There's a very North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell novel/BBC miniseries) vibe to Isabelle and Alexander, and fans of that story will find much to like here.
However, her marriage is not what she expected. Northern England is nothing like her home farther west in the lake country. Cold, dreary, and dark, the soot from the textile mills creates a gray hue that seems to cling to everything in the city of Manchester. Alexander is distant and aloof, preferring to spend his time at the mill rather than with her at home. Their few conversations are brief, polite, and lacking any emotion, leaving Isabelle lonely and desperately homesick.
Sensing his wife's unhappiness, Alexander suggests a trip to his country estate. Isabelle hopes this will be an opportunity to get to know her new husband without the distractions of his business. But the change of scenery doesn't bring them any closer. While riding together on horses, Alexander is thrown from his and becomes paralyzed. Tragedy or destiny? The help and care that Alexander now needs is Isabelle's opportunity to forge a connection and create a deep and romantic love where nothing else could.
Overall, I enjoyed Isabelle and Alexander. It's written solely from Isabelle's perspective, and I think a first-hand look at Alexander's perspective would've helped in getting me completely immersed in the story. Still, I really enjoyed watching Isabelle change throughout the novel as she got to know her neighbor Glory and learned to embrace her role as Alex's wife and all that it unexpectedly entailed.
I do wish that the romance aspect of the novel had been a little more prominent (this is a Proper Romance, after all) - the romance was very understated and didn't even factor much into the pages until the last 20 percent of the book. So if you're all about the romance, this probably isn't the book for you; however, if you enjoy well-written stories with a hint of romance, you'll find much to enjoy here. 3 stars.
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Join the virtual blog tour of ISABELLE AND ALEXANDER (Proper Romance Victorian), Rebecca Anderson’s highly acclaimed historical romance novel, May 3–16, 2021. Over forty popular blogs specializing in historical fiction, inspirational fiction, and Victorian romance will join in the celebration of its release with spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in Manchester, England.
Rebecca Anderson is the nom de plume of contemporary romance novelist Becca Wilhite, author of Wedding Belles: A Novel in Four Parts, Check Me Out, and My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions. Isabelle and Alexander is her debut historical romance novel.
High school English teacher by day, writer by night (or very early morning), she loves hiking, Broadway shows, food, books, and movies. She is happily married and a mom to four above-average kids.
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