#IsabelleandAlexander #NetGalley

Isabelle marrys a stranger, Alexander Osgood, a man who will barely speak to her. Isabelle wonders what kind of marriage she will have, when Alexander can barely tolerate being in her company. When a freak accident happens, Isabelle finds out how strong she needs to be, not only for herself but for her husband. This book reminded me of one of my favorite movies and books, North and South. A little slower moving but still a good 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.

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson, 368 pages. Shadow Mountain, 2021. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Isabelle is excited for the good match her parents have made but nervous about marrying Alexander since he is still practically a stranger. Despite her reservations, Isabelle goes into her marriage hopeful and chooses to nourish that hope despite the disappointments and hardships that abound. Will this new life ever fill with the happiness she imagines?
Anderson has written a different kind of love story in that it seems somewhat backwards. Isabelle and Alexander are married by chapter two and slowly get to know each other and hope for love as the book, and their marriage, progresses. I did not like Alexander for at least two-thirds of the book because his changes of emotion from one scene to the next hurt Isabelle. However, one day, without warning, I picked up the book looking forward to reading about the couple; I guess Alexander charmed me as he charmed Isabelle. In the end, I enjoyed the read, though I don’t think it is anything spectacular.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

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.

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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!

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.

3.5 stars.
The slow, tentative building of affection between the romantic leads in the beginning of “Isabelle and Alexander”, by Rebecca Anderson (Shadow Mountain Publishing), is so lovely as is Alexander’s kindness and discreet courtship.
This is not your typical historical wounded hero, a character afflicted with a spinal cord injury just at the beginning of a marriage of convenience in 1850’s England. I appreciated the novelty of it.
There’s a good insight into what could be a rehabilitation process of a wealthy patient in Victorian England – the doctors and the nurse’s ministrations seem believable and Alexander’s gradual and partial recovery, too.
The obstacles Alexander faces, how he struggles with his new reality and the frustration and despair he feels seem believable.
The health professionals’ lack of bedside manners and the carers’ exhaustion and burnout are depicted well, too.
I also loved the setting and how the author portrayed industrial Manchester, a city which is a character in its own right.
Though no doubt an interesting story, I found myself disappointed that the romance was too clean and the chemistry that seemed so promising in the beginning turned out to be more friendship and platonic love than real desire and intense passion.
In a way, the reader only gets a surface or filtered approach on the very sad things happening to the hero because the story is told exclusively from Isabelle’s point of view, marked by her naivete and life inexperience.

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.

I love the premise and the cover. Evokes timeless love. I think the book needs more show, don’t tell. Isabelle has lots of things she’s doing or thinking. There’s very little subtext, and I think adding to that would push this up a star and a half. Also, highly suggest getting into the heroes head. He’s gone through something very traumatic but we don’t get to feel his frustrations outside of some dialogue between him and his wife. I would have loved to have delved into that more. For the above reasons, I think this is a 2 1/2 star book. It has all the right ingredients, it just needs to bake longer.

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.