Love Unseen

I am so glad I found this book!  Wow. Rachel Kelley Stones has written a beautiful and sweet debut novel that read like a hot latte on a cold snowy day. Cozy and warming.

I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that Hannah's illness was so well written. I felt like I was inside her head and really able to understand her and the battle raging within. 

The character development throughout the book, hero and heroine, their family and friends... It all built so beautifully.

I cannot wait to read another book by Rachel Kelley Stones and will be adding her to my list of authors to watch for! 🤩

A case of overcoming initial prejudgments takes place in this story. Our heroine is made of some steel! I quite liked this actually, it had a lot more drama than I tend to go for, and the villain is a bit one note, but I think the strength of Hannah really wins the day here. She's not perfect though, and she gives in to self pity now and again. Jonathan is also endearing as the hero, outside of the general titled male lead these books tend to have. An entertaining read all-around that kept my interest. I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

Gorgeous cover, a plot full of twists (especially in the final part), and a good evolution of the characters.

I enjoyed the characters and the plot. The writing style was good too. This is a good book to pick up to read. The main character is riveting and so was the time period! Pick up this copy on July 23! X

I loved everything about this!!
This book is perfect for Georgette Heyer fans.
I just loved the way the story unfolded, the dual perspectives, the characters.... Perfect! I would say more, but it's best to just go in blind with this one. Don't read too many reviews (especially avoid any spoilers). Honestly, I'd say skip the blurb too, just read it and let the story suck you in like it did me.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for this author's next release!

This cinderella-esque story features a heroine with a disability. (Can't tell you yet, it will ruin the first chapter!)

The author takes you into Hannah's world: the struggles she faces being among crowds and unfamiliar places, the disdain of her family, and the humility of a new friend who makes his own blunders along the way - both extending grace and forgiveness. The character of her father, though he's passed away, is a hero himself for how he fought for and cared for her.

Jonathon is a man trying to navigate home again in England after spending many years abroad in business. Not well-received back into his homeland, shunned by society as undeserving of his new title, he's preoccupied with finding his place, which leads to his blunders with Hannah.

This story raises all the feels as you gaze into the character's lives, their values and hardships. If you enjoy regency romances, this will not disappoint!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.

The main characters in this debut novel are likable, and I found the premise interesting enough: a blind girl navigates Regency society and tries to figure out how her own expectations should measure up to the traditional marriage-and-family route plotted out for her contemporaries.
There were, however, a couple of things that didn't work for me. The first was the narration. Occasionally first-person narration can be done really well, but if it reads like the person is always looking in a mirror to describe their own facial expressions, I find it unnatural. Tell me how you feel--but don't tell me what can be seen on your face, because you're not the third-party observer. It takes me out of the flow of the story. In this book, there was not just one first-person narrator, but two, and it wasn't my favorite thing.
Also, the conflict in the story stemmed from a rather melodramatic, just-plain-mean "villain" with under-done motivation, and so a number of plot points felt quite contrived.
Your mileage may vary! If you never mind first-person narration or outright villains who are just there to hold a spot in the conflict, you might enjoy this tale.

What really matters in a relationship?
What is most important when looking for a spouse? What qualities or abilities matter the most? That is the question this story examines. Hannah lost her eyesight when she was seventeen when she contracted measles. Now she is in a world she cannot see and rejected by many around her including her mother and sister. With the death of her father, her brother, James, became her guardian but he does not seem to have the strength to stand up to his mother’s demands and Hannah is being made to feel even more worthless and a burden to all. Jonathan has just returned from the West Indies with his mother and sister after the death of his father. Not sure where he belongs in society, he reacts with scorn when Hannah refuses to dance with him. Only after another rejection by Hannah, with the same type of response from him, does he discover that Hannah is blind. Humbled by his lack of manners, he begins to try to apologize only to discover that Hannah is anything but helpless. And she does not hesitate to take him to task as needed. As he sees her goodness and kindness as well as her strength, he begins to question what he wants in a relationship. When her mother decides to step in and get rid of Hannah it will take all he has to save her. A wonderful read. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

Truly captivating from the cover to the story inside, you will be drawn in and never want to leave. Romance and adventure await you in this debut novel. Kudos to Ms. Kelly Stones! Absolutely a must read for regency lovers!!