A comfortable, known to me author pens another delightful must-read, clean, regency style romance. I really enjoyed the friendship turned love-match between “holy” Harold and Sarah. The struggle of Harold trying to find his place is genuine and real and captured my interest from the very beginning. He does not “fit the mold” of vicar and yet, tries so hard. Sarah is not your typical English woman, in fact, she’s an “obnoxious American” and still manages to capture the heart of her stoic English neighbors. Together, they wage war to determine who best knows, loves, and serves the people in their community. I love the self-discovery in this wonderfully, warm love story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love the Jonquil brothers and always look forward to each brother’s story! Phillip and Layton are my top 2 favorites but Harold might have gained the 3rd spot. ;) He comes off as rigid and strict but, like most of his brothers, it’s mainly an act. He feels like that’s how a vicar should act. He actually is kind, caring, and strong with a few little “quirks” for that time period. However, the person who really won me over in this story was Sarah Sarvol. She was happy, kind, funny and spontaneous. My very favorite kind of leading lady. She reminded me a lot of Marion (who happens to be my very favorite leading lady in this series).

Harold and Sarah were each other’s first loves back when they were younger, but she had to move to the states and he had to go off to school, so they never pursued anything further. However, Sarah’s brother is about to become heir of an estate, so she travels back to England with him. There, she and Harold get reacquainted, but Harold has changed. Sarah longs to see if any bit of the old Harold she knew still exists and Harold struggles with knowing who he really is.

A lot of the other Jonquil family members play big parts in this book, as well. It was like catching up with old friends. :-) Sorrel’s health is a big topic, too. I know that this author likes to pull at the reader’s heartstrings, but I just want Sorrel to feel better and no longer be in so much constant pain. :-/

Anyway, it was another sweet story and I look forward to the next one about Charlie...I’m guessing it will be with a Lancaster sister. Can’t wait!

Review will be live on my blog August 1st.

The Jonquil family is the star of this story. There’s loyalty, love, and acceptance that extends even outside the family. This felt more like a family saga than a romance, and it worked well that way.

The parts of the novel that featured Harry and his insecurities got a bit repetitive. I don’t think there was adequate reason given to explain why Harry retreated into a shell of himself. Yes, his brothers teased him, but it wasn’t cruel. Harry was very obviously introverted and suffering from social anxiety; his responsibilities as Vicar made him miserable. I’m not sure it was realistic for love to magically erase those problems.

Overall, The Heart of a Vicar was a decent read. The biggest drawback was the slow pacing. I admit to some boredom. Not one of my favorites by Sarah Eden, but still in the neighborhood of Okay.. Three stars.

I was so excited to have another addition of the Jonquil family and this book did not disappoint. "Holy Harry" is such a loveable character and Sarah is a perfect match for him. I've enjoyed each of the Jonquil family stories and this is probably one of my favorites. Definitely worth reading!

**I received an advanced copy of this book for my review. The opinions are my own!**

This was just such a good book! There were charming and funny parts, and some oh-so tear-jerking emotional parts!! Whew! It kept me engaged and entertained till the very end.
>> As always, Sarah Eden creates wonderfully faceted characters!
I love Harold and Sarah! They shared so many similar dreams and feelings. Both wanted to serve and help people, and make a real difference in the lives of the people in the area. And their romance is super sweet and well connected.

Quote: "Act well your part; there all the honor lies" -
Harold received this wise admonition from his father, but he was finding it hard to live up to.
All his life, Harold wanted to be a vicar. To help people, and have a real impact on their lives. He just didn't know how to go about doing it in the way that he 'thought' a respectable vicar should. He struggled with who he really was and who he thought people expected him to be. He had so many doubts about himself and constantly craved reassurances from the people around him. And it didn't help that he had a whole herd of brothers who tormented him...

Sarah on the other hand, was hopeful and assured. Quote: "She always seemed to be anticipating something exciting. "Like a watch that is always fully wound." She had the ability to lift the spirits of someone discouraged, and she loved being a blessing and help in any way she could.

Sarah captured Harold's heart in their youth, but He could not offer her a future when his whole life was in question.
Their struggles are real and believable. The story flows effortlessly.
The relationship between Harold and Sarah is beautiful and well developed.
And, there is a bit of serious nail-biting suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat....
This book had it all and I will be reading it again in the future!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I am not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Heart of a Vicar is a sweet historical story of Harold Jonquil who let go of the girl he loved to become a vicar. Years later, she comes back and they slowly make their way back into each other’s hearts.

This book was okay. Harold and Sarah felt a little dry and boring. And though I wanted them to be together, I wasn’t entirely invested in them. My favorite character was his older brother, Phillip (well, one of his...6? brothers). I loved his humor. I also enjoyed whenever all the Jonquil brothers were together. Their family banter was fun.

Though I didn’t love this book, there were times when I smiled, and once when I almost cried. And I will say that I liked Harold more when he became more himself. So it was a fine novel.

I knew this book was part of a series, but I didn’t actually know who or what the series was about. Turns out each book is about one of the Jonquil brothers. Which means there’s one about Phillip :) I was thinking while reading The Heart of a Vicar that I would prefer to read a book with Phillip as the main character. And now I can 😊

Thank you to Netgalley and Covenant Communications for a copy to review.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a regency romance that is in the Jonquil brothers series. While this novel is stand alone, it does help to have some background of the family and other characters. Honestly, this has been my least favorite Jonquil novel and Sarah Eden novel. Holy Harold was the main character and his staid and masked behavior didn't standout to me. Sarah Warhol the female lead seemed less in love with join so their chemistry wasn't in the pages as much as other stories. Well written as expected and will continue with the story and author!

Harold Jonquil is one of the younger Jonquil brothers, which means he has been teased mercilessly by his older brothers. They have called him 'Holy Harry' for as long as he can remember, and they continue to do so even after he becomes the local vicar. After years of being teased and going to school to learn how to be a proper vicar, he discovers that the job is more difficult than he anticipated. He is unfulfilled in his work. When he comes face to face with Sarah Sarvol, a girl he fell in love with many years ago, he is forced to address why he feels the way he does. As he strives to become a better vicar he gets to know the people in his parish better, he reaches out to his family in ways he hasn't in a long time, and he discovers that love is possible.
The Heart of a Vicar is another wonderful Jonquil brothers book. Harold has been introduced in all of the previous books, but in an obscure way. The way he develops in this book is wonderful, as you read you learn that he is compassionate and funny and real. There is also real development in other members of the family. I would recommend that you read the previous books as it will make this book a little easier to follow and more enjoyable to get into. Harold might be my new favorite brother after reading this book, that's how great of a read it is!

How could I have forgotten how much I love this author? Sarah has a special way of picking me up, from were ever I am, and setting me down in the middle of her story. Recently I've been flat on my back from surgery, so it was extra refreshing revisiting the Jonquils again. I just adore this mom and her brood. Like her other books Sarah makes me laugh but often brings me to tears. This time there was a lot of that, but some were happy tears. This is the type of book I want to share, but I also want to hold on to it. I will be reading it again. I want to thank Covenant Communication for a copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"The Heart of a Vicar" by Sarah M Eden
I ended up LOVING this story. When I started my journey with Harold and Sarah I was not so sure I had selected the right story for me. I persevered and quickly found my rhythm with the story. Soon I was all tangled up in their lives; and, time would fly by as I traversed the choices and hurdles life was putting in their paths. This is a clean sweet romance full of joys, sadness, and tender moments that made me cry buckets. If I were in a book club.. this would make an excellent choice for discussions galore. I requested an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley. And, yes I was one of the lucky ones to receive a free copy for reviewing. As you can tell I really loved this story and I suggest you add it to your SBRS (Stack of Books to Read Soon).. Happy Reading !!

Harry was born a vicar - or so his family has always said. Now that he really holds that position, he is spending so much time forcing himself into the mould that he perceives vicarly behaviour to be that he is no longer himself. And nothing emphasises that more than the return from America of Sarah, the only girl he has ever loved, and to whom he confided everything, back in that halcyon visit before he cut off all communication with her. She is clearly disappointed in him, and challenges him to a competition as to who can be the best vicar - at least in the social work of the job, since she can't be in the pulpit! Will the events that unfold turn him away from the church altogether, or teach him what it truly means to have the heart of a vicar? And do Sarah and Harry have any future together?

Summary: I loved this book. I could really feel for the characters, particularly Harry, and got very much drawn into the story. Overall, the writing was great, the storyline well done, and the content clean. Everything fitted together neatly, but without being too predictable (in fact, it was really fairly unpredictable, but not in a way that felt unrealistic). A very satisfying story on so many levels. Though clearly part of a series, presumably with each member of the family having their own story, I have only read one other and was well able to keep pace with events. However, the book did inspire me to go back and look at what other books she's written about the Jonquils. Definitely hoping for more books in future, and highly recommending this one.

Note that I received a copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a review and this is my personal opinion of the book.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
First, let’s talk about this cover. 😍
I love it and it’s one of my all time favorites. I’m funny about covers and I’m sick of seeing couples embrace and doing “other” things on every other cover these days! As some of you know I’m a big fan of JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction) and this was similar in a lot of ways mixed in with Downton Abby. I can’t wait to get my hand on the other books in this series. They can be read separate because that’s what I’m doing. 💕
Things I loved:
• The writing
• The main characters
• The seven brothers
I will have to say that parts of it dragged for me but I fell in love with this family.

This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own!
Happy Reading ❤️

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley and the publisher.

I enjoyed reading Sarah and Harold’s love story. I expected the plot to focus more on just them, but the families were also a large part of the backstory and actual story.

Overall, 3 stars, I liked the bones of the story, but it didn’t captivate me.

The author does a fabulous job of continuing a story by adding more characters. I love that she hasn't lost the purpose or trials from one book to the next but that they continue to push through them and grow with them. This book fit right in with the rest. I loved being able to finally understand where Harry's views came from and why he always reacted as he did. I will be very sad with the series is completed.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Eden's books. The first kindle book I ever read was her book, "Kiss of a Stranger". I love the stories of the Jonquil family members. This book was about Harold or Holy Harry as his brothers affectionately refer to him. He has wanted to live the life as a vicar. But he used to be fun-loving and now he is dull and without much personality.

Sarah Sarvol had been the niece of one of the Jonquil's neighbors. She and Harry had developed a sort of attachment but on their last day together, Harry kissed her and then pushed her away. He said they could never have a relationship and not to write him because he would never write her back. She was angry and hurt and she pushed him in the stream. Now, several years later, Sarah is back from America and Harry is the local vicar, but he isn't the kind, loving, compassionate man she knew.

Can she help him to see who he really can be? Is it possible to rediscover their feelings for one another? Sarah Eden is a master storyteller who is able to make you feel the emotions of the characters flow from the pages of her books. I was given an arc copy of this book and then bought it before even reading it. I wholeheartedly offer my honest review.

The Jonquil family is back, this time through the story of Harold, the son who became a vicar. He is now the vicar of the church near the family holdings, but he is struggling with a sort of identity crisis as he tries to discern what is appropriate for a vicar and what is not. Meanwhile, his lost love Sarah returns to the neighborhood and she challenges what he thinks about himself and his life.
The other brothers and their wives weave in and out through this book so you get to see them and where their lives have led.
I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to Harold’s struggles to decide who he is and what he wants to be. I think often we choose a path and then maybe second-guess ourselves down the road.
I also liked how the other brothers played roles in this story. The Jonquil’s lives are interconnected and the author does a good job showing how their lives blend together without getting too distracted with other storylines.
This was a quick, enjoyable read. It was not as emotionally charged as some of Eden’s books and it wasn’t as light-hearted as some of her others-it was a good mix of both. If you haven’t read the other Jonquil books you will probably want to do so, otherwise you will have many spoilers. However, it is standalone in that it isn’t the continuation of any specific storyline.

Sarah M. Eden is a master storyteller. In 'The Heart of a Vicar' she tells the story of Sarah and Harold. A young love that ended in heartache for both of them many years ago. Sarah returns to England, with her brother to find her feelings for Harold are still very much there. However, she finds Harold to be much different than the young many she left behind years ago. Eden delves deeply into the feelings of both characters to tell an emotional story of accepting who you are and finding joy and happiness by doing so. The Jonquil family comes alive in these pages as you see their very real struggles and heartaches.

I’m already a fan of the author but I loved this story! Character development was great; the positivity and faith in God without being overbearing was perfect. The storyline with the curmudgeon uncle was the only thing lacking and I assume more detail is given in other books which I struggle with in series as each book should be able to stand on its own. This one did except for that piece. Highly recommend!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I so looked forward to this book. It's been a long time coming. Eden's writing style has changed over the years she has settled into a style that I like. It is a deep feeling book with lots of hard situations and nothing comes out perfect, but this book was so great. I was so happy with the way everything wrapped up. I just love a happily ever after and this delivered. Harry and Sarah were good for each other and it was so awesome to read their story. I am so glad we got to know Harry, we only see who his brothers see in the other books. One day when all of these are done I am going to read this entire saga all the way threw and it will be awesome. Happy this is in there. Now we just need Charlies story and maybe the parents.

"The Heart of a Vicar" is a romance set in 1816 in England. While it works as a stand alone, the married pairs from the previous novels show up in this novel, which may entice those who want to know how they're doing.

Harold has always wanted to be a vicar. He's trying his best to be the perfect vicar, but he feels like a failure at it. Was he wrong to choose to become a vicar, especially since he enjoys odd hobbies like climbing walls? When Sarah, the girl that he never stopped loving, returns to the area, she's disappointed to see how distant and uncaring Harold seems to be now. She understands that he doesn't have a sufficient income to allow them to marry, but she wants to see him happy--and more like his old, caring self again. So she tells him that she's better at being a vicar (in caring for the congregation) than him and challenges him to prove her wrong.

The characters were engaging and acted realistically. The brothers enjoyed teasing each other, so there was some humor as well. Harold and Sarah brought out the best in each other and were better people for knowing each other. The historical details were woven into the story, making it come alive in my imagination. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel.