Rich and beautiful beyond compare, Miss Juliet Wynne is the darling of society. Little does anybody suspect that behind those turqouise eyes dwells a genial mind dedicated to astronomy. Repelled by dull suitors that line up to recite poetry to her, she is fully contented with never marrying. Until she meets the broad-shouldered war-veteran with eyes like moonbeams who defies all her prejudice.
Beneath the elegant gowns, she is still a tomboy caught in society’s expectations and she prefers to immerse herself in science, observing the universe, and fencing with her beloved brother. When she dresses up as a man to be able to attend a scientific lecture, she is caught by the one man who piques her interest.
Privileged and brilliant, fellow astronomer, Lord Giles Whysleigh hides his tender heart behind a facade of arrogance and propriety. Although deep down a romantic, he takes pride in his conservative self-control.
The burning passion that unexpectedly flares up between them takes them both by surprise. Secure in the loving support of her boisterous, avant-garde family, Juliet dreads losing control. She must learn that change is inevitable and Lord Giles must overcome his own preconceptions to let go of his inhibitions and win her trust.
Cleverly mixing science, farce, and sex, this fairytale romance connects the dots between astronomy and Shakespeare, weaving an original drama of fear, family, and a love larger than life.
The fourth Regency Tale is a relatable story of vulnerability and fear of change told with warmth and humour filled with homely feel-good. Author Maria Yrsa Rönneus takes us to the year 1818, to an England still reeling in the aftermath of the many years of war. Against a backdrop of political tensions, societal pressure, and the opulence of the British aristocracy, this unusual woman and this powerful man orbit each other like twin stars.
Author of six novels, graphic designer, and artist.
I write historical and contemporary fiction, short stories, and poetry, predominantly in English. A lifelong interest, historical accuracy is critical to me – the plot must work inside the facts. Lucky then, that the vast amount of research that precedes writing a historical novel is absolutely my idea of fun.
As an artist, I work mainly in watercolour, arranging exhibitions and participating in art fairs. As a graphic designer, I make websites and designs for any print media but, as an avid reader myself, book covers are the closest to my heart.
Though starting out with art school, I went on to study film, literature, logic, and philosophy at university. After a kaleidoscopic career, it was chronic illness that forced a plunge into creative professionalism. Being a romantic and terminal optimist with a fervent passion for science and satire, I have an irreverent urge to see the funny in most things. Perhaps then, it is no great surprise that Jane Austen is a favourite author.
Ars Rönnei Media is the label under which I gather words, paint, and pixels. My studio is located in Vittsjö in the south of Sweden. Here, my husband and I are fortunate that the magpies let us use their garden and we grow veg, roses, and dahlias in it.
I finished this months ago but forgot to leave a review then. This is an unusual book. On the one hand it is a light-hearted, quite steamy, romance. It's also a feel-good story about friendship and love between family members. On the other hand it is also seriously portraying a (upper-class) woman's conditions in the early 19th century. Both privileged and exceptional as the lead character's situation may be, the novel emphasizes that this is the case, and the character herself is refreshingly well aware of it.
Like all the other books in her Regency Tales series, Maria Rönneus gives us insights into the science and politics of the day as well as popular culture. It's well evident that thorough research has gone into this books when the characters discuss the Regency era equivalents of the Kardashians and Stephen Hawking.
More importantly however, it's a good story. Entertaining, engaging, and leaves you believing in true love.
I'm so glad I've read this lovely series! Anyone who loves Jane Austen and enjoys the romance genre (for this series does have heat some points) will adore the Regency Tales books. Orbits, like the rest of the series, is written in the authentic style of the 1810s, not just regarding language but paragraph structure and punctuation as well. That takes a little adjustment at first, but it's pleasantly unique and does a wonderful job of pulling the reader into the era. Like the other installments in the series, this book was clearly extremely well researched; facts and details - for everything from what was au courant at the time to typical interiors details to etiquette in ballrooms and country settings alike - made this novel so rich, but naturally so, not in a here's-what-I-learned-about-the-time-period way that some authors use. You'd swear this book was written in the 1810s, not the 2020s!
Our protagonist is Miss Juliet Wynne, who, despite being a beautiful and desirable 20-year-old, would rather spend time behind her telescope than a fluttering fan. Being a tomboy of her time makes her very relatable and likeable. And Lord Giles Whysleigh is an equally likeable character, but of course they both have their faults. Their intertwining story is much like Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but is still refreshing and surprising. I loved their scientific tendencies and really enjoyed the astronomical tidbits inserted into the novel.
The supporting characters really needs a shout-out in this novel. As the rest of the novel is richly created, of course the side characters are as well. Lysander is a wonderful brother to Juliet (if they were any closer, they'd be like Cersei and Jaime Lannister!), as perfect a compliment to her as Lord Peter Whysleigh is to Giles. Peter really came to life in this book, and I found myself wishing he would star in his own novel! In fact, he may be my favorite character in the entire series. Then there are Juliet's sisters and parents, the hilarious nannys ... it's just a very rich cast that made this book quite unputdownable!