The Heart of a Vicar

Harold Jonquil is trying to be the best vicar he can be--and yet, despite his efforts to suppress any un-vicar-like tendencies (like singing drinking songs!), Harold seems to be failing. He isn't connecting with his congregation as well as he would like, and his brothers constantly remind him of his shortcomings. When Sarah Sarvol, the girl he fell in love with years before but couldn't pursue a relationship with, returns to the area to live, she quickly points out his shortcomings and even tells him she'd make a better vicar than him...and Harold soon sees that she has a way of connecting with people that he lacks. Has he been wrong to dedicate his life to being a vicar?
When Sarah and her brother Scott return to England so Scott can assume his responsibilities as their cankerous and cruel uncle's heir, Sarah is determined to be happy--even if it means seeing Harold Jonquil, the man who broke her heart. She's shocked by the changes in him, none of which seem to be for the better, and trying, to break through the hollow and indifferent exterior he projects to see if there is more below his surface, she challenges him to a contest to see who can be a better vicar. As Harold starts to show signs of his old self, though, Sarah finds that her old feelings for him start to resurface, but having been hurt by him once, does she dare trust him with her heart again?

Oh my goodness! I've heard Sarah M. Eden say a couple of times that she can't wait to introduce us to the real Harold Jonquil, and now I see what she meant.. We've seen quite a bit of Harold in the other books in the series, but always through his brothers' eyes, and he was definitely my least favorite Jonquil, based on what I saw through his brothers--he had a holier-than-thou attitude and seemed entirely lacking in real feelings. Well, by the end of the first chapter of this book, I was ready to punch his idiotic (but lovable) brothers in their noses and slap myself upside the head for ever believing anything they said about him! The author did a terrific job of showing his true character--with tons of feelings and vulnerabilities and insecurities. He was just a wonderful character, and I loved getting to see who he really is and seeing how Sarah helped him be more willing to show his family and his parishioners who he really was. I also loved seeing Sarah's bright personality and how she was determined to be happy in spite of difficult circumstances. And while I was put out with the other Jonquil brothers for their shabby treatment of Harold, I loved seeing what was going on in their lives and seeing how they did come through for Harold when he needed them, and I especially loved seeing Harold find his place among them and his community. This was just a beautiful book, and I adored everything about it. This is an easy 5 stars and one of my picks for the best books of 2019.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.