Daisies and Devotion (Mayfield Family #2) by Josi S. Kilpack

Timothy Mayfield is ready to marry for love, but, since his personal finances are thinner than he’d like, he knows he’ll also need to find a wife with wealth. After receiving an unexpected inheritance, Timothy’s circumstances change, and he is free to pursue his “perfect woman”—one with blonde hair, blue eyes, a light laugh, arched eyebrows, elegant fingers, and a dazzling smile, among nearly twenty other characteristics.

Maryann Morrington doesn’t match anything on Timothy’s list—except for wealth. An heiress in her own right, she is tired of men pursuing her only for her money. But at nearly twenty-two years old, and not a particularly stunning beauty, she can’t be as picky as her friend Timothy is.

The two friends end up playing matchmaker for each other. Timothy will find a decent gentleman for Maryann, and Maryann will prove to Timothy that his “perfect woman” doesn’t exist.

Until Miss Shaw comes to London.

Now, with Timothy’s heart captivated by the blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Maryann must decide if she should risk her heart and reveal her true feelings for her friend, or if she should settle for someone else. It’s an up-and-down game of “he loves me, he loves me not” with both hearts and friendship on the line.

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Sigh.  This book was so sweet.  So gentle.  I just loved how softly it fell around my heart.

Maryann is a fantastic character.  Her personality is well defined and I love how she is unlike the "norm" for the time.  She speaks her mind, stands up for herself but never in an unkind way.  She is gentle but strong too.  She laughs loudly when amusement fills her.  Maryann is exactly the kind of person I would love to be friends with.  Evidently, Timothy feels the same way.   Poor Maryann.  Try as she might, she just cannot help but wish for more with Timothy even when he insults her (multiple times) and puts her firmly in the friend box. 

It's such an interesting dynamic between Maryann and Timothy.  I was invested and interested in them from beginning to end.  I loved the ending chapters because by that time I really felt like I knew both Maryann and Timothy.  The anticipation for me as a reader was heightened and all my emotions were there.  I LOVE that. 

This book is part of a series but I think each book can stand on it's own.  I would recommend reading them in order just for your own enjoyment.

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