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'll admit that I marked this book to read based on the cover alone. Once I read the back, I wasn't very excited for the story. First up the positives. This is book is very well written, and even though it is written from Isabelle's perspective, I feel like I really knew what Alexander thoughts were. The love story was not rushed at all and fell together very naturally. I was happy the book ended on a positive note. And there wasn't too much inner monologue which can get tiresome.

Now the negatives, the accident happens pretty early on and I found myself pretty bored by halfway through the book. I was tempted to skim over pages just to get to something more interesting. The story was sort of redeemed by the end, but overall was kinda dull. The characters were fine, if a slightly bland. I feel that Isabelle's "growing" moments were very understated. I can't pinpoint exactly what I didn't love about this book, I just felt like it could have been more. It's probably something I wouldn't read again. However, I found the story easy to read and I enjoyed the style a lot. So I will definitely watch this author in the future.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The premise inteigued me, but it was told entirely from the h's perspective. This wouldn't have been a bad thing if the H had been portrayed with more depth and emotion. However, he was pretty detached and hard to get a feel for.

I would give this book 3 stars!

The concept of dealing with a debilitating accident and the role of caretaker was done with great sensitivity. The overall tone was reminiscent of Gaskell's North and South.

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!

thanks to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc to review.

i feel like this book lacked a lot of what it needed. the ambiance just wasn’t right, the writing felt a little off and i couldn’t connect to the characters.

this book just wasn’t for me. i’m sure it has its audience so i’m giving it 2.5 stars.

Isabelle and Alexander only recently met each other... just a few weeks before their own wedding. All of a sudden, they find themselves newlyweds, but still practically strangers to each other. Isabelle struggles to figure out her role in their new life together as Alexander is busy running his local mill. They decide to take a trip to Alexander's home in the country where Alexander suffers a tragic fall that leaves him paralyzed. Isabelle's expectation for their life together must take a drastic turn as she now fulfills the role of caretaker for Alexander.

First of all, I was impressed by the premise of the plot. It is very rare that romance, but especially regency-era romance, will attempt a story that deals with disability. I'm grateful for a lot of the themes in this book, like dealing with grief after a sudden injury, the inherent value of people who are disabled, and the sacrifice and love of people who care for those who are disabled.

That said, there were elements of the story that seemed clunky at times. Isabelle seemed mature and capable, but then would revert back being moody and somewhat immature. Alexander would open up and seem to be softening, but then he would close up again. I would imagine that the author might be trying to convey the ups and downs that come with this situation, but I struggled with it, especially when it came to the ending. There were also things that happened towards the end of the book that I didn't quite believe. I think they had to happen for the book to be able to end well, but it seemed a bit contrived to me.

Weaknesses aside, I still appreciate the overall tone of the book, and I liked the characters enough to want to know what happened at the end. This would be a good read for anyone who wants something perhaps a bit deeper than many other regency romance novels.

Thank you to Rebecca Anderson, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

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!