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Kirkus Reviews: "A young woman's attraction to a dashing doctor
is fraught with complications that threaten her marriage prospects
in this historical novel. Seventeen-year-old Lizzy Doddridge and
her 20-year-old sister, Emily, are bright and full of life. Both are
anxious to find suitable husbands before society considers them to
be spinsters. One day, while riding in the park with Emily, Lizzy is
thrown from her horse, face-first, into a hedgerow. Thanks to the
quick action of Edward North, a prominent London physician, she's
rushed to a hospital. After the accident, the sisters' uncle, Henry
Doddridge, suggests that they return with him to Neatham Park, the
family's ancestral home, to help their pregnant cousin, Lavenia,
whose unscrupulous husband is squandering their money. Lizzy is
surprised to discover that Edward recently purchased a
neighboring estate, and the two become friends, drawn together by
their love of animals. She falls in love with the compassionate
doctor; however, he's engaged to heiress Beatrice Bingham.
Despite Lizzy's family's concern that her love for Edward will end in
heartbreak, she remains loyal and resigned to spending life as a
spinster. But when she discovers Beatrice's dangerous secret life,
she races against time to protect the man she loves. Kennedy's
latest is a poignant Victorian-era romance featuring an appealing
heroine, vivid supporting characters, and a fast-paced narrative.
Lizzy effectively anchors the story and drives much of the action.
Over the course of the novel, she matures from a girl swooning over
literature and dreaming of marriage to a perceptive, resourceful
young woman who refuses to settle for anyone less than her ideal
husband. She's complemented by Edward, whose feelings for
Lizzy come up against difficult circumstances. Their attraction
unfolds slowly in scenes marked by tenderness and gentle wit. A
subplot involving Emily's relationship with a veterinary surgeon is
well-developed and provides an intriguing parallel to Lizzy's
situation with Edward. An engaging Victorian romance that may
appeal to fans of Jane Eyre."