The Dutiful Daughter

Sanctuary Bay #1

by Jo Ann Brown

She Must Marry for Duty

Sophia Meriweather will—if all goes as it should—marry the heir to her father's estate. If she's to secure her family's future, Sophia must put her would-be groom's best friend from her mind. But keeping the darkly handsome widower and his two young children out of her heart is proving nearly impossible.

Charles Winthrop, Lord Northbridge, doesn't believe in love. Lovely Sophia may have charmed his normally silent children, but, for a man of honor and duty, she was a wife he dared not wish for. Yet nothing is as simple as it seems—especially when it comes to matters of the heart...


Sanctuary Bay: Where three war heroes find the healing power of love

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Regency, Christian, Christian Fiction, Love Inspired Historical, Historical Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many duties that can shape a persons life. Duty to parents, country and such.

Sophia has a duty to her late father, mother and sister to marry her cousin and provide an heir for the family to continue to exist at Meriweather Hall. She would much rather travel and see the world.

Charles strongly feels his duty to protect his children. He had to leave them to fight in the war but upon returning home he took them from their grandmother who did her best to turn them from him. As he stands with his fellow soldiers, now trying to find their rightful place in life, Charles is drawn to the beautiful Sophia. But it seems he is too often reminded of his duty when he forgets and turns his attentions to her.

Sophia wants to help his children build a strong relationship with Charles but every once in a while he loses control and warns her away from them. How can she help him heal from his wounds that seem to affect him in so many ways?

This story was very well written and a page turner. Looking forward to reading the next one.

[Asterope · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - It's a nice relationship story. I say relationship as the romance is not blatant, this being a clean novel. It does show two people coming together and in the end, finding their HEA. As a non-Christian, I didn't feel the faith elements were heavy-handed or intrusive. It was enjoyable enough and I plan to continue with the series. Though, I did think there was a spark missing from the story, hence my lower rating. I think perhaps the lack of obvious romance might have been it? I am not sure. I do understand that it is based on the Regency era with all those social rules plus it's a clean novel, which just adds to the constraints. So, I can't really fault the book for delivering what is should, given it's setting and genre. I just wish I enjoyed it a bit more. Oh well, maybe the next one!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the lessons that the Characters had to learn the story. I look forward to finishing the series.

[Mariah H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that it was very well written and I enjoyed the story line.

[Harlequin Books]

Received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Sanctuary Bay
Category: Inspirational Romance