Sophia and Tobias's story of friendship to love was a nice premise but definitely needed some work on delivery. The drama in this book was a bit overdone and elements of it seemed unnecessary. The writing was a little too verbose and over the top.

#netgalley #SophiasLetter

This first book in the Ladies of the Munro Sweet Regency Romance series was very original and well written. It was full of drama, intrigue, suspense, past loss, and a lot of emotional issues that kept me engaged. I enjoyed how love found its way through darkness into the light. The ending was lovely. I highly recommend reading!

Unlocking a Poet’s Heart

Can a letter change Sophia's life? Sophia is a poetess with family secrets. When Tobias sends her a letter, admiring her poetry, she is perplexed. He wants to meet her. She resists for a while, but what harm can meeting him do? There won’t be trouble unless her father finds out. Sophia is a woman with a disability, and she knows marriage is not in her future. Can Tobias convince her otherwise? She thinks he is toying with her. Who would wat to marry a spinster who could not walk? Tobias does, but he has quite a few challenges to overcome. I enjoyed this historical romance. I look forward to reading what comes next in this series.

Tobias Mannerly is an enthusiastic lover of poetry with lots of enthusiam for the written word. Tobias falls in love with Sophia's poetry and starts writing her letters. His dream is to meet her.
Miss Sophia Grant has a disability and family issues that keeps her isolated from outsiders. Once Sophia meets Tobias she realizes how limited her life is on a daily basis.
Elizabeth Donne has written a wonderful story with a villain, plenty of drama, family dynamics and issues!
I look forward to the next book in the series!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Boring.

I'm not a literary critic so I won't speak on the overall interpretation of this story. Rather I will say this is the first in a series of sweet, well written stories that would be a wonderful start for young readers as well as for all others. Sophia's an accomplished poet who received a letter from one of her readers. Tobias is the admirer and strikes a chord in Sophia. The overall story includes some drama and difficulty as well as being a bit longer than necessary yet it's truly wholesome and entertaining. I look forward to the next book in the series.

The story is based on that of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The writing here is somewhat melodramatic. The way Tobias, the hero speaks, is almost a parody of a romantic lover, with constant superlatives and over emoting. Sophia, the heroine, is a little less fraught but still somewhat overdone. It's a sweet story nonetheless,, if you aren't put off by the over the top emotionalism.

In High School English literature class, I studied the play that inspired this novel and was interested to see how the plot would pan out. I was not disappointed! The storyline has all the anxiety and tension accompanying the longing of two hearts meant to be together as in the original play, although this plot has a more interesting scenario. Tobias Mannerly is an enthusiastic lover of poetry and falls passionately in love with Sophia's poetry even before he meets her. He is not at all put off by her disability, however with his uncle's words of caution ringing in his ears, he recognizes that if he and Sophia have any chance of a future together, he will need to tread very carefully where her father is concerned. A spiteful snake in the grass causes a major disruption to his plans and he discovers that Sophia has more courage and ingenuity than he expected. The novel comes to a sweet conclusion as hearts are mended and Sophia's family can begin to heal. I received a copy of this well-written romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Sophia is a published author of poetry and a disabled person. She receives a fan letter from Tobias, the favourite nephew of an aristocratic hermit, who himself is socially awkward. The two strike up a friendship that develops into a romance that is good for both. A slow burn romance.

I received an ARC from the publishers and NetGalley and submit my honest review voluntarily.

I loved Sophia and Tobias' romance although it seemed to happen rather quickly. Sophia's father seemed a bit over the top in his treatment and expectations of his children. The really odd part of this sweet romance was Ms. Sangford. She is more than just a bit demanding and seemed unnecessary to the story.

This is my first Elizabeth Donne book and not sure if I will select her again as I struggled to stay with interested. Maybe just a sweet story would have been better without the threatening Ms. Sangford.


p.s. I do not believe in posting negative reviews and will leave my thoughts here.

Inspired by the true love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, this tale of an impulsive younger man and a disabled older woman in the household of a domestic tyrant was a joy to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am not sure exactly what I want to rate this book. I enjoyed Tobias and Sophia a lot. They were so cute in their relationship. I liked that they didn’t let her disability get in the way of their growing friendship and then romance. Tobias was dedicated and a little socially awkward. Honestly it was adorable how excited he got. Sophia had to deal with so much with her guilt, disability, and her father. I just didn’t like the antagonist at all. It felt so… unnecessary and just annoying. I didn’t like that she was called a harpy. I don’t like putting women against women. This was not OWD fyi. And I liked the ending. It felt low stakes/against which I’m good with. I just can’t get over the antagonist. Bleh. Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The love story between the two protagonists is rushed and has an insta love quality about it. The high drama points also came across as rushed and some fell flat. The bones of this story are great, it just needs some help with pacing and character development.

This is a sweet and slow romance, based on the true romance of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Robert Browning. I liked the author's style of writing. I received an ARC of the book, and all opinions are my own.

I am not familiar with the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, so I'll approach this story based on its own merit, without comparing it to another.

Sophia is a published author of poetry. She learns she has a fan via a letter. Tobias decides to be bold and brave and declare his feelings for Sophia and her writing. Sophia is afraid that if Tobias learns that she is an "invalid" that he will change his mind.

This is a very sweet slow burn. Tobias' love is true. Sophia learns to open her heart and let some light and happiness back in. They both are just what each other need.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This book is an interpretation of the love story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. Tobias Mannerly is seduced by Sophia Grant's poetry. To finally meet her, is to fulfill his dreams. It's more than admiration, it's love. Only Sophia has a secret that keeps her from committing to Tobias, eventhough she loves him. This book does end with an HEA. Kisses and hugs. Read this book and watch the movie, THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET (1934).
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

4 stars

Very much an Elizabeth Barrett Browing vibe with the hero perhaps having an obsessive autistic? trait. I am of an age of being aware of their story without having to read the author's notes at the end of the book.. Like the poetess our heroine writes poems and is published. The hero is a favourite nephew of an aristocratic hermit. He is helping him sort out his library. Tobias writes to Sophia and a connection is established. Elizabeth has had health issues and her widowed father is again obsessively prossesive.

Unlike the Brownings this story has a better outcome. I enjoyed the writing but perhaps because it seemed like a slightly more benign retelling of Robert and Elizabeth's romance I wasn't that taken with it. Perhaps a younger audience who isn't aware of the Browning romance will enjoy it more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The book had strong potential with its intriguing plot and engaging characters. However, once the main antagonist was introduced, the story began to feel disjointed and forced, losing some of its initial charm.

This was a strong start to the Ladies of Munro series, it had that historical romance element that I was looking for and enjoyed the feel of this world. The characters were everything that I wanted and was hooked from the first part this journey. Elizabeth Donne wrote this well and had that charm that I was looking for. I’m excited to read the next book in the series and from Elizabeth Donne.