Anderson, Rebecca. Isabelle and Alexander. Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2021.
ISBN-13: 978-1629728476 | $15.99 USD | 368 pages | Victorian Romance
Blurb
London, 1850
Isabelle Rackham knows she will not marry for love. Though arranged marriages have fallen out of fashion, hers has been settled for some time to combine the upper-middle-class wealth of her father’s coal mines with Alexander Osgood’s prospering Northern country textile mills. Though not a man prone to romantic gestures, Alexander is well-known as an eligible bachelor. His good looks have turned more than one head, so Isabelle is content to think of herself as Alexander’s wife.
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.
Review
4 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Isabelle and Alexander piqued my interest due to the setting largely in Victorian-era Manchester, with the blurb evoking slight North and South vibes. And it definitely delivered on that count, with descriptions of the advancements of industry and the class warfare in that arena playing roles in the story and in the character motivations.
Isabelle was easy to resonate with, especially as she finds herself in an awkward arranged marriage with someone who remains distant from her. I rooted for her to find her footing in her new situation and navigate her relationship with Alexander.
I had a lot of mixed feelings about Alexander initially, and I struggled to see what made him tick. But I think not getting an insight into his POV allows for the reader to go on an authentic journey with Isabelle as she gets to know her husband better. It feels reminiscent of classic romances (Lizzie and Darcy?) where you discover the hero’s true motivations along with the heroine. While it may not be that fulfilling for everyone, I appreciated that artistic choice.
I enjoyed this book, and while it is a bit of a slow-burn, it does ultimately deliver. If you love a sweet historical romance and don’t mind one that is more heroine-centric, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Author Bio
Rebecca Anderson is a 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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