Reviews * Giveaway
For Love or Honor by Sarah M. Eden
Book Description:
From the moment they met, Marjie’s heart has belonged to handsome Captain Stanley Jonquil, younger brother of the Earl of Lampton. But six long months ago, when Stanley’s sense of honor required that he do as he had sworn and return to the Continent to fight in defense of King and country, neither Stanley nor Marjie could have dreamed what the cost of his service would be. It has been ages since Stanley last wrote, and Marjie and the Jonquil family are plagued by his unknown fate—until the day he unexpectedly reappears. Marjie’s joy, however, is quickly shadowed by confusion—the aloof, battle-worn soldier before her is not the man he once was. In the wake of Stanley’s blatant disinterest in renewing their acquaintance, Marjie’s devastation turns to determination as she vows to help him find peace. But his scars run far deeper than anyone realizes. Despite his feelings for her, Stanley believes Marjie deserves a man whose hands are not stained with the violence of battlefields and whose mind and heart are not haunted by the horrors he has seen. Honor requires Stanley to return once more to the life he has grown to despise, one he knows will destroy him in the end, even as his heart beckons him to stay with Marjie, the only woman he could ever love, and the promise, at last, of redemption.
Andrea's Review:
Sarah M. Eden does it again! I am always so excited to read one of her books, especially when they have to do with the Jonquil brothers. I didn't remember much about Stanley-he was mentioned in the other books, of course, but he didn't stand out very much to me other than the fact that he was a soldier and usually gone. I felt like the relationship between Marjie and Stanley must have been mentioned in a prior book based on the bit of backstory we had in For Love or Honor, but I didn't remember Marjie. I need to go back and re-read Sarah's other Jonquil books. That said, this could be read as a stand alone novel, but I highly recommend reading all of Sarah's other books.
I read this very quickly, and my heartstrings were pulled many times at the agony Stanley had gone through during the war and what he was going through as he tried to remember to always be a solider. It was so sad that he didn't feel like he could unburden himself by sharing his losses with his loved ones.
Eden really knows how to get her readers emotionally involved in her character's lives. I devoured this book, and can't wait to read the next book (hopefully it will further the hint we got about Holy Harry).
Tarah's Review:
I was excited for this book because it was a Sarah Eden book, and because it was about the Jonquils, but I was also a little hesitant about this book because Stanley has never really been on my radar with this family. I was okay with the occasional side story of him and Marjie in Friends and Foes, I liked hearing Caroline in Drops of Gold refer to him as Stanby...with all the blue, and my heart broke for him in A Fine Gentleman when Mariposa told how the war was slowing killing his spirit. I sort of felt like in all the stories he got his, and I was okay with that. But Sarah did it again. How she continually writes stories I didn't even know I wanted is beyond me. (Although, with that said can I tell you how excited I was to get a little peak into Holy Harry in this book?!?! That is going to be an interesting read, and who can't wait for little Charlie...trouble-making, I don't know who I am yet Charlie to get his own book. I seriously love this family).
I enjoyed Marjie in this book. She is a little different than the other women in the Jonquil family. Marion, Mariposa, and Sorrell are all really strong women. Clara, while quiet has a backbone, but Marjie was....sweet. She was maybe not strong like the other women, but maybe that helped me relate to her a little more. I will say that even though I liked Sorrel in her own story, she was kind of mean in this one.
One more little thing that I will try not to make a spoiler, but if I'm remembering correctly, characters from A Glimmer of Hope show up in this novel. One of the reasons I enjoyed that novel is because it ended in such a way that I felt hope for the characters, and the ending was left open that I could imagine it ending how I wanted it to end. Well, this book killed that hope for me, and that made me sad. Now what going to happen with him?
I'm starting to ramble so I'll just say that I loved it, will read it again, and recommend it to my friends.
Rorie's Review:
The Jonquil books are some of my very favorite stories. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them so far, and this one is no different. I love how so many of the characters that I love from other Jonquil books play prominent roles in each story too.
This story is a bit different, because Marjie knows from the very beginning that she has fallen for Stanley, and he feels the same for her, although he is trying to keep those feelings at bay because he feels so hopeless with what his future holds.
This is kind of a difficult book to read and process at times, due to the horror that Stanley has experienced on the battlefield. I'm sure that they didn't have any idea what PTSD was back then, but it is clear that Stanley suffers from it. He has been through and seen so much during his time as a soldier, and it has pretty much taken away his will to live and turned him into just a shell of the man he once was. I found myself choking up several times throughout this story.
I completely enjoyed Pluck. He was hilarious. The phrases he came up with made me laugh out loud several times. Everyone should have a Pluck in their lives.
I have to say that I was kind of sad reading this story, because I'm realizing that we're running out of Jonquil brothers. I'm not certain on this, but I think only Holy Harry is left. I think the author needs to come up with some more ideas for this family, because I want to keep reading more about them!
Tour Schedule:
*Oct. 2nd: http://brightlystreet.com/
*Oct. 3rd: http://bonnieharris.blogspot.
*Oct. 4th: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.
*Oct. 5th: https://ldsandlovinit.
* Oct 6th: http://literarytimeout.
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Title: For Love or Honor
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: October 2017
ISBN: 1524402567
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: October 2017
ISBN: 1524402567
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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