At first glance, I really should dislike this book entirely. I am NOT a fan of the trope "Poor Communication Kills" (okay, it doesn't actually "kill" in this book - but you get the idea). And in this story, Lucas and Julia's inability to talk to each other at first should have me pulling my hair out.

HOWEVER - the reasons that these two don't talk about their issues lend themselves to creating two very flawed and, hence, interesting characters that this is one time that I found myself enjoying the use of the PCK trope. Meaning that any trope can be used well and tell a good story.

From the start, I ABSOLUTELY understood Julia's point of view. While I haven't had to experience the loss that she has had in her life (thankfully), I do understand people breaking promises and the loss of dear relationships due to neglect or outright animosity. And I do understand her desire to close herself off from others so they don't hurt her again. I still would rather keep my circle of friends limited to a small handful of trusted individuals who don't mind if I drop off the face of the earth (so to speak) for months at a time so I can rest and recharge.

If I do have a slight complaint about this, it's that the Gents almost seem to take over the story in certain places. I was okay with a few of them showing up as an introduction to the group. But sometimes, Lucas deferring to them in the course of trying to win Julia's affection was a little... strange. Maybe it wasn't handled as well as intended. I kind of thought Julia might be too overwhelmed by all these guys suddenly showing up and thinking the world of her, when she never had a clue as to who they were.

Also - before the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT at the beginning of the story, I actually thought Julia and Kes would have been a better match and that the conflict in the story would come from a love triangle.

Overall, it was a good start to the series, if a little flawed.

A so-so romance set in the Georgian Era. I didn't particularly connect with either the hero or the heroine, although the ensemble cast was amusing. Not my favorite book by this author.

I love Sarah Eden’s writing style and the humor in her stories. She also writes some pretty unforgettable characters. Forget Me Not is book one in “The Gents” series. While this story ended up being pretty good, I did struggle with the main Character, Julia. I am very heroine picky, and I just didn’t connect with her. I also felt that parts of the story were a bit repetitive. That being said, the second half of the book really picked up. This is a clean, sweet read.

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

Forget Me Not is book one in what I hope is a continuing series! I truly enjoyed how Ms. Eden weaves the lives of the two protagonists (Lucas and Julia) together seamlessly into a story that is mesmerizing. Lucas and Julia have known each other since they were children. Julia has endured more heartbreak and loss than anyone ever should. Because of that, she has closed herself off to any type of close relationship, including love. Lucas, who is nine years older than Julia, allowed Julia to tag along with him and his mates as they were growing up, He grows up and leaves his home to become his own man and in the process, unknowingly, leaves little Julia feeling abandoned once again. However, Lucas has returned, and not to the same adventurous little girl that he left. Julia is now a grown up, reclusive, incredibly intelligent woman with a mind of her own and a mountain of grief in her heart. Unbeknownst to both of them, their parents have matched them together and within a week of that announcement Lucas and Julia find themselves wed to each other. Lucas feels trapped and Julia resentful. With the help of "The Gents", Lucas's best friends, they vow to help Lucas and Julia fall in love. Will they even find friendship between them let alone love? Will it end in disaster? Despite what I felt were some depressing moments and a slow start, I enjoyed watching the characters come into their own and learn the value of love, friendship, and trust. I look forward to reading more in this series! Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I found myself really enjoying this story. It is historical fiction set in the 1780s and deals with an unexpected marriage.

Julia and Lucas grew up as neighbors though Julia was years younger than Lucas. Julia, her older brother Stanley, and Lucas were great friends. But then things started to happen. Julia’s twin sister, Charlotte, died. Lucas’s siblings died. Lucas went off to school. Stanley went off to war and died. And Julia was left all alone. And Lucas never made much effort to visit or to write to her. Julia felt like everyone she had ever cared about had abandoned her.

So when Lucas returns from his travels after being gone for eight long years, the Julia that he sees is not the same Julia as when he left. She is more reserved and retreats into herself, spending time alone as much as possible. She is guarding her emotions so she won’t get hurt again.

At a ball that was supposed to be Lucas’s welcome home party turns, unexpectedly, into Lucas and Julia’s engagement ball. And this is an engagement that neither of them wanted. Lucas did not want to be forced to marry anyone, especially his childhood friend who now appears to hate him for some unknown to him reason. Julia did not want to be forced to marry anyone either, especially her childhood friend who had abandoned her without a second thought.

And so their engagement is announced and they are married a week later, no matter what arguments they tried to make to get out of it. And, after the wedding, Lucas and Julia are off to Lucas’s estate in the north, a place that Julia has never been.

The interactions between Lucas and Julia are so fraught with emotion and tension. Neither knows really what is going on in the other’s head. Julia sees everything as a possible hint that Lucas is just going to abandon her again. Lucas, meanwhile, does not know how to interpret anything that Julia says or does and, on top of that, Lucas is a terrible communicator.

I really recommend this book, especially if you want to read a historical fiction novel that explores how to deal with abandonment. It was really a good read.

Luminous historical details as well as a romance that sighs between two deliciously complex characters, Forget Me Not is more proof that Sarah Eden excels at any period including the sumptuous Georgian period.


I love stories of love rekindled and trust lost and found. I also am a sucker for any tropes that include marriages of convenience and arrangement. Lovingly told details and a slow-burn romance, as well as the dimensional introduction of the other Gents that will feature in subsequent books make this first-in-a-series a must read for established fans and a treat for newcomers!



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The start of The Gents series by Sarah M Eden, Forget Me Not, is exactly what I would expect from me. It is an excellent read and I loved every single page of it. Five stars.

I love Sarah Eden's work and this was no exception. The eighteenth-century backdrop was refreshing, as I feel that most historical romances are regency and while that's a good time period, it can get kind of boring sometimes.

This book was delightful! I can't stop smiling just thinking about it <3
I've been so looking forward to learning about Lady and Lord Jonquil's love story. And, wow, I did not expect what I encountered. First off, Lucas was not what I expected him to be. This shouldn't surprise me since we do hear about him older. And Mater.... I had no idea!

There are many things I love about Sarah M Eden's books. The banter, the subtle humor, the characters!! But the candor, even when the characters might take a while to arrive there... that always tugs at a special place. It turns to be very important to make Julia and Lucas' journey true.

I SO much look forward to reading more from The Gents!

p.s.: I think I know who Philip took after haha

Such a beautiful story of love and respect - set in my home county, no less! Julia and Lucas' story will keep you gripped in a well-crafted tale that will move you beyond your wildest expectations! It has been a while since a book has managed to bring me to tears, but Sarah Eden achieved this. The classics and clichés have nothing on this book!

Sarah M. Eden has definitely fast tracked her way on to my favorites list and with each book I read her spot is even more cemented!
Having just finished the Jonquil Brothers series I was extremely excited to read their parents’ love story, though it was a little bittersweet knowing what happens in the future.
This book was everything I wanted it to be and I was basically completely giddy the whole time I was reading it!
Lucas was definitely an idiot at times but he was a kind, thoughtful, lovable idiot so it wasn’t hard to forgive his blunders. He lived his life so passionately and I loved seeing so many characteristics that his sons had obviously inherited.
My heart broke for Julia and all the loss she had endured, I literally cannot imagine holding up under the weight of it. I loved the fiery personality that she had, it had been buried a bit in her grief and isolation but as Lucas and the Gents brought it to light again it was an absolutely wonderful thing. I even loved the way she reacted to things at the beginning, because if I’m being honest it was exactly how I would want to react but wouldn’t have the guts to!
Their love story definitely had its ups and downs but I absolutely loved watching it all play out, especially knowing where their journey would take them in the future!
I also can’t write this review without talking about the hilariously wonderful Gents! They were all so unique but I loved their brotherhood! The banter was the absolute best part of this book and I adored the way they immediately adopted Julia as theirs!
Basically this book was amazing and I cannot freaking wait to read more!

This book was amazing! I loved not only the setting but also the character development! Eden created a novel that draws readers into the world and gets you invested in the character's lives!

3.5/5 stars

This was a sweet (read: not steamy) historical romance. The parents on two neighboring estates arrange a marriage between their two remaining children, the others having died of illness or in war. Trouble is, the two haven't been close in years since they were children, and said parents choose to announce their engagement publicly at a ball before telling either of them. Really? The heroine runs out of the ball saying, "No, no, no." Is there a scandal? Apparently not? Cut to a few days later, she eavesdrops on the hero talking to his parents about the forced marriage, and he makes her sound like a stick in the mud. So she gets out her black mourning dress to wear to her wedding. And everyone is OK with this? The rest of the story is the ups and downs of the life of the reluctant newlyweds (but not literally--no steam, remember? The raciest moment is when the hero says his wife has nice legs.). The heroine is emotional all the time and needs to sleep constantly--but this is the 18th century (I think? Lots of anti-hair-powdering talk) so there's no one to diagnose her clinical depression. There are quite a few scenes that just sort of end and cut to the next, and you're left wondering about the details of how the last situation got resolved. Or at least I was. So for all that head-scratching, I round down to 3 stars.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

Julia is such an important character as the mother known as Mater in the Jonquil brothers series, and I was thrilled to learn she was getting her own book! It was a little heartbreaking to read of her struggles and vulnerability with Lucas from the beginning, since they have been known to have such a deep love for one another. Lucas is an important brother figure to Julia, but his neglect of her as they grow older has a profound influence on her. She is slow to trust and resents Lucas for his abandonment and silence over the years when she has needed his friendship the most. I did find him rather self-centered, but it is an understandable flaw with all that he has going on in his life. It didn't make him less likeable to me, just made me feel more compassion for Julia and the feeling of being unimportant and overlooked. He has a lot to make up for as they are thrown into the difficult circumstance of an arranged marriage, one which proves to be the best thing that ever happened to him- once his eyes are opened to the possibilities of a life with Julia. A lovely, angsty, Georgian-set romance that begins a new series for the author. I can't wait to see what the next book will be about!!!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

A fantastic romance set in Victorian England. As a fan of Eden's work, I am familiar with the main characters from other novels. This is a long awaited look into the back story of some of my favorite fictional people. The writing is fantastic, the characters loveable and the humor spot on. I will definitely recommend this to all my reader friends!

I absolutely loved this book. The main characters are wonderful; the storyline is heart-touching; and the details of the time period in which the story takes place add so much interest to the book. I immediately had sympathy for main character, Julie Cummings, and the grief that she had experienced in losing dear family and friends. Even though they had been the best of friends during Julia’s childhood, her arranged marriage to Lucas Jonquil seems like a lonely place to Julia, as she is reluctant to trust Lucas with her heart. She’s built high walls around her emotions to avoid being hurt. At first, Lucas values his freedom, but as he draws closer to Julia again, his greatest goal becomes winning her love and trust.
The Gents, a group of Lucas’s close friends, step into the situation to help Lucas and Julia find lasting happiness. The dialogue among them is sparkling and fun, and I am looking forward to reading this series and following their stories of finding true love and happiness.

This is a beautiful clean and sweet romance. Sarah Eden’s books are always a delight to read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

What a great story! This is the first of Ms. Eden's books that I've read, but most definitely will not be the last!
Both Julia and Lucas are likable characters. Although Lucas really is an idiot at times, this character trait is essential to the overall premise of the story.
Thank you Sarah Eden, Covenant Communications and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

For years we have waited to hear Lucas & Julia's love tale!! Sarah Eden doesn't disappoint! After reading this book I want to go back and read the whole series again. I loved seeing how Harry and his father are more alike than I realized. Lucas Carrie's the same Jonquil trait of being clueless when it comes to women and their feelings. He finally catches on and how he treasures Julia is truly a love story that we now know why has endured even past his death. I couldn't put this book down and can't wait to read it again!

I enjoyed learning the history behind Mater's and the Late Earl's story. The excellent part of the way it's written is it's the start of a prequel series so it should be read first of the Gent's series, but can be read before or after the jonquil brothers series. Or even read alone by itself.

Lucas shares many attributes with his sons-- pure idiocy and suffering from the thinking of his time. He may say somethings that were overheard and misunderstood and eventually became his downfall.

Lucas comes home from the touring the Continent to an arranged marriage to his neighbor. Both of them adamantly against their union, they are forced to the altar by their parents. After that it's misunderstanding after miscommunication. Lucas's friends come to the rescue. Between their efforts and Julia's and Luca's stubbornness, love blooms.

Excellent characterization, plot, and romance. All the good things. All things considered, it's not my favorite Eden novel, but a great start to a promising series.

This book is such a sweet story. It’s full of loss, but also full of beauty as two friends, who have both known deep wounds and who are of very different personalities, explore how to open themselves to allow their wounded hearts to find connection and hope.

The companionship of The Gents (the theme of this series) is an engaging pull into the story. Who wouldn’t want such a band of brothers in their lives? Julia’s character is a complex mix of thick walls of self protection and deep longing to belong. Lucas made a vow at his sibling’s deaths to live life to the fullest, but it is entirely possible that he has no idea what a truly full life looks like.

I enjoyed this story and will be looking for the next book in the series.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.