My Ashes on the Moor Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Ashes on the Moor by Sarah M. Eden is a gentle, inspiring Victorian romance rooted in northern England’s industrial past. After a fever devastates her family, well-bred Evangeline Blake and her little sister Lucy are separated—Evangeline sent to serve as an untrained schoolteacher in the mill town of Smeatley, while Lucy goes away to boarding school. Alone, stripped of privilege, forbidden to reveal her family ties, Evangeline must sink or swim as she learns to cope with poverty, a bleak moor landscape, and local skepticism. Her main support comes from Dermot McCormick, an Irish brick mason and single father, and his special-needs son, Ronan. What begins as a wary friendship—trading extra lessons for cooking help—turns into a deeper bond as the trio work together to earn a place in the tight-knit community. Evangeline’s compassion and resilience slowly win over her students and neighbors, just as she and Dermot find themselves fighting for love and a sense of home despite class prejudice, grief, and sorrowful pasts. When Evangeline’s secret identity is exposed, she must choose between reclaiming her old world or embracing her new, hard-won happiness in Smeatley.
Why I Love This Book
I love how grounded and immersive this novel is—the research into factory life, Yorkshire dialect, and the difficulties of Victorian England shine through. Evangeline is the heart of the story; her growth is believable and hopeful as she pushes through her anxiety and heartbreak, working to make a difference for her struggling students. Dermot’s quiet strength, warmth, and care for his son add a strong dose of gentle masculinity that’s rare and welcome for the genre. The book’s depiction of special needs, found family, and the healing power of community elevates it well above a simple love story. The slow blossoming of romance feels earned and genuine, with focus placed on friendship and trust long before there’s talk of love. It’s not a lighthearted, fluffy story—there’s plenty of hardship, suffering, and family drama—but the hopeful tone and soft resolution leave me content. I finished the final pages utterly convinced by the world, the characters, and the gentle, sweet romance at its core. If you love historical fiction that’s as much about resilience as romance, this is a must-read.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy slow-burn historical romance with a clean, proper tone, plenty of emotional depth, and richly drawn side characters, you’ll love this. Perfect for readers who crave “gentle” love stories (think Austen, Gaskell, or Brontë), strong found-family vibes, and quietly powerful heroines. There’s discussion of grief, loss, and class struggles, but the focus is on healing, hope, and building a better life for those around you. Content warning: this is a squeaky clean romance, with no on-page heat, but some scenes do grapple with grief, deprivation, and harsh family members. The ending is gentle, happy, and full of promise for the future—a true proper romance.
Tagged As
victorian romance, proper romance, slow burn, clean romance, orphan heroine, found family, single father, special needs child, Yorkshire setting, factory life, emotional healing, teacher heroine, resilience, uplifting, class difference, gentle hero, friends to lovers, small town, historical drama, hope, mature themes, comfort read, indie romance
Steam Level
This is a clean/wholesome romance—there’s little more than longing glances, gentle touches, and a meaningful kiss or two. The story emphasizes emotional connection, not physical heat.
