I'll Sleep When I've Read... Hearts of Briarwall by Krista Jensen

 

Title: Hearts of Briarwall 

Author: Krista Jensen 

Publication: 2 August 2022

Format: Kindle eArc via NetGalley & Shadow Mountain 

Amazon Description

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.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I have come to the overwhelming conclusion that if I see a book from Shadow Mountain listed on NetGalley and it has the "Proper Romance" banner on the cover, I need to request it immediately. Each one I have read so far has been absolutely delightful and exactly what I have needed -- even if I was under the impression that the last thing I wanted at the time was any sort of romantic drivel. 

These are definitely not drivel. They are not pure fluff. They are not bookporn with half-hearted storylines thrown in between sexy-time excerpts. These are perfectly proper romances.

I spent most of Saturday afternoon and evening reading my latest grab from Shadow Mountain -- Krista Jensen's Hearts of Briarwall, which will be released August 2nd. My son kept shooting me strange looks from across the room every time I laughed ... or swooned ... or sniffled. When I was finally finished (and he was relieved that it was finally time to go to bed), he asked if I was so speechless over it that my review would simple be :

 I laughed. I swooned. I cried. And then I did it all again.  

It would be pretty accurate, but I didn't fully cry. Just almost. And generally they would have been happy tears rather than ugly ones ... though that was tempting a few times.

I really cannot think of anything to dislike about this book (except, of course, for the characters we're meant to dislike). I hope that it is only the first we see of the Wendy League girls. They each have such uniqueness to them and I would love to see them all again ... and again ... and again ... and then maybe the brothers ... or new League members or ...

If you want to share whatever has kept you up past your bedtime because you just needed one more chapter ... or the entire book ... please comment! My TBR pile is already toppling, but I can always add more.