"Forget Me Not" is a romance set in 1785 in England. After so many of her friends and family have died or left her, Julia has decided it's better to be lonely than experience heartbreak again. Though Lucas has lost the same people, he's been able to create a close circle of friends and travel to deal with his grief. When he returns home after years away and little contact, he's baffled when his once best friend Julia makes it clear that she doesn't want to spend time with him and doesn't trust him. When their parents surprise them by publicly announcing their betrothal and forcing a quick marriage, both fight the idea but are given no choice. Lucas tries to go on living like he did before marriage, but he can see how his actions are crushing Julia. Unable to figure out how to fix things, he welcomes a visit from his close friends (the Gents). They give him advice and help rebuild Julia's trust in others.

The characters were complex, interesting, likable, and reacted realistically to events. But this was hard to read for me because Julia was so heartbroken for most of it. Lucas didn't mean to be cruel and could be thoughtful, but he didn't think through how his words and actions affected others and (like most people) tended to do what he wanted over offering selfless love. His friends helped him to uncover the hurt he caused long ago and to repair the damage already done in his marriage. I loved the Gents and look forward to their future stories. Historical details about the fashions and such of the time were woven into the story. While I'll accept that a forced marriage could happen as described, I had a hard time believing that the parents really didn't expect that their children would object to a public announcement with no notification of the betrothal ahead of time. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical romance.

Where has Sarah Eden been all my life?? I think this is the first book I’ve read of hers and it was an absolute gem! I couldn’t put it down, read it all in one sitting and now I can’t wait to find what else she’s written.

After experiencing far too much loss in the early years of her life, Julia’s grief is pushed to the limit when her childhood friend Lucas abandons her with promises to write and return that never come true. When Lucas finally returns eight years later, the Julia he finds presently is very different from the fiery friend he left behind. He is confused as to what has brought about this change and together they are thrust into a less that idea marriage together. Both Lucas and Julia must fight for and open their hearts to love, for healing to take place, friendship to be rediscovered and happiness in their marriage revealed. Alongside the help of his closest friends, The Gents (side note: can’t wait to hear these lads stories!), Lucas discovers one of the greatest adventures he can embark on is to win the heart of the lady he loves.

A big thank you to Covenant Communications for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #ForgetMeNot #Goodreads #BookBub
** This review can be found on NetGalley, Goodreads, BookBub (and Amazon.ca after the publishing date).

"Oh my heart, at last, I can read it!" was what I thought when I received this book, and what a lovely book it was! And I'm not talking about the gorgeous cover, but about the very sweet story that I have been waiting to read for years! I am very fond of the Jonquil brothers, and I couldn't wait to "meet" their parents in their youth.

Although Lucas was not quite the perfect gentleman one would expect from reading about him in the Jonquil series (he really is a dunderhead!), I still very much enjoyed discovering his character which encompasses his (future) sons' personalities (and understanding where some of his sons' names come from, too). The book was also full of a multitude of references to the Jonquil series, be it through references to places, people, or phrases. It was also a pleasure to discover Julia in her youth, the little spitfire who grew up to be a kind and forgiving lady. I wish, however, that the book would have been a tiny bit longer to develop our two protagonists' personalities, as Sarah M. Eden did in her Jonquil series - here, the personalities were a bit less deep and I sometimes struggled to understand what was going on in their heads. I also wonder if a couple of sentences might have been missing from their dialogues (which sometimes felt unnatural) as I read an advanced copy of the book?
I also find that the summary of the book emphasises too much the losses Lucas and Julia have been through, when the book doesn't dig much deeper into it, except for the feeling of abandonment Julia feels. The story is very much focused on Julia learning to trust that Lucas will not abandon her again, and Lucas making a mess of things, as Jonquils are bound to do!

After reading the book, I still have a few remaining questions: why does Julia not stay in touch with the other Gents in the Jonquil brothers series (makes us wonder what happens to the Gents...)? What happens to Adam (I don't remember him being especially close to Julia in the Lancaster or Jonquil series...)? Why is she called Julia when her full name is "Caroline Julia Cummings"?

Overall, a very sweet romance that I very much enjoyed. I am very much looking forward to discovering the other Gents' stories!

**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion**

A lovely, enchanting start to a new series from Sarah M. Eden! Deeply emotional and stirring, fans of Eden’s Jonquil Brothers series won’t want to miss Forget Me Not. This story showed a more fun side of the Georgian era—who knew lords and ladies played hide-and-seek?!—and the characters are all wonderfully written. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Gents’ stories! 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had trouble wrapping my mind around the amount of loss Julia suffered. She had very good reason to have developed abandonment issues, given that the one person left to her, apart from her father, chose to leave her and made no effort maintain any kind of relationship with her.

*SPOILERS*
To be honest, the more the story went on and more arguments were made that he had always cared and thought of her non-stop, the less believable I found it. If he really talked about her, worried about her, shared stories and memories all the time... he would have written, or tried to see her, or picked up souvenirs and sent them to her, etc. <i> anything at all </i> over the past 8 years.

*More SPOILERS*
And I found her father's character inconsistent. I got the impression that he did little-to-nothing over the years to coax her out of pain and isolation. Then he got rather heavy handed, treated her coldly, and let her go. No further efforts on his part. Then he runs to her, crying and welcoming her back and allows her to stay indefinitely. He actually tells Lucas that if she doesn't want to speak to Lucas, he will have to honor her wishes. What? The time period and the father in question would more likely have refused her sanctuary to begin with. At the very least, would have told her she belongs to her husband now and needed to find a way to make it work.

I thought the concept of the gents was very sweet. I loved how her brother Stanley had been intertwined in the group. It lent credence to the way they embraced her so thoroughly immediately. Though I wished there had really only been showing (rather than telling) of each of their characters, and though I found too much similarity between the gents (which is supposed to be a new, different series, despite this being a prequel of the former series) and the Jonquil brothers, I was intrigued enough by each of them to look forward to their stories.

I think my biggest trouble was the sadness book-ending this story. I felt so badly for Julia, for everything she had gone through. For what seemed like endless suffering. And knowing what is awaiting her in the future made it hard for me let my guard down too, to be happy for her. It was bittersweet.

This was my first book by this author. I was looking forward to reading a book set in the 1700's and I have heard good things about this author.
This book has a light feel to it. I was really put off by the heroine for the first half of the book, then things got better. Then I was put off by the hero.......I really didn't like how the book was resolved. I felt like based on the actions of both parties I just didn't feel the love. This is a clean historical romance.
It was a sweet story if you are looking for a less then serious romance. It just left me feeling "meh" nothing bad , just okay.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally all of my opinions are completely my own.

Six gentlemen...the best of friends...each so different from the other...all of which are single...at least at the beginning. This was a wonderfully creative idea for a new series by Sarah M. Eden. Readers will quickly become fond of the "gents" and will root for them the whole way through. This first installment tells the story of Julia and Lucas (the first of the "gents"). This is a slow burn romance that is both light and sweet. The cover is gorgeous! I give it 3.5 stars. I'm glad I read this book, and look forward to continuing the series. Who will the next gent be? Maybe Kes?

Ah, Sarah Eden. Thank you for another sweet story. Julia Cummings has been neighbors with Lucas Jonquil her whole life. While nine years his junior, she managed to always insert herself with all this adventures he went on with her older brother. Once Lucas came of age, he moved away and didn't see Julia for eight years. From disease and war, they both lost loved ones and Julia had closed off her heart to any that could break it again by leaving her. Lucas, on the other hand, was determined to live his life to the fullest for all those he lost.

When Lucas returns to his parent's home the two are thrown together in a betrothal neither of them saw coming. With heavy doubts in both their minds, but a clever group of Lucas' friends in tow, they must overcome and hopefully find love.

This is a really fun book. I love how clean the love story is, but still just as sweet. The humor is great and I loved all the characters in this one. I look forward to more of her books!

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Forget Me Not" is a historical romance, which is one of my favorite genres. I was very excited to read this book by Sarah Eden. Julia and Lucas grew up together and were best friends. They went through the losses of several family members together, and Julia thought they were growing closer. Unfortunately, Lucas had just one goal in mind: to travel the world. When his parents arrange a marriage for him (with Julia) to help him grow up and start to settle down, Julia believes that maybe he will finally begin to love her. Unfortunately, I couldn't root for these two and their relationship. Lucas was thoughtless and selfish, and Julia was a pushover and would hold grudges. I thought this book was well written, but the relationship was not something I enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I have been finding many "new author's to me" lately, and I am delighted to have found Sarah Eden, author of Forget Me Not, the first book in The Gents series.

Julia Cummings has known a great deal of loss, and so has her childhood friend Lucas Jonquil. However, they both dealt with their losses quite differently. With a nine-year age gap between them, Lucas vows to enjoy life to the fullest to honour the loss of his friend Stanley, Julia's brother. And so he leaves home to travel to all the places Stanley will never see and to enjoy all the adventures Stanley will never have.

While Lucas views his departure from home as a great adventure, Julia views it as abandonment. Everyone she loves has died and leaves her alone, but she looks forward to the promise of Lucas' letters. Unfortunately, Lucas never writes. So she deals with her grief and her loss by isolating herself in her home and stepping away from society. Her heart grows cold toward Lucas, and when he suddenly returns home, he is stumped as to why she appears to hate him.

If this book is anything, it is a lesson for men everywhere to pay attention to their words and actions. Sadly, Lucas did neither where Julia was concerned. When their parents sprang their betrothal on them at a very public event, it worsened their situation.

Thank goodness for the gents! I can't wait to hear their stories in future books to come. With their help, both Julia and Lucas learn how to be friends again, and more importantly, they learn to love.

The only thing disappointing about this book was its total lack of Christian content. Not one word. And yet it is listed as Christian fiction. The themes of trust and forgiveness, which are in the book, would have been amplified if Jesus had been brought into the mix. Sadly, he wasn't. Hence the four stars.

Knowing this, I will still be reading the rest of this series. Ms. Eden is a fine writer and crafts a fascinating tale of clean historical fiction. I look forward to her next book!

This book was provided courtesy of Covenant Communications through NetGalley.

Sarah Eden’s writing has a way of making the world just kind of melt away while the reader is transported to another time period. This first book in her new “The Gents” series was enjoyable and had much of the humor and wit that I have come to love from her writing. Admittedly, Julia was a hard character for me to like. I felt as though she held on to her bitterness for an extremely long portion of the story. It became a bit taxing and repetitive at points that the same conflict was being presented over and over again, and I felt it became a bit childish of her. However, the moment “The Gents” arrive on the scene this book really took a turn for the better and it was flowing with humor and wit. I enjoyed Lucas’s character and the interaction between him and his friends was my favorite part of this book. Even though Julia was a difficult character, I did enjoy this book immensely and cannot wait to see where this series goes as it features this group of friends!

This was such a fabulous book. Having read so many of her previous works, this was equally as wonderful. I will admit that I cried through most of it knowing what her future would bring. The storyline was tragic while still being so positive.

I really enjoyed this story, the characters, the arranged marriage, but my only complaint was the immaturity of both of the main characters. If Julia is 20, smart enough to teach herself difficult mathematic equations, and Lucas is 29, well-traveled and well-educated, they should not have had so much trouble. But of course, we must have trouble for the story.

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

While I can see Eden's appeal, I'm afraid this book just wasn't for me. I think it's a personal taste thing, but I always have an issue when an older man knows a girl as a child and then falls in love with her when she's suddenly!pretty. The writing is undeniably strong here, but I just couldn't get into the characters. Lucas was deliberately obtuse and Julia spent most of the book being whiny. I'd be interested to read something else by Eden with different characters and a different core trope.

I loved this book! I was so excited to discover the back story behind the parents of the Jonquil brothers. Eden introduces a cast of characters that you can't help falling in love with. The Gents are the brothers that everyone wishes they had. Their camaraderie, loyalty, and love for each other is endearing.
It was so sweet to see how Lucas and Julia's relationship develops! Her feelings of loneliness and fear and his feelings of confusion and frustration were very relatable. This book really brought home the truth that relationships and trusting others can be scary and it's hard work, but in the end it's worth every effort. This is definitely one of my new favorites!

What an enchanting novel! I have not read Sarah Eden before, but I cannot wait to have more in this series! What a breath of fresh air that this couple works together and is honest with one another instead of playing word games or mind games. I liked the comradery between the gents and with Julia. I cannot impress upon you enough to give this book a try, but I will warn you, it may rob you of sleep!

Thank you to Convenant Communications and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Sarah Eden with her superb storytelling skills has penned a delightfully romantic narrative to launch her The Gents series. Her attention to detail evidences her extensive research. An arranged marriage between two estranged childhood friends, Lucas who craves travel and adventure in order to live life to its fullest and Julia who prefers home and “quieter pursuits”, forces them to pursue forgiveness and trust on their way to finding lasting love and happiness if such can be found with their differences. The well-structured plot moves at a steady pace, the characters are well-crafted and realistic, and the witty banter adds to the enjoyment of the read. The Gents--Digby, Kes, Henri, Aldric, and Niles--who come to help Lucas “fix” his marriage are delightfully entertaining. The author describes them this way: “All the Gents were intriguing and congenial in their own ways. What a fascinating group they made.” This emotionally rich read will make you laugh and perhaps make you cry! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing and hearing more about the Gents!

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Forget Me Not? HOW COULD I EVER FORGET A BOOK LIKE THIS?!

I've read the Jonquil Brothers series right before reading this book so everything is fresh in my mind. I'm in love.

Young Mater isn't how I expected her to be, she's even better. And Lucas is definitely an idiot at times (how could he be so oblivious to Julia's loneliness?) but he's lovely as well (when he comes to his senses).

The merry band of gentlemen who come to the rescue when all seems lost is the best part. I'm looking forward to reading more about them.

I really love the little things, from the names to the character traits that seem to be passed down from generation to generation.

The writing was devilishly good and took me on a roller coaster ride that I never want to get off of. What a way to start a new series! But how will I survive till the next book?

5 out of 5 stars for this hearwarming (and heartbreaking) masterpiece. Sarah M. Eden, you can steal my heart with your books anytime.

*Huge thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Nottinghamshire, 1785
Julia Cummings has long been acquainted with loss-her mother, her brother, her sister, her friend, all gone too soon. But the loss that pushed her grief to the limit as a young girl was that of her best friend, Lucas Jonquil, who abandoned her without looking back. Now, eight years later, Lucas has returned to Lampton Park, and Julia has steeled herself-she will never forgive the man who broke her heart. After losing too many of his friends and family to early deaths, Lucas vowed to live life to the fullest. And after traversing the world for eight years, he has returned from his adventures to find his family and home as he left them-except for Julia. The little girl he left behind has blossomed into a captivating lady. With little hope of reconciliation, the former friends are blindsided when their parents make a shocking announcement. Lucas and Julia have been betrothed without their knowledge and are to marry immediately. Now Lucas must rely on the help of his closest friends to win the heart of a lady who loathes him-a lady he’s coming to love more deeply every day.
The start of a new series & a lovely start it is. Whilst it introduces the six Gents who have been close friends since attending Eton it also tells the story of Luca & Julia parents of the Jonquil siblings we didn’t learn much about Lucas in the series so I just loved that they’ve had their story & it makes me want to reread the Jonquil series. A well written book with misunderstandings & to some extent the selfishness of Lucas who wanted to live his life to the full & he didn’t realise how much he hurt Julia at times. I also loved how the other Gents were introduced & I look forward to their stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Forget Me Not is a heart-wrenching story of forced matrimony, feelings of abandonment, and childhood friends to true romance. I cried, I laughed, and I didn't want the story to end. Julia Cummings is a fiery character with determination to be her own person while Lucas Jonquil is determined to live life as it is meant to be lived. Jonquil has some great ideas but is definitely a dunderhead. Sarah Eden was able to pull me into the story so that I wanted to knock Lucas over the head.

This story is another Sarah success. The highs and lows were entwined as the characters were reunited and found their way in a marriage they didn't want. This was such a perfect story to introduce Mater and her love story along with a new series without overshadowing the beloved Jonquil brothers saga.