3.5 cute story. I loved learning new vocabulary and I loved that Beatrice was a strong female character

3.75 stars
We have Beatrice who's only goal is to retire a spinster in the country and write her etymology dictionary, enter Stamford the carpenter renovating her brother's mansion who constantly interrupts her with noise and his maleness. Stamford is a ships carpenter for the Royal Navy but his father is ill so he's filling in for him. He can't help but notice the Duke's sister's as he keeps catching her spying on him from the tower window.
Beatrice is a very wordy character and I had to look up a few words, but the author does mostly tell you what they mean. She was born with a palsy to the right side of her face due to complications during the birth, causing it to droop. Stamford however doesn't see this as a problem or a distraction from her looks or her personality, unlike her mother(really wanted to poke the mother in the eye at times). After a tensely flirtatious first meeting, they never expect to see each other again.
When Beatrice inherits a bookstore in desperate need of repairs, and Ford shoes up looking for her brother and we get into the flirting and the steam.

I finished this book very quickly because it made me giggle out loud multiple times. I adored the heroine. And what's not to love about inheriting a bookshop? First book I've read of Bell's, and I'm excited to read more.

This is very contemporary rom com, which is not my preference but if that’s what you’re looking for this is a great example!

Perfect escape! Loved bookish Beatrice and her inheritance!

Lenora Bell is one of my favorites reads. She writes these stories that capture you and take to these historical time. I cant wait for the next book in the series.

“What if I want to write my own story? What if I’m willing to risk everything?”

My heart goes out to Beatrice at the beginning of this book. I too know the struggle between appreciating what a handsome handyman can get done around the house but also my god, do you need to make this much noise?!

This story starts off with a rather swoony meet cute, hands us a nice ✨desk scene✨ and finishes with an almost too sweet ending. In the middle we get a “men at work” bawdy bookshop reno, a few “how can this woman not see how beautiful she is” moments, an overbearing battle axe of a mother who needs to learn her place and adorable Beauty & the Beast style side characters.

I really enjoyed this sweet low-angst romance between an etymology obsessed bluestocking and a sexy naval carpenter who is good with his hands. I’m excited to read the next instalments of this series and see what the other members of the Mayfair Ladies Knitting League get up to.

“I’m glad I don’t have to be weak for you to feel strong.”

The language near the end got weirdly... simple?