The Lady's Patient

by Abby Ayles

Introducing "The Lady's Patient" Novel - Discover NOW The New Historical Regency Romance Book by Abby Ayles!
Kitty Langley is ready to take her life into her own hands!

Kitty Langley, daughter of Baron Langley, has not led an easy life for a young woman of her standing. Suffering from a health condition since she was a young child, she is only just reaching a point where her health is strong enough to allow her to do all the things she wants to. If only society also allowed her to do such things!

Called to the bedside of an acquaintance's injured younger brother, Kitty leaps at the opportunity. A taste of freedom, and sharing her experience and strength with an unwell child sounds like the first tentative steps into a life of her own. But Augustus Sinclair is not a child. He is the Earl of Stamford, and, although younger than his sister, very much a man.

Persevering in caring for him, Kitty soon discovers that in some ways he is indeed childish, and yet in others, he is so much wiser and more mature than she could ever hope to be. As she begins to fall for a man beyond her station, his sister, Kitty's own battle with her health, and society itself stand in her way. Must she resign herself to longing for a man who can never be hers?

"The Lady's Patient" is a historical regency romance novel of approximately 90,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Page Count: around 350+ pages

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Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Regency

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2018

About the author

Abby Ayles was born in the northern city of Manchester, England, but currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband and their three cats. She holds a Master’s degree in History and Arts and worked as a history teacher in middle school.

Her greatest interest lies in the era of Regency and Victorian England and Abby shares her love and knowledge of these periods with many readers in her newsletter.

In addition to this she has also written her first romantic novel, The Duke's Secrets, which is set in the era and is available for free on her website. As one reader commented – ‘Abby’s writing makes you travel back in time…’

When she has time to herself, Abby enjoys going to the theatre, reading and watching documentaries about Regency and Victorian England.

Reviews

[HR-ML · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regency period. I really dislike giving such a negative
review, but perhaps this author needs to do more
research & show more attention to detail.

Kitty's father treated her as if she should be 'wrapped in
cotton wool' b/c she had rheumatism. Charming Augustus,
an earl, did risky stunts & acted younger than his age, but
really needed to mature.

Delilah met Kitty one time only & then wrote, asking Kitty
to nurse her brother, the hero. Kitty had no experience as a
nurse. It took several days to receive the letter & arrive at
Augustus and Delilah's home, and yet the h asked the H
how was his accident from the previous night?

Elements which decreased enjoyment of this story---
(1) modern language IE global brands, restaurant, brunch,
sports jacket, mail man, a downer.
(2) heroine's constant negative self-talk
(3) Cassandra was sister of a late Duke. Kitty referred to her
as "Your Grace" & thought if Gus wed Cassie he'd become
a Duke. Huh? A Duke's wife or widow is called "Your Grace."
(4) the h called the H "Earl Sinclair." His last name was
Sinclair & the Earl of Stamford his title. She'd more likely
have consistently called him Lord Stamford?
(5) Kitty traveled with her maid & 2 single men ( 1 the H).
An older woman needed to be her chaperone.
(6) the 4 traveled up a mountain in a carriage in frigid
temps & the horses were never rested, never switched
for new horses, and the horses never died of exposure.
(7) too much talk about illness.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

From Updates: This just gets more ludicrous. A friend who is bedridden and yet is expected to visit ? A man in bed wearing drawers AND long johns? Were long johns worn then? And he wears pyjamas! The dialogue is modern.. ‘disrespect me’ the injured man is a complete idiot. Meh

For the life of me I can't understand the high ratings.

"Maid?" she asked softly, so as not to be heard on the other side of the door.
The maid, who had followed her out of the dining room, patiently waiting for further instructions, walked up to her. "Yes, mistress?"

WTF!!!!! Calling a maid "maid"!!!

"No," her father said bluntly. "No, you have disrespected me and you need to learn."
ROTFL!!! Disrespected me!!! Wow - such elegant 'Regency' dialogue. (I actually had to check the era of this story at that point, wondering if by some mistake I had opened a modern American romance. but no. This IS 'Historical Regency'


Other anachronisms - everyone travels in a coach. they attend galas, the injured man is in bed wearing long johns over his drawers. No. He wore drawers. Not long johns and certainly not two pairs!! Then he puts on a pair of pyjamas. What happened to wearing a nightshirt?? Pyjamas were not worn in Regency times.

There was mention of a friend (Helena) who was practically bedridden and yet Kitty wondered why she had not visited !!! and then writes inviting her to visit. DUH!!!!!

I gave up 16% This is one of the shallowest Regency stories I have ever read. Kitty and Augustus will not doubt fall madly in lurve and live HEA. I actually don't care.

[Margaret Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry

but I found it boring. The same things about illness and how it affected her were repeated over and over and over again. Trip to Spain was even more boring. Skipped most pages eventually until I got to the end. Will not be reading anymore of this author's books.

[Carolynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of "The Lady's Patient" as an ARC and I was happy to review it when I had finished so that other readers could be made aware of the great story Abby has written this time. We get to see a small glimpse into Regency England's medical treatment of chronic illness, and it's pills and nostrums are not nearly as effective as herbal remedies for healing. Kitty Langley has had an autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis) since early childhood, but little was known about how to treat it and her father, Baron Langley, kept her "wrapped in cotton wool" so she was fully insulated against possible injury or overextension of her energies, and she was getting quite restless and wanted to do things like ordinary young women. A new young friend asked her to help deal with her "little brother" who has been injured and refuses ANY medical help. Kitty is eager to help and is quite surprised to find out he is the thirty-something, handsome Earl Sinclair, Lord Stanford! She almost leaves, but his obvious pain and helplessness sway her to stay and try to help the man learn to deal with his injuries and heal as quickly as possible. But she finds out he is an obstinate mule who won't listen to reason and who pushes to do just what he wants to do, to the point of making himself comatose before he learns to make allowances. Kitty tries not to be enthralled by his good looks but finds herself falling in love with him, knowing there's not much hope since he is in a much higher class, she's a chronic invalid, and even his sister has warned her about letting herself get too close. And Augustus has shown no real interest in her, so she just fights him to make him do the right thing for his healing process and sneaks in herbal compresses so he's getting some medical help. Will this work out for the two of them? It's a fascinating story and I recommend it to anyone who likes romances, particularly those who would like to learn a little more about the state of Regency medical care. Thank you so much, Abby!

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lady's Patient, by Abby Ayles.

This was a great story.
However, I think it should have been titled The Lady's Impatient. That's because the patient, Augustus Sinclair, the Earl of Stamford, is anything but patient. Kitty Langley, daughter of Baron Langley and no stranger to illness, has her hands full trying to keep her patient from making himself a permanent cripple because of a leg injury caused by falling off his horse at speed.

Kitty, who has sstruggled with rheumatic illness for most of her young life, has just reached the point of feeling well enough to move freely in society. She is recruited to nurse the stubborn Earl, whom she at first thinks is a young boy. He might as well have been because he has a paranoid fear of doctors, and won't listen to any medical advice regarding his injury.

It takes all of Kitty's ingenuity to take care of him, but as she does she is slowly falling in love with him. But the Earl is so stubborn he injures himself a second time and despite his fear of doctors is placed in St.James Hospital in London at the behest of his sister. He is so ill he is near death. Once again Kitty is summoned to nurse him, but it is a near-run thing.

Thje only saving grace for the Earl is that he finally realizes he could have died but for Kitty's care, and the love that blossoms between them comes to fruition.

In essence this is a simple story, and being a Regency Romance has a predictable ending. There is a nice extended epilogue which follows the pair post illness and takes some of the sting out of the near-death situation. But the care which author Abby Ayles has lavished on this mismatched pair truly does reflect the vagaries of illness and the limitations it places on our bodies if we don't pay attention to our own needs. A great read for anyone who loves romance.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, clean story of young woman with some form of Rheumatoid Arthritis who volunteers to help a friend’s brother recover from serious injuries. Kitty, the young woman, has suffered terribly for years and endured medical treatments and therapies which eventually enabled her to regain her health and ability to engage in normal activities. However, since the illness is only controlled, it is always in the background threatening to interrupt her life once again. As a result, suitors have dwindled away and she fears she will never have a husband and family.
A new friend, Delilah, has need of a nurse for her brother. She thinks of Kitty and asks her to care for her younger brother. Kitty assumes this brother is a child, and is shocked to find herself assigned to care for a 30 something year old man! The interplay of a young woman used to being ill, with an older man (Augustus) used to being healthy, is well done. The author helps us to appreciate what the young woman is thinking and feeling as she realizes she is falling in love with this man.
Augustus tells her of his many world travels, something she had only dreamed of doing due to her poor health. Although Augustus has been quite successful in business, he has not married nor formed any close female relationships that could progress to marriage. In some ways, he is still immature, expecting the world to bend to his needs. Kitty has to learn to be firm with Augustus to help him to heal, and Augustus must learn to trust someone outside of his family with his health. Thus, they both grow as people.
Another accident puts Augustus in hospital in London, where Kitty rushes to his side. He is in a coma, but able to hear Kitty tell him about her love for him. Kitty is sent home by her friend, Augustus’s sister, while Augustus is yet unresponsive. Will Augustus awaken? Did he hear Kitty’s expressions of love? Will he come to retrieve her from her father’s home? I will leave that for you to discover when you read this newest book of Ms. Ayles. You won’t be disappointed.

[Lokdyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the usual Regency romance for the hero and heroine, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kitty Langley, a baron’s daughter, has learned what it means to overcome pain and suffering to become almost normal. Because of her experiences she knows the best way to help Augustus Sinclair, Earl of Stamford, heal his broken knee. Kitty wants adventure and Augustus is the adventuress, reckless type, but his social status is a wall between them. To find love they have to overcome many obstacles. I love Kitty, who is a generous, compassionate person. This is a story I would recommend to others. I received an advance reader copy of this book. I have voluntarily reviewed it and this is my honest review.

[Frances Law · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely disappointed!

The sad thing is that I was looking forward to a nice, aggregated Regency romance. I liked that Kitty was a young lady who had fought through suffering to gain a certain control over her disabilities. To me, it was never suitably explained as to what was wrong with her. Was it Arthritis and, if so, which type? Rheumatoid Arthritis is an invidious disease that affects the joints and causes them to swell to a degree that the victim cannot walk or do normal everyday actions. Nowadays there are various treatments that can delay its progress but that weren't available then. Osteo Arthritis is abnormal bone growth in the joints and it also the wearing away of joints. Many people who suffer from it have lead very active lives. Possibly a young person who developed it could improve their situation with gentle exercise while keeping the joints warm.
I was, though, disappointed in so many aspects of this novel. It was never clear as to the time period of the story. The cover implies the Regency period. There was a reference to a steam engine running from Brighton to London. That would have put the story in the Victorian era. Kitty's belief in Doctors and surgeons seemed to be overrated for the Regency. The thing that nearly had me close the book in disgust was the reference to Cassandra becoming a Duchess on the death of her brother! The system of primo geniture existed in England at that time. The property and title went to the eldest son or, if he was dead, to the next male in line. That might be a cousin or someone at four or more removes from the main line of descent. In fact, Delilah was the Duchess! Having married a Duke she would be a duchess until she died. If the next duke was married his wife would be the duchess and Delilah would be the Dowager Duchess! And she would have kept the rank through a subsequent marriage. All this talk about Kitty, the daughter of a Baron, as being of a lower class is also a load of balderdash! They were ALL aristocrats! Just as Delilah married a Duke who was two ranks in the aristocracy above her, so Kitty could marry an early who was also two ranks in the aristocracy above her.
Then there was the fact of having a man (!) chaperone her on her trip to Spain! Totally unacceptable! It would have needed to be an older female from either family.
For me, no HEA could save this novel. If this book was edited them the editor should be ashamed of themself!

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE AWESOME READ!!!
Ok guys, I'm just going to jump in head first. I could tell you all about this book. I could say it's a great adventure. I could tell you how I felt like I was catipulted back to London in the great regency era. But come on guys. You've read the blurb. You've read what the other readers are saying. You know the score. But because I'm me. We'll do this my way. Abby never ceases to amaze me. If you're looking for a steady paced, smooth flowing read that grabs your attention right from the start. Then congratulations my friends you've found it. The characters and scenes were realistic and believable. The trials and tribulations were very personable and riveting. I was captivated following the characters as their personalities transformed and blended. The detailed descriptions were so vivid they painted an awesome picture. This read is so life like with all the emotions you'd expect from one of Abby's stories. My focus was on the pages as the world she pulled me into came alive before my eyes. Phenomenal job Abby, thanks for sharing.

[Sheila Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lady's Patient by Abby Ayles is a true gem. The author has written a book that draws you in and makes you feel part of the story. The characters are well-defined and the plot is interesting. I was unsure that the diagnosis of rheumatism was viable during the regency era but after asking Google, is was a recognized ailment in the 1800s. Well done! This is the first book I have read that follows this subplot. While this is not a fast paced or suspenseful story, it grabs you and won't turn loose. You will not be satisfied until you reach the conclusion.
Of course, there is an HEA ending but how the characters find it is a pleasurable journey through the pages.
I received this book as an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily leave my review---with pleasure!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty becomes a caretaker to the younger brother of a new friend. She expects to be caring for a little boy instead she finds a man. A man who is stubborn and refuses medical care from doctors as he doesn't trust them. He is the Earl of Stamford! Kitty has had health issues since early childhood and knows about pain. She wonders if she should back out but decides to stay. She starts to have feelings for the Earl. Could he have feelings for her too? But she is beneath his station and there is her condition. Every man she has met has walked away when finding out about her health. Get a copy of this book and come along with Kitty. Find out how she and the Earl can help each other. Will there be a romance? If so, how will it turn out?
Once again Abby has given us a wonderful story. It is well thought out and well written. Characters are fleshed out.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly wonderful story!

I received this book free from the author as part of the ARC group. This is my honest review.
From the beginning, Kitty captured my attention & my feelings. What a lovely young lady. Suffering from reumytism (sic), Kitty longs for a normal life with a normal marriage. She begins to see herself as ending up a spinster with nothing to offer. Enter Delilah, an older woman who has an injured younger brother and asks Kitty if she, with her understanding of pain, would come nurse said brother. Kitty agrees to nurse her "young" charge. To her surprise & dismay, she enters his room to find a 30-ish, handsome man lying abed. What to do?
Abby Ayles has once again set her love story during the Regency Era. Abby does this so well that I am transported to another time & place, while I sink ever deeper into the story. Thank you Abby, another successful endeavor.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby did it again! I loved her book "Loving the Fearless Duchess" and this one falls into the same category. I loved It. I enjoyed "watching" the characters grow and develop. This book is a good clean book. I love that it had a character that stays positive throughout her problems. As a person who deals with chronic pain, I know it's sometimes more difficult to stay positive. Reading this book gave me inspiration to stay positive in dealing with my aches and pain. It's up-lifting and positive. Thank you for sharing Kitty's story with me! I volunteered to read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. I'm looking forward to Abby's next book.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Abby Ayles writes. It is so easy to get caught up and swept along in the story. The characters develop naturally and seem very real. This story revolves around a single man and his relationship with three women - his sister, sister-in-law and caregiver, a young woman who has had health issues her entire life. This book is told from the point of view of Kitty, the young caregiver and has a little of bit everything - love, loss, jealousy, deception, sacrifice....and a happy ending. It is a good read and well worth your time.

[Diana Gross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth reading

Truly don't waste your time. This is an example of how not to write an historical romance. I found myself wondering if the authors bio is fiction. I find it hard to believe she was born in England or has a masters degree in history. The story is focused entirely on the various physical ailments of the characters, there is little romance. Inaccuracies in address and cultural/social norms. Editorial issues, such as the best friends health issues are due to having been run over by a carriage, and later in the book she is said to have been born this way. I can't believe I finished this book. I guess it's like turning away from an accident, you just have to find out how bad it is.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to rate but it when I thought about it, it is definitely 3.5 stars. There were elements in the story that were very realistic e.g. a chronic condition. The lead female character, Kitty, was a little extreme. She was always second guessing herself and always looking down on herself. But then I try to imagine her world of being confined by her illness and can see that she has not had the opportunity to experience life. Experiencing life would include making new friends, learning about others and by association learning about herself as well as traveling to London, going to balls, soirees, dinners etc. I could identify with her when she got excited and nervous about traveling abroad, going out of her comfort level and trying to enjoy life as best she can. She also experienced a range of emotions by interacting with the lead male character, Augustus Sinclair, Earl of Stamford, his older sister Delilah, and their sister in law Cassandra. Cassandra's character was warm and delightful. Delilah's character appeared fickle, temperamental, inconsistent and she definitely appeared to be a fake friend. Now the other person in Kitty's life was her overprotective father. It seemed to Kitty that he did not handle her changing for the better very well. He constantly saw her frail and constantly prone to illness. But that was not the case and it did not help that Kitty indulged him in this fabrication. There are so many good things about this story but there were also many troubling things as well. I am glad I got this book on Kindle Unlimited and did not have to pay for it.

[Kelly Tyree · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lady's Patient is a book about a young woman, Kitty Langley, who suffers with a disease that has kept her in and out of treatment since she was a young girl. She is stable now, but her father tends to treat her with kids gloves and make her rest to avoid her disease flaring up. Due to her disease, she has few suitors. They are attracted to her but once they learn of her illness they leave.

Kitty meets another woman named Delilah. Kitty is attracted to her self confidence. When Delilah asks Kitty to come and help her tend to her brother who is ill, Kitty is eager to accept. She is surprised when she finds out that Kitty's brother is a grown man and an Earl. He has been hurt but does not trust doctors. He is also abrasive and outspoken. But as the Earl and Kitty spend time together Kitty begins to see past that into the person the Earl really is. Kitty longs for a future with the Earl, but she knows she is below his station and that he would never want her. When the Earl begins to get better, Kitty feels she is no longer needed so she goes to the bedside of a sick friend. It is there that she is told the Earl is in the hospital and is non responsive. Kitty goes to him and confesses her feelings to him. She thinks he cannot hear her, but that is not the case. The only question is what is the Earl going to do about it.

I enjoy all of Ayles books and this one is no exception. She writes well and really keeps the reader engaged.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty had been sick all her life w rheumatism. As an adult, she is the best she's ever been. Rarely having an episode. She seemed cured. So Kitty knew a lot about healing. Her friend Delilah wrote and asked Kitty to come help her younger brother to heal. When Kitty met Delilah's brother Augustus Sinclair, he was an adult and the Earl of Stamford. Augustus was stubborn, demanded his way and sometimes rude. He did not want to rest so he could let his body heal, refused any professional medicine or help from a Dr. He would not listen to Kitty or his sister until he was in great pain. Kitty was persistent and helped him heal anyway. In the process, Kitty and Augustus began to have feelings for each other. I can't say much more about the relationship, but there is a great ending. I loved the story. I became interested right away. It is different from any story I've read before. The stories the Earl told about foreign travels were interesting. The only thing I didn't like was how his sister told Kitty she wasn't good enough for her brother bec of Kitty's lower class. Delilah seemed to take her fears of her brother's health problems on Kitty. His health problems were his own fault bec of his reckless behavior and had nothing to do w Kitty. These minor complications of the story kept the story interesting. I'm always amazed about all the different stories that this author writes.

[Patricia Cinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does love always win?

Abby Ayles has given us another special Regency romance! This book is a little different from the rest because Kitty has had joint problems since she was a small child and she is now asked to care for Earl Sinclair and help him get through his joint pain which was caused by an accident.

It is interesting to read about how the medical community addressed these problems during the Regency Era and how society viewed individuals with medical conditions.

Kitty and the Earl both grow significantly from sharing this experience. They each have their highs and lows.

The book was well done - the writing, character development, the whole package! I promised to provide an honest review.

You must read it to see if love wins!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stubborn Patience

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There were a few miscellaneous misprints, but they were easy to ignore. The characters were relatable and took you on a journey. I couldn’t put this down, and read it through the night... even though I knew there would be a happy ever after, I kept thinking it wasn’t going to end the way I wanted it to. I was greatly relieved, and excited for the extended ending. Good job, Abby, your writing just gets better with every new book! 😊

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventures

I have been drawn to this book ever since I first read the blurb. I couldn’t wait for it to be released and read it as soon as I could. I loved it. Although the ending was too fast for me, I really loved the characters, the friendships formed, the development and adventures, etc. I’d love to read more about the main characters- specifically the Earl - to see if there is more character growth. I’m so use to reading books with both perspectives that I missed not knowing what was going on in his head.

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant diversion from a divisive world. It was particularly interesting to read of someone who had never ridden a train; we tend not to think of that time between pure horse-drawn transportation and trains.

This story pushed a bit on the "I'm disabled" (without using that word) and the "women are to be married and bear children" themes. Not unexpected for the times, but emphasized more than I'd think necessary.

And oh, how nice it would be to have a good proofreader before it got to my Kindle.

[AnnMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this story was absolutely fabulous. Abby Ayles has such wonderful ideas when it comes to her romances. Unfortunately, inconsistencies made parts of this story unbelievable which detracted from my enjoyment. Despite that, I love the story idea, and like that the heroine wasn't perfect. She suffers from rheumatism and never thought she'd find a man to love and marry her. She has her happy ever after and it was lovely to see.

[Sharon Tipton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty Langley has been sick since she was a child. Her father took care of her. She had lost all hope of ever finding someone to marry. She met Delilah Sinclare ,who had a brother, who was hurt in a riding accident ,and asked Kitty to help take care of him . I loved the story and characters. This is a clean, well written story. I enjoyed this story and so loved how it ended.I was given a copy for an honest review.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lovely Regency era read!

I only recently discovered Abby. I loved her first book so much that right away I purchased the second and then I knew she was going to be one of my favorite authors. I just bought this book today and couldn’t put it down. This is a sweet, CLEAN and believable regency era read. You’ll fall in love with Kitty and Augustus. There is nothing but praise here and I can’t wait to see what Abby writes next!

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it tells the story of a very unexpected and at times unwanted love story of two people. It is a good long book and the authour has used words to paint pictures of changing times and people. A lovely story of chronic illness, treatments, adventure and hope. The characters are so well portrayed I would like to read more of two of the sister and sister in law. A very enjoyable book with suspense and sorrow as well as romance.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid and clean read with huge heart, it's impossible not to enjoy this romance Kitty may be the a barron's daughter, but life is far from easy. Resigned to a fate as a spinster, a chance meeting changes her path. Now helping care for Earl Sinclair, these two help draw out the best in one another. It's smart, emotional and engaging throughout. This is a voluntary review of an advance reader copy.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

she had ill health since she was a child and was unable to do many things that she wanted to do but now she is much better. society wont allow her to do those things. she is called to the bedside of a friends younger brother. she takes it with both hands finally getting the freedom she needs and wants. things will change for both of them. see how they do
I was given a copy by the author and I enjoyed it so much that I want to review

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty has an ailment, but doesn't allow it to limit her. As she seeks more freedom from her sheltered life, she makes a friend who later asks for her help with her brother who also has an ailment. Kitty accepts the offer and is off to enjoy her freedom, what she doesn't expect are the lessons in life and love. Really good read with well-developed characters. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read a couple other books by this author, and this is the first one I’ve put down. It was not period-consistent at all! That really bothered me - mail men, long johns, doorbells... And then the story just wasn’t believable. I only got a little past 10% into it before just having to stop. I’m sorry to say that about any book, but there it is.

2 stars because the idea of the book had promise, but it was badly executed!