This is a good book. The main characters names are Stroud and Cordelia. I liked the storyline and dialogue between characters. I find this book to be a fast read- I honestly couldn’t put it down. A must read!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Beautiful cover. This is part of a series. Recommend

The Book of Love was an interesting story. I found the main characters to be polar opposites but yet their chemistry could not keep them apart. At times I found Stroud's antics and Cordelia's icy demeanor to be to much. Overall, I liked the book.

Unfortunately, due to unexpected circumstances, I was unable to download this ARC to read before it was archived on NetGalley. The premise sounded like a book I would be interested in though. I also didn't realize it was a sequel to a previous book (one I also have not already read).

Thank you for the ARC regardless, I am just sorry I wasn't able to read it.

#bookoflove #netgalley

This book started out really good but then it delved deeper into the bedroom stuff and I thought it would be a clean read. Definitely steer clear if you're only interested in clean reads, like me.

Unfortunately this book didn't have much going on, and I didn't connect with any of the characters so I found myself bored throughout it.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

A new author to me, I absolutely loved this

A beautiful tale of love told brilliantly, this book shows love between multiple couples. While the "Book of Love" in question references romantic love, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the love between friends within the story as well.

This is my first time reading a book by Erin Satie, but I would definitely search out more of her books in the future! I closed this book with the biggest smile on my face, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a romance story with historical events of significance.

I smiled and laughed quite a lot while reading this. Stroud is such a charming and fun character. The author did a brilliant job of mixing romance and humour with the more serious theme of the fight for social reforms for women that were being debated at the time. It was so interesting to read about this.
I wasn't aware that this book was part of a series but, it's easily enjoyed as a standalone.

The Book of Love was a super sweet story following a serious and independent woman who falls for a duke with a penchant for pranks.

Cordelia and Allistar’s way of approaching things and dealing with them together is so sweet. The writing was good the romance was sweet but I felt like it was missing something. The book was short and a quick read so maybe that’s it but I just felt like there could have been more.
Also some things were left unresolved? The author introduced the subplot of a mutual friend Olympia and her marriage but never resolved it or addressed it — I was thinking it might be another book in the series but I don’t see anything for a third book so I’m not sure.

That being said I do want to go back and read the first book to read more about Bonny’s story.

Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity.

I'm always keen to read a new book by Erin Satie, her research and understanding of the period in which she writes is always exemplary, and she always has a social point to make together with a well developed romance plot with interesting protagonists. This one was no exception. The political background was about advocacy for the rights of women, both the fight for the rights of women in marriage, and the Divorce bill. There was also a really good exploration of the freedoms of women of all types at the time.

We have Cordelia, who we met in the first book of the series, principled and well educated by a father who is a judge, she has been ostracised when she was involved in a scandal at home. Disappointed by her father's reaction she has left home and settled in London, and supports herself by bookbinding for a living. This is a pretty difficult proposition, it is difficult to make enough to eat, clothe oneself and keep warm enough in her rented room. Cordelia is a serious, high minded individual who has little time for frivolity. I love a heroine who is uncompromising, sharp and unconcerned about what people who don't matter to her think of her.

When she bumps into the Duke of Stroud, who is a committed prankster, Rip, or Alistair is immediately captivated by all of Cordelia's angles, her strength of character and disdain for his pranks. He immediately tries to rope her in to his schemes, and is frustrated by her unwillingness to believe that he is just a silly man who plans pranks to amuse and make up for his lack of intellect and gigantic size. In fact Alistair has been belittled by and abusive father, abandoned by a much put upon mother, and has refused to let this cruelty make him cruel in his turn.

Cordelia sees right through to his real self almost immediately, and manages to best him at his own game. also a trope I adore.

The way they fall in love felt just right, and I also appreciated the way they grew into the marriage together.

Highly recommended.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own

What I Loved:

The Bookbinding. What led me to requesting Book of Love is also what kept my interest: Cordelia makes books for a living, back when books were made to order and illustrations done by hand. While Cordelia has to bind books to make a living, it is also a passion for her, and she makes what could very well be the first scrapbook. I loved all of the details of her process and her business, and love watching how she then uses her bookbinding skills to fight for women’s rights.

The Duke of Stroud. Cordelia I can take or leave (see below), but I simple loved Stroud. He was this big sweet goofball who wanted to bring joy in his friends’ hearts and who was constantly put down as a child. I loved how Stroud found happiness in someone who recognized his worth despite the years of emotional abuse, and his pranks make me wish I had a Stroud in my life.

The Politicking. I feel like historical romances are often fluff, which I truly do love. However, Book of Love provided an exciting surprise with Cordelia joining the women’s rights movement in mid-19th century London. The way Satie incorporates women’s right to their own property after marriage, and watching Cordelia and Stroud get the 1800s version of a pre-nup made Book of Love more fun than a normal historical romance.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

While I love so many things about Cordelia’s life (I love her work, her dedication to the women’s rights movement, her origin story, and her friends), I can’t help but be exasperated by her. She is not just outspoken but rude and is a bit of a know it all (takes one to know one… I have been accused of that as well). Cordelia accepts Stroud’s proposal as though it were a pragmatic decision instead of one borne from love, even in the company of her closest friends. I wish she’d been honest with herself in the very beginning.

The Pacing. In a bit of a reversal from my normal complaint, I thought that Book of Love is perfectly paced in the beginning and then rushes into the last quarter like a bat out of hell. I am a bit of a cliché reader and love when the marriage ends the book, but didn’t hate that Stroud and Cordelia got married early – I just wish it didn’t change the entire pace of the book. Too much character development occurred from that one moment on.

The Sex. This seems like an unpopular opinion compared to other reviews, but I didn’t like the way Satie wrote the intimate scenes between Stroud and Cordelia. They were awkward and uncomfortable – it reminded me of a YA when two teenagers are first exploring each other. While there is a time and a place for that kind of scene, a historical romance is not one of them for me. This is my first Satie, so that may be the problem.

A quick read, Book of Love by Erin Satie introduces readers to feisty, headstrong Cordelia who pays the bills by creating beautiful books. Her profession brings her to the notice of a handsome, charming man whose greatest joy appears to be playing tricks on his friends. The fact that he happens to be a titled gentleman is just a bi-line. What follows is a classic push and pull between two polar opposites who are destined to be together. A pleasant story with a happy ending.

He's busy being foolish and wasting time, she's busy binding books and being brittle.

I was excited to read this book. but felt like there was too many busy tangents.
Alistair has time to spare and hires a full time marching band to be on call to annoy match making mama's..
Cordelia is focused on details and book binding. She's a bit on the brittle side.

I didn't feel the connection between Cordelia and Alistair and really was hoping their differing personalities would mesh better. Just my take.

Book of Love is a satisfyingly dense book, beautifully written, with a deeply touching and loving central relationship and a rather bittersweet ending. While I loved the way Cordelia and Alistair were able to make each other whole, I felt as though the Olympia storyline and the denouement of the political plot cast a shadow over the happiness at the end. I loved the story, but it left me feeling a little melancholy.

If you enjoy a thoughtful romance that touches on politics and feminism but also takes you on a gloriously sensual and detailed journey into the process of bookbinding, then I think this book will make you very happy. (Seriously, the bookbinding porn here is out of this world).

My full review will appear on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, after publication.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence my review.

The soon-to-be-released Book of Love by Erin Satie is an engagingly silly and serious romance set in the mid-eighteen hundreds in London. While following some of the conventions of Regency Romance (the hero is a duke, the storyline primarily is one of courtship and marriage), there is more emphasis on the politics of the day, mostly the struggle for women’s rights.

Cordelia Kelly is a gently-reared lady, the daughter of a judge. Pretty, intelligent, and a little too serious, Cordelia is unable to settle for any of the men her parents parade before her. Her father, who once supported her education, now regrets having raised a daughter with a mind of her own. When the family drama escalates, Cordelia escapes to London determined to support herself as a book-binder. For the most part, she succeeds. Although her position is financially precarious, she has a small but loyal clientele. She also has a small group of similarly independent female friends. She isn’t looking for a man in her life. Nevertheless, one finds her.

Alistair Chandros, Duke of Stroud, is a giant of a man. (Handsome, of course, but the description makes him sound like he has a pituitary disorder.) He has a kind heart, and his threatening size has always been a problem. He compensates by playing the fool in order to be less intimidating. He’s played village idiot for so long that no one takes him seriously, despite his wealth and title. And he is riddled with self-doubt, believing his own press. He occupies his time staging pranks, both for his own amusement and to secretly serve the interests of close friends.

During the course of a prank, Alistair crosses paths with Cordelia. She is utterly unintimidated by him and he’s delighted. He manages to find out who she is, and gets a little “stalk-y,” and she berates him for it, charming him even more.

They dance around each other, with Alistair growing a bit more serious and Cordelia learning to enjoy life again. The relationship develops in a believable way.

At the same time, Cordelia pursues her interest in promoting the Petition for Reform of the Married Women’s Property Law and, later, a divorce law granting women the right to sue for divorce. It’s hard to grasp how few legal rights women had in the nineteenth century, and how hard-fought were the battles to win even the first glimpses of equality. It’s an unusually serious subject for a Romance. And while the author doesn’t take us too deep into the weeds, she does make her point.

If you’re looking for a historical Romance with a little more substance, this one fits the bill.

When Prim and Proper meets A Wild Card ...

Oh my!
What a sensational book it is, so very different from any I have read before.
With two very common ingredients of many historical romance, a bluestocking and a Duke, the author mixed it to present us a very unconventional moving charming tasty tale.

Cordelia is the prim and proper product of her father’s upbringing, until everything derailed and she applied what she had been taught to real life, to stand for what she thought was right.
Why small minded people from her tiny part of the world turned their back to her, preferring to follow the easy path instead of reflecting on their own flaws.
So here she is, in London far away from her birth place and her family, trying to get ends meet. Every day is a challenge, with its lot of failures and successes.
As a woman in trade she walks a thin line, her reputation is her lifeline, giving her no room for dalliance or entertainment.
So when a know Duke marks her as his next target, she first thinks to run away, yet something in him calls to her, so she faces his challenge and outsmart him, trying it will deter him when instead it only endear her.
Cordelia is not an easy character to appreciate, I do not not mind she opinionated and outspoken, but sometime her bluntness and toughness might be hurtful. That she rebukes petty and mean people, I can only cheer with her, but she often turns her scorn to Alistair, who is probably one of the most caring characters I have read for long. She let her fears get the better of her, yet at the same time, I understand her position as a woman alone in a man’s world with little to no power, and everything to loose for a second of sagging in her long controlled rigidity.
Alistair Stroud might be a Duke, but outside his gigantic appearance and wealth, he does not act like one, well in the narrow sight of the ton.
I loved him instantly, which is easy, he is cheerful, always thinking his next prank with glee , yet also respectful and subtle for the giant he is. He is also such a good sport, never deterred when he has been fooled when it is done sensibly.
But behind this bulky carcass, there is a tender heart and a damaged soul. Years of bullying and belittling by his sire and disparaging by the others, tattooed in his brain, he is feeble-minded.
And for all Cordelia’s inflexibility, she sees past his society’s mask, and is determined to prove him wrong.
Their relationship is truly a clash of tempers, when he is sweet and fun, she is all rigor and righteousness. Why she will have to really explore is soul to understand he is no one to play false game, but is she willing to enter the play and go along with his concocted schemes or will she backpedal scared by the endgame’s price.
Will the cost be too much or fair enough ...

The cast of side characters is full of surprise, with some who will disappoint, others who are unconventional and/or amazing. In all, the author has painted a vivid portrait of this overview in time, with the different views and behaviors from the period.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen sweet lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I was intrigued by the idea of an immature duke and the independent woman who will have none of his nonsense. I thought it would be really funny - and it was. For a little while. And then it began to feel overdone. The amount of pranks the duke became less funny and more annoying as time went on. The man is grown, has a lot of power, and yet he wastes his time setting up elaborate pranks on the people around him. It didn't feel realistic, and it didn't endear him to me. I was on the heroine's side at first, although she was quite rude to him for most of the book, and I didn't like that. That rudeness is what eventually led me to not really being on her side either. I didn't see how the two matched well, and the story didn't flow for me. I found it very easy to put down, and in fact, I picked up and read several books instead of reading this one. Not a good sign.

Overall, I felt this book was okay, but I think there needed to be more realism in it. Or make it shorter, novella length, and then the reader can enjoy a short story about the rambunctious duke. A full-length novel about the man and his lady wasn't something I needed.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. I measure loving a book by wanting to pick it up constantly, thinking about it during my work day, etc. I was happy to pick this up before bed but that's it.

However, I very much love some aspects of this book. I like that both of the main characters were more than meets the eye. Both had reputations for being a certain way and both saw through those reputations to see who the other truly was. I love seeing the foundations of feminism in mid-1800s England. And I loved the inclusion of characters of color who seem to be lined up to get their own stories--especially Tess, who I know is based on a real person.

Thank you to the author, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Historical romance is not usually my thing, but this sounded intriguing - and in large part it lived up to its promise. The story updates the well-worn trope of the Duke and the commoner love story, and does it well. The heroine has a feminist backbone and has suffered the consequences of her convictions. The Duke has his own familial trauma which has destroyed his self-esteem - and has made him a man of compassion and humility, but who covers all with the humor and pranks of a jokester. Both come to see beyond appearances, and their love story is witty and tugs at your heart strings. The author also did a great job of grounding the story in the period, and giving historical content about the rights of women - very illuminating. My only quibble is that much of the story felt rushed and could have been longer and given more depth.