Saturday, July 30, 2022

Hearts of Briarwall: A Proper Romance By Krista Jensen-An Edwardian Romance Book Review

Book Details

Hearts of Briarwall

by Krista Jensen

Publication Date: 8/2/22

Trade Paperback

ISBN: 9781629729961

Retail Price: $15.99

Page Count: 288

Edwardian Proper Romance

Cover illustration: Toilette de Promenade Fashion Plate from La Mode Artistique, public domain.

Book design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

Book Summary

A TURN OF THE CENTURY ROMANCE

Lydia Wooding is fascinated by the latest inventions the new century brings, including motorcars. She longs for the independence they represent and believes that women should have a say in the future of the industry—just as they should have a say in suffrage, adventure, and, of course, love.

Spencer Hayes is a man of practicality and innovation, but he lacks the financial backing to make his dream a reality. When he contacts his childhood friend, Andrew Wooding, about a promising business venture, he is invited to Briarwall Manor to discuss the terms. Once there, he is surprised to find that Andrew's once shy, younger sister, Lydia, has grown into a young woman of beauty, wit, and a bit of fire. Even better, the two share a passion for motorcars.

Andrew, however, is wary of cars, having lost his parents in a tragic auto accident when he and Lydia were young. And he's not sure a relationship between his sister and Spencer is the best idea—not when Sir Lawrence is available and could match both Lydia's social status and her fortune.

Torn between risking their hearts and being loyal to their dreams in an era of whirlwind change, Spencer and Lydia anchor themselves with the determination they both share: to live life to its fullest.

My Review

The new Proper Romance, Hearts of Briarwall, is set in England during the Edwardian Era in 1906. So much is changing during these shifting times with the automobile taking over the roads, women fighting for the right to vote, and past roles changing. Lydia Wooding would be what you call a "modern" woman of her time. She wants to live her life the way she wants including learning how to drive a car and getting the opportunity to vote. Her old fashioned brother Andrew is training her up to be a proper wife and mother. Since their parents passing years earlier in an automobile accident, Andrew is very firm in his negative views of cars and driving. So you can clearly see that the two siblings do not see eye to eye. Andrew's friend Spencer Hayes has recently returned from America with his goal to open up an automobile parts store. Spencer is looking for people to invest in his new business venture but finds things have truly changed in his absence. Andrew wants nothing to do with Spencer's ideas, and he realizes Lydia isn't a little girl anymore and he shouldn't be attracted to her. This story is set up so cute with close friends that support Lydia in what they call The Wendy League based on the character from Peter Pan. I loved all of Lydia's friends and hope they will also get a book of their own in the future. They helped facilitate many of Lydia's dreams coming true. They also lent a hand in helping Andrew loosen up and loosen his control of everything, including Lydia. I liked Spencer the most and wanted things to work out for him. Even though there's a pretty jubilant feel in the novel, there are struggles for the characters including Spencer.I really loved how things worked out in the end. It's a fun jaunt for readers to see how and if romance is found at Briarwall, if Spencer realizes his dreams, and if Lydia learns how to fly as a modern woman. You need to read Hearts of Briarwall to find all the answers.

Meet Author Krista Jensen

Award-winning author KRISTA JENSEN works and plays in the Pacific Northwest with her spunky little dog and anyone else who wants to tag along. When she’s not exploring the outdoors, she can likely be found with her laptop, a pretty spiral notebook, and a Pilot Precise V7, writing about love, triumph, and really great kisses.

Either that or she’s switching laundry wondering who keeps wearing all these clothes. (It’s her.)

For book info and other good things, follow Krista on Instagram @kristajensenbooks.

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com

Advance Praise

“Ebullient Edwardian romance...Recurrent motif about attraction and self-empowerment...intriguing discussions about how women's rights dovetail with their personal desires. Chaste interactions tinged with meaningful undertones. Through their clever hot-and-cold exchanges, their relationship mirrors the period: energized by modern possibilities, yet is still bound by traditional propriety. When setbacks loom, it's people's sincere resolve about love being worth saving that resounds. An entertaining historical romance.”

—Foreword Reviews

“Satisfying Edwardian debut pairs a suffragette and an entrepreneur. Lydia's bubbly, forward-thinking friends and the unusual backdrop of the early automotive industry breathe life into the story. Readers will be excited to see what Jensen does next.”

—Publishers Weekly

“This thoroughly satisfying read is as smart as it is charming and is as thought-provoking as it is sigh-worthy. This romance is filled with a cast of characters who 'seize the opportunity to fly' in all the best ways.”

—Julie Wright, author of A Captain for Caroline Gray

Upcoming Appearances:

August 11, 2022

5-7 PM

Deseret Book

City Creek

45 W S Temple

Salt Lake City, UT 84101

With Proper Romance authors, Josi S. Kilpack, Arlem Hawks, Julie Wright, and Becca Wilhite

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The Secret of the India Orchid

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The Lady in the Coppergate Tower

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart

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Edenbrooke

Blackmoore

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Longing for Home

Longing for Home 2: Hope Springs

The Sheriffs of Savage Wells

Ashes on the Moor

Healing Hearts

The Lady and the Highwayman

The Gentleman and the Thief

The Merchant and the Rogue

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Georgana’s Secret

Krista Jensen

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Josi S. Kilpack

A Heart Revealed

Lord Fenton’s Folly

Forever and Forever

The Lady of the Lakes

The Vicar’s Daughter

All That Makes Life Bright

Miss Wilton’s Waltz

Promises and Primroses

Daisies and Devotion

Rakes and Roses

Love and Lavender

The Valet’s Secret

Jentry Flint

Games in a Ballroom

Ilima Todd

A Song for the Stars

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Becca Wilhite

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Lies Jane Austen Told Me

Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me

A Captain for Caroline Gray

Hearts of Briarwall is the 45th installment in the Proper Romance® series, a collection of award-winning, clean romance novels written by 12 authors across a wide spectrum of genres, including Regency, Victorian, and Contemporary. These stories feature relatable heroines, handsome heroes, obstacles to overcome and happy endings. Learn more at www.properromance.com.

Shadow Mountain Publishing is a publisher of New York Times bestselling books and series. We cultivate stories worth telling, questions worth exploring, and beauty worth sharing to improve the lives of families, children, and our society. Learn more at www.shadowmountain.com.