What a wild and intense story! I mean seriously. This poor girl jumps off a stagecoach and is immediately swept up and taken to her wedding, but she had no idea! She thought she was coming to Savage Wells to be a nurse, not a wife. Talk about miscommunication.

Gideon is plain tuckered out. He’s the only doctor for Savage Wells and all the towns around it. He has no one to help him so that’s why he requested a mail ordered bride, who is also a nurse. But somehow wires were crossed and only the nurse was delivered.

Miriam is hiding a secret. One that I never even thought of! But it’s not a surprise how people treated others back in those days. I loved her. She was so strong, even in the face of everything she’s had to endure. So when she’s allowed to stay on as a nurse instead of a wife, she thinks things are starting to look up. But when her secret is discovered, she must face her greatest fear head on. But luckily she’s not alone anymore.

As I’ve said numerous times before, I love these Proper Romances. They’re super sweet and innocent and they make the story the most important part, not the romance. That being said, I adored watching these two dance around each other. Shyness turned to jokes, which turned to soft touches and then BAM. A perfect sweet romance. On a side note, I am hoping for a certain US Marshal to get his own story. There just HAS to be a perfect girl for him!

This was another lovely romance by Sarah M. Eden. She has such a knack for bringing her characters along in believable ways. Gideon and Miriam begin from a place of disaster, yet travel such a different route! Theirs is a unique road that suits them perfectly and allows the reader to come to enjoy and love the heart that beats within each of them.
P. S. In the closing scene of the book, have the instrumental of a particular song (you'll know the one) playing in the background. You'll find it fits to perfection.

I LOVE Sarah Eden's books. She has a way of making the characters so real. I can almost imagine meeting them and becoming good friends with them.
This is the follow-up book to 'The Sheriffs of Savage Wells,' I do recommend reading Sheriffs first as Healing Hearts references many of the same characters and situations (plus it makes Healing Hearts that much more enjoyable.)
Gideon MacNamarah is the doctor of Savage Wells as well as the surrounding territory and is ready for someone to help him in his practice. He sends for a mail-order bride thinking he'll get a nurse and a wife all in one. Only Miriam, the nurse/bride, doesn't realize he was intending to marry her.
Miriam was hoping to come to a small town and be able to disappear from her troubled past. Gideon knows she is keeping secrets and is becoming frustrated since he is becoming more attracted to Miriam.
As the two draw closer and learn to trust and rely on one another they overcome many obstacles. This is a beautiful story of trust and love, all mixed in a little rough and tumble western town. This story also highlights the views on healthcare at that time. This story is very easy to get into, and very difficult to put down.
I highly recommend this for anyone interested in romance, westerns, historical fiction (although it's loosely based) or just needing a fun book to read.

Well, that was a delight! I had no intention of reading this in one sitting, but I simply couldn’t help myself. This is such a beautiful romance, filled with secrets and heartache and misunderstandings and villains and joy. My heart was breaking for Miriam and other asylum patients in the late 1800s, at least in their situation. And Gideon truly is a wonderful man, as the townspeople keep pointing out at the start of the book. Sigh. Sarah M. Eden has done it again.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Whew, a little bit of suspense in this one! Or...a lot. Sarah Eden does a good job of tormenting her characters in general, but I think these go through some of the most impossible situations. I literally couldn't put this down as Gideon meets the woman he'd thought was coming out to marry him and instead is coming out for employment he desperately needs to provide (as a doctor without a nurse and treating an entire region) but doesn't have much in the way of money to achieve that with. But that's just the first of their troubles!

Miriam's secret can't be kept for long, and soon it's clear how much danger she really is running from. Okay, I didn't think it was going to be quite that tenacious. But Eden quickly convinced me of how desperate Miriam's situation actually is. And then sickness strikes the town and makes it even more dangerous! I loved how much character development took place during that crisis, especially with Gideon's folks.

A delight of a story!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy to read. A favorable review was not required.

A cute story with an interesting twist on marriage. Loved the slow development of feelings between the characters. Miriam's back story was amazing!

** ARC received from Netgalley **

Healing Hearts is the next tale, written by Sarah Edenset, set in Savage Wells. This tale is focused on Gideon MacNamara, the town doctor, who also provides services throughout many towns in the surrounding area. The bottom line is he needs help. Gideon decides he will set himself up with a mail-order bride, who is also a nurse. This plan fails when Miriam Bricks arrives thinking that she is responding to a need for a nurse, not that the entire town, including the doctor, are expecting a bride!

As Gideon and Miriam spend time adjusting to this awkward relationship, as doctor and nurse and not as husband and wife, you will learn that Miriam has a secret that has the power to destroy everything that Miriam and Gideon are attempting to build!

Hold on to see how the entire town will pitch in to help Miriam and Gideon maintain and grow this new relationship!

Sarah Eden has done it again! This story is breathtaking. I just couldn't put it down. She tackles some very tough subjects with grace and style. She always manages to add some humor too. Miriam and Gideon are both remarkable characters that I was cheering on all the way. I learned more about how mental or not so mental illness was treated in the 1800s. Many of the characters had lots of depth to them. I was particularly impressed with Gideon's family. They seemed so shallow to begin with but grew to mean so much more to me as the story went on. I am hoping there will soon be stories about Hawk and Mr Larsen, the attorney, too. Both characters seem to have more to them than meets the eye.

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

This book was a sweet, light read that I found to be enjoyable, butnot really impressive.
I was hoping for a bit more. The writing was good though, hence the 3 stars.

I loved this book.

It addresses the social stigma of mental illnesses, as well as the inequality of women, during the 19th century. The same light-heartedness that is prevalent in the first book is present, while still having the serious subjects.

Miriam just wants to be a nurse and to escape her past. So she runs to Savage Wells via an advertisement. However the advertisement was for a mail-order bride for Gideon McNamara. Hilarity ensues for all of the beloved Savage Wells characters, as well as the new ones introduced. Well written, and balanced between the humor that Eden is known for and the lesson she is trying to teach. Would re-read and recommend!

Nov 30 th Well deserving of a 5Star rating & more ! Appropriately named: Healing Hearts !
From the 1st page to the last page ... Dr. Gideon McNamara and Miriam Bricks captured my mind and heart ! including the wonderful townfolk of Savage Wells. .... and especially young Rupert .

thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for ARC Kindle and this book reflects my honest opinion ... and honestly I found it hard to put down once my return visit to Savage Wells began

#HealingHearts #NetGalley


I loved this Book! The second book in the series, it could be read as a stand alone, but why would you want to miss reading,The Sheriff of Savage Wells?
Miriam, has such raw emotions, that will touch your heart, a young lady that is running from her past, finds herself in the small town of Savage Wells, where unbeknownst to her, she came as a mail order bride, and not a nurse. Miriam has a haunted past full of secrets. I really liked Gideon. The story is fresh and well written.
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Opening line:
"Miriam Bricks sat in the cramped and rancid interior of a rickety stagecoach and contemplated for the hundredth time how fortunate she was to be there."
Ms. Eden hooked me right from the start of the story as Miriam met Gideon, or "Doc," in the unfortunate event of a wedding that she hadn't planned. She stays in town and Gideon hires her as his nurse, which Miriam thought was the reason she was in Savage Wells.
Miriam is trying to outrun her past; Gideon is where he wants to be. Miriam is sick, Gideon is a doctor. What could be better?
The start of their professional relationship was a little rocky but they both developed a respect for each other. And the respect deepens to where the start to have feelings toward each other. Then something happens, and something else happens, and something bigger and there are twists and sweetness and changes and I really loved it.
If you love Ms. Eden's books, you'll need to add this one to your collection!

Thanks to netgalley for the early read.

Wow! I read straight through this book in three hours. Gripping, yet sweet. Some suspense, some romance, & a whole lot of country living. This book has a little of bit of it all. Other than the mention of the preacher and his wife, it's not an overly Christian book. More of a clean fiction. Yet the overwhelming theme is one of hope, & redemption when all seems lost. If you are looking for a clean story this one should make your list. Sarah Eden is an author whose works I hadn't heard of, but now that I have discovered her work there are more books on my to-be-read list!

This book was wonderful. Miriam arrives in town and is ready to work as a nurse. Gideon MacNamara is a doctor and is ready to take a bride. Gideon ordered a bride, but no one told the bride. When she finds out that she is supposed to marry Gideon, she turns around and runs out of the chapel. The whole town starts to scorn her and she does not know what to do. Gideon realizes the mistake and offers Miriam a job. As they learn about each other their hearts start to open. They learn to accept each other and will do anything to help each other.

Well thought out and likable characters in this proper romance set in the wild west. The heroine, Miriam, is tenacious and brave. Even though she has given up on finding her own happiness she deeply cares for the citizens of Savage Wells and does all she can to make their lives better. It is no surprise that the citizens, even after a very chilly start, come to care for her deeply too. Miss Eden could have written a straight forward story but decided to add a twist to her main character that reminds us that there are a lot of prejudices out there. It is very troubling to see the prejudices that Miriam faces. Makes you think about how some of the people with disabilities, even if they are not apparent, are treated today.

This book was fantastic! The themes of nursing, mental health and asylums in the 1800's are new ones for me. As a woman, it is easy to take for granted the rights and opportunities we have now. And it was horrifying to read and imagine what it would be like to have a medical condition that was unknown or misunderstood... and being at the mercy of male relatives.

The familial relationships were complex and well done. The villain was terrifying in his ability to manipulate and twist things. And the love story was sweet. The story over all was layered and while most of the subplots were intense and serious, there were moments of humor tucked in.

Highly recommend!

I really like Healing Hearts. It's an emotional story with a strong female character. The story line is engaging and interesting. The characters are well developed and I was intrigued from the very first sentence. Sarah Eden may have just become my new favorite author. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc. The opinions on this review ate my own.

I loved Healing Hearts. It truly is a book that is appropriately titled because it is about two people who have been hurt and through each other they find the healing they so desperately need.

Dr. Gideon MacNamara who is a doctor in Savage Wells sends away for a mail order bride. He is seeking someone who can be his partner and a nurse in his practice. When his bride, Miriam, get off the train she is immediately whisked away by the friendly town folk. Miriam is shocked when she learns the nursing job she eagerly accepted is also includes marriage to the town doctor. Miriam leaves saying she cannot marry Gideon for she hardly know him. This brings on bad feelings by the town folk who dearly love their doctor. Gideon decides to keep Miriam despite her walking out on their wedding because the town needs a nurse. When he sees her work, he knows she is very qualified with good nursing skills. But Miriam has a secret. She is running from her past and is hopeful she can just be free and practice nursing. But the more she and Gideon get to know one another, the more Gideon is able to break down her careful constructed walls. When Gideon learns her secret involves her health he just wants to protect her. But how can he protect her from a doctor who has deemed her "mad" due to an illness that they cannot understand?

Gideon leaves on a medical trip and leaves Miriam in charge. With Miriam's excellent nursing skills, she is able to save the children in the town from death. This wins her the hearts of the town folk. She already has won Gideon's heart. But when Miriam's past catches up with her, can the Gideon and the town folk save her from a future that appears doomed?

I fell in love with Savage Wells with Eden's first book set in the sleepy western town. I had hoped Gideon would find himself someone to love & so was excited to read his story. I was expecting a straight forward romance-but was pleasantly surprised with the complexity of this story. Poor Miriam really was dealt a hard hand in life, so it was extra sweet to see her get her happily ever after.