Reviewed by sstaley on
The book starts with such sadness as Evangeline and her sister Lucy are reeling from the death of their parents and brothers. In sweeps their cruel Aunt Barton, who reminded me a lot of Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter. Honestly, I haven't read any book since that I disliked as much until this bitter Aunt shows up. As the sisters end up separated, and Evangeline is thrown into a cruel, dusty, unknown life, depression hangs in the air. Eden paints this bleak atmosphere so well that you want to cry right along with her main character. Thank goodness as the book moves along, so does the feeling of despair as Evangeline's great spirit rises and she befriends a grumpy neighbor, Dermot, and his darling son Ronan.
As a seasoned teacher I truly appreciated Evangeline's journey as a new, untrained teacher. She struggles a lot, but her love for the children helps her grow into her role and succeed despite great odds. I really loved this part of the book. It was all written so well. Of course, the sweet, clean romance we always expect from Eden blossoms throughout the pages. The cooking lessons were an especially likable part of Evangeline's and Dermot's budding relationship. I also loved seeing the relationship develop between Evangeline and her cold grandfather.
This Proper Romance has ended up being one of my favorites. The character development is an exceptional lesson in hope and inner strength, while the beautiful descriptions of the lush Northern England Moors make you feel like you are there. This is another winning novel by Sarah M. Eden that you must put on your to-read list.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 15 April, 2018: Finished reading
- 15 April, 2018: Reviewed