Sophia's Letter

Ladies of Munro #1

by Elizabeth Donne

Book 1 in The Ladies of Munro series by Elizabeth Donne

A passionate reader’s unexpected declaration unlocks a lonely poet’s heart.

Miss Sophia Grant has quietly accepted her fate as a spinster. Her legs weakened by childhood illness and her father’s grief keeping her firmly at home, she finds joy in raising her younger siblings and writing heartfelt poetry. She never expected love, or a letter that would change everything.

Tobias Mannerly lives for the written word. No society ball or passing flirtation has ever stirred him the way Miss Grant’s poetry does. Compelled to write her, he sends a letter full of admiration… and unknowingly opens a door to her heart.

But Sophia’s life is not her own. Bound by loyalty to her family and the wishes of an overprotective father, she believes marriage, and happiness, are out of reach.

Tropes you’ll
✔ Epistolary romance / love letters
✔ Spinster heroine with a quiet strength
✔ Bookish, poetic hero
✔ Forbidden love
✔ Found courage in unexpected places
✔ Sweet and wholesome slow-burn

Their love story begins with ink and hope, but will it be enough to overcome the past?

A tender, uplifting Regency romance about love, sacrifice, and believing in your own happy ending.

Read in Kindle Unlimited!

This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.

Ladies of Munro
Sophia's Letter
Ellena’s Secret
Verity's Choice
Jillian's Wild Heart
Irene's Fall

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2024

About the author

Elizabeth Donne has spent most of her life in Cape Town, South Africa.

She has traveled to five continents and is fascinated by language and world cultures.

​For more than twenty years, she has shared her love of literature and linguistics as a teacher. Writing has been a natural outpouring of this passion.

In 2015, she relocated to Iowa in the USA with her husband, their two children, two cats, and their African bush dog. When she's not writing or discovering the hidden wonders of the Midwest, she is enthusiastically introducing her visitors to the joys of drinking rooibos tea. With a biscuit, of course.

Reviews

[Suzi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

More! More! The characters are believable, their tough challenges overcome with perseverance and love, the dialogue is fresh while the language of the entire book is in keeping with the period. Clearly this author has done research of her period so that I became immersed in that world. And the plot twists keep us turning the pages with anticipation. Knowing that this story has its origins in real lives made it all the more enjoyable to see how the author would deal with the characters and situations. The romance is enticing and tangible through her sweet images. Looking forward to the next release

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gentle and heartfelt story that wraps around your heart like a warm shawl on a chilly afternoon and is an enchanting start to a new series.
Sophia Grant is a heroine you’ll quietly root for—an overlooked spinster with a poet’s soul and a heart full of love she believes she’ll never share. Tobias Mannerly, a poetic spirit himself, is sincere, passionate, and completely undone by the power of Sophia’s words.
Their love begins not with a glance, but with a letted. What follows is a courtship carried by language, longing, and a slow, beautiful unfurling of two hearts that were made to find each other.
This story isn’t just about romance—it’s about the bravery it takes to believe in it again, especially when life has already written what feels like a final chapter. With graceful prose and delicate emotional nuance, the story reminds us that love often arrives when we least expect it—and sometimes, in the most delightful envelope.
An utterly charming read for anyone who believes in quiet strength, poetic hearts, and love letters that change everything.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Mary Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Very much an Elizabeth Barrett Browing vibe with the hero perhaps having an obsessive autistic? trait and I'm of an age that would be aware of their story without having to read the authors 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 their 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

[Cassandra]

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.

[Mindy B (reader_of_the_lost_arcs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Charmaine Fernando · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rabia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sven · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable adaptation of one of history's great true love stories, the story of the poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Sophia is kept captive by her father, but Tobias writes to her and wins her heart.

[Martha Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An endearing story

This story was one of triumph as Sophia and her father gradually threw off the invisible chains that bound them to the past. Tobias was instrumental in giving Sophia the courage to tackle her fears. Sweet story and well worth the read.

[Kristin]

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

Boring.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a friend of the author. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more in this series.