Orphaned as a child, Arabella Hampton was the unwanted and unloved charge of a cruel aunt and neglectful uncle. The only light in her young life was the kindness of the Jonquil family, and she clung to the childish dream of someday living with them at Lampton Park. Now, years later, that opportunity is presented to Arabella in a most unexpected way: she is to be the lady’s companion to the … dowager countess. As she takes up residence at the estate, the young woman soon finds that life at the Park is far more complicated than she imagined. The lines of her position are blurred, and she is neither family nor servant. So when the countess plans a grand house party, Arabella is content to hide in the shadows. But one gentleman sees her there.
Lieutenant Linus Lancaster has retired from the navy and is not looking for love, especially when he finds himself entangled in his sisters’ scheme to trap him into finding a wife at a house party at Lampton Park. Yet amid the festivities, he’s impossibly drawn to the dowager’s quiet companion, Arabella. Their regard for each other is undeniable, but they are haunted by their pasts. Can the two find a way to bridge their worlds?
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This is one of those wonderful romances that had me crying, off and on, for the heroine’s plight. She is such a kind, gentle soul, and her struggles truly touched me. In the end, I was immensely pleased with how she and the hero came together. This is a re-read and must-buy.
A new favorite! I think I may like Arabella and Linus better than any of the other couples in the previous books of the series.
One cannot help but love Arabella. Again, such a beautiful person to come from such dreadful circumstances. My heart ached for her from the beginning. Thank goodness for Mater and all the wonderful Jonquil family who help her come out of her shell and recognize her own goodness.
Linus is a charming man and I admired him all the more for taking to Arabella right away and not letting the dictates of society decide whom he should pay attention to (and recognizing the women are super fake).
I loved this mash-up between the Jonquil and Lancaster families. I admit I’m harboring the hope that we’ll see another mash-up for Charlie Jonquil and…the youngest Lancaster sister, whose name I cannot remember right now.
This was my second read through on this book and I liked it so much more this time around. I love that this book is a mix of Lancasters and Jonquils. And I loved getting to know Charlie better. Can’t wait for his book to come out. I loved spending more time with Adam and Persephone. Their relationship cracks me up. More time with Mater and Caroline was a joy as well. And I enjoyed seeing more about Mater’s husband even if it is all in memories.
I think the biggest weakness in this book is the repetition of Arabella wanting to be part of the Jonquil family but not quite making it, as well as Linus feeling disconnected from his family. It came up quite a few times. It is the main conflict in the story but still felt overly repetitious to me. That being said, I still liked the story.
This book is an enjoyable read. I confess to choking up near the end as Arabella learned truths about her past. Very touching. And I look forward to the rest of the series.
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: fisticuffs
This was wonderful! Loving Lieutenant Lancaster was one of the Lancaster books that I was really excited to read. It was the one that I was eagerly awaiting to read after reading the other books and it did not disappoint. Loving Lieutenant Lancaster is the fourth Lancaster book and it is best read after reading the first 5 Jonquil books.
Linus was struggling, he was lonely and he didn’t quite know what to do with his life. He had been a man of the navy for most of life and that is where he hoped to stay, but life called him back to land. Arabella was so kind and thoughtful, life had not been kind to her so she was used to staying in the shadows. However she loves her neighbors and is thrown back into life when she goes to live as a companion for Mater, the mother of the Jonquil brothers. Linus and Arabella find an immediate connection but will their connection grow to something more?
Linus was such a nice guy, he cared about his family but he was also searching for his place in life. It was sweet to read about him reconnecting with his family and interacting with Oliver, his nephew. He had a heart for the outcasts, there were times where he felt like an outcast, so he saw those around him. I really liked him and I was so happy that he was getting a book. Linus had to learn how to reach out to Arabella and find his place in life, he had to learn what it meant to be a man of the ton instead of a lieutenant in the navy.
Arabella was learning how to live outside of the shadows. She loved the Jonquil family and was excited to be with them again, but she was also weary of being sent away. Arabella was kind to those around her and she was observant, it was fun to read about her interacting with Linus. She was an outcast but she was learning what it meant to trust others again. I really liked Arabella and I adored her relationship with the Jonquill family, it had been some time but she still cared for them. Arabella had to learn to stand up for herself and learn to see her own worth.
I adored Linus and Arabella, they were just so sweet. They were struggling in different ways, both feeling like outcasts at times and yet with each other they found a friend. I don’t know, this book was just so cute and awesome! I keep on saying this, but I love these two series. It was cool to see the series interconnecting more and seeing characters from both series.
Loving Lieutenant Lancaster was a great book! It was fun to read about Linus and Arabella falling in love. I also adored the side characters and this book made me even more excited for Artemis and Charlie’s book! This is a must read book, I would totally recommend it! Loving Lieutenant Lancester is a clean historical romance book.
What do I get when two series I adore merge? Lots of laughs and lots of happy moments. I especially looked forward to the moments between Adam and Philip and between Charlie and Artemis. (Crossing all my fingers and toes they end up together!)
Arabella grew up near the Jonquil brothers and desperately wanted to be a member of their family. Her home life, at best, is unpleasant. When she’s offered the position of Mater’s companion, she jumps at the chance. Upon meeting Linus, it’s quite possible she’s found what she’s always wanted: love and the potential for a happy family of her own.
I have wanted this book – without quite knowing it – for years. I’ve been such a fan of both series and families. It is both tender and funny and is the perfect cup of historical romance tea. It could maybe be read as a stand alone, but I would highly encourage reading the books in both series first.
Loved it! Great story
I so enjoyed this story! Mixing the Lancasters more with the Jonquil family. This is not really a stand alone novel. Reading the Lancasters and Jonquil line of books before this one is a really good idea. I received a book mark from her signing that gives the reading order of each, I’ll put that at the bottom of my review. This is the story of Linus Lancaster and Arabella Hampton. A very sweet story of two lost people trying to find there place in the family and world. The banter between them is so great. It is a believable story line with all the right elements of a great regency read. Very Chaste.
Jonquil Family book Reading order: Kiss of a Stranger, Friends and Foes, Drops of Gold, As You Are, A Fine Gentleman, Love and Honor.
Lancaster Family: Seeking Persephone, Courting Miss Lancaster, Romancing Daphne, Loving Lieutenant Lancaster
One of my favorite Eden stories, and one of my favorite series. Sarah Eden gives me fantastic storytelling and heroic characters with lots of emotion without sex or compromising situations. For a lovely, beautiful historical escape, I highly recommend Eden’s books!
Another great read from Sarah M. Eden. This book is particularly fun because it combines so many of her wonderful characters into one place. As readers, we get to see the couples we love and find out more about what has happened to them since their story ended, which is wonderful. And do not get me started on the showdown between Phillip Jonquil and the Dangerous Duke. Hilarious. Really, laugh out loud.
As for this couple, I loved them both. You can’t help but adore both of them and cheer when they finally get together. There’s lots of heartache and happiness, along with a heavy dose of the Eden witty banter, so it’s great fun all around.
The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because the ending felt a little drawn out to me. It wasn’t bad, just a little draggy. Almost like I couldn’t understand why the hero and heroine hadn’t gotten together sooner. That said, it’s a great book, and I would’ve read it all in one sitting if my stupid life hadn’t gotten in the way and forced me to put it down from time to time.
I’d call the tone of this book sedate. Both Arabella and Lt Linus Lancaster have lost loved ones and are still coming to terms with that loss years later, their pain causing some tear-jerking moments. Arabella comes out of her shell with her sense of ironic humor surprising those who’ve known her the longest.
The descriptions of the house party center more on the conversations; parlor games do not take center stage. There are no sexual exploits.
Oh my heart! I loved this one! Arabella and Linus find something special in each other, but their quick friendship develops into something more so slowly that I was filled with anticipation the entire book. New readers might be a little overwhelmed by all the characters in the Jonquil and Hawthorne families and their connections, but fans of the author will absolutely love seeing more about all their favorites, and it’s more than just cameo appearances. There are significant scenes and subplots with Adam and Persephone, Phillip and Sorrel, Mater, Artemis, and especially the youngest Jonquil brother, Charlie. Linus’s compassion for Charlie and his genuine friendship with the struggling young man showed his admirable personality and he also benefited with a stronger sense of belonging and purpose. Arabella is also struggling to find her place in new circumstances, and Linus’s friendship is like a ray of sunshine in a caring but busy family. Their banter was so natural and full of humor, it was a pleasure to read. I really connected with these characters and highly recommend the book!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
To join two of Sarah M Eden’s dearest families into one book is a risk.
But I believe her talent as an author shown even brighter in this book while remaining true to both her settings, to herself as an author and to the characters that needed their stories to be told.
Well done!
Summertime has been absolutely nuts around here so I’m very happy to review Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by Sarah Eden. Reading this book was a delightful visit back into the world of the Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by [Eden, Sarah M.]Lancasters and colliding with the Jonquil family that Sarah Eden has created. There is a lot going on in this book with mentions of nearly every Lancaster and Jonquil character, so you’ll have a lot of fun recognizing old friends from other books that Eden has written. If you haven’t read any of Eden’s books featuring these families, I imagine that there will be a bit of lost connection but not so great that you won’t still enjoy and appreciate the story. I would definitely recommend reading Seeking Persephone first so that you can have a proper introduction to the Duke of Kielder.
In this novel, we meet Arabella Hampton and discover how she is introduced to the handsome and curious Lieutenant Lancaster. As I mentioned, there is lots of interaction with other characters, their secret confidences, and events that make this novel fun to read. Most of the novel takes place during a house party and Eden definitely knows how to put on a party. Several of the guests had a hand in the attempted matchmaking of Lieutenant Lancaster, but Mater Jonquil has wisdom that many miss. Arabella’s aunt and uncle are wonderfully despicable and easy to dislike, while other characters who tried to influence her were not so easy to dislike. This is a character-driven novel that sits well with the collection Eden has created. I love happy endings and this one does not disappoint.
This is a beautiful story from Sarah M Eden!
And I love that it mixes two families, the Jonquil’s and the Lancaster’s. I have read stories from both families and the characters are always so endearing. I like that Sarah portraits very real characters, with flaws, fears, insecurities, even selfishness at times. It makes it more relatable. But there’s always kindness and compassion behind the hero/heroine, the issue of forgiveness, loving oneself and finding true love.
I like how she describes the details of the era, it really transported me.
Linus and Arabella make the perfect match but things aren’t so easy. Arabella feels she’s not socially adequate for him. And Linus is overwhelmed by being the new manager of his estate and fitting his brother’s shoes while still grieving his loss. Will they find their happily ever after? Hope you’ll decide to find out!
The secondary characters are also interesting. I’m hoping Charlie and Artemis will get their story soon. The interaction with the children is so cute. There are so many scenes where you can laugh out loud at their antics.
I totally recommend this book to anyone, young and adult. It was such an enjoyable read!
I received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
4.5 Stars
Orphaned as a child, Arabella Hampton was the unwanted and unloved charge of a cruel aunt and neglectful uncle. The only light in her young life was the kindness of the Jonquil family, and she clung to the childish dream of someday living with them at Lampton Park. Now, years later Arabella is to be the lady’s companion to the dowager countess Mater. Lieutenant Linus Lancaster has retired from the navy and is not looking for love, especially when he finds himself entangled in his sisters’ scheme to trap him into finding a wife at a house party at Lampton Park. Yet amid the festivities, he’s impossibly drawn to the dowager’s quiet companion, Arabella. Their regard for each other is undeniable, but they are haunted by their pasts. A lovely romance of two people finding each other & helping each other with their insecurities. Whilst this novel could be read on its own it links the Lancaster & Jonquil families, I enjoyed ‘catching up’ with characters from previous books & especially loved Oliver & Caroline. The characters are very well portrayed & the paced of the story is consistent all the way through, there are no fireworks just a very well written charming romance
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Slow Building Sweet Romance.
Two lonely people, who think of themselves as misfits are drawn to each other. Arabella’s insecurity comes from her childhood upbringing with an uncle and his wife who do not want her; whilst Linus, a second son, struggles to find his way in his late brother’s shoes. You can see that these two are perfect for each and you root for them to be together. Whilst this book is one in a series it can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of Sarah Eden’s writing and have yet to be disappointed by any of her books. She has written several books with a familial cast of characters and I love each book that tells me more of the stories of the other characters in the family.
Arabella Hampton was an orphan who lived under the care of her aunt and uncle who were neglectful, at best, and cruel at worst. She was not shown the least bit of love or kindness by the only two remaining members of her family. As a child, she was treated warmly by the residents of Lampton Park, the Jonquil family, especially by the earl himself. She had dreamed of being a part of the Jonquil family but when the earl passed away suddenly, she was left alone with her horrible family. Now, as a lady in her early 20s, she became the lady’s companion for the Dowager herself. The dowager had planned a house party now that her son, Philip, and his bride were to live in the manor and she would be moving to the smaller dowager residence.
Lieutenant Linus Lancaster had been a navy man but was now retired and being the only surviving male member of his family, was returning to his family estate to take over the management and affairs of it. Before doing so, he had been invited to a house party at Lampton Park. While there, he met a beautiful young woman who always seemed to hide in the shadows. As he spent time with her and learned who she was, he began to develop fond feelings towards her. He had never felt like this towards any woman before. While his sisters were determined to play matchmaker for him, he was content to spend time with Miss Arabella Hampton. She made him feel peace and he was able to voice some of the tragedy he had experienced in his life; something he had never been able to do before.
While I won’t give away the ending, suffice it to say that there is a happy ending. Sarah Eden is able to weave such a beautiful story with characters who have depth and layers that contribute to such a wonderful tale. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed reading a true romance that is clean and without foul language to distract from the story. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and offer a review willingly and without any reservations.
The Lancasters and the Jonquils together! Yay!! I have read all of the books in the Lancaster series and in the Jonquil series, and I love these two families! Having them come together in a book was a dream come true. And it lived up to the dream!
At the heart of the book is the story of Linus and Arabella. It was wonderful to get to know Linus better! He is intuitive, unselfish, hard working, and great with kids. He is quite a catch! Arabella is unassuming and kind. She has such a tender connection to the Jonquils. I loved Linus and Arabella together! They were perfect for each other.
Now…Adam and Philip. I must admit that seeing their interactions was what made me the most excited about a book including both families. Oh, my! Did that ever live up to expectations! I also loved seeing or hearing about other members of the families. I just love them all!!
You don’t have to read all of the books in the two series to enjoy this one, but I would recommend reading at least one of the other books in the Lancaster series, preferably Seeking Persephone, so that you know Adam and understand more about him and his title as the Dangerous Duke, and reading Friends and Foes in the Jonquil series so that you know Philip well. However, if you read this book first, you’ll get to have some great “ah, that’s why that happened” moments as you read the other books in the two series. And trust me. You’ll want to read the other books!