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Bradwell Brothers #1
Sensibly Wed
When Felicity Thurston is caught alone with a man at a ball, she must marry him to avoid a ruined reputation. What she doesn’t know—he’s the brother of the man she loves. I, Felicity Thurston, suffer from an incurable case of nerves. They attack with great zeal when I find myself the center of attention, regardless of whether or not I have taken measures to subdue them, and they have often made social gatherings unbearable. So when I met a man last summer who connected with me on a deeper level, I was certain at once that he could be the one. Henry Bradwell was both easy to converse with and an avid reader, and I spent the last eight months determining how I might contrive to further our acquaintance. So when I snuck out of the ballroom during a veritable squeeze and found myself alone with a gentleman, it was my desire to vacate the room before we were discovered. Fate had other plans. Leading gossips of the ton discovered us in what appeared to be an intimate embrace, and to save both of our families’ good names, we opted to marry. It was only after agreeing to the wedding that I discovered my husband-to-be was not only a Bradwell man, but a brother to the man I love. And there is nothing I can do about it now. **Book one in the Bradwell Brothers series, Sensibly Wed is the story of overcoming trials through marriage and the power of choice.**
342 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2022
843 people are currently reading
1707 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 540 reviews
October 26, 2022
3 stars. An ok read overall. The hero was perfection, the heroine was mostly a mess. She gave readers everywhere a bad name… by always trying to escape with a book. She’s an anxious introvert, but it’s not enough for her to just go somewhere quiet and unwind. No, she had to escape by reading in a dark corner for hours. There’s introversion and anxiety, which is understandable to me, but those things do not force someone to rudeness. This heroine came off as uncaring, rude, and disrespectful.
Safe; no sexual content, there’s some very mild OM & OW drama which mostly just amounted to jealousy.
Safe; no sexual content, there’s some very mild OM & OW drama which mostly just amounted to jealousy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2022
I am a huge fan of the forced marriage trope in regency romances and this one grabbed my attention from the first page!
Felicity has severe social anxiety and no one in her life seems to care or understand. Until James. I was silently cheering Felicity on as she struggled with adapting to her married life with all of her new responsibilities and her new mother-in-law.
James. Sigh. Can we just talk about James for a minute? Is there anything swoonier than a man fighting for his marriage? I loved his flirting and I would have loved for this book to be dual POV so we could see what he thought about the situation and how he viewed Felicity.
So many favorite scenes:
The fountain
Facts at the door
Horseback riding
Scary books
James shaving
The battledore game
This was a beautiful story about choosing love. Kasey Stockton will always be an auto-read author for me and I am excited for the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of the book but a positive review was not required.
Felicity has severe social anxiety and no one in her life seems to care or understand. Until James. I was silently cheering Felicity on as she struggled with adapting to her married life with all of her new responsibilities and her new mother-in-law.
James. Sigh. Can we just talk about James for a minute? Is there anything swoonier than a man fighting for his marriage? I loved his flirting and I would have loved for this book to be dual POV so we could see what he thought about the situation and how he viewed Felicity.
So many favorite scenes:
The fountain
Facts at the door
Horseback riding
Scary books
James shaving
The battledore game
This was a beautiful story about choosing love. Kasey Stockton will always be an auto-read author for me and I am excited for the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of the book but a positive review was not required.
July 12, 2022
I read the prequel novella for this series and knew I needed to know Felicity's story! (If you're wondering, the prequel novella is only available right now through a promotional giveaway. It is free on Facebook through the group Sweet and Swoony Romance. Along with 90 something other books...all free. And they're from many of my favorite authors!)
I couldn't wait to see how Felicity would end up with Mr. Bradwell. Except when I read the synopsis for this book, it wasn't her Mr. Bradwell that she ended up with. I was like, "Noooooooooo!" Hee Hee!!! But I trust this author. I've read many of her books and absolutely love them. So I know she's going to write a story that I'll be completely satisfied with and more! She did NOT disappoint!!! I was hooked and fell in love with Felicity and the right Bradwell brother for her, James.
Felicity has some struggles and hasn't always been treated the best by her family because of them. Not that they were purposefully trying to treat her badly, they just didn't understand her shyness and anxieties. James on the other hand, well he sees them and understands very early on. Which just made me endeared to him even more. Felicity and James have their ups and downs. They've never met before and quickly find themselves wed over a misunderstanding. She second guesses her choices over and over again because she doesn't see the whole picture.
When further understanding and enlightenment occurs, it's just magical between these two. They made me smile so much. I was grinning and everyone around me kept asking why. Lol! I told them they had to read the book!!!
I thought the way the author addressed Felicity's anxieties was so well done. If you don't suffer from anxiety yourself, it is hard to understand how crippling and debilitating it can be. I don't have this struggle to deal with but am very close to many who do. Love and meeting them where they are is a big step in understanding and helping them. James is a character who does just that many times in this book. *sigh*
I'm so excited that we'll get to read about the other brothers in their own books. I'll be patiently waiting for them!!! Thank you to the author, Kasey Stockton, for another wonderful read that pulled me in and brought joy and knowledge to my life!!!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I couldn't wait to see how Felicity would end up with Mr. Bradwell. Except when I read the synopsis for this book, it wasn't her Mr. Bradwell that she ended up with. I was like, "Noooooooooo!" Hee Hee!!! But I trust this author. I've read many of her books and absolutely love them. So I know she's going to write a story that I'll be completely satisfied with and more! She did NOT disappoint!!! I was hooked and fell in love with Felicity and the right Bradwell brother for her, James.
Felicity has some struggles and hasn't always been treated the best by her family because of them. Not that they were purposefully trying to treat her badly, they just didn't understand her shyness and anxieties. James on the other hand, well he sees them and understands very early on. Which just made me endeared to him even more. Felicity and James have their ups and downs. They've never met before and quickly find themselves wed over a misunderstanding. She second guesses her choices over and over again because she doesn't see the whole picture.
When further understanding and enlightenment occurs, it's just magical between these two. They made me smile so much. I was grinning and everyone around me kept asking why. Lol! I told them they had to read the book!!!
I thought the way the author addressed Felicity's anxieties was so well done. If you don't suffer from anxiety yourself, it is hard to understand how crippling and debilitating it can be. I don't have this struggle to deal with but am very close to many who do. Love and meeting them where they are is a big step in understanding and helping them. James is a character who does just that many times in this book. *sigh*
I'm so excited that we'll get to read about the other brothers in their own books. I'll be patiently waiting for them!!! Thank you to the author, Kasey Stockton, for another wonderful read that pulled me in and brought joy and knowledge to my life!!!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
March 12, 2023
2023 Reread
I'm so happy this lived up to my memory.♡ I think I might have actually liked it better this time around. It's so sweet and romantic... I just love it.♡
And I can't wait to read Henry's story in April!
Original 2022 Review
Such a sweet story! I don't usually read many books with forced marriage plots so I really enjoyed this. I adored James and I wish we had gotten some of his POV. I loved that he was honorable from the start and had the desire to make his marriage work. While I do feel like Felicity was just a tad childish at times, I sympathized with her anxiety over large gatherings and her preference for solitude which softened her a little because I could relate to that. Her character growth was slow but steady; by the end she shook off a little of that timidity and embraced her new role which was very refreshing to see.
I really loved the progression of Felicity and James' relationship, and how patient he was with her as she adjusted to her new life as mistress of a great house and all the responsibilities that comes with it. I also loved how there was always a willingness to communicate between them and to learn more about each other; they both want to make the marriage work and there were a lot of sweet moments that helped to build up their relationship.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!
I'm so happy this lived up to my memory.♡ I think I might have actually liked it better this time around. It's so sweet and romantic... I just love it.♡
And I can't wait to read Henry's story in April!
Original 2022 Review
Such a sweet story! I don't usually read many books with forced marriage plots so I really enjoyed this. I adored James and I wish we had gotten some of his POV. I loved that he was honorable from the start and had the desire to make his marriage work. While I do feel like Felicity was just a tad childish at times, I sympathized with her anxiety over large gatherings and her preference for solitude which softened her a little because I could relate to that. Her character growth was slow but steady; by the end she shook off a little of that timidity and embraced her new role which was very refreshing to see.
I really loved the progression of Felicity and James' relationship, and how patient he was with her as she adjusted to her new life as mistress of a great house and all the responsibilities that comes with it. I also loved how there was always a willingness to communicate between them and to learn more about each other; they both want to make the marriage work and there were a lot of sweet moments that helped to build up their relationship.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!
June 13, 2023
Pleasant story with a force-marriage trope, likable couple, and just enough conflict to make it interesting. The couple works together to find mutual interests while becoming to care deeply for each other.
I listened to the great audio version of the book while doing various chores. The story was perfect for my needs: easily to follow in plot and characters, plus it is something I could listen to for a short periods and not feel lost upon resuming the audio a day or so later.
The second book in the series is set up within the epilogue of this book.
I listened to the great audio version of the book while doing various chores. The story was perfect for my needs: easily to follow in plot and characters, plus it is something I could listen to for a short periods and not feel lost upon resuming the audio a day or so later.
The second book in the series is set up within the epilogue of this book.
December 6, 2023
3⭐️
3⭐️ is the happy medium between a good story and an unenjoyable narrator. The narrator has caused me to not want to pick up the rest in the series 🤷🏼♀️
Historical romance with the marriage of convenience trope. First person, single POV.
I found the woman a little too wrapped up in her worth coming from her husband’s approval, but it did have a bit of a moment in the plot.
………
SPOILERS AHEAD…..maybe?!?!? Not really, but kind of I guess
………..
Something I loved was…in the beginning, Felicity has feelings for Henry, but once her and James (Henry’s brother) are forced to marry, she is fully committed to James and is able to treat Henry like a friend and brother instead of holding on to her earlier affections.
3⭐️ is the happy medium between a good story and an unenjoyable narrator. The narrator has caused me to not want to pick up the rest in the series 🤷🏼♀️
Historical romance with the marriage of convenience trope. First person, single POV.
I found the woman a little too wrapped up in her worth coming from her husband’s approval, but it did have a bit of a moment in the plot.
………
SPOILERS AHEAD…..maybe?!?!? Not really, but kind of I guess
………..
Something I loved was…in the beginning, Felicity has feelings for Henry, but once her and James (Henry’s brother) are forced to marry, she is fully committed to James and is able to treat Henry like a friend and brother instead of holding on to her earlier affections.
August 4, 2022
So Good! This one just hit the spot for me in so many ways! They had such amazing moments after they are married! I love when regency's push the strict guidelines of the time! It is so much easier to do after they are married and then they learn to love each other. It's the little unguarded moments I love most! There is a scary story and some fear in this that leads her to seek out her husband:} It was one of my favorite moments in the book! The romance was just done so well. It was just the right pace:} It has been a long time since a book kept me up reading.
This is a proper romance with some sweet kisses. No violence or drinking. Deals with issues of anxiety.
This is a proper romance with some sweet kisses. No violence or drinking. Deals with issues of anxiety.
July 8, 2022
I really liked the beginning of this book, but somewhere around the 60% mark, it started to get a bit boring. There's not much drama, and both James and Felicity were acting childish at times.
All in all, it was still an enjoyable read, though, and I will surely take a look at the author's other books.
All in all, it was still an enjoyable read, though, and I will surely take a look at the author's other books.
July 11, 2022
This was a sweet and charming read.
It had such a strong beginning but I found myself skimming through the middle.
Like another reviewer pointed out, the author was making a point that relationships can grow and thrive based on effort and choice. I do wonder, though, with little in common, how true to life this lesson is in most cases.
I look forward to reading the other books in the series. I wonder if Henry will end up with an opposite personality match, like James.
It had such a strong beginning but I found myself skimming through the middle.
Like another reviewer pointed out, the author was making a point that relationships can grow and thrive based on effort and choice. I do wonder, though, with little in common, how true to life this lesson is in most cases.
I look forward to reading the other books in the series. I wonder if Henry will end up with an opposite personality match, like James.
July 7, 2022
Just finished this one, and I immediately want book two! (So sad that it's not out yet, but September isn't too far away. )
This book has a forced marriage and is told solely from the heroine's POV which I LOVE! Honestly, I devoured this story, and I want MORE. There's just nothing else to say. Now I must go find another of her books to add to my TBR!
This book has a forced marriage and is told solely from the heroine's POV which I LOVE! Honestly, I devoured this story, and I want MORE. There's just nothing else to say. Now I must go find another of her books to add to my TBR!
November 1, 2022
Enjoyable hr with just a few kisses, character development and genuine MC's.
I didn't feel real chemistry but the development of the MC's friendship, trust and love.
4 stars.
I didn't feel real chemistry but the development of the MC's friendship, trust and love.
4 stars.
August 28, 2024
Swoonworthy…
Such a lovely story with some great messages and a wonderful Happy Ending. The characters are relatable and the importance of learning to accept oneself is one of the important messages.
Such a lovely story with some great messages and a wonderful Happy Ending. The characters are relatable and the importance of learning to accept oneself is one of the important messages.
January 29, 2024
This was a sweet and charming book. I really liked both James and Felicity. I liked the growth in their relationship and how they made their opposite interests work. The side plot with the brother was unnecessary in my opinion and was too easily resolved. Overall enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing with the series.
March 1, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up. (RTC)
June 20, 2023
Marriage of convenience is my absolute favorite! I love watching two people make the best of a tough situation. I loved how Kasey Stockton approaches this from a unique angle- Choose to Love, two people, make the best of their lives without resentment or anger.
⭐Power of Choice
Felicity and James are found in a completely innocent position, but assumptions are made. When the gossip threatens their reputation, Felicity and James, have no choice but to marry.
Felicity has social anxiety, she struggles immensely in any social situation. the attention. dancing or anything that required stepping in front of a group. She had a lot to overcome. James' mother also made it difficult for her as she had to battle for her acceptance.
⭐Power of Choice
Felicity and James are found in a completely innocent position, but assumptions are made. When the gossip threatens their reputation, Felicity and James, have no choice but to marry.
Felicity has social anxiety, she struggles immensely in any social situation. the attention. dancing or anything that required stepping in front of a group. She had a lot to overcome. James' mother also made it difficult for her as she had to battle for her acceptance.
September 14, 2023
A fun and sweet read when I needed something light-hearted, entertaining, and uplifting.
August 12, 2023
Simple and easy story. And to be honest, quite forgettable. I finished quite a long time ago, I read some reviews, but for the life of me I can't remember the story as a whole. I remember liking the fact that it is a marriage of convenience, that the main characters are total opposites that tey to find something in common. But other than that I can't say I remember more.
September 18, 2024
This story is beautifully written! The characters are well developed. The plot was on point! Easy, light reading that was enjoyable and entertaining! I would recommend this to anyone! The love story is very tastefully handled. I love how it ended. The epilogue jumps ahead and gives us a taste of the next book!
January 15, 2024
"the only noteworthy things about me were my love of reading and my innate discomfort of finding myself the center of attention in social situations."
(MOOD)
this was VERY cute, I had such a fun time reading it! I've not read many "forced marriage" versus marriage of convenience, but as I was attached very quickly to the characters, it was fun! the social anxiety rep was perfection, and I loved how sweet James's brothers were to Felicity (especially when one of them was her initial goal for romance. it very easily could have gone down paths I wouldn't have liked with Felicity and Henry, but they both settled into friendship/sibling relationships pretty quickly, which I appreciated!)
and JAMES?? this man made me SWOON, had me blushing and giggling and kicking my feet. ((the notes he left while he was gone?? the attempts at finding something they could both enjoy?? the fountain scene?? defending her to his mother?? i'm so soft 😩))
all that to say, yes, I very much enjoyed this. I'm very intrigued to pick up the sequel and see what's in store for the brothers! 4 stars!
(MOOD)
this was VERY cute, I had such a fun time reading it! I've not read many "forced marriage" versus marriage of convenience, but as I was attached very quickly to the characters, it was fun! the social anxiety rep was perfection, and I loved how sweet James's brothers were to Felicity (especially when one of them was her initial goal for romance. it very easily could have gone down paths I wouldn't have liked with Felicity and Henry, but they both settled into friendship/sibling relationships pretty quickly, which I appreciated!)
and JAMES?? this man made me SWOON, had me blushing and giggling and kicking my feet. ((the notes he left while he was gone?? the attempts at finding something they could both enjoy?? the fountain scene?? defending her to his mother?? i'm so soft 😩))
all that to say, yes, I very much enjoyed this. I'm very intrigued to pick up the sequel and see what's in store for the brothers! 4 stars!
September 2, 2022
“James is all things kind and amiable. Even if he does not enjoy reading.”
Felicity, much to her parent’s dismay, is not the social butterfly they expected her to be. Instead, she faints whenever she is led out onto the dance floor and would much rather retreat to the library and curl up with a good book than endure social situations.
When she is spotted with another gentleman in the library, they are rushed into a marriage of convenience to mend ruined reputations. It’s only after the engagement that she realizes James is the brother of the bookish young man she had fancied these last months. As though to make matters worse, Felicity and James have no common interest, and he has inherited an extravagant mansion she is hardly equipped to be mistress of; a fact that her new mother in law is not shy in reminding her of.
“Sensibly Wed,” by Kasey Stockton was such a delightful read, with of course, the added bonus of the main character being a bookworm (though we do not share a love for thrillers;). I loved the addition of Felicity's anxiety, which is rarely portrayed in historical fiction and added a new dimension to Felicity and James’ already complex—though beautiful— relationship.
I’m finding I love books with large families and the complex sibling dynamics that accompany. Henry’s an absolute sweetheart and I can’t wait for him to get his own story.
Felicity, much to her parent’s dismay, is not the social butterfly they expected her to be. Instead, she faints whenever she is led out onto the dance floor and would much rather retreat to the library and curl up with a good book than endure social situations.
When she is spotted with another gentleman in the library, they are rushed into a marriage of convenience to mend ruined reputations. It’s only after the engagement that she realizes James is the brother of the bookish young man she had fancied these last months. As though to make matters worse, Felicity and James have no common interest, and he has inherited an extravagant mansion she is hardly equipped to be mistress of; a fact that her new mother in law is not shy in reminding her of.
“Sensibly Wed,” by Kasey Stockton was such a delightful read, with of course, the added bonus of the main character being a bookworm (though we do not share a love for thrillers;). I loved the addition of Felicity's anxiety, which is rarely portrayed in historical fiction and added a new dimension to Felicity and James’ already complex—though beautiful— relationship.
I’m finding I love books with large families and the complex sibling dynamics that accompany. Henry’s an absolute sweetheart and I can’t wait for him to get his own story.
June 29, 2022
If you’re wondering how in the world you get a HEA (happy ever after) when she’s marrying the wrong man, TRUST ME when I say Kasey Stockton will do it right!!!
I will also say I am not a fan of love triangles and this book did not hint at that trope at all. This book is refreshingly unique!
I can’t wait to get all of the Bradwell stories, but starting off with James was so much fun! James is the biggest sweetie on the page right now—he also has the patience of Job when it comes to Felicity😂
Felicity’s obsession with books will make every book lover’s heart incredibly happy. I’m sure you’ll be seeing several in my Teaser Tuesday posts😍
I would say the general theme of this book is trust. It’s beautiful. I even messaged Kasey at a scene where my heart felt like bursting with happiness. If you’re a fan of happy marriages this is the book for you!!
You will get all of the swoonies from this one, my friends!! You will also be counting down the days for the next book in the series. I’m hooked on this family and won’t stop until I’ve read them all!!
Highly Recommend!!
Don’t forget to get the free novella and prequel to this series in the Sweet and Swoony Romance collection (link in my bio). It’s titled Properly Kissed and I reviewed it a few Thursdays ago!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I will also say I am not a fan of love triangles and this book did not hint at that trope at all. This book is refreshingly unique!
I can’t wait to get all of the Bradwell stories, but starting off with James was so much fun! James is the biggest sweetie on the page right now—he also has the patience of Job when it comes to Felicity😂
Felicity’s obsession with books will make every book lover’s heart incredibly happy. I’m sure you’ll be seeing several in my Teaser Tuesday posts😍
I would say the general theme of this book is trust. It’s beautiful. I even messaged Kasey at a scene where my heart felt like bursting with happiness. If you’re a fan of happy marriages this is the book for you!!
You will get all of the swoonies from this one, my friends!! You will also be counting down the days for the next book in the series. I’m hooked on this family and won’t stop until I’ve read them all!!
Highly Recommend!!
Don’t forget to get the free novella and prequel to this series in the Sweet and Swoony Romance collection (link in my bio). It’s titled Properly Kissed and I reviewed it a few Thursdays ago!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
July 19, 2022
Sweet and gentle regency romance. The portrayal of Felicity’s social anxiety is excellent, and I loved how James respected her boundaries and supported her through various situations from the get-go. Felicity’s contentious relationship with her new mother in law overshadowed the romance at times, though, and I can’t help but wish we’d been treated to more detailed scenes between Felicity and James. There needed to be some degree of chemistry in order for me to believe they went from feeling no initial attraction to falling deeply in love with each other over the course of the novel. The emphasis on choosing each other and committing to growing together in the face of an unexpected marriage, conveyed during moments of introspection, is a compelling angle, I just didn’t see this happening between the two. I did enjoy Felicity’s personal character growth, though, as she learns to assert herself and honour her needs in the face of other people’s expectations and demands. Overall a sweet story, and I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
June 17, 2022
This book was not what I expected, but I trust Kasey Stockton and she did not disappoint. As soon as I thought the book would be predictable, something happened. Then something else would happen. Each member of the Bradwell family kept taking me by surprise. I enjoyed the tension that came with each surprise, so I don’t want to share too much of a summary. I highly recommend reading this book without reading a summary of it. It’s so much more fun to go in blind. To be as shocked as Felicity made it that much more enjoyable. What I loved most about this couple was their willingness to trust each other. To work hard in their marriage. There was kindness, respect, and so much tenderness.
My favorite parts:
- horse back riding 🐎
- Books that lead to fright 👻🛏
- Meetings at the door 🚪
- Communication 👩❤️👨
- Trust 💕
- Fountain ⛲️
This books was so so good. I read it in one day and stayed up way too late, but it was worth it. I loved it so much.
June 18, 2022
When I was reading Properly Kissed, I was hoping Felicity's story would be next so I could read how she was reunited with Mr. Bradwell. I was shocked when I read the epilogue and was not sure how it would work out. I was pleasantly surprised with James. He was very sweet and attentive, even if he did not always think things through. He and Felicity were so different I wasn't sure how they'd figure things out, but they did and it was beautiful. I loved how Felicity's anxiety was addressed in this story. My daughter has anxiety that can be debilitating at times and manifests in ways people don't expect. I liked seeing some of that brought to light in this story. I really enjoyed James and Felicity's story and am looking forward to Benedict's. I love a good enemies to lovers tale.
July 10, 2022
Wow! James is an absolute dream!!! He isn’t annoyingly perfect but he is so amazing! And I loved not having his POV! I love a good forced marriage/marriage of convenience. And this one had some great, sweet moments. It kept me up late reading and I enjoyed it to the end!
December 8, 2023
A sweet, slow-burn, cozy historical romance. (If Jane Austen would have written a book exploring a marriage-of-convenience trope, I'd expect it to feel very much like this.)
For those who enjoy reading about Regency England's high society--particularly those more interested in the mental and emotional chemistry of a romance (rather than gratuitous sex scenes.) Stockton's prose is both competent and pleasant. The pacing was steady yet unhurried, and tension is pretty low throughout--in terms of both external conflict and the internal turmoil for our sole POV heroine.
Felicity isn't a terribly memorable MC, being almost purely a bookworm riddled with crippling social anxiety. But thankfully she IS feisty enough with her words, and with recognizing when she needs to stand up for herself, that she's not entirely boring. She also has the benefit of being dutiful and faithful. Though she finds herself very abruptly married to the brother of a man she had hoped to court--who she honestly had far more in common with in terms of interests--she makes an immediate point of NOT entertaining any thought of him beyond brotherly affection. (Though I don't think that thought process was wholly mutual.)
Something was going on with the goddaughter of Felicity's new mother-in-law, but the conflict there was pretty peripheral. (I'd wager it's a plot thread for an entirely different but vaguely interconnected book.) So if you like family-based historical series, this one could be right up your alley.
For those who enjoy reading about Regency England's high society--particularly those more interested in the mental and emotional chemistry of a romance (rather than gratuitous sex scenes.) Stockton's prose is both competent and pleasant. The pacing was steady yet unhurried, and tension is pretty low throughout--in terms of both external conflict and the internal turmoil for our sole POV heroine.
Felicity isn't a terribly memorable MC, being almost purely a bookworm riddled with crippling social anxiety. But thankfully she IS feisty enough with her words, and with recognizing when she needs to stand up for herself, that she's not entirely boring. She also has the benefit of being dutiful and faithful. Though she finds herself very abruptly married to the brother of a man she had hoped to court--who she honestly had far more in common with in terms of interests--she makes an immediate point of NOT entertaining any thought of him beyond brotherly affection. (Though I don't think that thought process was wholly mutual.)
Something was going on with the goddaughter of Felicity's new mother-in-law, but the conflict there was pretty peripheral. (I'd wager it's a plot thread for an entirely different but vaguely interconnected book.) So if you like family-based historical series, this one could be right up your alley.
March 18, 2023
This was my 1st Kasey Stockton novel, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this story. The forced marriage trope is always fun to read. This was a really sweet love story, and I look forward to more of her books! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars!
November 9, 2023
I actually liked this better than I thought I would - think Jane Austen but without any of the social critiques :). I especially liked that the main character had severe social anxiety and spent every spare moment she had reading.
May 1, 2023
2.5 stars. To be honest, Felicity is kind of annoying.
Not because of her social anxiety, which I thought was well written and interesting to consider how she would have managed but because she was quite inconsistent. As an anxious person, and an overthinker, she was pretty inconsiderate of other people's feelings and put herself first in a way that was very strong willed. And to me, those traits just don't go together well in one person.
Not because of her social anxiety, which I thought was well written and interesting to consider how she would have managed but because she was quite inconsistent. As an anxious person, and an overthinker, she was pretty inconsiderate of other people's feelings and put herself first in a way that was very strong willed. And to me, those traits just don't go together well in one person.
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