This book has everything I typically love: wallflowers, bluestockings, anachronistic feminist beliefs...but I ended up feeling just meh about the whole book. I like the romance between classes and I even loved her interest in etymology.

But, in the end, everything felt a bit too tidy, the dialogue felt a bit stiff, and it felt like the characters were just playing out stereotypes or tropes (judgemental dowager mother, quirky science friend, motherly housekeeper, etc etc). It was cute, but I wasn't excited about it and found myself skimming in parts. The overly happy ending kind of grated too (trying to avoid spoilers) - maybe I've just read too many books lately, I don't know. So, it was cute and I finished it but it was just okay for me. This was my first book by Lenora Bell, so I'm not sure if it's me, if it's the book, or if it's the author's style (or maybe a mix of the three). I was curious about the side characters and their stories (especially the brother's), so maybe I will read those next.

Also (and, yes, this is a silly thing to bug me, but...), glasses really just *don't fog that often*. Her glasses were constantly getting fogged up in situations where it just wouldn't happen, and it drove me *bananas.*

Not for me as it turns out. And I suspect the author is just not for me. I’ve met her at a book event and she’s lovely and charming but I’ve read three of her books now and not been more than ok on any of them. This one just is has Too Much Plot and not all of it sensible or well explained/worked through. Never mind.

This book was ok, but I would have to say I did find it a bit disappointing. I think this is a good example of why I don't read romances too often - I feel that they can sometimes be very lacking in a good plot or other important story elements. In this case, I thought the dialogue throughout the entire book was either stiff and awkward or overly explained/over simplified whatever was trying to be conveyed. None of the conversations felt real. It felt like each person simply waited for the other to be talking to make their own statement and sometimes it was obvious that it was being used to progress the story or explain something.

I also felt like things moved in very jumpy ways. The interaction between Ford and Beatrice right off the bat was like "Oh wow, ok, here we go...". Then it was like we're here, now we're there, now there's this person, now they're doing that thing, now we're back to this, now this is happening.. I had a hard time understanding the timeline. Similarly, issues resolved themselves very quickly. The Foxton confrontation at the end should have been a big, important moment and all it took was a couple of (clunky, cheesy) lines from everyone to begin softening him. Mm...

Beatrice was... an interesting character... I liked the idea of her but I don't think she came together perfectly. Her obsession with words was over the top. I get the reasons why, it's sad and sweet, but it was just taken too literally and got pretty annoying. I didn't hate her and I liked the attempt at a female lead with palsy and a love of words, I just didn't love her as much as I was meant to.

Another reason I don't always like steamy romances is because the wording generally gets pretty weird. I thought that Lenora Bell was smart to talk more about feelings and emotions, rather than just description. But when she did get more descriptive... gosh, it was cringey.

Part of me actually wants to rate this 2 stars, to be honest, but I did have fun reading it and I did hurry back to continue the story when I could. So, regardless of anything else, I can't deny that I did enjoy it, which is why I ultimately gave it 3 stars.

An utter delight!