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 <spoiler> 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. </spoiler>

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 <spoiler>he is still paralyzed from the waist down at the end but she is pregnant. Every romance <i>does not</i> 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!</spoiler> 

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.

This was a clean, lovely story of an arranged marriage between Isabelle Rackham and Alexander Osgood. The plot was simple but, once I started reading this book, I could not set it aside. 
Their marriage started out as a business venture with nothing more than mutual respect for each other. The couple's growing feelings are shattered by a life-altering event that tests their commitment to one another.
I liked the fact that both Alexander and Isabelle were members of the working class, not nobility, and that the setting was Victorian-era Manchester instead of London. The author's writing is superb; I could find nothing to complain about and plenty to praise in this novel. Ms. Anderson is a new author to me, and I hope to ready many more of her novels in the future.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Isabelle and Alexander was so different from the usual historical romances I have read. And it is not your run-of-the-mill arranged marriage story either. Alexander and Isabelle were just trying to get to know each other when his accident happened. To me, this story is not about Alexander, this story is Isabelle's. It is her journey, her path, and what she chose in the face of complete adversity. The emotional upheaval she goes through proves her fortitude, strength, and character. Where Alexander and Isabelle began and where they end up is beautiful and poignant. A difficult and magnificent story, Isabelle and Alexander is full of defining moments you do not want to miss. I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have always wanted to read more historical fiction books, and I feel this is a very nice introduction to the genre.

This book was so simple and sweet to read. It follows Isabelle, a young woman in 1850, marrying a man she only knows the name of, and finding a way for them to truly love one another; even if the marriage was for business reasons only (typical of that time).

Isabelle finds herself working through situations she would never have expected in a marriage, and you feel your heart yearning for her and her husband throughout a difficult journey. 

I really enjoyed the introductions of the different characters, and how Isabelle reacted and expressed her emotions to each. I only wish there were some chapters in Alexander's point of view, as I would have loved to know what his emotions were at different points in the story. The final few chapters and epilogue were beautiful, and it would have been great to read it in his view also.

Thank you for allowing me to read this beautifully written book, the writing was so simple yet so effective. The storyline was easy enough to follow; though often at times I wanted to jump in and get Isabelle and Alexander to talk to each other and open up - so the final few chapters were such a relief! Isabelle's optimism throughout the difficult situations was also very inspiring. I couldn't be happier that this was my first Netgalley review.

I blame Bridgerton for making me want to read historical romances. 
I thought this was wonderfully written! 
It’s a slow burn romance, but the build up was nice. I would’ve liked it to have a bit of a quicker pace however. There was a lot of lagging. 
It portrayed Alexander’s plight with grace. It felt very raw. 
There was a lot of inner monologuing with Isabelle. Too much I felt. She was not my favorite character, so hearing everything through her perspective was not my favorite. I tend to think books with multiple perspectives are more interesting and bring more to the story, so I wish we would’ve heard from someone else as well. 
Cute slow burn romance!

Oh boy, this book took me for a ride! I loved it so much! The interaction between the two main characters drove me mad and I loved it! So much change and humility! It was amazing! This one is a bit heavier than I am used to with Proper Romance, but it didn't bother me one bit! Ms Anderson is very eloquent in her writing and I thoroughly enjoyed the story!

Official rating: 4/5 stars

Admittedly, I'm a huge sucker for slow burn, arranged marriage trope, but this- this was an unexpected gem in my Netgalley reading pile. 

Isabelle Rackham knows when she marries Mr. Osgood that she's not making a love match, and she's okay with that. She does it for the sake of her family and ultimately, it also helps that Mr. Osgood appears fairly pleasant and not half-bad to look at. However, the marriage is not at all what she expected, Mr. Osgood is at times cool and distant, and tragedy strikes just as they both begin to open up to one another. 

The second half of the novel is dedicated to showing Isabelle's journey and development as she grows to learn to look after and love someone with a disability. Her dedication, spirit and kindness were an inspiration to behold and  found myself adoring her for her single-minded drive to learn and support her husband. That to me is the real love story in 'better or for worse, in sickness and in health' and I am all for it. 

Some might feel the romance a little lacking, but I thought it representative for the time period and I felt the final conclusion all the better and more fulfilling for it.

This historical romance focuses around an arranged marriage with sweet Isabelle and the appearing cold Alexander. He comes off as indifferent towards her and when their romance very slowly shows some promise there is an accident that immediately puts a halt on things. Isabelle takes her marital duties in its strongest sense and stands by and supports her husband even if he is unaccepting points. The author does not show Alexander’s POV, but through his actions and words the reader can tell his devotion and love for his wife. 

I have yet to be introduced to this authors work before and am excited to see more by her. She gives the reader a full story with plenty of twists and turns to keep one engaged. It’s a historical piece with a romance that fits any era.

This is a lovely gentle book.  I did find it quite slow to start with but I really fell in love with all the characters and hope there is a 2nd one to find out how their stories continued.

The historical detail about millls at that time was written well and reminded me of North and South.

The central love story took a long time to build through the book but it felt so real.  Two people hampered by their place in society and I loved the box of letters that Alexander wrote to Isabelle. Writing how he felt when he couldn’t speak those words was a lovely touch.

The supporting characters add a real depth to the story and showed both Isabelle and Alexander the different types of love that are out there from.  Love of a spouse, love of a child, love of an employer.

I am sure for some it to will be too gentle but for me at this extraordinary time in the world to escape to a gentle love story was just what I needed.

Isabelle and Alexander is the story of a couple whose lives drastically change then suddenly change again. First, the couple struggles to acclimate to married life after an arranged marriage which is then made all the harder when Alexander suffers a horrific injury. All told from Isabelle’s point of view, you watch as she tries to find her role: where she belongs, and where she is wanted. Alexander is a stranger; already seemingly cold and reserved, his accident seems to make him withdraw just as the couple was warming to each other. 

The author writes in a way that seems to make the pages turn themselves. The story was seamless and I found it easy to pick up and put down in my busy life. I find myself recommending books for people who need such reads, and rarely am I able to recommend a book that falls under the historical fiction category for these people. I am glad to have finally found one! I also love how romantic the book is with minimal physical affection. Isabelle and Alexander express their care by noting details about each other and intentionally arranging small or large pleasures for each other. I read in another review that the reader wished to have been able to see things from Alexander’s point of view, but I disagree. Having all of the story told from Isabelle’s point of view strongly relayed exactly how much of a stranger her new husband was to her, and how drastically her life had changed. Discovering with Isabelle the way Alexander’s mind works and how he must see things is part of what captivated me and kept me in the story. One thing I felt the book lacked was physical description of characters and surroundings. It may sound trivial wanting to know what Glory was wearing or how big Mr. Connor’s nose was, but I feel it would have helped me feel more submerged in Isabelle’s world, not just her mind. As I write that I feel the need to say I felt very much so submerged in Isabelle’s stream of consciousness. It is one of the reasons the story flowed so nicely. 

All in all, I would recommend our library purchase this book as I already have several patrons in mind who I believe would enjoy this story. Thank you for sharing it with me.

How do I love this? Let me count the ways. 

I haven't ever read a book quite like this. There was absolutely struggle, but there was redemption and love. There was friction between our couple from the beginning as they didn't meet before their wedding day. Then there was an accident and things changed even more. 

Isabelle's experience was that of loneliness and I wouldn't be surprised if Alexander felt that too. The story was strictly from her perspective.

It was interesting in a historical to look at things like disability (in more than one character) and accessibility. I may have been more sensitive to this as I work with people with disabilities as a part of my career. 

I loved every word on every page and found this to be a surprise for me as well as a balm to my soul. 

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

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.

I love for the main story of a romance to be two people getting to know, then understand and, finally, love each other.  Other things do happen - Isabelle and Alexander face some major tragedies. But this is the story of their path to falling in love. And their path is very different than any I’ve read before!

Isabelle and Alexander's marriage is arranged to strengthen their families standings and businesses, both hope that eventually their union will lead to friendship and love, but on a trip to the country Alexander is injured and all their progress is halted with new challenges around every corner. 

This book was excellent! A fresh storyline, interesting setting and characters you enjoy more and more each page. I'm excited for more books from Rebecca Anderson.

What an unusual situation for a romance! Isabelle and Alexander marry as strangers, and two months later, Alexander becomes paralyzed by a riding accident. the novel is seen through the actions and thoughts of Isabelle as she learns to care for her husband and handle the situation. She matures over the months of taking care of her husband. Alexander changes, as well, as he works to overcome his disabilities. It was good to see a woman with 'special needs' included in the story. This is a novel I will never forget. Thank you, Netgalley, for giving me this opportunity to read and review this novel.

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!

***I received a free copy of this ebook from the ou lisher via NetGalley. All opinions and words here are my own, as always.***

This was an atypical but engrossing historical romance that kept me reading late into the night. The various characters’ stories were skillfully interwoven, adding layers of depth to the romance beyond answering “will they fall in love?” It was a story of why and how love, respect, and growth struggled but grew between both Isabelle and Alexander. As soon as I finished I wanted to return to the beginning and read it again.

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!

I love that this book follows the up and downs and insecurities of new marriage, exacerbated by the accident. This is very much the way my marriage started. The real life feelings followed by the happily ever after gives us all hope to keep plugging away. Thank you for a beautiful story.

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson.  Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2021.

This historical romance set in 1850s Victorian England is unusual because it tells the story of a of an arranged marriage within the middle-class. Isabelle’s father has a coal business that he oversees at a distance while Alexander, the educated son of a blacksmith owns a cotton mill that he purchased himself and operates hands-on.  Alexander is incredibly handsome while Isabelle sees her own looks as average, or perhaps just slightly above.  Their marriage will improve Alexander’s social standing and give Isabelle the security she expects of marriage. 

Excellent writing and likeable characters make Isabelle and Alexander an engaging read, particularly for those who read historical romances for the story and the history.  The pace is moderate, not too slow with enough detail to support the story without distracting. Everyday mid-Victorian middle-class life, both inside their homes and inside the mill, is seen from Isabelle’s perspective; her character develops as she engages with her mother and cousin, with Alexander’s employees and health care providers.  Alexander’s character develops from Isabelle’s experience with him and what his employees and his long-standing family doctor tell her about him.  There are no balls or other lavish large social events, no evil characters working against them, no explicit sex, no overt social climbing or poor relatives, no kidnappings, or dress fittings or any other plot elements typical of historical romances.  

This lovely story  is one of the best historical romances I have read, and certainly the best of this period.   I can’t comment on historical accuracy simply because I don’t know about it, so my deficit is the reason for the 4/5 star rating, not a flaw in the book.  I would give it 4 ½ stars if I could.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Isabelle and Alexander free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.   #IsabelleandAlexander #NetGalley

To be honest, I would give this book 3.5 stars (which to me, means "I liked the book, but don't know if I'd necessarily re-read it).  The plot seemed a bit repetitive at points, and to be honest I got bored with the story in the middle of the reading.  BUT, I did love the cover, I came to really enjoy protagonists, and I thought their love story, especially the ending and loving each other despite hard odds, was really sweet.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

Isabelle & Alexander is the story of a couple finding love in difficult circumstances, including an arranged marriage. The story tackles many somber topics not usually fleshed out in a regency romance. While I appreciated the effort to take the story in a unique direction, I struggled to invest in the characters and plot. I felt that the story started off slow and I did not feel much chemistry between the two love interests until about halfway into the story. I also found myself wishing for more dialogue between characters and less introspective descriptions. One thing I did enjoy about this story was the relationship between Glory and Isabelle. I found it to be very heartwarming. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The marriage of Isabelle and Alexander is a business proposition that is good for Isabelle’ 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 going into this marriage that it was not a love match, but Isabelle hopes 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 perceptions (of what I wanted) 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 there was something lacking that I haven’t quite put my finger on yet.

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

A coming of age and love story in one.  Isabelle is married to Alexander more as a business transaction and in the time period the couple is lucky to find love in the transaction.  Isabelle a young lady from wealth and privilege means is now the lady of basically a bachelor pad.  Alexander is a man who has built himself up from humble beginnings.  The love story is a dance really as they start to learn and appreciate each other and then makes its stamp when tragedy hits.  As they learn about each other and learn to be there for each other as well as the respect of how they have gotten to the place that have brought them together this love is unrealized as the strength of each individual is called into play.  I enjoyed the book it was a bit slow in parts but the overall lessons of love and finding yourself as well as the importance of marriage is what carried me through the book.



Thank you to the author Rebecca Anderson, Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the book.

This is a story about a young girl named Isabelle who was set to marry Alexander, the owner of Osgood Mills, a business parter of her father’s.

It’s a different kind of love story in that it comes after the vows have been said. It really focuses on the “in sickness and in health” as Alexander suffers an injury during an accident that left him paralyzed.
This story isn’t just rainbows and sunshine, which is what I liked about It.  It deals with things that can happen to anyone, deals with debilitating injuries, and the loneliness those closest to loved ones experience. Especially when Alexander just wanted to be left alone or he seemed to push them away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to read this love story.

I fell in love with this book, and I fell HARD! Such a tender story - much more than a romance, it is the journey of two young people discovering who they (and each other) truly are. Isabelle and Alexander are wed in a Victorian arranged marriage. He is a business acquaintance of her father's, and handsome to boot. Isabelle has always known this choice would be made for her, and her only regret is losing the camaraderie of her cousin, Edwin. But soon the polite distance of their cool arrangement is upset by a terrible horse-riding accident that leaves Alexander paralyzed. Suddenly Isabelle's disappointment over unmet emotional expectations changes to worry over simple physical expectation: Will Alexander ever walk again? Sit up? Hold a pen? His frustrations with his condition spill over onto his sheltered wife, and suddenly they both find themselves digging deep for the strength to bear with their new situation. I often found myself thinking how difficult it would be to find myself married to an invalid, even with years of happy memories to support us through the struggle. How could I cope with a relative stranger?!  Happily, supporting characters such as Dr. Kelley and housekeeper Mrs. Burns are full of wisdom and love and acceptance. I knew with their encouragement the wounded newlyweds would find a way to choose love. 

This book is so beautifully written. WIth only sparse descriptions of Victorian life, it richly delves into Isabelle's heart as she realizes the superficiality of her life before Alec. Without the distraction of sexual love, her commitment to serve her husband grows into a love that surpasses (but doesn't exclude) romantic love. They both learn the lessons of sacrifice and balance that took some of us decades to realize. The story wraps up with a short but satisfying epilogue. I would only change the word 'months' to 'years' to make it more believable.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and was not obligated to post a review.

The message of hope and becoming a family unit through difficulties resonated through this story.  The dedication Isabelle had to Alexander and to making their marriage successful was inspiring.  Her growth in confidence and self-assurance was also neat to watch through the book, as was Alec's learning to rely on others, especially his wife.  I enjoyed this sweet romance! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson is a romance set during the Victorian era in the mill town of Manchester. In addition to being a well-crafted romance, the book provides an education on the workings of textile mills, one of which is owned by Alexander Osgood. In addition, the workings of an arranged marriage slowly unfold as Isabelle and Alexander get to know each other, he being slightly lower in society's rankings than she is. An interesting and timely subplot deals with a family whose patriarch works at the mill in an administrative position, and whose daughter is emotionally disabled, a topic definitely not usually covered in books of this period. And finally, when Alexander has a bad accident being flung from a horse, we follow his recovery and learn that no few medical practitioners want to send him off to an asylum to heal. The process of Isabelle and Alexander falling in love is carefully and well-presented, and this book is a quick but intriguing read.

“We are all constantly learning, if we’re doing it correctly.” -- Mrs. Kenworthy to Isabelle. 

This story begins just before Isabelle’s move from her comfortable country home to a sooty manufacturing town via a marriage of convenience during the Victorian Era. Alexander sustains a serious injury near the beginning of the book that exacerbates the uncertainty of their roles and relationship. In addition, the book delves into other difficulties of the era: special needs children, factory working conditions, and societal norms. 

Isabelle is a fantastic character. Life has given her an unfair share of hardships. She has to constantly learn and adjust. She does so with courage and grace throughout the book. I loved the friendship she had with the Kenworthy’s, the servants at her home, the doctor, and her husband’s business partners. Her approach to life is selfless to the core. She is almost too good to be true. My heart ached for her many times through the book as she struggled to adjust to a string of trials and new situations. No matter how difficult, she never gave up. Sometimes it was an inner strength, and sometimes it was encouragement from friends, like Mrs. Kenworthy (the mother of a special needs girl that chose to not institutionalize her child).

        I would have liked it if Alexander’s good qualities had been divulged earlier in the book. He was a bit of an enjoyable mystery at first, but then later he was just confusing, proud and rude. Then finally, much later in the book his kindness and thoughtfulness are revealed. 

        This book is more historical women’s fiction, than it is romance. It does have a love story, but the real story was about Isabelle finding her place in a world that was so foreign to what she had been raised to expect.
	
	This tale will immerse you in Victorian England, with a special focus on the industrial town of Manchester. It will take your heart through almost every emotion, primarily the more difficult ones. It does so beautifully and was thought provoking to consider the seemingly insurmountable challenges. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I found the ending very satisfying. It was a realistic and unique happily ever after.

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.

This was such a fun book to read and I really enjoyed this book. It has a different twist than your normal regency romance. The struggle Isabelle and Alexander had from the beginning of their marriage was heart Wrenching. I love Isabelle’s persistence and strength in order to help her husband. What a great read.

Alexander Osgood owns a textile mill in Manchester. He has arranged a marriage with Isabelle Rackham. The first time she actually sees him is when he comes to Cumbria for their wedding. He spends most of his time in meetings with her father and she just spends meals with him. Alexander has a cold demeanor and he does not really talk to her. She had no wedding trip something was wrong at the mill and he had to go. He was always busy. He was polite and cold. There was nothing to talk about at dinner, so they didn't. It was lonely and very unsatisfying. Until he is injured. He becomes paralyzed and she does her best for him.
The characters are amazing, even the secondary ones are as well. Mrs. Burns, Glory, and Doctor Kelley are such comforting and caring people. I very much enjoyed this story. It was entertaining, in places warm, had always looked out for their welfare. They went through so much as newlyweds.
An uncaring Doctor and unsympathetic nurse. She has hit a stone wall. Eventually, it starts to change. I was lucky and even found a new author that I enjoy very much and look forward to her next book.
I received this Arc from Net Galley and voluntarily left a review.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own. 

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.

What begins as an arranged marriage in 

In 1850's England, Elizabeth Rackham and Alexander Osgood become are married 
An arranged marriage is norm, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that one cannot fall in love with ones own spouse. 
This was such a heartfelt and compelling book. A lovely storyline that pulls you in. Rebecca Anderson’s writing is polished and effortless. Drawing the reader in the lives of these two characters as the start a life out together and the tragic events that take place. 

Isabelle has to leave the comforts of her home and family, as she takes up residence in husbands home in Manchester. The two are strangers to one another so they have a rocky start. Lack of real communication as they try to blend their lives. 
Isabel reaches out to her distant husband trying to form a relationship with him. 
All the while Alexander feels unworthy as a proper husband because the two come from a slightly different class of society. 
In a series of events that have long reaching devastation. When a riding accident happens that paralyzes Alexander. 
This is a story about the meaning of a marriage and what it takes to see it through. Full of real life issues and well developed characters. The author prose is seamless and the narration is engaging. The added bonuses of some great noted 
side-characters makes for a memorable page turner. 

Once again Shadow Mountain Publisher has proven to be one of my all time favorites in Proper Romances and Clean Reads.

 #IsabelleandAlexander #properromance #historicalromance #cleanreads

I literally devoured the whole book. From social standards and arranged marriage to falling in love. This book was beautiful, I have immensely enjoyed reading it. Two different people of two not so different worlds trying to learn and understand each other. To earn and deserve each other´s love. In this story, the wedding vows "in sickness and in health" due to an accident apply to 100%. This book with all its wonderful characters takes you on a journey you have never been before, one with lots of questions, ups, and downs, suffering but also hope for the better. 

If you are a fan of historical fiction you would adore this one.

I would also like to thank NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity of an early review.

I adored this book! The characters were so wonderful and well written. The story was engaging and hooked my interest right from the beginning.

There is a lot to like in this historical romance, foremost being the unique take on a marriage of convenience story. Isabelle, after recently being wed to Manchester cotton mill owner Alexander, is still trying to find her place and her confidence as a wife, when her husband is gravely injured in a riding accident. Now she must strive to care for and understand a paralyzed man she barely knows, and who is now coping with all the emotions that come with his disability.

The author does an excellent job with scene building, well-written dialogue, and interesting side characters. 

However, my personal preference would have been to spend less time having Isabelle’s uncertainties and internal reactions being repeatedly described, and more time detailing her deepening relationship with Alexander. I never could quite get a handle on his personality, especially regarding his behavior to Isabelle prior to the accident. 

Despite the aspects that didn’t appeal to me, this was still a nice read and I would consider reading more by the author.

4 stars

A tender, clean romance between a couple who gradually transition from the awkwardness of an arranged marriage to finding peace & love in each other. A main focus of the story is one MC’s paralysis & recovery, & how it affects & complicates the relationship.

[What I liked:]

•The historical setting is well done, especially the descriptions of what it was like to be inside a cotton mill. There was nothing about health concerns or workers’ rights, & the workers were all portrayed to absolutely adore the mill owner (because he was handsome 🙈) which I find unrealistic, but I did sincerely appreciate the attention to historical detail.

•Isabelle, Alexander, Mrs. Burns, the Kenworthys, and Dr. Kelley were all wonderful characters I grew to like & care for. The character development arcs have depth & are paced well.

•Isabelle & Alexander’s relationship was touching. The communication difficulties & learning to adjust to one another were the opposite of insta-love, and I enjoyed the slow & tender progression.

•I’m not an expert so I may be missing issues, but I think Alexander’s disability was portrayed respectfully. He wasn’t shown as weak or without agency. This is also not an “inspiration p*rn” story, but rather focuses on I & A’s budding relationship.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Dr. Fredericks & the nurse are kinda one dimensional villains, without much explanation for why they acted so harshly.

•Very minor quibble, but the description of making a quilt wasn’t very accurate in terminology or process. Embroidery was called “decoration”, quilting was called “stitching”, the quilt itself was called a “blanket, etc. (I only care so much because I’m a quilter.)

CW: portrayals of ableism, descriptions of physical injuries 

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

A Victorian Era arranged marriage romance, Isabelle and Alexander is a sweet, slow paced story. The two have an arranged marriage but are living almost separate lives until an accident occurs, driving them together while Alexander recovers. Isabelle has a quiet & capable demeanor while Alexander is a hard working businessman who is very aloof towards her at first. They have many obstacles to overcome as a couple and as Alexander attempts to heal and regain his movement. They are a sweet couple who grow together and Alexander ends up having a sweet side to him.
The story had a lot of interesting tidbits about mills and how they are laid out and work. I would have liked to have some of the chapters from Alexanders perspective, see what was going on in his head.

Isabelle and Alexander started me off thinking that Isabelle and her cousin would end up falling in love because of the closeness of their relationship but it couldn't be more different. As Isabelle and Alexander are married after barely making an acquaintance with each other, their romance has a slow start until a tragedy befalls Alexander. Life as Isabelle knew it was gone- not just the silly, light-hearted life from girlhood but the lonely life she had lead since their marriage. Her character develop is deep and moving as she grows into a woman with depth, willing to do whatever it takes to help her husband-physically and emotionally/spiritually. I relate well to her hardships and growth. Isabelle inspires me to do as she did and take charge of her situation. Nothing would get in her way and she was able to find her happily ever after- nothing, even a disgruntled husband would get in her way. 

While Isabelle goes through a great deal of growth, she always showed a great deal of kindness. Those she worked with, the neighbor with mental disabilities that lived next door, and her disgruntled husband who was coming back from a life-altering injury. Her character never changed, just deepened. While Rebecca Anderson's contemporary romances are some of my favorites- I enjoyed this heavier story.

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC read!

Such a moving story of finding love after a tragedy. Isabelle and Alexander find themselves in a marriage of convenience. Both struggle to adapt to their new situation. After Alexander suffers a tragic accident, their relationship becomes even more strained as it was before. This story navigates the hardships Isabelle And Alexander face as they attempt to adjust to their new life and his road to recovery.

This was a wonderful story. The author chose a great theme to write. I personally like stories about injuries and recovery especially in this era. Recovery from such an accident takes time and growth for the person and their family. I like how she showcased the other characters that were effected by his accident and how everyone was adjusting to the changes.

Though the plot and storyline were on target, I feel the writing could have improved a bit. I think this story would have been better with an "Alexander" and "Isabelle" perspective. This way you could get both sides of their feelings. I found there was a lot of repetitive lines as well. Isabelle would feel sad often and Alexander would have good and bad days. Though that would be the case in the accident, I found it hard to follow as a reader when her same feelings kept repeating. Also, both characters seem to have strong personalities and frustrations throughout, I would have loved to see more banter......

Emotional, moving story. I found myself emotionally attached to Alexander's recovery- hoping for improvements each chapter!

Alexander and Isabelle have an arranged marriage which are not very common at this time. A few months after they are wed, Alexander is in an accident and this story is about how they deal with this huge obstacle in their lives and relationship.

This book is not a typical read for me and it was a little slow to start but eventually it was so adorable. It was a slooooow burn romance that ends so well. I felt like I was wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket when I finished it. The character growth in it is a dream for me. I especially loved the housekeeper, Mrs Burns and Doctor Kelley. They were a light in the novel. I enjoyed how sweet Isabelle is and how we got to know and understand Alexander.
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It is released May 4th and is part of the Proper Romance series from Shadow Mountain. And I think it's a pretty great addition. Thank you to @netgalley for an ARC copy.
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An sweet arranged marriage trope, where the wife has to care for the husband after a fall. 
This is perfect for fans of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

This one is a “proper” romance so there is no sex, but the chemistry between the characters is so sweet. It’s all from Isabelle’s perspective, I would have like to get a glimpse of Alexander’s perspective but I did enjoy Isabelle.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

This is a lovely story about a newlywed couple in an arranged marriage learning to communicate and to love and trust each other. This is complicated by an unfortunate accident that leaves one of them in need of long-term medical care. I love how realistically this is portrayed. These situations really bring out both the worst and best in a person, and you get to see these characters different struggles and tenacity through their distinctive personalities. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this novel and think it is a wonderful, engaging addition to the Proper Romance line.

I could not put this book down! Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

At the beginning I thought that because this was an arranged “love-less” marriage (I’m guessing late 1800’s to early 1900’s) to Alexander Osgood, Isabella would get together with her Cousin Edwin, as she always spoke so fondly about him.

I could feel her sadness and frustration with Alexander. When an unfortunate accident happens, she wishes for them to come closer but the struggles of healing and his grumpiness seem to make it harder.

As the months pass, she gets glimpses of a wonderful husband that start to outweigh the angry one. Another accident finally brings them together and the ending is perfect.

All thoughts are my own in this review.

Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com

Author Rebecca Anderson pens a heartfelt story about finding love against all odds in Isabelle and Alexander. This Victorian romance begins with an unusual premise:  Alexander and Isabelle have wed in an arranged marriage but aren't yet on a first-name basis. Told entirely from Isabelle's point of view, this well-paced story conveys the many emotions of a woman trying to make a marriage work. Anderson captures the couple at their lowest in her realistic portrayal of Alexander's accident and treatment, but the novel is not all doom and gloom. Isabelle and Alexander's secondary characters --Doctor Kelley, Glory and her parents, the house staff -- help bring sunshine and cheer. The incorporation of the textile mill and its workers brought a depth to Alexander's character and helped make him a more likeable guy! Fans of the Proper Romance series will not want to miss this book.

Review of an Advance Electronic Copy

For full content analysis, go to www.compassbookratings.com

A unique, fulfilling story from Rebecca Anderson!  Isabelle and Alexander is not your typical romance, but it is still enjoyable and enlightening.  I do think the story would have benefitted from the inclusion of Alexander’s point of view.  Anderson is talented, and I’m excited to see what she does next. 3/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story takes place in the cotton mills during the Victorian Age.  Isabelle comes from a wealthy family and is married to Alexander, a self made man.  Early on in the story, Alexander becomes paralyzed.  I enjoyed seeing how Isabelle stays devoted to her husband during his injury.  
The beginning was a little slow moving.  It wasn’t until Isabelle started getting a personality of her own that the story picked up.  I like how Isabelle stayed true to herself, while loving Alec.
My favorite character was Glory.  It seemed like she was on the spectrum.  Her parents were devoted to her and truly helped her to be the best person she could be.  
If you like historical fiction and romance, this book is for you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shadow Mountain through NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I was a little unsure how I would like this book, but I am so grateful to have read it. It was a beautiful story of love and sacrifice amidst tragedy. I had yet to read a book dealing with paralysis in this time era so it was nice to read about, especially since I have a brother who has been wheelchair bound his whole life. It was an interesting perspective. I also adored seeing how those grow in love as they serve others who cannot serve themselves. 

Isabelle and Alexander start their relationship as a business deal between Alexander and her father. She has certain hopes and expectations as to what marriage will be like, but when they get to Manchester to start their lives together, those expectations are dashed. She finds herself lonely as Alexander works so much, and they barely speak to one another, even when they are with one another. Alexander takes Isabelle to their country home and as things seem to start heading in the right direction with them, Alexander is in a terrible accident.

As the book goes on you follow Isabelle as she becomes more than just a wife in name, but a caretaker too. Alexander and Isabelle have to work together as they take on new roles and their hopes and dreams change as it becomes apparent that he will be paralyzed and chair bound. 

As I started the book I found myself annoyed that it was only written from Isabelle's perspective. I wanted to get into Alexander's head so bad. But that ended up being a bit positive as I kept reading. I felt like I grew with her as she grew into her roles and got to find herself a little more every day. 

Overall, a wonderful read. Thank you for the book NetGalley.

This was a well written and beautiful story.  I loved the atmospheric descriptions and felt transported to 1850 England. 
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Marriage of Convenience, a change in circumstances, and the blossoming of true love.

Isabelle and Alexander is a story about facing adversity with good grace and making the best out of what life has handled.

Isabelle was young and very sheltered. She was matched with Alexander by her father without being consulted or having ever met him.

When they finally met, Alexander turned out to be handsome but distant and cold. I felt for Isabelle in that impossible situation, and it hurt me to think how many real women have experienced that same helplessness.

Their relationship was detached and restrained. Two strangers married for life with no actual knowledge of one another.

And things got worse; Alexander suffered an accident that made him dependent and vulnerable.

Isabelle was so strong and loyal despite her youth and consequent lack of life experience. She was relentless in seeing the positive in everything and in trying to make things better.

I liked that Alexander was a mill owner respected by his employees. He had, in this sense, a John Thornton (North and South) vibe. I just wished he was a little more like John in his dealings with Isabelle. Alexander had a sense of inferiority that kept his walls high and his heart guarded.

My favorite side character was Glory, a lovely painter who struggled a bit and, at that time in history, was considered simple-minded and, therefore, worthless. Glory's talent and friendship played an essential role in the story.

It was great to see that the caregivers' struggles and perspectives were also portraited. Very often, stories forget about these heroes that do so much for those they love. Both Isabelle and Glory's mom were great examples of selflessness and unconditional love.

Isabelle and Alexander is an emotional story about disability, perseverance, and love;  a very inspiring read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 05/03/2021 as part of the book's blog tour*

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

I loved this book start to finish. The Victorian Age setting intrigued me from the start. I haven't read many modern novels set in this time period and loved this one. It reminded me of everything I love about North and South. I loved all the details about Manchester and the industrial age. I was fascinated by the details of Osgood Mill and the process for creating their cloth from the machines, the floors, the workers, the potential for fire, and the shipping. And the twist that happens early in the novel is unlike any I have read in an historical romance.

Isabelle is a fantastic protagonist. In true Victorian form, we get the story exclusively from her perspective and I admired her growing strength and confidence. Anderson does a great job balancing Isabelle's growing role in her household with her personal dreams. She isn't a completely modern woman that doesn't quite fit in with her time period but rather a lovely celebration of the changing roles for women at this time. I loved following her journey and her strength in helping and healing with Alexander.

Alexander is a classic brooding character--reminiscent of Thornton and Mr Rochester. He is successful and hard working. He has built his successful mill business himself and gained the trust and love of his employees. His accident is tragic and difficult for him and all who know him. I was fascinated by the details of his recovery form the muscle exercises to the wheelchair and slow return of motion. I have never read a novel with historical accounts of that type of injury and recovery. It was so interesting to read about that intricate process in this novel. I would have loved some chapters from Alexander's point of view to understand his thought process and his slow burning love for Isabelle. 

Their love story is slow burning and beautiful. They begin as an arranged marriage and then Alexander's accident happens so quickly, I wasn't sure how they could really fall in love. But it was possible and beautiful. It happened in small moments of Isabelle serving Alexander. In stories shared with each other. In understanding the mill and the livelihood they both needed. In being alone and being patient together. My favorite moment is when Alexander comes rushing to Isabelle's aid and she can't believe he has dropped everything for her. Then he nurses her as she did for him. Their love is not perfect but a process of service, honesty and patience. I loved the unique frame for their love story and the beautiful ending they deserve.

The other characters are also beautifully developed from Mr Connor and Mr Kenworthy at the mill. To Mrs Kenworthy and Glory and their friendship with Isabelle. I loved Mrs Burns and Yeardley for their loyalty and gentle encouragement to our protagonists. Cousin Edwin and Isabelle's changing relationship with her childhood best friend as they marry. They kind country doctor that is Alec's dear friend and becomes Isabelle's confidant and support. Even the rude doctor and truly horrible nurse who want to heal Alexander in different ways. Each help create a more full backdrop for the story. 

A truly delightful novel that I read in about 24 hours. I loved the characters, the setting, historical details, and the  slow and satisfying love story.

This book had a lot of really interesting elements. As much as I love a good Regency story, I'm loving the trend of publishing more books set during the Victorian era. I found the details of Isabelle's life as a business owner's wife, as well as the details of Alexander's business really interesting. I thought it was awesome that the book had featured two characters with disabilities--Alexander with his physical paralysis and secondary character Glory with her developmental disability. Getting glimpses of the struggles and the recommended treatments for both as well as their limitations and what they could do was really engaging. (Side note: before knowing what the book was about, I really liked the cover; however, now, while I still think it's a beautiful cover, I wish it actually showed Alexander in his wheelchair. A visual depiction like that would have been really powerful.)
Isabelle's character really resonated with me; her emotions fluctuated in a way that seemed very real as she struggled with her new situation and not knowing how to connect with Alexander. I appreciated her resilience and determination as she struggled to figure out how to interact with Alexander and his medical staff, and it was gratifying to see her find her voice. Alexander's character, with his moodiness and frustrations, was also very believable but not as enjoyable. Not having any of the book written from his point of view made it harder to truly see the good aspects, and it was pretty late in the book that we finally got a look at his heart. I wish there had been more of that, both when it did finally come as well as earlier in the book.
The tone is understandably somber and the romance is hard-f0ught rather than fluffy and fun, but the book is well-written and engaging.
4 stars.
I read an ARc provided by the publisher via #Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

** spoiler alert ** I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started this book. It had been on my eARC list for a long time so I honestly forgot what it was about. Which is okay with me. I, most of the time, prefer to go in blind when starting a new book.

I rather enjoyed this story. I really felt for the main character, Isabelle, and her struggle to adapting to a new life. One with a man that appears to not want anything to do with her. Every once in a while, you get a glimpse of hope and that kept me reading. I sometimes wanted to shake Alexander by the shoulders and tell him to stop being a stubborn donkey. He is so fixated on assuming that he is beneath her and that she’s not happy. If he would have just opened his eyes, he would have seen that she was trying so hard to please him. In the end, I much enjoyed watching the arc of their relationship. And I really liked how Isabelle discovers that there are not only good days in a relationship. There is give and take, good and bad, but those good days are what makes the struggle worth it.

On a side note, I loved the character Glory! I hope to see more characters like herself in books.