodness as the book moves along, so does the feeling of despair as Evangeline's great spirit rises and she befriends a grumpy neighbor, Dermot, and his darling son Ronan.
As a seasoned teacher I truly appreciated Evangeline's journey as a new, untrained teacher. She struggles a lot, but her love for the children helps her grow into her role and succeed despite great odds. I really loved this part of the book. It was all written so well. Of course, the sweet, clean romance we always expect from Eden blossoms throughout the pages. The cooking lessons were an especially likable part of Evangeline's and Dermot's budding relationship. I also loved seeing the relationship develop between Evangeline and her cold grandfather.
This Proper Romance has ended up being one of my favorites. The character development is an exceptional lesson in hope and inner strength, while the beautiful descriptions of the lush Northern England Moors make you feel like you are there. This is another winning novel by Sarah M. Eden that you must put on your to-read list.
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Meet Author: Sarah M. Eden
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple 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, and the Whitney Award's "2014 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.
Other Proper Romance Books By Sarah Eden
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