Hearts of Briarwall by Krista Jensen

 

A TURN OF THE CENTURY ROMANCE

Lydia Wooding is fascinated by the latest inventions the new century brings, including motorcars. She longs for the independence they represent and believes that women should have a say in the future of the industry—just as they should have a say in suffrage, adventure, and, of course, love.

Spencer Hayes is a man of practicality and innovation, but he lacks the financial backing to make his dream a reality. When he contacts his childhood friend, Andrew Wooding, about a promising business venture, he is invited to Briarwall Manor to discuss the terms. Once there, he is surprised to find that Andrew's once shy, younger sister, Lydia, has grown into a young woman of beauty, wit, and a bit of fire. Even better, the two share a passion for motorcars.

Andrew, however, is wary of cars, having lost his parents in a tragic auto accident when he and Lydia were young. And he's not sure a relationship between his sister and Spencer is the best idea—not when Sir Lawrence is available and could match both Lydia's social status and her fortune.

Torn between risking their hearts and being loyal to their dreams in an era of whirlwind change, Spencer and Lydia anchor themselves with the determination they both share: to live life to its fullest.

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Have you ever read a book set in the Edwardian period?  (Think Downton Abbey.)  I don't think I have but I love movies set in this time period so this was a fun change in reading.

Motorcars were such a hot topic in the Edwardian era and I loved how this book brought that out.  It had such a loud presence with Lydia and Andrew losing their parents in a motorcar accident and Spencer and Lydia's shared passion and interest in them.  It really was fun to imagine the cars then and the excitement and even some of the wariness of people who lived then.

The group of Lydia's friends entertained me.  I loved their excursion to the scent shop and how feminine and also how bold they were.  I loved Lydia's desire to read.  Of course I connected to that.  😀  I also loved how women were emerging into their own rights and standing for what they wanted independently of men.  This book showcased that well and it made me proud to be a woman.

I enjoyed the growing friendship between Spencer and Lydia- how they reconnected after so many years and found equal footing again.  It was all very sweet.

Content:  kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author: 

Award-winning author KRISTA JENSEN works and plays in the Pacific Northwest with her spunky little dog and anyone else who wants to tag along. When she’s not exploring the outdoors, she can likely be found with her laptop, a pretty spiral notebook, and a Pilot Precise V7, writing about love, triumph, and really great kisses. Either that or she’s switching laundry wondering who keeps wearing all these clothes. (It’s her.) For book info and other good things, follow Krista on Instagram @kristajensenbooks.

Hearts of Briarwall is the 45th installment in the Proper Romance® series, a collection of award winning, clean romance novels written by 12 authors across a wide spectrum of genres, including Regency, Victorian, and Contemporary. These stories feature relatable heroines, handsome heroes, obstacles to overcome and happy endings. Learn more at www.properromance.com.