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Devoted Hearts #2
The Gentleman Physician
A Second Chance Regency Romance
“I didn’t really understand what love was. I didn’t know what it meant, that I should’ve fought harder for it.”
Banished from home by her angry father, Julia Devon travels to Bath to fulfill her role as family spinster by assisting her cousin, Lady Macon, in caring for her dying husband.
Nathaniel Hastings’s life runs in a predictable pattern, until a routine visit to one of his ailing patients brings him face to face with Julia, the woman who broke his heart five years before in London.
Julia and Nathaniel find themselves unlikely allies as they work together to tend to the family’s needs, fend off Lady Macon’s scheming brother-in-law, and avoid confronting the pain of their shared past. But could this accidental meeting be their second chance at love?
“I didn’t really understand what love was. I didn’t know what it meant, that I should’ve fought harder for it.”
Banished from home by her angry father, Julia Devon travels to Bath to fulfill her role as family spinster by assisting her cousin, Lady Macon, in caring for her dying husband.
Nathaniel Hastings’s life runs in a predictable pattern, until a routine visit to one of his ailing patients brings him face to face with Julia, the woman who broke his heart five years before in London.
Julia and Nathaniel find themselves unlikely allies as they work together to tend to the family’s needs, fend off Lady Macon’s scheming brother-in-law, and avoid confronting the pain of their shared past. But could this accidental meeting be their second chance at love?
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2018
963 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Sally Britton
47 books1,262 followersSally Britton is sixth generation Texan, received her BA in English forever ago, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.
Sally lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and their overly energetic Australian Shepherds, cat, and snake named Nancy. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.
Sally lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and their overly energetic Australian Shepherds, cat, and snake named Nancy. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
September 20, 2018
This is second in a series and it's much better if you've read the first before this one. You meet Julia there and hear her story, but more importantly, you also meet her monster father and that is very important for understanding why events in the past played out as they had.
Knowing that Julia has nursed a broken heart for five years I was prepared for a depressing start. That she then arrives in a home where a much-loved husband and father lies on his deathbed only made that even more pronounced. Add a scheming brother-in-law and . . . well. If fascists managed to convince themselves they owned a divine right to rule you might match the oppression of the emotional atmosphere of this novel. It was heeeeaaaavy. And unrelenting.
I made it 70% in before I gave it up. The thing is, the only thing keeping these two love birds apart is a pack of lies they've told themselves and each other. They're not only well-suited but they are still deeply in love and frankly, I'm tired of them waltzing around each other asking themselves "do I dare risk telling the truth?" Emotional cowardice just doesn't hold my attention for very long and I've had enough of these two doing their denial two-step. Wait. Regency. Denial waltz. Bah.
Not that I didn't like them both because I did. And I even buy each still being hung up after five years (not least because they have been isolated for much of it, Julia at home and Nathaniel studying in Scotland). But that only carried me so far before the lack of having a crucial conversation just wore me out.
So I'm leaving this at two stars because Britton is good and the story has potential and many romance readers will enjoy it, I think. Just not me.
A note about Historical Accuracy Britton strives for historical accuracy so I was surprised that she blew it so very badly with Nathaniel. He's a doctor and really, Regency authors need to stop trying to make this work. Regency medicine was a pack of misunderstandings on top of folk remedies on top of general superstition. And a lot of that starts with the medical profession and the infighting and egos that suppressed advancement even as it claimed privilege and honor for itself. So simply declaring that Nathaniel (who is not yet thirty) "observed" how patients benefit from cleanly habits and he "studied Dr. Alexander Gordon's 1795 treatise on puerperal fever" doesn't actually give you leave to plop modern sensibilities into a Regency doctor so you don't have to deal with those nasty leeches and icky humors and slathering dung on wounds and things. So I lost some respect for Britton's dedication to historical accuracy here. I mean sure, Gordon said washing up was good but he had no idea why and he only noticed it in certain very specific cases and he was mocked so badly that it took another 50+ years before anyone else even came close to a theory of germs as disease vectors. So no, your special snowflake doctor doesn't actually work. I think it'd make a much better story if your doctor was actually historically accurate and had to deal with the failure rate on an emotional and intellectual level even doing the best he knew how...
Knowing that Julia has nursed a broken heart for five years I was prepared for a depressing start. That she then arrives in a home where a much-loved husband and father lies on his deathbed only made that even more pronounced. Add a scheming brother-in-law and . . . well. If fascists managed to convince themselves they owned a divine right to rule you might match the oppression of the emotional atmosphere of this novel. It was heeeeaaaavy. And unrelenting.
I made it 70% in before I gave it up. The thing is, the only thing keeping these two love birds apart is a pack of lies they've told themselves and each other. They're not only well-suited but they are still deeply in love and frankly, I'm tired of them waltzing around each other asking themselves "do I dare risk telling the truth?" Emotional cowardice just doesn't hold my attention for very long and I've had enough of these two doing their denial two-step. Wait. Regency. Denial waltz. Bah.
Not that I didn't like them both because I did. And I even buy each still being hung up after five years (not least because they have been isolated for much of it, Julia at home and Nathaniel studying in Scotland). But that only carried me so far before the lack of having a crucial conversation just wore me out.
So I'm leaving this at two stars because Britton is good and the story has potential and many romance readers will enjoy it, I think. Just not me.
A note about Historical Accuracy Britton strives for historical accuracy so I was surprised that she blew it so very badly with Nathaniel. He's a doctor and really, Regency authors need to stop trying to make this work. Regency medicine was a pack of misunderstandings on top of folk remedies on top of general superstition. And a lot of that starts with the medical profession and the infighting and egos that suppressed advancement even as it claimed privilege and honor for itself. So simply declaring that Nathaniel (who is not yet thirty) "observed" how patients benefit from cleanly habits and he "studied Dr. Alexander Gordon's 1795 treatise on puerperal fever" doesn't actually give you leave to plop modern sensibilities into a Regency doctor so you don't have to deal with those nasty leeches and icky humors and slathering dung on wounds and things. So I lost some respect for Britton's dedication to historical accuracy here. I mean sure, Gordon said washing up was good but he had no idea why and he only noticed it in certain very specific cases and he was mocked so badly that it took another 50+ years before anyone else even came close to a theory of germs as disease vectors. So no, your special snowflake doctor doesn't actually work. I think it'd make a much better story if your doctor was actually historically accurate and had to deal with the failure rate on an emotional and intellectual level even doing the best he knew how...
August 15, 2021
.
I read this is clean and wholesome series through the Kindle Unlimited program on Amazon, and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them. The characters are built with depth, situations are unique, each plot was interesting, all combined they compel the reader to continue long past their appointed time frame, and you don't see the twists and turns coming until they hit you in the eyes. I'm looking forward to more of this author's works.
It appears divine intervention reintroduced the H/H to each other lives after a romantical interest 5 years previously had been squashed by Julia's hard-hearted and domineering father... The image painted by the author matches the reality of the time period very well. There is an abundance of love, adoration, and loyalty displayed.
The romance portion was abnormally clean (totally glossed over = so if you prefer steamy, which I don't, you will be disappointed). However, for like-minded individuals who prefer a clean adventure, this is a delight!
Obviously, every reader does not devour an entire series in a short amount of time. I have been known to drop a star for cliffhangers. In this case, I did not do so.
Each story is able to stand on its own, with the exception of the question of what happened to Virginia. But its entertaining qualities intertwine with the characters in different segments. And of course, they each delivered a tremendous H.E.A.
I read this is clean and wholesome series through the Kindle Unlimited program on Amazon, and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them. The characters are built with depth, situations are unique, each plot was interesting, all combined they compel the reader to continue long past their appointed time frame, and you don't see the twists and turns coming until they hit you in the eyes. I'm looking forward to more of this author's works.
It appears divine intervention reintroduced the H/H to each other lives after a romantical interest 5 years previously had been squashed by Julia's hard-hearted and domineering father... The image painted by the author matches the reality of the time period very well. There is an abundance of love, adoration, and loyalty displayed.
The romance portion was abnormally clean (totally glossed over = so if you prefer steamy, which I don't, you will be disappointed). However, for like-minded individuals who prefer a clean adventure, this is a delight!
Obviously, every reader does not devour an entire series in a short amount of time. I have been known to drop a star for cliffhangers. In this case, I did not do so.
Each story is able to stand on its own, with the exception of the question of what happened to Virginia. But its entertaining qualities intertwine with the characters in different segments. And of course, they each delivered a tremendous H.E.A.
July 12, 2018
Five years ago Julia and Nathaniel met in London, during Julia's first season. Her domineering father was wanting her to make a spectacular match to further his own ambitions. Nathaniel is basically a nobody, at least in her fathers eyes, and she is forced to give him up. Now they're thrown back together under sad circumstances. Julia has now been banished from her home, forced to go live with her cousin, Virginia. Sadly, Virginia's husband is on his death bed and Nathaniel is his physcian. I'm not really a big fan of illness tropes, and this one was pretty sad and carried on throughout the book. I liked Julia and Nathaniel, but didn't really feel a whole lot of chemistry between them and thought things wrapped up really quickly. It's a nice story, but I didn't connect to it as I would have liked. I also thought Virginia's storyline just ended a bit aburptly, but I learned she has her own book The Earl and His Lady, which I am sure would answer all my questions.
Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None
Series: Branches of Love, Book Two - standalone
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None
Series: Branches of Love, Book Two - standalone
Source: Kindle Unlimited
April 26, 2019
Such a delightful and clean historical romance. It is well written and deals with the pain of losing the ones we love and also finding second chances in the process.
4-Stars
4-Stars
July 6, 2018
Julia Devon arrives in Bath to help her cousin care for a beloved husband. Despite the situation, it’s a better place for Julia since home is ruled by her tyrant father who considers her a spinster and a failure. Julia is an easy-to-love heroine. She’s devoted and loyal, which has made her an easy target to those who would run her life. She has no idea her act of service will cross paths with the one man she has never been able to forget, Doctor Nathanial Hastings.
Nathanial Hastings is still pining for the girl who refused his honorable intentions. He doesn’t consider himself a man of any importance—with no rank or generous income, he is no temptation to those looking to make advantageous matches. Though stunned to find Julia back in his life, he still blames her for the cold and cruel rejection that ended their relationship years before. However, a part of him still wants to believe that the love they shared was real. The doctor has no idea his former sweetheart was forced to reject him.
Nathaniel is a great character. His occupation and love of his fellow man make him a unique hero. It is refreshing to read such a tender, sweet romance with a man that did not need to be conquered or redeemed from some pathological or chauvinistic issue. I enjoyed taking the journey of reconciling his feelings, attitudes, and faith in Julia alongside him.
As the couple works together to help a baron pass from illness in this life to peace in the next, there are devoted and quirky patrons to cheer them on, as well as the greedy and villainous to disrupt the lives of those for whom they care. It is a lovely cast of characters that accompany them on their way to sorting out their true feelings for each other.
This is my first read from Sally Britton, and it’s quality storytelling. The novel completely stands alone, although it is second in a series. I found the writing smooth, easy, and spot-on for the classic Regency voice. I felt it was well-researched with a nice balance of detail and accuracy, without going over the top. The Gentleman Physician is sweet, relaxing, and authentic. It’s a romantic, satisfying story any clean romance reader will enjoy.
Nathanial Hastings is still pining for the girl who refused his honorable intentions. He doesn’t consider himself a man of any importance—with no rank or generous income, he is no temptation to those looking to make advantageous matches. Though stunned to find Julia back in his life, he still blames her for the cold and cruel rejection that ended their relationship years before. However, a part of him still wants to believe that the love they shared was real. The doctor has no idea his former sweetheart was forced to reject him.
Nathaniel is a great character. His occupation and love of his fellow man make him a unique hero. It is refreshing to read such a tender, sweet romance with a man that did not need to be conquered or redeemed from some pathological or chauvinistic issue. I enjoyed taking the journey of reconciling his feelings, attitudes, and faith in Julia alongside him.
As the couple works together to help a baron pass from illness in this life to peace in the next, there are devoted and quirky patrons to cheer them on, as well as the greedy and villainous to disrupt the lives of those for whom they care. It is a lovely cast of characters that accompany them on their way to sorting out their true feelings for each other.
This is my first read from Sally Britton, and it’s quality storytelling. The novel completely stands alone, although it is second in a series. I found the writing smooth, easy, and spot-on for the classic Regency voice. I felt it was well-researched with a nice balance of detail and accuracy, without going over the top. The Gentleman Physician is sweet, relaxing, and authentic. It’s a romantic, satisfying story any clean romance reader will enjoy.
September 13, 2018
As a Regency period offering, I found this book a bit different than I expected. Although minor characters belong to the aristocracy, the protagonists do not. I also appreciated that the setting is in Bath and the author took care to point out several societal differences between London and Bath. “The Gentleman Physician” is the second book in the series and could be read as a stand-alone offering; however, I recommend reading “The Social Tutor” first. Oddly enough, I was impressed by the darker side of the book which dealt with the death of Charles Macon, Baron of Heatherton. The reader is taken through the process of dealing with the death of a beloved and loved “good” man who will leave behind a widow and two young sons. To quote another reviewer: “It was heartbreaking reading the Baron's farewell scene with his young sons. So touching. But I would never want to take it out of the book.” I concur with the over 90% of reviewers who awarded this offering four or five stars. I do not hesitate to grant five stars to Ms. Britton for her labors and recommend her to all those who enjoy Regency period clean romance.
June 17, 2018
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Banished from home by her angry father, Julia Devon travels to Bath to fulfill her role as family spinster by assisting her cousin, Lady Macon, in caring for her dying husband.
Nathaniel Hastings’s life runs in a predictable pattern, until a routine visit to one of his ailing patients brings him face to face with Julia, the woman who broke his heart five years before in London.
Julia and Nathaniel find themselves unlikely allies as they work together to tend to the family’s needs, fend off Lady Macon’s scheming brother-in-law, and avoid confronting the pain of their shared past. But could this accidental meeting be their second chance at love?
MY TAKE
This was a sweet love story. I really liked both Julia and Nathaniel and was rooting for them to get beyond the past created by her father. My heart ached for Julia's cousin Virginia whose husband was dying of TB (consumption). There were a few loose ends not tied up regarding Virginia's custody of the children that I'd have liked to resolution for, but that was a minor detail.
4.5 stars
Banished from home by her angry father, Julia Devon travels to Bath to fulfill her role as family spinster by assisting her cousin, Lady Macon, in caring for her dying husband.
Nathaniel Hastings’s life runs in a predictable pattern, until a routine visit to one of his ailing patients brings him face to face with Julia, the woman who broke his heart five years before in London.
Julia and Nathaniel find themselves unlikely allies as they work together to tend to the family’s needs, fend off Lady Macon’s scheming brother-in-law, and avoid confronting the pain of their shared past. But could this accidental meeting be their second chance at love?
MY TAKE
This was a sweet love story. I really liked both Julia and Nathaniel and was rooting for them to get beyond the past created by her father. My heart ached for Julia's cousin Virginia whose husband was dying of TB (consumption). There were a few loose ends not tied up regarding Virginia's custody of the children that I'd have liked to resolution for, but that was a minor detail.
4.5 stars
February 15, 2022
I love it when two long lost loves get a second chance.
April 25, 2019
Nathaniel & Julia. Now there was a romance!
Julia's father, prone to censure & cruelty, banished
Julia and her younger sister from his country home.
In punishment after their sib Christine wed in book
#1, to a man w/o wealth.
Julia traveled to Bath (per father's orders) to assist her
cousin Virginia with her 2 young children, while Va.
nursed her spouse in the last stages of consumption.
Who served as Va.'s spouse's physician? Nathaniel.
Nearly 5 yrs ago Julia's father rudely rejected Nathaniel
(2nd son of a baron) as her suitor. After the couple had
taken walks and fallen in love. They abruptly ended with
2 broken hearts. Nate feared Julia was as cold & mercenary
as her father.
This story used a slower pace than I usually prefer. How-
ever it balanced sorrow (pending death, Va.'s BIL causing
trouble) and joy (Va. & the h growing closer, Va. feeling
moral support from several others, the H & h having a 2nd
chance ). A simple little love story with kisses.
Julia's father, prone to censure & cruelty, banished
Julia and her younger sister from his country home.
In punishment after their sib Christine wed in book
#1, to a man w/o wealth.
Julia traveled to Bath (per father's orders) to assist her
cousin Virginia with her 2 young children, while Va.
nursed her spouse in the last stages of consumption.
Who served as Va.'s spouse's physician? Nathaniel.
Nearly 5 yrs ago Julia's father rudely rejected Nathaniel
(2nd son of a baron) as her suitor. After the couple had
taken walks and fallen in love. They abruptly ended with
2 broken hearts. Nate feared Julia was as cold & mercenary
as her father.
This story used a slower pace than I usually prefer. How-
ever it balanced sorrow (pending death, Va.'s BIL causing
trouble) and joy (Va. & the h growing closer, Va. feeling
moral support from several others, the H & h having a 2nd
chance ). A simple little love story with kisses.
April 26, 2018
I enjoyed this Bath regency read. It had some really good elements in it. Julia is a strong character with a brute of a father and can't marry the man she loves. Years later they are put together again and you get lots of nice "tug at your heart moments'. Nathan is a great leading man. These two are all that is proper and the author does a really good job of sticking to the reality of the time. This book had a good old fashioned feel to it and would make a great BBC movie. There is just something magical about this time period and the author captures it so well. This book also has a great cast. Virginia and her sad situation, the Dr.s friend- Nathan ,even the older meddling duchess. The bad guy was sinister but not so out there as to be unbelievable. I am so glad Virginia will eventually get her own story. This was very chaste with no religion.
August 10, 2018
I meant to review this as soon as I had finished it, but instead i ended up reading more by this author.
This was very different to the usual run-of-the-mill HR novels. It focuses on the slow death of a character and the 'romance' is almost an aside for a great deal of the story. Its sounds depressing and dreary, but in actual fact its beautifully written and not mawkish. I loved every single character in this book. Not for readers who like 'light and frothy' novels. This is solid and hefty and emotional.
I loved it.
This was very different to the usual run-of-the-mill HR novels. It focuses on the slow death of a character and the 'romance' is almost an aside for a great deal of the story. Its sounds depressing and dreary, but in actual fact its beautifully written and not mawkish. I loved every single character in this book. Not for readers who like 'light and frothy' novels. This is solid and hefty and emotional.
I loved it.
August 23, 2021
I enjoyed this book of second chances. Sometimes the good things in life are worth waiting for.
This was a quick read for me because I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and characters.
This was a quick read for me because I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and characters.
November 20, 2018
This was the first novel I read by Sally Britton and it sure drew my attention enough to make me read more of her works.
The story also brings to mind Jane Austen’s Persuasion and I think (hope) a certain umbrella moment/thought is the author’s wink to Austen’s readers.
Anyway, the first thing I found refreshing is that we’re not dealing with an earl, a baron, a… whatever equivalent to the contemporary “Billionaire” stories which I find a bit tacky.
And as if that is not enough we’re dealing with a physician who shows remarkable empathy towards his patients. His interaction with an elderly, witty patient brought to mind Axel Munthe’s The Story of San Michele (a book I had truly enjoyed and still remember even though I read it years ago.)
Julia herself even though under her father’s control seems like a strong woman --as strong as a woman society allowed her to be at the time-- and so we have this second chance story.
It is a slow one (I never had a problem with that) and the romance doses are not so “loud” or intense as I’d like them to be but there is a good reason for that: the two heroes meet again in the house where we watch a young father die. Slowly die. And there is no miraculous healing. A family will be broken and a man who is loved and needed will be no more. (Yes, I know he’s a fictional character. What that has to do?)
That alone is enough to make the story unique. It needs guts to weave a romance around Death and Britton does it fearlessly. The loss of the father, the boys who will be orphans, the future that is uncertain add an extra dimension to the story, a juxtaposition between Love and Death that make everything more poignant.
The story is a “clean” one (hmm, I detest that term) but that works perfectly for the era and what the heroes face. If I could turn up the volume of the “romance” factor I would, but I don’t have a great problem with that. I enjoy a story when the couple doesn’t fall in love instantly or when they actually think and process their feelings (in some books feelings are like bricks falling from the sky on people's heads.)
Not only did the book make me read the next in line in the series but it also prepared me for the story of Virginia --the mother of the children-- which I read and I’ll review soon.
The story also brings to mind Jane Austen’s Persuasion and I think (hope) a certain umbrella moment/thought is the author’s wink to Austen’s readers.
Anyway, the first thing I found refreshing is that we’re not dealing with an earl, a baron, a… whatever equivalent to the contemporary “Billionaire” stories which I find a bit tacky.
And as if that is not enough we’re dealing with a physician who shows remarkable empathy towards his patients. His interaction with an elderly, witty patient brought to mind Axel Munthe’s The Story of San Michele (a book I had truly enjoyed and still remember even though I read it years ago.)
Julia herself even though under her father’s control seems like a strong woman --as strong as a woman society allowed her to be at the time-- and so we have this second chance story.
It is a slow one (I never had a problem with that) and the romance doses are not so “loud” or intense as I’d like them to be but there is a good reason for that: the two heroes meet again in the house where we watch a young father die. Slowly die. And there is no miraculous healing. A family will be broken and a man who is loved and needed will be no more. (Yes, I know he’s a fictional character. What that has to do?)
That alone is enough to make the story unique. It needs guts to weave a romance around Death and Britton does it fearlessly. The loss of the father, the boys who will be orphans, the future that is uncertain add an extra dimension to the story, a juxtaposition between Love and Death that make everything more poignant.
The story is a “clean” one (hmm, I detest that term) but that works perfectly for the era and what the heroes face. If I could turn up the volume of the “romance” factor I would, but I don’t have a great problem with that. I enjoy a story when the couple doesn’t fall in love instantly or when they actually think and process their feelings (in some books feelings are like bricks falling from the sky on people's heads.)
Not only did the book make me read the next in line in the series but it also prepared me for the story of Virginia --the mother of the children-- which I read and I’ll review soon.
August 14, 2018
I loved this book. It is my favorite Britton book so far. So sweet and swoony. One thing that made this different is that so much of the story is about Julia's cousin and the loss of her husband (which made me cry). So while a lot of emotional energy is spent on that story we still spend energy hoping for Julia and Nathaniel but we don't spend so much energy dwelling on their angst. I love how the two stories balanced each other.
The whole time I was reading it kept reminding me of Persuasion and it wasn't until the end that the author's notes clarified that it was indeed inspired by Austen's fantastic novel. There were plenty enough differences that it was obviously not a rewrite of Persuasion but it had the same second chance at love in its story and the same Austen-like feel. No wonder I loved it.
I loved all the main characters and almost all the minor characters as well. Can't love Mr. Macon. Horrible man. But everyone else was good and kind and lovable. Even the staff were good, loyal and supportive. Society doesn't play much of a role in the story so there isn't even snotty people who think they are better than others to dislike. I guess we can dislike Julia's father also but we just hear about him and never really meet his awful self.
I really can't think of anything I didn't like except a couple things. The death was sad and made me cry. It was heartbreaking reading the Baron's farewell scene with his young sons. So touching. But I would never want to take it out of the book. I just didn't like feeling sad and crying. And the other thing would be that I would have loved to see the court fight with Mr. Macon play out and him get put in his place. I'm sure it would have detracted from the love story wrap up but still the vindictive part of me would have loved to see it happen.
Sex: kisses
Language: no
Violence: no
The whole time I was reading it kept reminding me of Persuasion and it wasn't until the end that the author's notes clarified that it was indeed inspired by Austen's fantastic novel. There were plenty enough differences that it was obviously not a rewrite of Persuasion but it had the same second chance at love in its story and the same Austen-like feel. No wonder I loved it.
I loved all the main characters and almost all the minor characters as well. Can't love Mr. Macon. Horrible man. But everyone else was good and kind and lovable. Even the staff were good, loyal and supportive. Society doesn't play much of a role in the story so there isn't even snotty people who think they are better than others to dislike. I guess we can dislike Julia's father also but we just hear about him and never really meet his awful self.
I really can't think of anything I didn't like except a couple things. The death was sad and made me cry. It was heartbreaking reading the Baron's farewell scene with his young sons. So touching. But I would never want to take it out of the book. I just didn't like feeling sad and crying. And the other thing would be that I would have loved to see the court fight with Mr. Macon play out and him get put in his place. I'm sure it would have detracted from the love story wrap up but still the vindictive part of me would have loved to see it happen.
Sex: kisses
Language: no
Violence: no
December 10, 2021
Another cute read from Sally Britton. Persuasion happens to be my favorite Austen book, and I'm a sucker for a story about lingering looks, pregnant pauses, and hearts terrified to love again when they've hurt so badly before. And I will tell you that the secondary plot in the book had me bawling on a regular basis. I believe my exact reaction was "dang you, Sally Britton for giving me the feels!" as I furiously wiped my eyes and grabbed tissues.
February 26, 2022
Soooo I'm in a reading slump. Which was expected, since I went on a reading blitz in Jan and what goes up must come down.
Anyway, I was hoping this would snap me out of it since it's a familiar series and I more often than not like Britton's work. And bonus, this was a short read. But! Even though it's not a tome at 220 pages, I still ended up skimming most of this because boy oh boy was this boring.
Julia and Nathaniel had previously fallen in love at her first (and only) London season. Things fell apart when Nathaniel (a second son who aspired to be a doctor) declared his intentions and was shot down by Julia's tyrant father and later on Julia herself. They parted but are thrown back into each other's circles when Julia joins her cousin Virginia as her husband lives his last days battling consumption - his doctor happens to be Nathaniel.
The long and short of all my grievances with this book is that this is not Julia and Nathaniel's story - it's part one of Virginia's story (which I read prior to this and quite liked, for the record). Seriously, I can't remember the last time I read a book where the main characters held no agency in the momentum of their own story.
Let me be specific. Julia loved Nathaniel, but when her father rejected his suit, rather than fighting for him she doubles down and rejects him herself, wait for it, "to protect him". This was meh, but Julia never actually reverses this. She doesn't initiate going after Nathaniel, she happens to cross his path again. Even then she doesn't reach out to clear things up (even after many years of wisdom, and her own sister Christine going after her own love). Julia is just there. In her own story. Essentially, she's boring. I contrast this with her sister's Rebecca's book (Miss Devon's Choice) who drove every inch of her story. I was longing for that type of agency so much I actually detoured from this book to re-read some of my favourite parts of Rebecca's book (not a good sign). And while, yes, Julia is not going to have the same personality as her sisters, it would have been nice if she had any personality at all.
Let me emphasize again that this is Virginia's book. Every single significant plot point in this book centered on Virginia. Virginia's husband ding. Virginia's brother in law threatening her. Virginia trying to help Rebecca find employment.
The other filler segments was just Nathaniel and Julia introspecting on their previous love, and alternatively pining for the other person or repressing said feelings. BORING! And don't even get me started (!) on how sparkless their romance was. This was not a novella so I think it's a real shame that we didn't even get a solid chapter or two of Julia and Nathaniel falling in love. Instead we have to take them at face value that they had this great love once.
This is sounding like I hated it, but I didn't I just found it so dull and I think my reading slump is making me harsher.
Anyway, hopefully the slump is broken soon.
Anyway, I was hoping this would snap me out of it since it's a familiar series and I more often than not like Britton's work. And bonus, this was a short read. But! Even though it's not a tome at 220 pages, I still ended up skimming most of this because boy oh boy was this boring.
Julia and Nathaniel had previously fallen in love at her first (and only) London season. Things fell apart when Nathaniel (a second son who aspired to be a doctor) declared his intentions and was shot down by Julia's tyrant father and later on Julia herself. They parted but are thrown back into each other's circles when Julia joins her cousin Virginia as her husband lives his last days battling consumption - his doctor happens to be Nathaniel.
The long and short of all my grievances with this book is that this is not Julia and Nathaniel's story - it's part one of Virginia's story (which I read prior to this and quite liked, for the record). Seriously, I can't remember the last time I read a book where the main characters held no agency in the momentum of their own story.
Let me be specific. Julia loved Nathaniel, but when her father rejected his suit, rather than fighting for him she doubles down and rejects him herself, wait for it, "to protect him". This was meh, but Julia never actually reverses this. She doesn't initiate going after Nathaniel, she happens to cross his path again. Even then she doesn't reach out to clear things up (even after many years of wisdom, and her own sister Christine going after her own love). Julia is just there. In her own story. Essentially, she's boring. I contrast this with her sister's Rebecca's book (Miss Devon's Choice) who drove every inch of her story. I was longing for that type of agency so much I actually detoured from this book to re-read some of my favourite parts of Rebecca's book (not a good sign). And while, yes, Julia is not going to have the same personality as her sisters, it would have been nice if she had any personality at all.
Let me emphasize again that this is Virginia's book. Every single significant plot point in this book centered on Virginia. Virginia's husband ding. Virginia's brother in law threatening her. Virginia trying to help Rebecca find employment.
The other filler segments was just Nathaniel and Julia introspecting on their previous love, and alternatively pining for the other person or repressing said feelings. BORING! And don't even get me started (!) on how sparkless their romance was. This was not a novella so I think it's a real shame that we didn't even get a solid chapter or two of Julia and Nathaniel falling in love. Instead we have to take them at face value that they had this great love once.
This is sounding like I hated it, but I didn't I just found it so dull and I think my reading slump is making me harsher.
Anyway, hopefully the slump is broken soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2018
This was a cute little read - I felt at times there wasn't enough romance in it, it was mostly about her cousin and helping out where she good. There were some really cute and sweet moments.
Moral Note: Clean
Moral Note: Clean
January 11, 2020
I was hoping for an actual spinster and a bit more angst around unrequited love, a la Persuasion, but I still enjoyed it well enough. Good character development.
December 10, 2021
good novel
January 12, 2022
I listened to audiobook and really enjoyed the story! Ms Britton knows how to weave an entertaining tale.
December 16, 2019
Sally Britton is quickly becoming another of my favorite authors. Her stories have depth and emotion, but are still lgith and enjoyable. Can't wait to continue the series.
May 19, 2020
The story line was adopted from Jane Austen's Persuasion. I am sorry to say that for me this book was boring. It was nice and cute but everything that happened was too predictive. Likable characters, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2018
Very well done!
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest review.
What an impressive story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Regency Era. This story has its sad moments, but they were so beautifully done. I have never read a book that handled this as well as the author has done. No, I will not say more than that, or I will spoil the book. I will say that I cried several times.
The characters in this book took hold of my heart immediately. As more characters were introduced, I found interest in them all. Especially Virginia & Charles. Julia & Nathaniel were excellent as the two lovers.
I greatly enjoyed this book. I was unable to put it down. Thank goodness I started this earlier in the day & wouldn't have been able to get any sleep until done.
Warning to you, these characters & the story will stick with you!
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest review.
What an impressive story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Regency Era. This story has its sad moments, but they were so beautifully done. I have never read a book that handled this as well as the author has done. No, I will not say more than that, or I will spoil the book. I will say that I cried several times.
The characters in this book took hold of my heart immediately. As more characters were introduced, I found interest in them all. Especially Virginia & Charles. Julia & Nathaniel were excellent as the two lovers.
I greatly enjoyed this book. I was unable to put it down. Thank goodness I started this earlier in the day & wouldn't have been able to get any sleep until done.
Warning to you, these characters & the story will stick with you!
July 16, 2025
I was captured my the cover, and continued to be drawn in with the turbulent emotions faced by so many. The love story seemed real and built upon the second meeting wonderfully. You can't help but value the time you have with a loved one after reading this novel. I can't wait to read the next ones in the series! The passion was a hot PG. Nothing that would make me blush if I were reading it with my mother, or daughter.
The only qualm I had was in regards to Julia's description in the previous novel, The Social Tutor, and her contrasting coloring in this one. It may seem small, but it did throw me off a bit.
The only qualm I had was in regards to Julia's description in the previous novel, The Social Tutor, and her contrasting coloring in this one. It may seem small, but it did throw me off a bit.
October 5, 2018
I felt that the character development was one of the strongest parts of this story. I loved both of the main characters and sympathized with the secondary characters. This is one I can definitely recommend
September 16, 2018
Wonderful!
I have been thoroughly enjoying this series! Great, clean, recency romance.
This is my first series by Sally Britton, but I will certainly be checking what other books she has out.
I have been thoroughly enjoying this series! Great, clean, recency romance.
This is my first series by Sally Britton, but I will certainly be checking what other books she has out.
April 24, 2018
The Gentleman Physician
The story was a skillful blend of joy and sadness it is a tale of love thwarted by a cruel father and second chances.
The story was a skillful blend of joy and sadness it is a tale of love thwarted by a cruel father and second chances.
July 16, 2018
This is a wonderful book, clean and romantic. It was a fun read and I can't wait to read the other books in the series.
September 4, 2018
This was an absolutely wonderful story. I thoroughly enjoyed the message of second chances and men and women choosing their futures during the regency era.
August 10, 2019
Slow and sweet
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