Fleur de Lis: The Gents (Book 3), by Sarah M. Eden — A Review

From the desk of Katie Jackson:

A rejection he’ll never forget. An adoration she doesn’t remember. A second chance at a first chance for love.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION

Thirteen years ago, Henri Fortier left a tumultuous life in France to begin anew in England. His adopted country has become home, and his dearest friends, the Gents, are family. Unfortunately, ties to the past still plague him, and he’s forced to live in near destitution. Henri secretly publishes his poetry to supplement his meager income, but it is both insufficient and risky. A house party with the Gents promises a welcome distraction until he realizes that one of the guests is none other than Nicolette Beaulieu, the woman who stole—and broke—his heart years ago.

Nicolette has traveled to England for reasons far more pressing than a house party. As part of the Marquis de Lafayette’s secret network, she has been tasked with preparing for revolution. Though she has a pristine track record with the organization, her romantic history is far from perfect. This is particularly evident when she is reunited with Henri, the man who once declared his love for her. Drawn together through adventures the Gents have devised, the couple begins to tiptoe toward more tender feelings. But as sinister threats loom from all quarters, it may be too late for Henri and Nicolette’s second chance at love.

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MY THOUGHTS

As always, the witty banter and heartfelt wisdom found in every Sarah M. Eden novel are evident in this sweet story. I found myself often smiling at the droll commentary, as well as contemplating the timeless truths shared throughout. It continues to be such a treat while reading this Georgian-era series to catch small winks and nods toward future events in the related Regency-era series about the Jonquil family, but this book can also be enjoyed as a standalone tale.

Supportive Friends

“Henri shook his head. ‘Compassion and concern for the people you love is not weakness, Lucas. That kind of loyalty created the Gents to begin with. That is the bond that holds us together, the bond of a chosen family.’

‘Family is who you choose,’ Lucas said.” (213)

The Gents are delightful, their ladies are inspiring, and the entire group makes me fervently wish they were real people I could be friends with. Their kindness and compassion toward Henri and Nicolette were heartwarming. The addition of so many other secondary characters, however—besides the already large group of friends—made it a bit more challenging to wade through scenes, trying to remember who the others were. While their presence was necessary to the plot, they were an unwelcome distraction when all I wanted was simply more time with my fictional friends.

Second Chance

Henri had been smitten, and subsequently rejected, by Nicolette years before in Paris. He believed he had confessed his affection to her, while she barely remembered his existence other than just as a casual acquaintance. Admittedly, I had difficulty suspending my disbelief over this heavily one-sided element of their earlier relationship, which is later explained. Still, it was enjoyable to see worthy Henri, who fought to overcome his lifelong self-doubt, get a chance to feel himself truly valued.

Slow-burn Romance

A romance between two cautious and secretive people, who had been injured before by what they thought was love, was fated to be subtle and slowly burning. It was particularly lovely to witness Nicolette’s growing appreciation for Henri, even as she comes to regret her first missed opportunity.

Sweetly Satisfying

Historical romance readers will be delighted by the clever and charming ladies and gents in Fleur de Lis.

4 out of 5 Stars

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WE RECOMMEND FLEUR DE LIS IF YOU ENJOY:

⚜ Friends who are family

⚜ Second-chance love stories

⚜ Slow-burn romance

⚜ Clever and charming characters

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BOOK INFORMATION

• Fleur de Lis: The Gents (Book 3), by Sarah M. Eden
• Covenant Communications (June 20, 2023)
• Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook (284) pages
• ISBN: 978-1524423162
• Genre: Historical Romance, Georgian Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

AMAZON | PUBLISHER | ADD TO GOODREADS

We received a review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cover image courtesy of Covenant Communications © 2023; text Katie Jackson © 2023, austenprose.com, an Amazon affiliate.

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