The Best of Intentions is a book with lots of secrets, surprises, and swoon-worthy romance. Gillian Phelps is invited to a house party and while there she meets Scott Sarvol. She isn’t sure she can trust him at first, but as they get to know each other through a crisis, it soon becomes apparent that he could be someone she could love. But both Gillian and Scott are carrying secrets that could destroy their newfound relationship. They’ll have to find the strength to trust each other if they want a future together. This was a book I read nearly in one sitting and historical romance fans will enjoy the depth of emotion in the characters, as well as appearances of favorite characters from previous Sarah Eden books.

This book was a great introduction to the Hutresses series! It was fun to finally see Scott's story and how sweet and patient he was with Gillian. The brief scene we get with all of the Hutresses together hint that there is much to look forward to.

On the fence about this one. Didn't realize it was, for all intents and purposes, another in a long chain. It felt like I spent most the book trying to figure out a sentence that was actually in reference to a previous book.

That being said, I enjoyed it enough to try to go back to the beginning with this author.

Gillian Phelps is just suitable enough for the eyes of London Society, yet she hides a secret that not even her closest friends (the Huntresses) know about. She fears that all will be revealed when she attends a house party. The arrival of Scott Sarvol makes her even more wary, yet when he proves himself to be helpful, their relationship develops. However, Scott also faces challenges, having inherited two debt-riddled estates that he fears will sink him further into debt. When Gillian receives a distressing letter, requiring her to return home, Scott sees the situation as a way to leave the house party.
This is a lovely start to a series, and I found the gradual development of the relationship between Gillian and Scott, beautifully revealed. The initial suspicion by Gillian, is corrected by Scott’s kindness and his ability to protect others. I found all of Charlie’s friends brought added depth to this story and I enjoyed the connection between the Huntresses. Overall, this was a sweet, clean romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another beautifully written story by Sarah M Eden. She once again has masterfully created characters and circumstances that bring our imagination to life. Having each book in a series be about a different member of a select group, in this case a group of friends, is fun to follow. Thanks for another great story!

VERDICT While the early plotting and characterizations are a bit rocky in this sweet, slow-burning romance, fans of Eden’s “The Jonquil Brothers” series will be delighted to see familiar characters from the author’s other books return throughout this series kick-off.

The Best Intentions is marketed as the first in a new series, but many of the characters have appeared in previous books. I felt like I had been dropped in the middle of a story, like I was missing key information. At the beginning especially, there were so many characters, and they all seemed so perfect and charming. The opening chapters were a little too heavy on set up for the series for my liking, and is not one person in this circle unlikable?

Even once we moved beyond meeting all the huntresses, the story failed to engage me. I found it boring, and I did not care about the main characters. There wasn’t really any tension as to how things would turn out, no barriers to the happy ever after. (If only we all had rich friends to confide in, all problems would be smoothed away and our lives would be perfect.)

The romance moved way too quickly. It hardly seemed like Gillian and Scott had met before they were in love. Everything moved too quickly – the use of first names, the casual touching. Everyone acts like “dear friends” when they’ve just met.

From chapter 22 of the advance reader copy: “He’d known her only a matter of weeks, and in those few weeks he’d laughed more and smiled more than he had in years. In those few weeks, she had become home to him, and he hadn’t fully realized it until that moment.” I found their relationship saccharine.

Scott’s uncle ran the family estate into disrepair, but before he died he constantly criticized Scott and called him a born failure. Scott feels these criticisms deeply, but I didn’t get why. His uncle is clearly the loser; it was hard for me to imagine that his uncle’s opinion would matter that much.

The heroine’s father had financial troubles and has now become…a butler using an alias? In the home of the woman who took Gillian in? That seemed so far-fetched to me. So did Scott deciding to solve his financial problems by turning one of his holdings into essentially a Regency era Airbnb.

I’ve read better from Sarah Eden; for me, The Best Intentions was a dud. I read an advance reader copy of The Best Intentions from Netgalley.

Sarah Eden hit a home run with this engaging historical fiction. Fans of her Jonquil or Lancaster series will recognize some of the players in this fantastic start to a new series. The group of friends known as the huntresses all have secrets they want to keep hidden from the ton. They band together like the mythical group of huntresses to support one another in their adventures. The only problem with a new series is waiting for the next book to be released.

Trying to salvage his inheritance single-handedly is not going well for Scott. Can he trust others to help him? Gillian is also in difficult circumstances and unwilling to let her friends know. Will these two work out their problems? Realize that others care and want to help?

#TheHuntresses #NetGalley

This is such a tender story, with raw emotions. Gillian Phelps, has been forced into a situation where life is slim, the positives in her life, are few , and her group of friends, known as the Huntresse; have kept her from drowning in despair.
Scott Sovall, is an American, who is burdened, with the inheritance, that has fallen into his hands. His late uncle, left his English estates in near destitute and nearly uninhabitable. Scott, doesn't want to share his burden, even with his friends, the Jonquil's who claim him as family, But can he escape going to debtors prison?
I loved reading about characters, from some of Sarah M. Eden's other books, I look forward to more books in this series.

This is a beginning of a new series from from historical romance writer Sarah M. Eden. The Huntresses are the friends that Artemis Jonquil takes under her wing. She leads them in standing firm together, knowing when to deflect and when to leave a situation. The focus of this story is Gillian Phelps. A friend of her mother claims her as a distant relative and is her benefactress getting her into polite society. Her mother is dead and there is a secret she can’t share about her father. Artemis decides to host the Huntresses for a house party. Her husband invites his friends from Cambridge as well to make up numbers. Scott Sarvol ends up at the gathering while escorting Artemis mother in law for a visit. Scott is a little older and has inherited property from his uncle that is riddled with debt. He has been trying on his own to find a way to make the improvements and avoid debtors prison.

Eden does a great job of setting up the party and introducing the many characters. (It is extra confusing because many also have nick names.) Just when I get everyone figured out Gillian is called home and Scott agrees to see her there as he it will take him closer to other land holdings he needs to visit. Eden does break a lot of the Regency rules, familiarity in using names, lack of chaperones etc. She does mention it but it is still a change if you’re a stickler for society etiquette. (Artemis was forced into a marriage to escape ruin by these rules in another book.) In a twist the couple acknowledges their growing feelings but their life situations are the obstacles to them coming together. Scott especially has to be open to allowing others to help him if his situation is going to improve.

I think this is a great start to a new series. If you are already familiar with Lancaster series or the Jonquil Brothers series this will be a must read. I’’ve read some of Eden’s books and have been referred to those series but haven’t read them. So I read this as a stand alone. I could tell many of the characters must have been the focus in those series. I love when authors create their own worlds and let characters from various books interact.

Eden and this publisher produce clean books for language and intimacy. Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for a eARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m giving this four stars and it may have been higher if I had read previous books with some of the characters.

This book is another addition to the ever popular Regency Romance genre. In this rendition Gillian is a woman living off the good graces of her benefactor and no matter how well they get on she can’t help but feel herself at a disadvantage. At a house party she meets Scott, an American who has inherited financially ruinous estate that is entailed so heavily he is unable to do anything to improve his situation except find an heiress. An unlikely coupling it would seem, since Gillian has no interest in him at first. But as with all things romance, anything is possible.

It is a comfortably written novel, the plot is standard, the pace fine enough, though it is by no means historically accurate or approaching the wit of Julia Quinn’s wonderful and fun series, let alone of the queen of Regency Romance, Georgette Heyer. But it is a light read and will easily go on the shelves of those who find any of the genre a must read.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a fantastic novel but an outstanding author. I love the start of this new Huntress series that teased enough at other characters Daria, Lisette, for future novels. The ties to other characters from the Jonquil series was fantastic. Gillen and Scott are well rounded characters seeking to find love despite challenges of money and social standing that are common in regency era. I enjoyed this clean novel so much and truly can't wait for more by this author!!!!