I would have bought it more if Miriam had reacted with startlement or resistance, because at that point she didn’t have any idea how much he’d come to care for her, but she acted like it was no big deal. This means that some of their intimate gestures also felt unearned, such as when Gideon cupped her face in his hands about halfway through the book. By the end they knew the important superficial information about one another, but most of it had been revealed and discussed by other people, not in earnest conversations between the two of them.

They barely knew anything about each other for most of the book they tiptoed around each other, and for the rest they were too busy dealing with everything to have a decent conversation. My biggest problem with the book-pretty much my only real problem-was that I didn’t feel they’d earned their love at the end. Maybe she should have been smart enough to change her name the first time…but I understand that the west seemed so far removed from eastern society that she probably thought she’d be well lost out there. I thought her actions/reactions were appropriate. Almost too well-adjusted, but that’s arguable. Wary and secretive, but still friendly, kind, and selfless. Also considering what she’d been through, she was pretty well-adjusted. Considering what she’d been through, her actions made sense to me. But he was mature and selfless in general. And he was a martyr, though he was aware of that. He had his moments of jealousy and insecurity and inadequacy. He was quiet, gentle, kind, considerate, and intellectual-but by no means perfect. He wasn’t a macho man oozing testosterone and going around intimidating people. Then you meet Paisley, and there’s another blast of charisma. I didn’t realize that when I started Healing Hearts, but as soon as you meet Cade you’re hit with a blast of charisma that makes it clear he’s a leading man. The first was The Sheriffs of Savage Wells. Oh, be aware that this book is the second in a series. Don’t you dare kill that precious child, Eden, I swear to god.” I loved that kid. If he’d died… I don’t want to think about it. And when Rupert was so sick… I had tears in my eyes. Well, except the villain, of course, but I even sympathized with Miriam’s father to a point, and he was a self-serving jerk. This was a great book! It was the right degree of dramatic, it had heaps of heart, and all of the characters were endearing.

Eden, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Full of heart and endearing characters but could use more passion

As You Are by Sarah M. Eden