My Review: 7/10

Mariposa's character had me laughing out loud which is something I always appreciate. The plot was predictable, but I'm a sucker for stories of war torn families being reunited, so I cannot help but be affected. The dialogue was frequently too sickly sweet for my taste, but this was not unexpected as I have read many books by this author. If that's your style or it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of a story, I would recommend this book to you. And though I felt that the story dragged on a bit at times, I appreciated the ending, Philip's advice, Mari's new beginning, and being visited by loved characters from other novels. Very enjoyable read.

Jason Jonquil provides himself on his good character--he's dignified and refined, ever the gentleman...even if no one seems to fully appreciate him or think him quite equal to his brothers. When Mariposa Thornton arrives in his office, though, she tries his patience and flusters him in ways few people can. He can't wait to figure out Mariposa's matter of an inheritance and send her on her way.
Mariposa has escaped from Spain, having experience horrors in the war with Napoleon. She has come to England hoping that her mother and little brother have come to England as well and settled with her father's family. However, Mariposa doesn't know who her father's relatives are, so she doesn't know how to find them. She doesn't trust anyone, though, so she won't tell Jason what she really needs help with and hides even her true self from him.
While Jason doesn't care for how Mariposa treats him, he also can't abandon his principles--especially those that require him to help a lady--so he reluctantly aids her, and in so doing, she pushes him to reveal parts of himself that he had buried inside, as well as revealing who she truly is.

Sarah Eden rocks. I love her books, and this was no exception. I loved seeing Jason's interactions with Mariposa but also his interactions with his family and especially seeing why he acted the way he did. Mariposa was a bit frustrating in her initial treatment of Jason, but it was also realistic given her past. I loved seeing how they bantered later on, and I loved getting to see other Jonquils (especially Philip and Sorrel) in this book. Can't wait for more books by Sarah Eden!

When barrister Jason Jonquil meets his new client Mariposa Thornton who so infuriates him he is close to losing any dignity he possesses. The seemingly simple brief she offers him is complicated by the persona she has undertaken to hide her real motives. This persona I did find irritating and exasperating but I kept on reading.
I enjoyed the story with its easy and well-written style, and liked the development of the characters as the story progressed. Although the fourth in the series it is a stand alone novel though I am interested enough in reading about the other brothers to start from the beginning of the series.

Jason Jonquil has built up a persona as a serious gentleman. When an infuriating Spanish girl waltzes into his office, his patience is tested and he eventually sees through her own front. As their association continues, he discovers his own true self.

Jason's character is my favorite person in this book. I loved his serious barrister self he presented to the world, and I understood why he behaved as he did. His irritation with Miss Mariposa Thornton made me smile, and I was very much on his side through the whole thing. It was easy to jump into the story, even though it is the fourth in a series.

The only point that didn't sit well with me is the romantic feelings between Jason and Mariposa seemed rushed, but I'm not a fan of fast paced romances.

This is a book for Regency fans.

This was a good book that had a few flaws. I was confused by the ease in which the author dealt with the spy who was coming after her and her family. Then that mysterious man showed up who helped find her family. I did like the characters and the story until the plot had problems.

This is truly a charming story of a dispossessed Spaniard enlisting the help of a fine gentleman barrister in locating her lost family. Comical misunderstandings abound as do disguises, some strangely involving vegetables.
While the humor is delightful, Eden imbues this tale with a depth of real human emotion and struggle which allows the reader personal insights as to the strange ways sorrow causes us to respond. She also shows how two seemingly dissimilar people can bring out the best in each other.
Oh, and it doesn't hurt at all that all of the Jonquils make an appearance!

Bliss! Several years ago when I finished the first four books in the Jonquil Brothers series, I wanted to immediately read the next, A Fine Gentleman, only to discover it was out of print and I could not locate a copy anywhere! So you can imagine how thrilled I was to learn that it was going to be republished, and the day finally arrived that I had it in my eager hands! This is one of my favorite family sagas and the sometimes complicated dynamics between the characters are infused with the trademark light humor of the author.

In the previous books Jason has been pretty straight-laced and even stern. The bond between him and his brothers is obvious, but his harsh criticism of the oldest brother Phillip's facade of an empty-headed dandy created a wedge between them. Mariposa also presents herself to Jason with a mask, and her patronizing treatment of him aggravates him to his wit's end. I think he takes it so personally because she's poking at a particularly sore vulnerability he's struggling with- living up to the examples of his brothers and expectations of his late father. Mariposa's tragic history is unfolded to the reader and then as Jason becomes aware of her fight for survival he is seriously humbled. Learning not to condemn others so quickly is a lesson he then applies to his relationship with his brother, and I appreciated that he came to accept Phillip before learning the truth of why he has been putting on an act for so many years. I loved seeing the continuation of Phillip and Sorrel's story and the way he also helped resolve some of Mariposa's fears. Once Jason and Mariposa let their guard down with each other they have hilarious banter and great romantic chemistry. I love how he becomes her hero and the confidence it gives him of his purpose in life. I also appreciated that Mariposa finds an important purpose as well, one that is close to her heart as a survivor of war. Highly recommend this book and the entire series! They read well as stand alones but of course I recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment :)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

This one just might be my favorite of all the Jonquil Brothers books; even though I have loved them all. There was just the right amount of back and forth between the main characters to make it fun without overkill. Jason was such a fun character with whom I related more than I probably should. Lol Mariposa was aggravating and lovable. The two of them together was a great combination.

I was so excited to get to review this novel. I have loved reading Sarah Eden's work for years. I'll admit it has been a while since I read the last Jonquil brother's story so it is nice that she revisits some of the previous characters that were featured in previous novels.
We very first meet Jason in the novel, Kiss of a Stranger. He's a straight laced barrister. I have to admit is was good to have read a little of his character before because the beginning is fast and I liked having an opinion of him while reading it.
Mariposa. I have to admit I found her annoying at the first of the book. I realize she was playing a part and yet I just couldn't feel a ton of sympathy for her. However, I fell in love with her and Jason's witty banter later in the novel. I found her a delight.
Mariposa is from Spain and thus her first language is Spanish. Because of this there are spanish phrases used throughout the book. Every once in a while I found it distracting not to know what was said.
I truly enjoyed Jason and Mariposa's story. Although it would stand alone, my recommendation would be that it would be helpful to read the preceding books in the series.

Content: Clean
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4.5

Never read anything by this author before but I really enjoyed it and will look out for others by her. It grabbed my interest and the characters were very well developed and witty.. It was fun to see the stuffy hero intend with the help of a heroine who upends his world.

I was drawn into this book right from the start. I wasn't to sure what to make of Mariposa at first . She was very exasperating and portraying herself to be someone she was not. she had a plan for the way she was acting though. London barrister Jason Jonquil sure didn't know what to make of her, she infuriated him to no end! This Spanish beauty had survived the brutalities of Napoleon’s war on Spain.Her plan is to find her family and be reunited with her loved ones in England. What a chemistry Mariposa and Jason have. They really compliment each other. What a lovely sense of humor I've found in this book. This is my first Sarah M. Eden and now I have some catching up to do as I look forward to reading the rest of her books!
Pub Date 17 Apr 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The storyline was pleasant and characters interesting. It didn't answer all the questions it brought up but I imagine it will do more in following books. Overall it fit in perfectly with her Jonquil family.

As with all of the other books by Sarah Eden I have read, I absolutely loved this book, as well. I enjoy her style of writing and ability to make the characters come to life in her books. I become "friends" with the characters and become engrossed in the story.

Jason Jonquil was a serious barrister in London. He was successful and dedicated to his profession. Mariposa Thornton threw him off his game when she came to his office to ask for his help. She belittled and insulted him at every opportunity until he had had enough. She was wearing a mask and he just wanted to find out why. As the story progressed, I learned that she had survived the horrors of war in her native country, Spain, and had fled to try and save her family. In their flight, she and her grandmother were separated from her mother and younger brother, Santiago. As Jason began to learn more about Mariposa, he wanted to help her and have her learn to trust again, especially in him.

I won't give away the story but there is a happy ending. I also enjoyed reading about the Jonquil brothers from some of Sarah's other books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

London - 1815

Jason Jonquil, barrister, is visited by Miss Mariposa Thornton telling him she wishes to discuss her late father’s will. While she speaks pretty good English, her native tongue is Spanish. Therefore, their conversation soon becomes somewhat confusing which irritates Jason. Even as he informs her that she needs a solicitor, not a barrister, she is still confused. So, he agrees to help her and tells her if he finds she has inherited anything, he will get back to her.

Mariposa and her grandmother were able to escape from Spain leaving her mother and younger brother behind. The plan was to meet at her father’s Thornton family home in Scotland, but she does not know where it is. Therefore, she is using Jason to help her find it. It appears that Mariposa had worked as a spy during the war in Spain and there is a bad Frenchman after her.

Jason is one of 6 brothers. His father passed away some years ago and his older brother is now the head of the family. Unbeknownst to Jason, his brother, Stanley, who has been fighting in the war, knows Mariposa and he is the one who told her to seek Jason out for his help.

Impatient with Jason’s inability to quickly find her family, she decides to undertake a journey north to find them herself. When Jason learns of her plan, he is determined to go with her to keep her safe. Along the way, they learn more about one another which sparks a romance.

Will they be able to find her family’s home and will she be reunited with her other family? Will she ever be able to lead a life where she is not always looking over her shoulder for fear the evil Frenchman is waiting for her?

This was an OK story. As I have not read any of the Jonquil family books, perhaps I would have enjoyed the book more.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. In the first part of the book, the author uses fantastic humor in the dialog between Mariposa and Jason, as Mariposa is attempting to make Jason, a barrister, believe that he is the only person to handle her legal issues by using reverse psychology in her arguments. I could literally picture the two of them, going back and forth, and seeing the exasperation on Jason's face as she manipulates him into doing what she needs. It is fantastic. This is a HEA ending love story. I would highly recommend this book because it contains humor, spies, tragedy and love. This is one of the best romance books I have read in awhile.

This book was my first by sarah Eden but won't be my last. I enjoyed the premise and character interaction. I loved how much family love there was in this novel. And I especially liked that there was romance but no sex! Thank you for an engaging, clean, regancy read.

Okay, this book and I? We had a really rocky start. The first third of the book I was a bit annoyed because I thought that a lot of the story was too constructed, I kept asking myself why, oh why she just didn't ask her good friend Stanley for introductions and why was Jason too stupid to realize who she was referring to and well, you get the gist, right?
And then, somehow, despite the never again mentioned prized stallion and other things that just....well, tickled my mind...the book drew me in and I didn't care about those things anymore because I enjoyed the story and those wonderful characters far too much!
From that moment on, I didn't put the reader down till I had the last page. And I know that I'll definitely read this book again. The story was nice. In the beginning it felt as if it was all set just for the effect of being funny but it began to feel more intense and the characters became much more complex and I really really wanted to know what had happened and what would happen and kept reading.
I loved that even the minor characters were interesting and well drawn and I simply loved Jason and Mariposa.
Our rocky start definitely led to more than a "mutual understanding" and I'm looking forward to other books by the author as well.