Love, love, love. What can I say about the "Book of Love"? The blurb and beautiful cover (because let's be honest folks, we do judge books by their covers) draw you in to what is seemingly a story about two people from two different backgrounds with different points of view on life and her through it all they find themselves drawn together. . . At least that is what it lead me to believe?!?

What I felt like the author really wrote about is a very spirited, opinionated woman who has a very icy shell and has deafened her emotions. She is like any good englishwoman of the time. She may say love is important but she is too practical to let it interfer in relationships. The only passion I really felt for Cordelia (Coco) is when is is talking about books or equal woman's rights. Her level-headeded stoicism often made me wonder if her feelings were real or feigned. On the other hand there is Alistair (Rip), who is so light-hearted and carefree that it's unreal what he sees in her. She says hateful things to him and never said sorry, but he loves her.

I kept feeling like the cold demeanor of Coco would that once they were together but it just seemed that she was smug about her position saying stuff about "what happens if I want your sister to leave" or I want my own place. She was penniless going in why is she so high-handed now always pushing people to see what would break them? She says that what belong to the woman should stay with the woman, but why isn't the opposite also true? She acts like everything is all hers. She really started to annoy at the end. She wasn't loving our grateful, just entitle at the end. I don't know. This is just me opinion but the overall book was more about the cold love than a passionate love. It was a letdown for me, sadly.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this book **

A love story between a duke and a women's rights activist

Book of Love is a cross-class historical romance that deals with the restrictions suffered by married women during the Victorian period and the attempts to introduce laws that would guarantee them some fundamental rights.

Cordelia stood by a friend when she refused to marry a disreputable man. As a result, she had to share her friend's downfall and abandon her comfortable life to support herself in London as a book-binder. Alistair, the Duke of Stroud, was a silly man whose pastime was to organize pranks.

These unlikely pair ended up connecting and bonding. Cordelia was the only person able to see beyond Alistair's foolish facade, while he was the only man of her acquaintance to truly admire her overly frank behavior.

Cordelia was part of a women's rights discussion group whose main objective was to pass a law that would guarantee married women's fundamental rights.

I enjoyed the story and the contrast between Alistair's light-hearted pranks and the more serious discussions in Cordelia's group.

Alistair grew slowly on me, and, like Cordelia, I managed to see past his wall of self-protection. Cordelia was an idealist and probably quite young. Her heart was in the right place, but sometimes she was a little too blunt when trying to express her views.

I could feel their connection, but, to be honest, I was not sure they were right for each other. Cordelia's idealistic personality clashed with Alistair's carefree nature. It felt that their relationship was a little like Jo and Laurie's from Little Women, and I could not refrain from wishing Cordelia would find her Frederick instead.

The side characters were lovely and exciting. I enjoyed their varied points of view and how this enriched their relationships.

Book of Love is an engaging fictional account intersected by actual events of the fight for married women's rights during the Victorian period. It is also a light-hearted cross-class historical romance with remarkable characters.

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 04/23/2021 as part of the book's blog tour

I loved this book so much, which is the second book in the Sweetness and Light series by Erin Satie. After finishing the second book, I immediately read the first book, which is about Cordelia's friend Bonnie and her marriage. While I don't think it is necessary to read the first book to enjoy the second, reading it did help me to understand the second book better.

Cordelia Kelly is a rather severe young woman of strong principles who has left her home after a disagreement with her parents about her best friend Bonnie. Her parents have shunned Bonnie due to the circumstances of her marriage. Cordelia is making her own way in London, a risky action for a young woman with no wealth of her own or family support. She has a gift for creating beautifully custom-bound books, some with her own artwork, or decorated with gold leaf, or with marbelized facing pages. Cordelia is also a supporter of women's rights, at a time when women lost all power over their persons, their children, and their finances once they married.

Fortunately, Cordelia has a few female friends in London. Olympia was orphaned young and is in the unusual position of being in possession of her fortune. Tess is a young woman of color, an African princess who is the ward of Queen Elizabeth. All of them are of like mind for improving the legal standing of women.

Soon after moving to London, Cordelia meets the Duke of Stroud, a young, massive man who is known for his practical jokes which are pretty hilarious, but who also has a heart for people in difficulties. The book opens when Stroud is hiring a down on their luck marching band to follow two particular ladies (a mother and daughter) whenever they set out to visit his friend, who they are trying to snare for the daughter.

There could not be two more different people than Stroud or Cordelia, but they work so well as a couple, as each sees something that other people miss in the other. This is a gorgeous love story with some serious topics. It was told so well and the settings were so vivid, that I felt as if I'd stepped into that century - a hallmark of the best books. I highly recommend this one and the series.

I'm still wondering about the series name, as these books shine a spotlight on the restrictions put on women, the legal ramifications of marriage for them, and the lifelong consequences of stepping outside the boundary of what was considered proper behavior for unmarried women at that time. There wasn't much sweetness to be found in their legal bondage, although the mutual support that these friends provided for each other was precious and priceless. This book made me recognize how much we owe to the women and men who worked and fought for the rights we take for granted today.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little Phrase for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

What a fun book. The main character is spunky and stays true to her self, but takes her chance on finding love. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character creates books, definitely, a good read.

I always love it when I find a book I simply can’t put down. Erin Satie’s “Book of Love” was definitely one such book. Although the plot was fairly simple as is often typical of romance novels, the characters themselves kept me enthralled until the very end.

I admired Cordelia Kelly from the first moment the reader is introduced to her. Here is a woman who came from a privileged background and gave up the security that came with it in order to support her friend. It also didn’t hurt that Cordelia is an avid reader and works as a bookbinder, which is a profession I would have loved if I were living in the Victorian Era.

Then there is Alistair “Rip”, the Duke of Stroud. He’s just such a gentle giant!. Alistair is a sweet man, who has such low self esteem due to his upbringing. From the very first page, as the reader, you can see that his heart is as large as the rest of his body and that he would do just about anything for those he loves.

I really enjoyed the courtship between Alistair and Cordelia. They had an instant connection, but as a result of past trauma were slow to trust the attraction. Watching them slowly open up to one another and develop a true partnership was a pleasure to read.

Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5. If you are interested in life in the Victorian Era or just love a good romance then this is the perfect book for you. My gratitude goes to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for allowing me to read this ARC and I’ve already added several of Erin Satie’s other books to my to read list.

I started this book in the morning, intending to just read a bit until I was fully awake and could go about my day, Hours later, I reached the end in time to start thinking about lunch, I did not expect to be so charmed that I would have to finish it one sitting or perhaps I would chosen a less busy day to pick it up. On the whole, I am too content to have any regrets, This book was worth the assault on my to-do list,

Cordelia is living in on her own and supporting herself with her skill at book binding. She is serious and principled and does not have the time for the antics of game playing Duke. Stroud loves a good prank even at his own expense, He would rather set people at ease than worry about his own pride. The two could not seem more ill suited but when they meet Stroud does not find one interaction enough even if Cordelia makes it quite clear that she does.

I really loved this book. Cordelia and Stroud were so lovely together. Their interaction on the page sparkled as they tested each other and their own feelings and learned to see past their veneers. There is a wonderful balance between the sweetness of their romance and Cordelia's political convictions as she works for women's rights which made this such a well fleshed out book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel exceeds all expectations in the best way!

Cordelia is a hard-working bright young woman who is determined to change the world - and particularly married women's rights - and will let nothing stop her. Alistair (Rip), who is always pranking everyone, tries to rope her in one of his ideas and gets played in his own game. From this moment, he's hooked - and, in the process of getting what he wants, he ends up getting what he never realised he needed.

For me, the best part of this book was how Erin Satie didn't follow the conventions of a historical romance: the plot is more about Cordelia and her fight for women's rights than the romance between her and Rip and, when their relationship is on the spotlight, it's never about sex or an all-consuming desire that obliterates everything else. Their love is born and develops out of conversations and intellectual compatibility in a sweet and engaging way. It was refreshing reading a book of this kind where there is actually a story going on :)

Thank you Erin Satie and ARC for the advanced copy!

This book actually really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! I wasn't expecting to love it so much, and yet I did! I am new to this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect going in but I am definitely a fan after this book and will be trying out her other books when I get the chance.

Book of Love follows Cordelia and Stroud as the main characters. Cordelia is confident and direct, never afraid to stand up for what she believes in. I love that she is making her own way in the world, and forever loyal to her friends! Stroud was a funny sort of fellow... I liked the way he kept his cool regardless of what was happening or being said, and loved that he was amused by Cordelia's stubbornness! Watching the chemistry grow slowly between them was so much fun!

The plot for this book was both timeless and unique which was great. I love the familiar mixed with the new and exciting! For example, a woman striking out on her own to make her own way in the world has been done many times before, but the way Erin Satie told her story was different from any other book that I have read. The Duke's love of pranks and games was quite enjoyable, and the fact that it was mixed in with Cordelia's political discussions made the book feel balanced in a way. It was a good blend of serious and lighthearted.

I did feel like certain things happened rather abruptly. I'd say the last quarter of the book seemed very fast paced compared to the rest of it, and I did feel like there were a few loose ends. For example, one of the supporting characters' situations, Octavia, was not resolved - however I'm not sure if that's because Erin plans on writing a whole book around her? If that's the case, then I understand but if not then I will be left wondering!

All in all, I think this was a really fun read with lots of really great information - the book binding parts were super interesting! I think it could have been made a bit longer in order to really finish the story well, but otherwise I loved it! Looking forward to my next read by this author!

This story was so sweet and fun! I loved the juxtaposition of the two main characters, how well they respect each other while also challenging each other. I laughed out loud several times! I love reading historical fiction centered around women's rights and this one did not disappoint!

I was looking forward to reading this book, but it really disappointed me. Cornelia seems like a woman who is simply very confused and Alistair seems like one of those classmates that no one could stand anymore because they did nothing but chaos. I gave it two stars, only because I was interested in the political discussion on women's rights, which the author was able to describe much better than this love story (?) that dragged on for an infinite number of pages. And to think that I liked the first book in this series so much.....

Non vedevo l'ora di leggere questo libro, che peró mi ha proprio deluso. Cornelia sembra una donna semplicemente molto confusa e Alistair sembra uno di quei compagni di classe che nessuno sopportava piú perché non facevano altro che casino. Gli ho dato due stelle, soltanto perché mi interessava il discorso politico sui diritti alle donne, che l'autrice ha saputo descrivere molto meglio rispetto a questa storia d'amore (?) che si é trascinata per un infinito numero di pagine. E pensare che il primo libro di questa serie mi era piaciuto cosí tanto.....

I received a complimentary digital copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

This is the second book of the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. This book was amazing and I went back to read the first one afterwards. Cordelia is shunned by her family for standing with her friend after a scandal. This leaves her on her own and having to find work she starts making books. I love that it doesn't sugar coat this and shows some of the trials tradeswomen would go through. Duke of Stroud is an all around good guy but no one takes him serious. He is always play pranks and that side is all he shows society. A run in with Cordelia leaves his curiosity peaked and when she refuses to play his games, it slowly draws him in. This isn't a slow burn but it doesn't rush either. The characters have lots of witty banter and through her no nonsense manner he realizes he is not the dunce he is always been told he is. It was nice to see a hero that wasn't so full of himself, and grew right along the heroine. There is a strong feminist backbone to this book but its period accurate and adds to the book instead of being over powering. I really enjoyed this series and can not wait for the next one.

This is the first time I read this author and it's the second book in the series. I didn't read the first one and it didn't affect my comprehension of this one.

Cordelia has had some kind of falling out with her family and he's on her own, relying on her book biding skills for income. She meets a man out on the street in front of a client's house, and later finds out he's the Duke of Stroud. At first, she's irritated with him and his pranks, but the more time they spend together, the more she sees him for his true self.

I really liked how how different Cordelia and Stroud are, and how well they compliment each other. He doesn't take himself very seriously, and neither do others, but Cordelia is able to see past his façade and admire his brilliance. I loved how Stroud flourished under her view and opinion. Stroud gives Cordelia what she wants the most: he appreciates her intellect, intelligence, and independence, and he supports her endeavors as well. They were perfect for each other and I loved the chemistry between them.

I also appreciated the historical content about the rights of women, and there were very serious parts/scenes regarding this.

I'll be looking to read the previous book and looking forward to the next one.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I loved how this book updated the Duke/commoner love story to give the heroine a  feminist backbone and the Duke compassion and humility.  Cordelia Kelly first meets the Duke of Stroud and is not impressed.  She has learned to be wary of handsome & rich men, and when Stroud begins to show interest in her, she is in turns flattered and dismissive.  Stroud is almost immediately smitten with Cordelia and he spends time to convince her of the genuineness of his feelings.  Along the way, they are dealing with some pretty heavy issues that are treated respectfully.

My favorite part of this book is how both Cordelia and Stroud see each other clearly, but also see below to the person inside, not just the person who is presented to the world.

Thank you to Net Galley, Victory Editing and Erin Satie for the free digital ARC of Book of Love in exchange for my honest review.

An independent woman, a dashing Duke, pranks and politics in 1850s London. And the banter! I enjoyed this book. It’s characters are smart, witty and funny. I was curious about what happened to Cordelia when I read Bonny’s story in Bed of Flowers because I enjoyed her character so much. I’m not disappointed.

Cordelia has established herself in London and after meeting The Duke of Stroud in passing on the street, her life is changed forever. Their quick witted banter and ability to see in each other what nobody else has before makes for a vibrant love story. As always, I relished the detail that Erin goes in to when describing the skills and hobbies of her characters. The feminist views and political history was a nice surprise. I would have liked to hear more about their other pranks for political gain, the end feeling a bit rushed.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable romantic, quick read that I will definitely visit again. I look forward to hearing the other character’s stores in the future. Fingers crossed for a book about Tess.

(This review will also be posted on my instagram @Lemonpietrick on publication day)
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
It's a lighthearted yet empowering read with a strong, independent female protagonist. This reminds me of why I love historical romance: Erin Satie picked up the often neglected yet important pieces of history and managed to present it in a refreshing coat. And in this case, the status of married women and class discrimination in feminists' movements. You can find many historical events and figures in the book, and how our main character became part of it.
I really enjoyed the political part of this story, as well as the characters and the romance. Cordelia is a tough character with principles, who bravely cut her ties with her family to run a business in a city. I so strongly wished for Cordelia to kick his father's arse, and I'm sour that it obviously didn't happen. Cordelia and the duke have become one of my favourite couples. The Duke's prankster's personality made the book so fun to read and if you read the book, you will understand why he and Cordelia fit so well. The book also included many side characters with rich personality, I wonder if they will make an appearance in the rest of the series. I'm certainly interested to read their stories too!

Book of Love, Sweetness and Light Book 2, Erin Satie

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Romance 
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Romance

I like to read a historical novel sometimes, for an escape into more genteel times – of course that's only for the wealthy. Maybe times don't change! I enjoyed the historical setting, the book binding, and the political side of this read but wasn't convinced by the romance.
Stroud – he came over as an overgrown schoolboys with his Pranks. I just couldn't get along with them or him, but he grew on me over the course of the book as a good man, one who knew his own limits and one of the rare folk who can see how others see them and adapt accordingly. His love for Cordelia was very clear by the end, yet I didn't really see how they got there. How they went from his pranks and her condescension to love. That's just me though, as always this is perfect for others. We all like different things.

The politics, where Cordelia is fighting for women's rights, were something very real, and back then on marriage a woman had nothing, everything she owned, had worked for, was the property of her husband. He could do as he wished with it, gamble it, sell it, give it away and she could do nothing. Not only that, women couldn't divorce their husbands, only men were allowed to divorce. Its treated as a part of the book, and fits Cordelia's nature well and I enjoyed reading about that.

Overall it was a fun read, not one that gripped me, but interesting even if the romance didn't convince me.

Stars: Three, its an interesting historical read, but the romance didn't quite hot the spot for me.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Erin Satie for giving me a copy of Book of Love for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted, with a serious aspect of feminism during the 1850s that isn't very well known about. The first half of the book absolutely captured my heart, with the introduction of Alistair and Cordelia, and getting to know these characters was so lovely.

The second half of the book got a bit more serious and political, and sometimes felt a bit rushed. I think it would have been amazing for this book to be it's own duology. There was a lot of potential for character growth, especially with Cordelia's friends who we didn't learn overly much about, other than they helped her in her time of need.

There were a couple of historical inaccuracies, but these were few and far apart, so can be easily overlooked (coming from a reader who has not read a large amount of historical fiction). The truth behind the feminist petitions of the time made up for these mistakes in my opinion, and I wasn't aware of these specific struggles for simple acts such as having a right to divorce as a woman in such detail.

I loved Alistair. So much. So, so much. And I really liked Cordelia, too. Her strong opinions and belief in Alistair was so heart warming, and I need more of them two together!!

This book is easily a 4 star for me. Ive taken away a star purely just for some of the inaccuracies, and because sometimes some scenes felt a bit rushed. Other than that, I flew through this book and couldn't help but think of it everytime I wasn't reading it - if that doesn't show a good book, I don't know what else will!

( I have posted this review onto my Goodreads also)

'Book of Love' drew me in with its unique premise (elaborate pranks + 1850s + bookbinding = absolute dream) and excellent beginning. Kudos to Satie for really taking the time and effort for researching the details of bookbinding: it really felt as though I were there with Cordelia, meticulously working on her craft. It therefore seemed a shame that the historical accuracy of the dialogue was not equally rendered. It seemed rather more suited to 1950s America than Victorian London (e.g. calculus test, really?) with a few smatterings of vocabulary from certain period dramas.
However, some of the characters, such as Stroud, were really deeply developed- quite rare to see in a male protagonist in historical fiction. Fortunately, for 'Book of Love' this was not the case, as his past was delved into enough and where relevant, without seeming contrived. The male characters in general were better developed than the females (save Flea), as Cordelia's group of friends seem to mould into one in more cases than one. Cordelia herself is a strong-willed, stubborn heroine, and I did like how her true flaws really shine through. Once again, stubborn female protagonists in this genre tend to be all-round shadows of Lizzie Bennett, so Cordelia was a refreshing change and really one of the assets of this work.
Overall a well-written novel by a very talented author. If you can look past the occasional historical inaccuracy and a couple of superfluous final chapters then this is definitely worth a read!