Isabelle and Alexander

by Rebecca Anderson

Manchester, 1850

Isabelle Rackham knows she will not marry for love. Though arranged marriages have fallen out of fashion, hers has been settled for some time. Alexander Osgood is handsome, well-known, and wealthy, but he is distant and aloof, spending much of his time at his textile mill.

Moreover, Northern England is nothing like Isabelle's home in the Lake Country, and her marriage is far from the fairy tale she expected. Conversations with Alexander are awkward, when they happen at all, and Isabelle struggles with loneliness.

Sensing his wife's unhappiness, Alexander brings Isabelle to his country estate. During their time together, the couple begins to build a friendship, opening up to each other about the details of their lives. But when a tragic accident leaves Alexander unable to walk, their fledgling relationship is tested.

Isabelle is determined to see to her husband's recovery, and in caring for him, she discovers within herself an untapped well of strength and courage. In learning to rely on each other, the couple has an opportunity to forge a love connection that they both have longed for but never dreamed could be.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction, Clean Romance, Regency

324 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

Rebecca Anderson is the nom de plume of contemporary romance novelist Becca Wilhite. She is a high school English teacher and loves hiking, Broadway shows, food, books, and movies. She is happily married and a mom to four above-average kids.

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Reviews

[Randi Annie Framnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabelle and Alexander is the standalone by Rebecca Anderson, published by Shadow Mountain Publishing. We follow Isabelle Rackham as she marries wealthy industrial cotton mill owner Alexander Osgood and moves to Manchester. The marriage is arranged and Isabelle struggles to get close to her new husband who hardly takes time to talk to her and spends most of his days in his textile mill.
To remedy Isabelle’s loneliness, Alexander takes her to his country estate where he suffers a devastating equestrian accident leaving him unable to walk. This challenging path in their relationship lets the newlyweds find new ways to build their relationship and Isabelle is adamant she will be in charge of her husbands’ care despite not being a trained nurse. The couple forges ways to build their relationship through this challenging situation and Isabelle finds new strength and courage, which in turn helps Alexander hope for his recovery.
Main character Isabelle Rackham comes from a privileged background in the Lake District, but seems to be practical, industrious and extremely patient. She seems kind and compassionate, and finds a way to bypass seemingly impossible situations. This makes her my favorite of this story.

Supporting character is Alexander Osgood starts out as a secretly frightened man who has married above his station. He seems glum, uninviting and disinterested, but his character develops a lot as the story progresses.

I felt the plot was well researched and stood out. I don’t think I have read a historical romance fiction story describing conditions inside a Manchester factory of 1800s and dealing with accident recovery issues quite like this. Consequences of the riding accident made and great drama effect which became a core part of the story.

The surprising and enjoyable part about mentally disabled Glory Kenworthy was my favorite of the story while the attitude of Dr Fredericks and his nurse annoyed me a lot. His character played kind of a villainous part of sorts. Writing about rehabilitation after spinal injury in 1800s must have taken a lot of research. As a nurse I found it fascinating (and slightly scary) how this might have worked. I enjoyed how Isabelle and Alexander’s characters developed through the story, both separately and together. It felt easy to relate to their hardships in this challenging situation and particularly easy to understand Alexander’s reactions. It was a great twist to read about a couple who were wealthy, but still had to work for their privileged lifestyle. Characters in others historical romances I have read seemingly had no concerns about money at all.

This great story from the new to me author #Rebecca Anderson, with her pen name #Becca Wilhite, makes me look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Readers of historical romance will enjoy this story. Similar authors to explore might be Abigail Wilson or J'nell Ciesielski.
Thank you to #Shadow Mountain Publishing and #NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: Isabelle and Alexander is the enjoyably entertaining historical romance about the wealthy newlyweds in an arranged marriage who find a different way to closeness as a tragic equestrian accident demand new strength and courage to recover and have a future together.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written story that kept my interest from start to finish. Fans of Elizabeth Gaskell's classic "North and South" will find plenty to enjoy here, with the reserved cotton mill owner Alexander and his bride by arranged marriage Isabelle.

The book begins with their wedding and Isabelle's move to her husband's home in Manchester. The two seem to have no pathway into each other's minds or hearts. They live amicably but mostly silently, just down the street from Alexander's mill, which demands most of his time and attention. Isabelle hopes that things will improve when they visit Alexander's childhood home in the country, but on their second visit, tragedy strikes in the form of a horse riding accident that leaves Alexander completely immobile.

This would be a blow to any couple, but it especially tests Isabelle and Alexander, who have not even begun to really know each other. The months that follow will push their relationship forward in ways they could not have imagined.

The author did an exceptional job crafting her scenes, allowing me to easily visualize and stay with Isabelle and Alexander every step of the way. She also created some really lovely side characters who support and encourage the two of them, such as the housekeeper and the doctor.

I look forward to checking out other books by Rebecca Anderson!

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this advance review copy!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know I am shocked I liked this one so much. It is not my normal read. I do love arranged marriage stories but this was not at all what I expected. It is the time of England's industrial age, Think North and South because I did:} He reminded me of Thorton:} This is Isabelle's story and you get it all in her POV. There is a lot of iner-thought and dialogue but for whatever reason I really enjoyed going on this journey of love and loss with her:}

[Linda Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clean romance novel with great character development and a positive message of encouragement for anyone in a troubled relationship.

[Aimee (Getting Your Read On) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have some mixed feelings about this book. It's told in first person, entirely from Isabelle's perspective. This allowed a very extensive knowledge of Isabelle's thoughts and feelings, making her personal journey of growth obvious and gratifying. Sometimes I got a little impatient with her internal musings and found myself skimming. I liked Isabelle but I didn't love her. I did love how she stood up for Alexander and wanted the very best for him regardless of how she was treated.

I liked Alexander but I didn't love him. It was really hard to build a connection with Alexander given his personality and Isabelle's single viewpoint. Especially when she didn't understand him for most of the book. I didn't have a real emotional connection to either of them.

The textile mill was a great part of the book and I enjoyed learning about that through Isabelle's eyes. I liked this story, it was interesting and I liked the secondary cast of characters too. It was good, just not my favorite. Oh, and I think the cover is lovely.

3/5 stars

Content: mild peril

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot of catnip for me here in another lovely Shadow Mountain publication.

I loved the slow burn romance, the typical Victorian first person narrative and the deep research into the textile industries of the Industrial Age.

if reading this makes you think all North and South, you won't be far off. It definitely has the cadence: a withdrawn hero, angst and the clash of Northern England and its dreary industry and commerce with the heroine's sun-lit past.

This was my first read by this author and I quite enjoyed it. There were times when the romance seemed a little detached but I definitely want to see where she takes us next.

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabelle Rackham's marriage to Alexander Osgood is an arranged one. They are both finding it difficult to build a rapport... Alexander is aloof and keeps busy at his textile mill and Isabelle feels abandoned and more like a guest than a mistress of both his homes in the country and Manchester City. Sensing her sadness and discontent, Alexander begins to make an effort towards both getting to know each other when tragedy strikes and a riding excursion leads to an accident leaving Alexander completely immobile. What follows is a long journey towards Alexander's recovery... a journey through which both Isabelle and Alexander discover the level of their own strength and courage in fighting this battle while forging their own love story in the process.

This was a sweet and heartwarming love story. The writing was good and the characters were well written and the story progressed at a decent pace. I felt there was a innocence to it which was quite endearing.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Shadow Mountain Publishing and the author Rebecca Anderson for the e-Arc of the book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different kind of historical romance to be sure. It had a north and south feel because of their social/financial status. It started with an arranged marriage with all the hopes and disappointments that one finds in a new marriage.
The plot involves a series of misfortunes and setbacks. As the story progresses the h and H find their voices and are forced to grow. I had hoped for a little more romance but having said that, I loved both the main characters. They were sweet and well suited to each other. If you love a clean, historical romance then I’m sure you’ll love this.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain via Netgalley. I’ve voluntarily given my review.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've read too many books with the premise of one of the main characters being in an accident and needing to have rehabilitation. I was really excited to dive into this one when I saw that it was about to be released.

My heart felt for Isabelle as her dreams of marriage turn out a little different than she thought would come. Meeting Alexander and he approaching her father for her hand in marriage without much conversation or anything to build their relationship upon left her hoping they'd get to know each other more later on. Yet she finds herself very lonely with an aloof and busy working husband.

We don't get to see anything into Alexander's thoughts as the story is written only in Isabelle's POV. It works but I'm a reader who loves to see what makes each character tick and Alexander is one such character whom I would have loved to see what was going on in his brooding mind. We do see some insights into him from his employees, his staff and the old family doctor who share with Isabelle some about him. But as a reader, we don't get much from him conversation wise. He speaks some off and on but not as much as I would have loved. I did like how the author showed that his broodiness wasn't necessarily him, he has a softer side. I loved when those little snippets shown thrown. Like when he first shows really acknowledges that Isabelle interests him after they are married. The little things he does for her. I won't go into more details because the author does explain some about this, through his servants voices rather than his own, but there is somewhat of an explanation.

I enjoyed watching Isabelle's character develop. She is of course a young lady with really no expectations on her except to look pretty, be a good hostess, play a certain part, get married and keep her husband's house. Leaving her home and her cousin Edwin, who is her one true friend and confidant, is hard and she has to deal with a lot of loneliness. But I loved watching her keep trying and venturing outside of her comfort zone to find joy. I liked watching her develop friendships, even if they weren't the most conventional friendships. It showed her goodness and sweetness. I liked her determination to make her marriage work and be more than just ok. I liked watching her find ways to connect with Alexander and show that she cared and wanted him to care for her as well.

Overall I enjoyed this sweet story. There are some conflicts and frustrations throughout the book for these characters but I thought they navigated them with dignity and determination. The secondary characters added a nice dimension to the story, I enjoyed them all.

Content: Clean. A character has an equestrian accident and ends up paralyzed, and must go through some pretty rigorous therapy.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Heidi (MinxyD14) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful listen and homage to North and South. I am in the process of yet another international move, and I needed something light but well written to take my mind off the waiting and mindless tasks filling my days. I sincerely hope Rebecca Anderson has plans to publish more books. Future stories involving these characters would be very welcome.

We need more fresh, well researched and intelligent writing like hers in this genre.

Antonia Bath is a new narrator to me in the Audible version. While initially, I felt she was not my favorite type of narrator, she did an exceptional job with this recording. Some of the best singing I have heard in these types of books.

[Rebekah Giese Witherspoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet marriage-of-convenience story with a Victorian backdrop. The setting (the north of England during the Industrial Revolution) and the relationship (gracious girl from the south meets taciturn cotton mill owner from the north) are strongly reminiscent of Elizabeth Gaskell’s “North and South”, which set my expectations so high that this book couldn’t possibly fulfill them. I’m fascinated by how the Industrial Revolution changed Absolutely Everything, by the way the old money (landed gentry) treated the new money (cotton mill owners) and by the way the new money treated their workers; by labor unions and strikes and the desperate plight of the impoverished people when they go on strike and lose their meager earnings in exchange for a possibly brighter future. I’m fascinated by seeing this dynamic from the perspective of a girl from the south of England and then seeing it all again from the viewpoint of a cotton mill owner in the north of England and I’m absolutely enchanted when I see the two of them fall in love. All this complexity and depth is so beautifully drawn in Gaskell’s “North and South” but I found none of it in this novel and I was so disappointed.

What I enjoyed immensely about this novel was the dialogue. The dialogue was GREAT! It stayed true to the Victorian era and to the personalities of the characters and really pulled me into the story. I also thought the book stayed true to its time throughout and I didn’t spot any anachronisms, so that was beautifully done as well.

“Show, don’t tell” is the motto of many writers and I would have enjoyed the novel much more if there had been more showing and less telling. I grew weary of constantly being told that “Isabelle felt sad” or “she was surprised” or “she felt grateful” and I got tired of the many paragraphs which explained things that I already knew and found myself skimming the text for the next line of fabulous dialogue.

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical romance with a Victorian setting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a digital advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Marilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had seen a lot of mixed reviews before beginning this book but after finishing it in one afternoon because I could not put it down, I find myself with the people saying that they really enjoyed it. I do think the publisher has done a disservice to the book by publishing it under the Proper Romance line because readers go in with certain expectations and will then give low reviews when they are disappointed.

In short, this book is not a romance - it would be better described as women's fiction. I enjoyed Isabelle's character and her growth was off the charts. I loved seeing her confidence grow and the conclusions that she came to about her ability to change someone else. At times the story seemed a bit repetitive but I imagine that is the reality for someone in Isabelle's situation.

I really, really wish we could have seen Alec's point of view as the reader is left guessing what he is feeling and thinking but I imagine that was done on purpose as it does make you relate to Isabelle so much more.

Overall, 4.5 stars and I highly recommend this to anyone who is okay reading a book that does not have a lot of swoony romance. There is some, and it is tender and sweet, but it was not the main focus of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of the book but a positive review was not required.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

'London, 1850

Isabelle Rackham knows she will not marry for love. Though arranged marriages have fallen out of fashion, hers has been settled for some time to combine the upper-middle-class wealth of her father’s coal mines with Alexander Osgood’s prospering Northern country textile mills. Though not a man prone to romantic gestures, Alexander is well-known as an eligible bachelor. His good looks have turned more than one head, so Isabelle is content to think of herself as Alexander’s wife.

However, her marriage is not what she expected. Northern England is nothing like her home farther west in the lake country. Cold, dreary, and dark, the soot from the textile mills creates a gray hue that seems to cling to everything in the city of Manchester. Alexander is distant and aloof, preferring to spend his time at the mill rather than with her at home. Their few conversations are brief, polite, and lacking any emotion, leaving Isabelle lonely and desperately homesick.

Sensing his wife’s unhappiness, Alexander suggests a trip to his country estate. Isabelle hopes this will be an opportunity to get to know her new husband without the distractions of his business. But the change of scenery doesn’t bring them any closer. While riding together on horses, Alexander is thrown from his and becomes paralyzed. Tragedy or destiny? The help and care that Alexander now needs is Isabelle’s opportunity to forge a connection and create a deep and romantic love where nothing else could.'
______________________________

Isabelle and Alexander is a clean historical romance by Rebecca Anderson.

Brought together by an arranged marriage, Isabelle and Alexander find themselves with a bit of a "North and South"-esque tension between them. Alexander is a reserved and disinclined to make grand gestures. He is feeling a bit insecure in the marriage because he thinks that Isabelle is a touch above his station and feels the need to work as hard as possible at his business to make himself worthy of her. Isabelle is not opposed to the match, he is very handsome and charming, but once  removed to an unfamiliar area and spending her days mostly alone as her husband works she doesn't see any of that charm directed toward her and is feeling lonely and ignored in her marriage.

Their marriage is making tentative steps forward though, beginning to get to know one another more and spending some time together. Unfortunately they aren't able to explore this much before Alexander is involved in a riding accident. A very independent man, upon waking Alexander is horrified to learn that he is now reliant on the care and assistance if his wife and others.

There are natural growing pains as the characters learn new routines and norms and as Alexander copes with the changes to his life and the hardwork of relearning things. Some days are very hard, between pain and a fluctuating mood and mental state. The book covers some tough topics, including asylums, but it doesn't shy away and handles the representation very well.

There were refreshing differences in this book from many other historical romances. For one, it was nice to read a story that takes place in an English city that is not London. Secondly I enjoyed that our characters were not members of the ton. But more than anything it was especially nice to read a book with a main character that is not able-bodied, representation that is very rare in this genre. Further there is a seondary character with special needs that seems to fit the profile of moderate ASD. Both of these representations are handled beautifully by the author.

I really liked this book, I thought it was sweet and I was invested in both main characters. But at the same time I can't give it five stars because the resolution felt a bit rushed to me. Everything prior to that felt paced so naturally with the slow build of trust that when the conflict was finally resolved between them, I guess I expected that there would be a bit more story after that, but it very quickly turned to the epilogue. This could just be me though, I may just not have been ready for the book to end, but I would have liked to see a bit more of them united as a team now that everything was out in the open. I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend Isabelle and Alexander to others. It's been my of my favorite reads of the year so far.

_____

I would like to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing and Rebecca Anderson for sharing an eARC of Isabelle and Alexander with me. This is my honest review.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the moody North and South vibe in this book! Isabelle struggles with the realities of her new circumstances, especially the landscape and the loneliness. I liked seeing the character growth in her as she handles obstacle after obstacle, and I wished to be able to know the thoughts of Alexander as he faces his own unexpected trials. I found it beautiful the way they were able to finally connect as they traveled their new road together. Their roles of caretaker and "invalid" made their relationship more difficult, but also gave them the opportunity to breach their defenses and come to really know each other and deepen their love. I liked the friends Isabelle made along the way and felt that they rounded out the story and added even more depth. Although I didn't feel the emotional connection to the characters like I had hoped, I enjoyed the story and the details.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

[Sarah Monzon]

I have a lot of thoughts about this book but am having a hard time wrestling them down and lining the up into anything coherent. Did I like the book? Yes. And more so, I have a feeling the story will stick with me and I’ll be thinking about it even after I’ve read dozens more books since. I really appreciated the uniqueness of the story and having a hero who suffered an accident and became paralyzed and then the further struggle of practical strangers trying to find footing among such uneveb ground to find their way to love. The plot is slower than I usually prefer and yet I found myself saying “one more chapter.” And while the romance is sweet and slow, it is also a little thin. My romance-loving heart could have done with a bit more in that department. While I thought the hero a great character, I’m not collective him as a book boyfriend mainly because we didn’t get to connect with him enough as readers (in my opinion). So. I liked the book. It’s going to stick with me. But....I’m not sure what exactly the but is, I just know there is a but....

[Tori (Book Chick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars.... I was bored for so much of this book. The characters were very 1 dimensional. Alexander barely existed until halfway through the book. It just didn't work for me.

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was both anticipating the release of this book and nervous to read it. This historical romance seemed right up my alley of reads but it seemed almost too perfect of a choice. I was pretty certain this book wouldn’t be as good as I hoped it would so decided to stay away from it. I succeeded in staying away from it for 2 months then caved once I saw there was an audio and ebook sale on it.

To be honest, this wasn’t a perfect book for me but it hit my desire for an enjoyable historical romance. The building of Isabelle and Alexander’s relationship was nicely done. We got to see Alexander’s servants and friends root and bolstering of the romance and support of their individual bosses. It would have been nice to see more of Isabelle’s family and friends support her. She faced hardships and started a new phase in her life basically alone. It would have been nice to see a mature development between Isabelle and her family. Her relationships between her parents and her have always been distant it seems and i guess it’s okay that they’ll remain so. Her deep loving friendship with her cousin seemed to cool as she matured though. I wish it could have developed more. Instead they both seemed to separate and become more dependent on their romances. Luckily I loved seeing Isabelle and Alexander falling in love but didn’t see any reason to care about Edwin and his bride.

The audio was a little off with pauses but they were easy to look past. Definitely think the ebook was the better choice but feel the audio made for a nice experience.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabelle and Alexander is a sweet story that deals with an arranged marriage with unexpected difficulties.

Isabelle is a woman of fortitude. Life has not turned out how she expected, in spite of disappointments, she rises and excels at the challenges placed in front of her. When the story begins she is looking forward to an arranged marriage to Alexander Osgood. He is new money and the owner of a clothing mill. He is not a man of many words and it leads to frustration on both of their parts.

Shortly after their marriage, Alexander is thrown from his horse and left with paralysis. This is not a good start to their marriage, particularly one where they are strangers. This was an interesting conflict that is not typically part of a romance book. I loved how Rebecca Anderson was able to write this realistically. She portrayed the frustrations of the characters. The story is written in the first person, but she described Alexander's reactions that indicated his feelings.

It is at this point that Isabelle really shined for me. Her determination to take care of her husband and help his recovery was admirable. She is compassionate, not just in her dealings with her husband but also with Glory, a disabled young woman that Isabelle takes under her wing. She is so patient and kind. It became understandable how Isabelle could transition into a caregiver.

I loved this journey. This wasn't just a book of romantic fiction to me. I was inspired by the characters. This is not your typical romance, this is something more.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best stories strike the balance between a satisfying end and still leaving the reader wanting more. Isabelle and Alexander did just that for me. I felt emotionally invested in their story, rooting for them alongside the other characters. The story moves along at a good pace, but never feels rushed. We linger in all the right moments. I really enjoyed reading this book and can see it being one I revisit. I also hope their story continues because I didn't want it to end. Even the side characters, such as Mrs. Burns, Dr. Kelley, and the Kenworthys are so well developed that I want to spend more time with them. This was the perfect feel-good story to read curled up with a cup of tea.
Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Patti Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Isabelle and Alexander" is an unusual marriage of convenience story. Gentle, gritty, somber or joyful by turns, this emotional and heartfelt tale explores the weighty subjects of a serious paralyzing accident and mental disability. Taking place in 1850, it also has the distinction of focusing on Victorian Manchester, with its burgeoning textile industry, rather than the social whirl of London, with its requisite superficial nobility and silly debutantes.

Complete strangers, Isabelle Rackham of England's Lake District, and Alexander Osgood, a benevolent Manchester mill owner, marry at the beginning of the story. Alexander's paralyzing accident tests the characters of both.

This is a beautifully written novel. The portrayal of Alexander's struggle with his incapacitating condition is raw and vivid. This hit me on a personal level; although my situation is different, I've been in a wheelchair for years. While he is understandably depressed and aggravated, devoted Isabelle never lets him give up. The result is a deep, enduring love between these two very deserving people.

Secondary characters are also well-developed. The sweet, mentally challenged Glory Kenworthy is a delight. The actions of her parents, who reject the current practice of institutionalizing the disabled, do them great credit. Isabelle's cousin Edwin is a charming and loyal friend. Anderson's imagery is evocative, from the details of mill operations to Alec's painful treatments, much of it due to an insensitive, unfeeling nurse, whose rough ministrations have been ordered by an unsympathetic doctor.

Rebecca Anderson is a new author for me, although this is the nom de plume of Becca Wilhite. As I love clean, well-written historical romance, I look forward to reading more from Anderson.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this wonderful novel.

[Lauren (thebookscript) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reviews for this one seem to be all over the place but I am here to tell you that I loved it.

I’m a HUGE North and South fan and this Victorian Era romance in the age of the Industrial Revolution captured my attention right away.

Isabelle and Alexander have agreed to enter into an arranged marriage. This will benefit both of them as families who are apart of the “new money” portion of society. A tragic accident happens early on and we get to see the fall out and recovery from that.

The disabilities presented in this book are heavy and huge and I think that unique concept really hooked me. Entering into a marriage that respects “sickness and in health” was definitely a huge theme in this story as Isabelle tries her best to understand her husbands grief and her acceptance of her new situation. I felt her need to understand and care for her husbands needs — and all the while she’s trying to navigate being newly married to someone she hardly knows.

The romance is definitely slow burn and temperaments run hot and cold but the ending was just beautiful and sweet and I couldn’t put it down. It may not be for everyone but it was definitely a book for me ♥️

*This is a time of early medical exploration when dealing with this type of injury and other conditions in the book so it amazes me what they were able to do without the advancements of today and what they still didn’t know.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The marriage of Isabelle and Alexander is a business proposition that is good for Isabelle’s father and Alexander, but will it benefit Isabelle in the long run?

A couple of months into their marriage, Alexander is thrown from his horse and is left without feeling in his extremities. Isabelle wants to take care of Alexander but she doesn’t know how, and I think she is slightly scared of her husband who hasn’t shown her tenderness, love, or anything that one would associate with being married. She knew that going into this marriage was not a love match, but Isabelle hoped that maybe one day it could evolve into one.

I liked Isabelle and Alexander but I didn’t love it. I was expecting a lot more out of it than I received, and this could’ve been just my perception on my part. The title and book cover is what initially drew me to want to read this book. Isabelle as a character I felt did grow more into who she meant to be, she didn’t remain mousy as she could’ve easily had. Alexander also showed promise. I just wanted it to shine more, and something was lacking that I haven’t quite put my finger on yet.

My gratitude to Shadow Mountain and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because of the setting and how it reminded me of North and South.
But I ended up really enjoying it

We read from the POV of Isabelle about her arranged marriage to a handsome Mill owner who is quite and aloof and is too busy to have any real conversation or relationship with his young wife.
Although Isabelle tries hard it is when Alexander tries to connect with Isabelle that things start to change.
He has an accident and is paralyzed and through his recovery that they come to know each other and their feelings.

A few issues I had with the book is that we don’t really get to know Alexander, and I’m not sure I really like Isabelle, I mean why was the nurse and Charlotte mean to her? She just seemed to be a bit clueless at times.

A lot is left unsaid and you had to understand it yourself.

I absolutely love the character of Glory, she was a delight to read about, having children with issues at that time was difficult and not understood and I loved how it was handled, she had her bad days, but more good ones.

I did enjoy the book, it is quite slow and clean.

This review is for a free copy courtesy of Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley

[Brittany | alltoowellreadbrittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this book. The story had a lot of potential, but it just fell flat for me. I think adding chapters from different viewpoints would have given the story more depth. As written, it is really just a first person narrative, and that makes the story really one sided, I also didn’t find the characters relatable or likeable. Overall, not my favorite book, but if you’re looking to read a historical fiction novel, you might still enjoy this one!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your typical romance. Generally, the romances I read showcase the story of how a couple falls in love and gets married, but Isabelle and Alexander were married early in the story without knowing much about each other at all, since it was almost more of a business move than anything. Don't discount that. Although slow, yet steady, this story gives a big nod to the textile movement of the Victorian era and delivered a very slow burn type of love.

Marriage is hard and I couldn't believe what this couple had to endure while navigating a backwards courtship of sorts. In spite of hoping for a bit more romance from a Proper Romance book, this sweet story is one that left me closing the book with a feel-good feeling.

While the characters are individually interesting, side character Glory stole the show for me. I did enjoy these characters, but wanted a little more connection with the mysterious enigma of a man. Told in first person, the reader is intimately shown Isabelle's thoughts and feelings and it would have been a richer experience getting inside of Alexander's head as well.

All in all, this is a story to cherish and ponder.

Content: very mild romance; mild moments of injury/peril

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Nabilah]

DNF at 47%. The writing is alright, but the story is super slow. Furthermore, we only get to read Isabelle's POV, and she is very naive and her character is bland. So, I just couldn't continue. The story is rather different than your typical MOC.

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

I picked up this book from SM thinking it's by a new author, but it's actually author Becca Wilhite's new pen name. Maybe because it's historical and she's only published contemporary before.

This story is a reverse romance. It starts with a marriage of convenience that Isabelle's father set up. She doesn't know Alexander other than he's very handsome, but she has high hopes for their relationship.

Unfortunately, once they take up residence in Manchester where he lives and has his textile mill, Alexander is cold and aloof and Isabelle suffers from loneliness.

I liked seeing the progression of their relationship, especially after Alexander's accident. Isabelle's patience is commendable but I would have liked to see a bit more gumption from her.

I think the narrative would have worked better in first person deep POV. There are a lot of "she thought", "she wondered", "she saw", etc, that turn the story a bit detached. Or his/hers POVs might have also worked well.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, captivating, and filled with beautiful depth and charm. Isabelle plans on being an excellent wife. So the man she is to marry is a little distant and chilly, but he's devastatingly handsome and surely an excellent wife can thaw that chilliness. When Alexander is involved in a crippling riding accident, Isabelle is given a chance to prove her value Except he becomes more difficult and distant than he had been before. This book navigates the tricky waters of human value and love with expertise. I stayed up to finish because putting the book down without knowing how it ended would have been criminal. If this author isn't on your to be read list, you are missing something incredible. Five stars!

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.75 ⭐
I did relate to Isabelle on some level, and I found her rather compassionate and empathetic. Whereas, Alexander was more hardworking self-centred and simply unfeeling. That would've changed if we'd had his POV or if he'd explained his behaviour at the end.
The heroine seemed to be making the hero the center of her universe while he doesn't even acknowledge her existence.
They haven't had a meaningful conversation since like .....never. You know what would've made this book much much better is dialogue. She'd had more conversations with the doctor than her husband. So I don't see how they've come to develope that kind of connection without any real bonding.

[Abigail Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story with intriguing characters, I enjoyed the setting, however, I would have liked to see more than just one point of view.

I do not agree with the publisher's beliefs (which I did not know before I picked up this book) and so only recommend this book to those that have a mature faith.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.