Isabelle and Alexander

In sickness.

This is not your usual historical. Its more of a first person, POV of Isabelle as she marries and then  learns to cope with a husband who suffers from a debilitating injury. This is entirely from the viewpoint of Isabelle and I found myself really needing Alexander's POV. 

What stood out though, was the focus on dealing with injury, both his and hers as well as a minor character's developmental disabilities. What  was well captured was the lack of knowledge and understanding and expectations of dealing with permanent disabilities. Also, I liked that the books primary characters were of the business class, not aristocracy or nobility.

This story was so intriguing on so many levels! First you have an arranged marriage, which always fascinates me. Getting to see a couple either make it together and fall in love when their beginning is rocky and unbalanced makes for a great read. I love seeing the characters learn about each other and discover how they are well matched. Second, you have an accident that leaves a character hurt. I liked seeing this aspect explored and seeing how the character's love for each other bloomed under difficult circumstances.  Isabelle is the daughter from a well to do family, whose parents arrange a marriage for her to a mill owner to benefit the family and their business. Alexander is a well to do mill owner, who could really have his pick of a wife but enters into an arranged marriage with Isabelle. Together, they find their stride after a horrible accident.

Wow! I am blown away by this book. I love everything about this book it is my new favorite!  historical fiction at its best with characters & a story line that every reader will love.

A compelling book exploring dealing with issues and events that were not chosen.
A wonderful book exploring the impact of events beyond a person’s control, both pleasant and unpleasant.  And how each individual’s actions can affect everyone else as well as the situation.  Isabelle’s marriage to Alexander has been arranged by her father to further his company.  Alexander is handsome but has hardly spoken to Isabelle at the time of the wedding.  As they approach their marriage as strangers, they struggle to not only work out the changes brought by the wedding but the struggle to get to know and become comfortable with each other.  Just as progress is starting to be made a horrible accident occurs that changes most aspects of their future together.  Adding unforeseen problems and challenges they will need to face.  Problems that could pull them together or break them and their marriage. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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 to this journey of love and loss with her:}

What begins as an arranged marriage in 1850's England, Isabelle and Alexander takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride through learning to live life away from home and dealing with a horrific injury. Isabelle led a happy childhood with her closest friend and cousin, and her parents arrange for her to marry a mill owner to unite families in business. As she learns to adjust to being a wife and away from home, she experiences loneliness like never before. But just when she thinks her marriage is about to take a turn for the better, Alexander is involved in an accident that leaves him paralyzed. 

Great descriptions of city life (other than London) and the workings of a cotton mill, Rebecca Anderson enthralls the reader and keeps the pages turning to find out how the couple discover that marriage is more than just a business partnership; it's a lifetime of learning to love one another during the hard times and the easy times. I highly recommend this novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel before publication and to give feedback.

"Isabelle and Alexander" is not your usual Victorian romance: it's not about falling in love instantly, it's not about a whirlwind courtship and endless happiness, it's not about London and the ballrooms...but it's all about learning the trust and appreciate the other, to be true to own's vow "in sickness and in health", to navigate a world one knows very little about.

Isabelle and Alexander's marriage of convenience doesn't begin so successfully: both are rather shy and do not know how to communicate. It is only after Alexander's paralysis, ensuing his fall from his horse, that Isabelle and her husband start to talk to and understand each other. 

I really enjoyed the topic of disability/different ability, both physical, with Alexander's paralysis, and mental, with the family friends' daughter Glory who seemed to have Down Syndrome (even though the diagnosis might not have existed at the time, and I am only moderately familiar with this diagnosis - although I found the depiction of it quite realistic). Disability obviously existed at that time, although many people were sent to asylums because they were misunderstood by society, so I found it great that the author includes this topic, not only as a pretext for a romance but also to teach us about disability and treatment of disable people in the early Victorian era. I especially appreciated that Glory was depicted as a person with talent, likes and dislikes, emotions, feelings, and not just as a person with a different ability.

I also enjoyed learning more about what a fabric factory was like: its structure, its internal operation, its workers, and found it very interested the way the factory was bound into the storyline.

Regarding the romance, I would have enjoyed more talk, banter or confessions between Isabelle and Alexander to create a real chemistry between them, which I found a bit lacking, but the rest of the story apart from the romance was great, so I still give it 5 stars !

I wanted to start off by saying I received the eBook for Isabelle and Alexander through NetGalley and I wanted to thank not only NetGalley but Shadow Mountain Publishing and Rebecca Anderson for the opportunity to give my honest review.

This historical fiction romance tells story of Isabelle, a young girl who was set to marry Alexander, the owner of Osgood Mills, a business parter of her father’s.

It’s a reverse love story that truly brings the verse “in sickness and in health” to reality after Alexander suffers an injury during an accident that left him paralyzed.

With this story being set in the 1850’s, it’s incredible to read the difference in how other’s spoke to one another, how (medically) injuries were treated depending on the physician treating their patient, and how love in and of itself had the ability to heal those who were hurting. All in their own ways.

As you read Isabelle and Alexander, you come to know many characters, all of whom play their own important part in the story, and you come to love each and every single one of them. I can’t even begin to tell you all how often I caught myself wiping tears from my eyes because of this book.

This story isn’t just sunshine’s and rainbow’ s though. It deals with a very intense topic, dealing with a life altering injury and the loneliness those closest to Alexander experience when he so often just wanted to be left alone or he seemed to push them away.

I could go on and on about how much I loved this book but that would require me to give out spoilers which I won’t do because I want you all to experience this incredible story for yourselves.

**This review can be found over on my blog.

4.5 stars
This was so cute! I read the description and I knew that I wanted to read it. Isabelle and Alexander was just as good as I had hoped. Isabelle and Alexander is written by Rebecca Anderson and is published by Shadow Mountain Publishing. I read Isabelle and Alexander in one day, staying up way later then I should have. 
Isabelle and Alexander are married through an arranged marriage. Isabelle never expected to marry for love, but she is happy with the man her father has chosen for her. However, marriage isn’t what she expected it to be. Life in Northern England is not what she expected and her husband spends much of his time working at his textile mills. Seeing that Isabelle is unhappy, Alexander suggests a trip to his country estate. At the estate, Isabelle finds herself growing closer to her husband, but while riding horses together, Alexander is thrown from his and becomes paralyzed. Isabelle is now given the task of caring for her husband, but is this Isabelle’s opportunity to forge a connection and create a deep and romantic love where nothing else could?
I found Isabelle so strong and amazing. She was thrust into a situation that no one would ever want to be in. Although she and Alexander didn’t have a love match at the beginning, she still cared for help and wanted to be the best wife she could. She had to learn what it meant to be Alexander’s wife and the best way to help him as he was recovering. As she spent more time with him, she grew to love his mill just as he did. She learned that her husband was an honorable hard working man
Alexander was a bit of a piece of work. He did have a horrible accident, but I felt as if he could have been kinder to Isabelle. I would have loved to read from his perspective. However, I did like him and I felt as if he just didn’t quite know how to express his feelings. He did care for Isabelle; he just didn’t know how to tell her. Alexander had to figure out what it meant to love his wife, and how to live with the ramifications of his accident. 
This was a wonderful book that followed the love story of a couple as they figured out how to live after a horrible accident. I was intrigued from the beginning and the characters were quite fun. I really liked Mrs. Burns and Doctor Kelley, but Doctor Fredericks and Nurse Margaret got on my nerves. I would definitely recommend this book! Isabelle and Alexander is a clean Regency romance

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson is a wonderful, heartwarming, and amazing historical fiction novel that truly shines a light on the miracles of the human spirit, love, loyalty, forgiveness, and goodness. 

To set the time period: This takes place in England around 1850. 

I love everything about this novel. We first see the union of two only children joined in matrimony mostly for financial purposes and common sense matching then by mutual affection and love. Isabelle and Alexander are thrust into a life together as almost total strangers. Isabelle leaves everyone and everything she knows and holds dear to move into Alexander’s home in Manchester. Here, she finds it is difficult to spend tjme and even speak with him due to his determination and need to run his business and the walls that he has placed in front of him due to his fear of inadequacy that by Isabelle coming from a family of slightly “higher means”. Both seem to be unable to connect and find one another on their own separate islands. 

A riding accident that paralyzes Alexander while they are riding on his country estate literally just as Isabelle is finally cracking the tough outer shell of her husband completely sends their lives into an entirely new realm. I will leave all of the further details for the reader as I do not want to ruin the beautiful surprises placed within their stories as they weave together a way back from the physical and emotional damage that has taken place.  

The dichotomy of the simplicity yet complexity of the emotions and path taken by Isabelle to help Alexander recover, overcome their obstacles, and find one another is just stunning.
The journeys they both take separately and together to get to the heartwarming, beautiful, and perfect ending kept me enthralled. I loved the plot, pacing, the complexity of the main characters, the changes and maturity that these events bring forth, and the full character cast is nothing short of perfect. 

It was fascinating to also see how society (social and medical) reacted to its members that had mental and physical concerns. Not only did I love Isabelle and Alexander together, but I loved the full household staff and also The Kenworthys, Dr Kelly, and the workers at the mill added just the right amount of emotion and connection that I needed at all the right times. 

The best part: the ending!

Truly an amazing read that is memorable, sweet, romantic, and a ray of sunshine that I so needed at this time. 

Wonderful book. 5/5 stars 

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 11/5/20 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/4/21.

Elizabeth  Rackham and Alexander Osgood become a married couple as a result of an arranged marriage.  She is an only child from the beautiful Lake District.  She always knew that any marriage would be one to further her father's business interests.  He, a wealthy textile  mill owner from Manchester, a dirty industrial city.  In a visit to their country home Alexander is thrown from a horse.  

This is a beautiful story of Elizabeth and Alexander working to put their lives back together after a tragedy.  It is a story of growth as Elizabeth comes into her own as a wife, as she navigates the role of care giver and also decides upon the care given to her husband, and as she helps him come back to manage his textile mill.  I loved this line of Alexander's, "You have offered your strength when I had none."

I loved the addition of the Kenworthy family, especially Glory and the love their family had for her, when at the time, many families would have had her institutionalized.  It was so nice that Elizabeth could find friends in the Kenworthy's when she was new to the city, and on such unfamiliar territory.

Isabelle and Alexander is an historical novel with real depth that leads to a satisfying and sweet ending.   I read a lot of historical novels that center on ballrooms and courting, and it was a real pleasure to read this novel of Isabelle and Alexander, and how they grew together after such a tragedy.

Spoiler Alert:  I really cheered when Nurse Margaret was dismissed!

I loved that this book was different and showed how marriages around this time were not love matches. Isabelle is a woman who is so relatable and it is fun to see her grow and develop. The writing was well done so we really understood what she was thinking and feeling. At times I found the story was a little slow and I was hoping for a little more of an ending then we were given.  #netgalley #isabelleandalexander

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book! It was SO good. It was very character driven instead of plot driven, which was a refreshing change of pace from the books I normally find myself reading. I really felt like I got to see both Isabelle and Alexander grow, both as a couple and as individuals. Because of Alexander's injury, I also felt like it was a fresh perspective on the whole arranged marriage romance trope. It showed a softer, more domestic side that you don't often see. 

Overall, a fantastic read! While it was definitely a romance, the romance wasn't overbearing. I felt like historical fiction readers in general would enjoy it.

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. 


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I wish there was a way to give this book two separate reviews. One would be for the overall story and the other would be for the romance. 

Advertised as a Proper Romance this book fell a little flat for me in the romance department. Alec didn't even have a personality until halfway through the book.  So if you are looking for a romance that makes you swoon and feel the happy flutters of love this isn't the book for you. 

As far as the overall story goes it was well written and interesting. It's always nice to read something that is a new idea instead of the SOT (same old thing) as my husband's family calls it. It's impossible for me to imagine what it would be like to be paralyzed or a caretaker for someone who is paralyzed but surely there must be a lot of compassion and empathy and trust. All great building blocks for love. 

It felt a little reminiscent of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell with the cotton mills and taking place in 1850 instead of the early 1800's Regency period. I liked that. 

Glory might have been my favorite character. How lucky she was to have parents who wanted to care for her themselves rather than put her in an institution like most people did back in those days. 

Certainly this story had a lot of good points and people who like squeaky clean romances will likely love it. I personally need more connection and romance between the H&h. Still well written for an author I've never heard of before.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I have newly delved into the historical fiction genre and found this title unique and refreshing. Unlike most romances I've read this one doesn't have a meet cute and neither of them are lusting our hating each other at first sight. This starts as I imagine many arranged marriages do in this era, one of either business or lineal advantage. 

Within the first several chapters Isabelle life is derailed with a cold and lonely marriage and a tragic accident rendering Alexander paralyzed. Through this story we watch the characters struggle with each of their emotional battles and develop true love towards one another. 

I throughroughly enjoyed this book and finished in one sitting at 3am. 


#IsabelleandAlexander #NetGalley

"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.

Initially my sympathies were fully with Isabelle. Trapped in a loveless marriage in order to improve her parents business situation, she is completely unprepared for the cold way her husband treats her. 
As time goes on however, it becomes apparent that Alexander might be as misunderstood as Mr. Darcy initially was, and it is easier to see him as a sympathetic character also. 

Dr Kelley is wonderfully written and a stark contrast to the other medical professionals we meet in the story. 

It's both fascinating and heartrending to meet Glory, and know the typical fate of children like her in the era this book is set in. Alexander's attitude towards her, and towards his own struggles is fairly typical for the time. It would be interesting to know his thoughts as Isabelle shows him that there is another perspective. 

Well worth the read.

I'm a historian by profession, so historical fiction, especially fiction that really digs into questions of gender and class, is my jam. There was so much to like about this book:

We got a really good look at what marriages of convenience really meant, on the ground, for women in the mid-19th C. Isabelle was young, naive, a little shallow, which was exactly what her class expected of women. She married well, in terms of financial security, which is all she could really hope for. That her husband was handsome and seemed kind was a bonus, and she thought love (not passion, necessarily, but fondness and friendship) would grow. Isabelle (the story is 1st person) didn't expect much in terms of intellectual fulfillment (though she certainly expected an easy life). She also didn't expect much to be asked of her, and she believed she was prepared for marriage. And then Alexander was paralyzed after a riding accident.

Isabelle was tested in ways she didn't expect... and she didn't always rise to the challenge. But she and Alexander were able to move beyond their easy, surface life and grapple with pain, illness, uncleanliness, and their own emotional limits. Alexander became a much more interesting person--not because he'd changed, but because Isabelle had to deal with him on a more visceral level.

For the most part, I enjoyed and appreciated Isabelle's story. The book was well-researched and offered a relatively authentic look at disability in the 19th C. Fortunately, I'd read reviews like this one before reading. If I'd been expecting a swoony romance (with or without steamy scenes, and this one definitely has ZERO steam) or a story of love, I'd have hated the book. But the cover really tells us what it is--a decorous couple holding each other at arm's length until their marriage of convenience becomes a true partnership.

Such a heartfelt, moving story about a couple who are just getting to know each other in the early days of their marriage when they face significant challenges. This book started off slowly for me but the end more than made up for it. Finding purpose, learning to be a spouse and caretaker, and respecting the independence of a physically disabled adult were themes that were handled in this book with grace and vulnerability. This tackles the physical and mental impact that disability has on the entire household, not just the disabled person. This is the first regency era story I have ever read that includes a character with paralysis and mentions the use of a wheelchair. For a long time throughout the reading of this book I wasn't sure what I wanted to rate this book, but the last few chapters, particularly the growth of the two main characters, the development of the romance and the conclusion of the story bumped this up to 4 1/2 stars. Definitely recommend if you're looking for great clean historical romance and/or fiction with characters who have disabilities. There is also a side character featured throughout this story who is disabled. So appreciative of that representation of disability in literature! Thanks to negalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Beautifully written. This novel lets you feel and grow with the main character, Isabelle, and be a witness as she tries even though the world is stacked against her. I love how Alexander also grows in this book. So enjoyable and well written. Such a diamond in the rough, full of circumstances that are not normally mentioned in others making it more real.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. There opinions are my own.

I knew from the moment I read the synopsis of Isabelle and Alexander that I would love it. 

This book is a delight. So many women found themselves in arranged marriages in past times. I truly loved this authors take on an arranged marriage. It isn’t the typical marriage, they spend most of their days apart, hardly speaking, essentially strangers in the same home. 

Isabelle makes efforts to draw Alexander out in conversation, and Alexander tries to lift her spirits with trips to the country. My take on that? Conversation is what brings Isabelle joy, the country is what brings Alexander joy. They are trying to make each other happy the only way they know how. It is quiet and subtle but they are both making an effort. 

And then Alexander has an accident. Leaving him wholly reliant on others care. Upending the quiet and slow relationship they were building. 

In difficult times, when we are in pain, we are grouchy and needy and a pain to be around. And the people that stand by us and love and care for us despite our behaviour are to be cherished. That is a love that should never be let go of. The strength and depth of a relationship that endures the worst of trials can come out on the other side being all the more strong. 

Isabelle and Alexander, is a truly beautiful story about a very real hardship. Two near strangers with big hearts and strong wills to be happy against all odds. 

Just like many others, I have endured plenty of loss and heartache in life. And while I love reading a light and fluffy book now and then, I also love stories like this one. It is real; life is full of good and bad. But books like this serve as a reminder that despite the bad there is joy and happiness to be had. 

There are not enough words to say how much I enjoyed this book. I would strongly recommend you give it a read. It has everything, humor and romance and heartache and joy. Be prepared to read it from cover to cover in one sitting. 

Thank you NetGalley, Shadow Mountain and Rebecca Anderson for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Content: Clean. 
Some kissing. No language. A few injuries occur throughout the story. Nothing is graphic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It transported me back to a time where propriety governed often at the expense of spontaneity.   A charming love story beautifully written and a joy to read.

This story introduces us to newlyweds, Isabelle and Alexander on the day of their wedding after having limited time together. This marriage starts as a business arrangement and little is expected of the couple. Set during the mid 1800’s, we see the dirty, grimy side of Manchester, England with its coal powered cotton mill industry. For most of the novel, Isabelle works to win over her handsome husband who is somewhat cantankerous. They appear to have little in common. But on a weekend trip to their country home, the two seem to be turning a positive corner as Alexander takes Isabelle on a tour of their estate on horseback. Sadly, there is a tragic accident that forces the couple to bond, talk, and learn more about each other. With sadness comes hope. This book is billed as a romance novel and it does have that. But, I also think it was part historical fiction and I enjoyed learning about this period of time in England. Well done, I look forward to more novels by Rebecca Anderson. 3.5 solid stars rounded up to 4.

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson takes  a marriage of convenience for an intriguing turn when young groom and successful mill owner Alexander Osgood is seriously injured in a fall from his horse shortly after his marriage. His new bride, Isabelle, is lonely and unsure of herself in her new home in the industrial town of Manchester, but suddenly finds herself responsible not only for the care of her new husband, but also with responsibility to oversee the mill. Isabelle finds encouragement in a new friendship with the wife and daughter of the mill manager, and begins a journey of growth in her marriage and as a young woman finding her place in the world.

Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Gaskell’s NORTH AND SOUTH.

Isabelle is an authentic Victorian heroine who does what she’s expected to do. When her parents arrange her a marriage, she happily complies. She tries to make the best of her new home in Manchester, but something happens that isn’t expected. Her husband, Alexander, has a riding accident and loses his mobility. Together they must navigate his changing health, their marriage, and his mills.

I loved Glory, a girl with special needs, but the biggest heart. I liked that Alexander’s accident, nor partial recovery, aren’t skimmed over. He doesn’t magically get better, but love shows them both that it has a power all of its own. 

A sweet, slow-burning romance in one of my favorite tropes (arranged marriage).

Isabelle knows it is her duty as her parent's only child to marry to advance her family's standing. Alexander Osgood is a successful businessman, and it only makes sense to combine their coal mining with their textile mills.
Isabelle is frustrated to realize that marriage to Alexander is not what she thought it would be. They barely talk, and they know little of one another. Isabelle's only solace is in the friendship she discovers in Alexander's manager's wife and daughter.
Alexander surprises Isabelle by inviting her to his country estate, while they are enjoying a horseback ride Alexander is thrown and badly injured. Isabelle stays with him and vows to help him heal. Their struggles only continue as Alexander deals with depression and idleness and Isabelle works through her loneliness and feelings of inadequacy.
They learn to work together and trust one another and create a happy marriage out of their arranged marriage. This is a heartwarming story of trust, love, family, and looking past the physical appearance.

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....

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is not your average arranged marriage book. It delves into hard subjects, especially for the time period. I loved watching the relationship between Isabelle and Alexander ebb and flow and finally grow as they came to understand and help each other. The mill works and the medical history of the time period was fascinating to me. I would highly recommend this book. It is a romance with depth.

Sweet historical novel about a marriage of convenience. When Isabelle’s father suggests a marriage between her and mill owner Alexander Osgood, she is willing to make the commitment for the betterment of her family’s and Alec’s businesses. Alec, however, seems to feel he has married out of his league. He keeps his emotions to himself, making Isabelle feel their marriage will never be loving. A riding accident could cement her feelings. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.

This is my first Rebecca Anderson book, and I must say, it is absolutely stunning.  Rebecca's style of writing is smooth and lyrical, making it so easy to fall into the plot and never want to come out.  

Isabelle Rackham is engaged to a man she hardly knows.  It is a business arrangement between Alexander Osgood and her father that benefits both men.  Alexander gets a worthy woman to squire around and Isabelle's father gets a needed business contact.  All is well and good, although the new Osgoods relationship is rather distant.  When Alexander takes Isabelle for a horseback ride, bliss turns to tragedy when Alexander's horse throws him and he lands against a boulder, setting in motion a series of events where Isabelle commits herself to Alexander's care and Alexander rebuffs her efforts, at first.  

The characters who populate this book are mostly likable people.  There is a Nurse Ratchet (apologies to Ken Kesey) type woman in the book as well as the most unfeeling doctor in the world.  But the rest of the characters are quite likable, even a girl who by modern diagnoses would be considered either developmentally delayed or autistic.  Rebecca has built a gentle characterization of her so that she is a truly empathetic individual deserving of the respect of the other main characters in the book.  

This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a love that grows like the melody of a beautiful song.

Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked that this was not your normal regency romance. I liked Isabelle. She was so patient with what was thrown at her and she always tried to do her best. Alexander was a bit of a mystery to me. I wish the letters he wrote to Isabelle were in the story because you never got his point of view and he said very little. I loved all the other characters in this story. It is a very uplifting tale.

I’m pleasantly surprised at the direction this novel took. I have to confess, the begging was vanilla, kind of boring. It was slow-moving, and had lots of waiting by characters and just mentions of things that happened. 

But as the story progressed, and I saw the interactions between Isabelle and Alexander, I began to appreciate their characters and how they handled their circumstances.

I’m not a fan of marriage of convenience tropes, or stories that begin with the couple getting married (or mentioned getting married). And add to the fact that the beginning of this novel was boring, I struggled getting into the story. But as I read, I saw how it was necessary for them to be married for certain plot points to happen, which wouldn’t happen if she wasn’t married to him.

I particularly loved seeing how Anderson she’s light on disabilities. The struggles and frustration it brings, but also the strength and hope people have when they believe they can overcome any hardship. 

I loved the descriptions of Alexander. His features and disposition reminded me of Mr. Darcy. Isabelle was a very kind, gracious person. I really enjoyed seeing her friendship with Grace, a young woman who has a disorder of her own to deal with.

In the end, this was a pretty enjoyable novel. I recommend it to lovers of regency romance and those wishing for more disability rep in books.

Thank you so much to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for an e-arc to read and review!

Despite the fact that this is about a marriage, I would say it's a Historical novel, rather than Historical Romance. I think if you are looking for the typical regency romance, you will be disappointed; this is not a light and fluffy story and there is not much typical romance.

That said, the book was excellent. It is told from entirely one perspective (hurrah!) which makes Isabelle's confusion, frustration, and insecurity a lot more relatable. There is a lot that is presented from a historical point of view (marital roles, communication, medical treatments,  social dictates, mental illness, etc.) which was so interesting. It's a bit slow at times, but that is to be expected given the circumstances. Every success is hard won, but there is personal change as well as relationship growth that give this story a lot of depth.

Would definitely recommend.

I love the Proper Romance Series by Shadow Mountain Publishing, and this book does not disappoint. It is a beautifully written story about love and overcoming tragedy. This book shows that love can overcome any obstacle.   I could not put this book down. The saddest part was when it was over.

I’m a sucker for Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance line, so I jumped at the chance to read this newest addition, I’ve read several books by the author before (but not under this pen name). This genre is new for her (as far as I know), and I thought she did a nice job. 

This was a “stay up way too late reading” kind of book for me. I felt so bad for Isabelle, but admired her determination to make the best of a situation that had many challenges. I liked Alexander too, but it did take awhile to get to that point with him being so closed off at the beginning,

I can see myself reading this again and look forward to more in this genre by the author.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  The characters, setting, and plot were all very well developed.  Anderson’s description of the time and place of this novel was authentic and spot on and the story kept me engaged and interested through the end.  I will definitely be reading more from this author.

This is the first novel I have read from this author and did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. This is not the usual time period story, it is a story of growth during extreme trial. The characters learn so much about themselves and each other as this novel plays out. It also illustrates how little young women understood about marriage in the 1800s, perhaps even today. I will look forward to reading more from this author.

I immediately loved this novel because it reminds me so much of North and South, which I LOVE.  It is set in 1850 amid the textile industry.  Isabelle and Alexander enter an arranged marriage.  Isabelle is so sweet and hopeful for her marriage but Alexander is so cold to her.  It was pretty sad seeing her continuously try and get shut down.  Alexander decides to take her to his country estate where he suffers a horrible accident.  The story takes a turn here, where Alexander finally tries to get to know Isabelle and their relationship gets a chance to grow.  I really loved this story, it shows tremendous growth in both characters!

First and foremost, I want to thank Netgalley, the publishers at Shadow Mountain, and author Rebecca Anderson for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the Book Isabelle and Alexander. This story takes place during London's Victorian era. Isabelle is to marry Alexander in an arranged marriage to help further along both Alexander's business and Isabelle's father's business. As it was with arranged marriages at the time, Alexander and Isabelle had barely spoken a word to each other before they were wed, so they knew very little of each other. Once they returned to Manchester, England, after the wedding, Isabelle soon realized how alone she was. She knew no one in Manchester and her husband was working throughout the day and frequently at night. Alexander wasn't overly warm and compassionate with Isabelle, so getting to know each other took a lot of time. After a rough trip to Alexander's cottage in the country, things slowly seemed to be thawing between the two. They returned to the cottage and the two seemed to be getting along, then tragedy strikes. Now both Alexander and Isabelle must reimagine their life together in a way that they never thought possible. Alexander's attitude is at times lovely and he shows Isabelle that he is becoming accustomed to being married, but at other time, he is extremely distant and doesn't show Isabelle any emotion, other than anger. Isabelle, herself, needs to figure out her spot in Alexander's life and has a lot of trouble finding ways to make herself feel accomplished, especially when she is berated by others in Alexander's life. Her saving graces are their friends the Kenworthy family, their staff, especially Mae and Mrs. Burns, and Dr. Kelly, the doctor that they attribute to saving Alexander's life. The breaking point for the two newlyweds is when tragedy strikes again, only this time Isabelle's life is in endangered. After that, both Isabelle and Alexander realize how good they are together and how to live life as a married couple. 

This story was a lovely periodic love story. I loved the friendships that Isabelle had Mrs. Burns and Mrs. Kenworthy. Both women never seemed to lack any confidence in Isabelle and Alexander's marriage or their love for each other. Glory and Isabelle's friendship was such a lovely part of the story. Isabelle's patience with Glory was refreshing, especially in a time when most would have just left Glory alone. Mrs. Kenworthy's love and patience for Glory knew no end. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Alexander. I understood that he felt like he was beneath Isabelle, so that attributed to his feelings of aloofness, but at other times, I just wished that he would show her some love and compassion. Isabelle's strength, at a time when women's strength was generally not one that was taken seriously, was at times heroic. I appreciated when she finally spoke up for herself and for Alexander. If you are a fan of period pieces like this, you will definitely enjoy this story. Thank you again to Netgalley, Shadow Mountain, and Rebecca Anderson for letting me read this early copy.

This book takes place after Isabelle and Alexander are married. It was an arranged marriage, and Alexander is not emotionally or physically connected to Isabelle now that they are married. His devotion is to his mill. Isabelle desires their connection to grow, but Alexander remains aloof; he seems to be extremely shy and unsure how how to interact with Isabelle. During a trip to their country home (an attempt on Alexander's part to deepen their relationship), Alexander falls from his horse and is paralyzed from the neck down. The rest of the book details Alexander's healing and the growth of their marriage through the challenges.

I liked that this book was different than most other books in this "Proper Romance" genre. It was real with the challenges and "good and bad" days one has when going through a trying time. What I felt it was missing was character development on Alexander's side. Everything was from Isabelle's perspective, so it was often hard to understand Alexander's feeling or motivations. I wish the author would have hashed out more of his feelings or thoughts as the book developed. I also wish the author would have shown us  the contents of the letters he's written/dictated to Isabelle. Or at least the first one. I was really confused on why Alexander was SO withdrawn and unwilling to have conversations or physical interaction with Isabelle in the beginning. I want to know more of his personality and motivations for his actions in the beginning. 

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I loved that it depicted several people with disabilities and made them focal points in the novel. I think Isabelle had a lot of growth as a character, and while I wanted more from Alexander's character, I'd still recommend it to friends who like this genre of book.

This a proper romance from Shadow Mountain Press.  Proper romance means that there are no sex scenes.  No hot and bothered kissing scenes.  It’s all about relationship building.

Isabelle was fully aware of the arranged marriage thing before she entered into the agreement.  What she expected was not what she thought she’d get.  Her marriage was a fairly distant one.  I’m not sure what drove Alexander to such lengths to not take the offered friendship and support of his new wife.  I guess that’s the answer maybe found in the history of the time.

Just because this is a proper romance doesn’t mean that there is no emotion.  There’s plenty of emotion and growth.  A woman learning to navigate in a world that she is not used to, with a whole army of people she doesn’t know.  At that time, there wasn’t much respect for women and their thoughts.  I could understand Isabelle’s reaction when Alexander started to warm up.  It was nice but when tragedy struck, it struck hard.

I got to hand it to Isabelle.  She was far stronger than she gave herself credit for - fighting for her husband and trying to build an impossible relationship.

I give this book a solid 4 stars.

Arranged marriage books are not my typical go-to when I’m looking for a fun read, but I really enjoyed this one! I love that even though both characters were forced to get to know each other in less-than-ideal circumstances, they made the most of their situation and ultimately became closer because of their hardships. I read a lot of historical fiction romances, and I liked that this one had a plot different from so many others. Also, beautiful cover! This is my first read from Rebecca Anderson, and I’m excited to try out her other books.

I would like to first thank Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review. I was intrigued by the cover and the subject and decided to take a leap. The first two chapters went slowly. Isabelle is subject to an arranged marriage to a handsome man named Alexander who owns a cotton/clothes mill. Alexander is handsome but standoffish. Isabelle also is moved away from her family, especially from her cousin who she was raised with. Alexander takes Isabelle off to the country house and a bad accident happens. The local doctor was Alexander's family doctor who fills Isabelle in with Alexander's history. Isabelle decides that she was going to fight hard to save her husband and her marriage. Isabelle starts wearing him down and its truly a love story.

Isabelle and Alexander is the first novel by Rebecca Anderson, a nom de plume for Becca Wilhite. I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book - previous reviews said that it had a very North and South feel, which I agree with. However, many of the books written around the industrial revolution focus on the upper class in London - I'm thinking Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas where the heroine was of the Ton and married "below" her by marrying an industrialist. It was very refreshing to read about a lateral marriage (two upper middle class characters), and a romance that didn't start off right away. Many times, these marriage of convenience/arranged marriage tropes have insta-love connections, but this one was realistic, with the heroine Isabelle reacting appropriately to living with her parents to living with a man she had barely met who barely gave her time of day. 

I liked the community of support that Isabelle had around her. It was both very realistic and also very heartwarming. I was a little bit confused about how this arrangement between them came about - little bits were revealed throughout the story but perhaps it could have been expanded a bit more. I wish we had more from Alec's perspective as he was a black box for most of the novel. I also wanted to know more about Isabelle as a person - what were her hobbies besides talking to her cousin and playing piano? Where did her inner reserve of strength come from & why did she have no hesitation when it came to taking care of Alec? 

Overall though, this book was a sweet gentle slow burn romance. It has a unique plot, discusses how disability was managed - both cognitive and physical - back in that era, and feels extremely realistic in its depiction of an arranged marriage between two upper-middle-class characters. I wish there was more to read or even a sequel :) 

****SPOILERS*****

It was such a lovely book, with accurate historical medical details re: paralysis. I wasn't sure what was going on in Alec's head, and had to rely on Isabelle's interpretation of his moods, but she was a bit of an unreliable narrator in that regard as she had no idea what his baseline was. It would have been useful to have the letters that he gave her on Christmas actually written out so that we could tell how he felt. He showed it off and on - the pianoforte, the pears - but I was wondering about his thoughts and emotionally where he was at.  I also found the epilogue to have jumped quite a bit in narration - he could barely embrace her, and then next thing we know, she was pregnant a few months later? Some more build up from his perspective and more consistent romance would have helped set that up a bit better. For these reasons, I deducted a star.

**ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**


Where to begin with this?! I adored this book! I thought it handled both the topic of traumatic injury and special needs in such a real and positive way, which i greatly appreciated ❤ i loved the characters, thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow as people and in their relationship. The ending was just perfect ❤😍 i cannot wait to buy this when it releases!

Rebecca Anderson's newest novel is a pure romance called Isabelle and Alexander. I enjoyed this novel even though there were a couple of things that would have made it better.  The setting was well described and I enjoyed most of the characters.  The whole story was told from Isabelle's point of view, which could and likely did read Alexander wrong sometimes.  Granted Alexander wasn't known for sharing his feelings until the end of the story. There were a few places that could have used a little more fleshing out but overall was a delightful story with a happy ending which most of us that read these type of stories appreciate. I will definitely read another book by this author. 
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

This was a mixed bag for me. The historical details were interesting and well done – the city of Manchester, the work in the mills, the treatment Alexander received.

The romance was underwhelming. It might have worked better if we switched viewpoints back and forth. Alexander was just a blank slate –everything we learned about him was Isabelle’s impressions. And then they went from living in the same home and feeling their way to boom! In love! The slow burn was too slow and then I never really felt the burn. The author did not convince me of any chemistry or that these two would live happily ever after.

Also big he is still paralyzed from the waist down at the end but she is pregnant. Every romance does not have to include a baby, and in this case it definitely didn’t work for me. Hardly any kissing or touching then sex and a baby! 

It wasn’t a terrible book, but it wasn’t great. I am willing to give the author another try though. 

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

This was a very sweet little romance. It is extremely quiet, not a lot happens, but that suits me just fine. If you aren't a fan of character (vs. plot) driven books then this is not the book for you.

In a strange way this reminds me of one of my all-time favorite books: Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier. In both books a newly-married woman tries to figure out her place in her new household, and the feelings of her husband are mostly a mystery to both her and the reader. This is definitely a much happier book than Rebecca, though!

I was very interested to see disability rep (and ASD rep) in a historical romance like this. It's certainly my first experience with it, but it was a welcome one.

The only thing that disappointed me was the final line of the epilogue, which I won't divulge because of spoilers. I felt it was unnecessary and very out of place considering the entire tone of the book. It almost felt like it was included out of obligation -- out of what the author thought the audience wanted.

This was this author's first published book? WOW, what an excellent debut! Really, I liked the premise of the story at first, then worried after starting it if they were going to make any progress. Unfortunately, but actually fortunately the accident was the very unusual catalyst for drawing them to true companionship. As they began to understand one another and make sacrifices for each other, they recognized how their weaknesses and responses weren't helpful and gradually learned how to change - and that's the making of a worthwhile book in my eyes.  They had to discover and accept a new normal for themselves, and in the process find it was MUCH preferable to the old normal because of who they had become. This was a sweet story that tells the truth about marriage. Nice job, Rebecca Anderson! I received a prerelease version from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#IsabelleandAlexander #NetGalley

I think while this dealt with difficult situations, arranged marriage and life altering injury, it was written thoughfully. There was a good mix or realism and hope. I was able to see the growth in the h & H. I enjoy stories where we're shown and not told. I think this story fits the bill. I was given an ARC of this book. I'm so glad I did. At this time I see my self shifting for just fun, funny, light hearted reads. This book allowed me read outside my self inposed box so to speak & be happy I did. As well as learn of a new to me author. Overall, I thought the story sweet and heartwarming. I enjoyed the way the author weaved a bit of real history into the story. I very much appreciate when a hsitorial is kept in it's time period. In addition to keeping the romance clean.

I dont want to give spoilers away...I recieced and ARC from #netgalkey

This was a great historical romnance....the story line was engaging and I found myself rooting for Isabelle to find her voice. 1850 London.  The story had a quick pace and the ending was left me wanting to know what will happen to the main characters down the road.  That means I was really invested in the story.  This isn't my typical genre to read but I look forward to more from this writer.