Well, this sure had an insecure heroine! I loved the delicious angsty uncertainty. The protagonists were sweet but I will say that I felt Adam stole the show. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series but I was a bit disappointed in Daphne’s family’s tendency to overlook her. It felt a bit slow-moving at times but it had some of my favorite elements, namely the heroine thinking the hero is in love with her, and being devastated when she overhears the truth! Overall, a pleasant if painfully clean, borderline saccharine read. (3.5 stars) ( )

Coerced by his father, who wishes for his family to climb the social ladder by any means necessary, James Tilburn pays court to Daphne Lancaster, a shy young woman making her first bow in society. Can love blossom when is is built on a lie?

The set up for this story is straight forward. From the start, the reader knows what will cause what will cause this couple grief. This could be predictable and bland, but the author does a fantastic job of making us feel for these characters. It is heartbreaking to watch the lie be revealed.

Daphne is a sweet character and I love seeing her affection for the intimidating Duke of Kielder (who I love in every scene he appears in). Her shyness and reluctance to trust her feelings is very relatable. James' own journey through the book is one of growth. I was cheering from him from start to finish to do the gentlemanly thing.

It was lovely to be reacquainted with the Duke and Persephone once again. Artemis, the youngest Lancaster girl, has a personality that shines and I very much look forward to seeing her courtship when she grows up.

For fans of the Regency era, Sarah M. Eden's novels are a must-read. They are sweet, clean, and highly entertaining.

I was provided with an ARC file for review purposes from NetGalley. ( )

Title: Romancing Daphne
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Pages: 328
Year: 2017
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
I have read one other book by this author, A Fine Gentleman, and liked it so when this novel was released I jumped at the chance to read it. This book is part of the Lancaster Family series and is book three. This story is about the shy sister, Daphne. The beginning of the story takes place in the fall of 1806 in London with a 12-year-old Daphne peeking at the crowd at her older sister’s presentation to Society with the first meeting between Daphne and James Tilburn. Then, we leave that flashback and jump six years to the present time period for the remainder of the story.
Daphne Lancaster has been told she is plain, with none of the beauty of person or personality as her sisters by those in the “know”. Her family loves her and she is comfortable with them and pursuing learning. She is dreading her presentation to Society, which is a requirement of a woman of her station now that she is eighteen. She would much rather spend her time talking politics and new of the day with her brother-in-law or reading.
James Tilburn is a young man who has been given a chance to help his family’s reputation by spending time with an influential duke’s sister-in-law, Daphne Lancaster, to help ease her way into Society. He is just to befriend her, not pay her court. He has political aspirations to fill his father’s seat in the House of Lord, a seat his father rarely inhabits. His father is all about raising their family’s reputation to the highest social circles. With James being in contact with Daphne, his mother might be helped as well as she has been spurned from Society due to her humble origins. James has a chance to give his mother an opening in the closed ranks of Society. Once he segues Daphne into Society, he can taper off their interactions. He has no intentions of becoming enamored.
This is only my second book to read from this author’s pen, but I am hooked! Her writing style is one that draws a reader in from page one until turning the last page with a satisfying sigh. The characters are appealing and readers will have their emotions engaged. There is tenderness, humor, a bit of mystery, betrayal and more to this wonderful story. I have already begun searching for her other novels and hope to read them soon. I will be keeping my out eye out for her next novel as I know I will be in for an entertaining story.
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