I like many different tones to my historicals. Sometimes I want a big, meaty epic, other times I just want to laugh, and sometimes I just want something that is beautifully emotional. Heath’s latest release definitely fits the bill for that last category. While this book has the occasional eyeroll-inducing moment, it is primarily a truly sweet story.

Originally from Texas, Lauren Fairfield has missed her home greatly ever since moving to England when her mother, who appears to have been a relatively poor farmer’s widow, somehow managed to marry an English peer (like I said, there are some eyeroll-inducing moments here). Though Lauren appreciates the comforts of her life, she misses Texas – and she misses the young boy she met shortly before she left. The restrictions of upper-class English life grate on Lauren and she has no wish to marry a lord and remain within a sytem that leaves her feeling so trapped.

The latest intrigue in Lauren’s social circle is the arrival of the mysterious new Earl of Sachse. No one knows who he is except that he was apparently found living in obscurity in the United States and has returned to England to claim his title. The new Earl comes one afternoon to call upon Lauren’s stepfather and, to Lauren’s horrified amazement, he is none other than Tom Warner, the boy she knew in Texas.

The easy mix of English lords and Texas cowboys strains credulity somewhat, but if you can deal with the premise, the romance of these two likable characters is definitely worth reading. At first it was hard to discern what made Tom so especially likable, however, as I compared him to other heroes, I figured it out. In many romances, the reader learns all about the hero and his desires, his lust, what he wants. In this story, Tom isn’t entirely fixated on his own pleasures – he sees Lauren’s unhappiness and much of what he does is motivated by his concern for her.

Even with the hokey backdrop of lords and cowboys and the occasional touch of series-itis in the form of former couples being rotated throughout the text, a beautiful romance stands out here. Tom and Lauren’s story is an emotional one, and Heath does a masterful job of mixing light, fun moments with some very touching emotional scenes. It’s very rare that I get teary over a book, but this one certainly choked me up more than once.

If you are looking for an emotional story, Heath delivers a wonderful one here that’s not the usual version involving one character healing from great trauma or hardship. Lauren and Tom’s vulnerabilities are a bit more subtle and so, while the average reader can’t relate to the life of a cowboy turned lord, one can certainly relate to the emotional struggles faced by the characters. And on top of all that, the ending is really very sweet – but you’ll have to read that for yourself.