Drops of Gold (The Jonquil Brothers #2)

My first read of Ms. Eden\’s was delightful. My second was a little disappointing with how similar I felt the stories were. This, my third read, has been downright disappointing. I know Ms. Eden can do better than this. 30% into the story and our hero is falling in love with our heroine. He has had very little interaction with our heroine. I go into these stories knowing this will happen, but I enjoy being drawn there. This felt like someone told me \”they ran into each other a few times- he loved her.\” Um, what? How? When? I can imagine he was feeling perhaps uplifted, but for a man who in the last of this series gave every indication he shut everyone out and to suddenly open up and fall in love with her at 30%? Common! \”She didn\’t answer his rhetorical question. He hadn\’t expected her to.\” Uh, yes, that\’s why they just stated it was a rhetorical question, so you\’ve just repeated yourself there. I\’m not usually this picky, but I know from other books Ms. Eden hasn\’t missed such a silly thing as this, so it bugs me. The crying. Both the child and our heroine went from happy to sad to happy to sad in 5 seconds flat. She was crying, now she\’s giggling with joy. Now she\’s crying for joy. Now she\’s sobbing in anguish. Throughout this entire book. Dry up, buttercup! \”…she asked with a saucy raise of her eyebrow.\” How does one raise an eyebrow in a saucy manor? Intrigued, challenging, skeptical- yes, I can see that, but saucy? Again, something that wouldn\’t normally bother me, but I feel like this could have been better. WHAT is the blimey difference if it\’s Marion or Mary? Almost every historical romance book I\’ve read has nicknames from their hellishly long \’Christian\’ names. So she announced herself as Mary- so what! Let it be a fun little nick-name! No, instead we get to to through this – I guess- meant to be touching \”oh Marion suits you so much more\” They\’re practically the same, yet there\’s this big hubbapaloo about one versus the other. Yesh! My whines completed, I cannot say I hated the book. I know, it surprised me too! I really enjoy Ms. Eden\’s writing style, and that\’s why I was so very disappointed- I truly believe Ms. Eden could have written better, added some creativity, to really let this story shine. It was cute in theory, but just broke my heart over its flaws. I will add it was wonderful to revisit Philip and Sorrel again. These are two truly well written characters and Ms. Eden kept them equally strong in this book, though they were only supportive cast. Their brief scenes were perhaps my favorite, and what made me give this book 3 stars instead of 2.

I\’m not sure how many times I have either read or listened to this book. At least three times but I think perhaps a few more times than that. Rereading the series now though. This one was never my favorite in the series though I think it was the first one I read? Not sure now. I know I read them out of order the first time around. Anyway, I liked it well enough to keep reading the series and the series has become a favorite of mine. Somehow, as I read the book this time, I loved it more than I ever did before. The first time through I thought it took a long time for Layton to come around and it bothered me that he wasn\’t willing to risk the displeasure of society for love but this time that didn\’t bother me at all. I still felt sad for Marion since Layton is a bit of a dork and doesn\’t explain himself yet assumes people know things anyway. I appreciated each of their stories more than I previously had. And their love story felt more swoony to me. And I ADORE Caroline. Anytime she is in the dialog I find myself grinning. I can\’t help it. I wish there was more Caroline in all the books. I do love those Jonquils… My one big complaint is with the cover. It is beautiful and all BUT the book always talks about Marion\’s fiery red hair but the model on the cover has really dark hair. Almost black. No red in sight. I really think they should match the cover better to the story. So come on Covenant. You can do better than that. No sex, language or violence

Layton has been depressed and recluse since the death of his wife almost five years earlier. The one bright spot in his life is his young daughter Caroline. Caroline never got the chance to know her mother and has had a series of several nursemaids since, as a result she\’s quite sullen and subdued for such a small child. Marion\’s entire life has been unrooted and so she travels to take the position of governess in Layton and Caroline\’s home. This is a huge life adjustment for Marion and she must learn not to blurr the lines between servant and employer. She adores Caroline and she beames a bright spot and comfort in both Caroline and Layton\’s life. Marion and Layton\’s story is very sweet. I will say though that Marion\’s story was a little lacking in believablility for me. Of course women during this time were very reliant on the men in their lives for shelter and support. But I find it hard to believe that as soon as the men in her life were unable to care for her, she was instantly destitute, no valuables to sell to buy herself some time? Then she\’s on the run seeking a way to earn a living, how was she able to secure and confirm a position through letter so quickly? Other than that I don\’t have any complaints. This book was really engaging. In a lot of books where the male character is tortured and unwilling to give in to his feelings for some reason or other, his reasoning is normally not adequate enough for how he is acting, normally just an excuse to remain tortured and whining until some one knocks sense into them. But I found Layton\’s reasoning for fighting being with Marion to be well- founded. He wasn\’t just thinking of himself, he was factoring in the social ramifications and backlash for Caroline and Marion as well as for himself. I respected his reasoning I really liked Marion and Layton, plus Caroline was so adorable. I was glad that Philip was in this book because I find him very amusing. I liked that this book wasn\’t solely about the romance, it also focused on the importance of family, the pressure of guilt, and forgiveness. Very happy with this series, on to the next book!

Das Buch \”Kissed by a stranger\” war tausend mal besser. Ich weiss echt nicht, was an dieser Geschichte so interessant sein soll. Es hat sich hingezogen, wie Kaugummi. War berhaupt nicht spannend. Schade!

Heartwarming read that is great for all ages! The connection to her other books makes it so exciting and hooks you on to her other great books. Recommend it highly!

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