I received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite Series: Feminine Pursuits #1
Published by Avon Impulse on June 25, 2019
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Avon
ISBN: 0062931784
As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.
Catherine St Day looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested.
While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?
The Lady’s Guide To Celestial Mechanics is the first book in a new series by Olivia Waite and the first book through Avon Books. First off I am so excited to see this author and what she will do with Avon. I first took notice of this author when I listened to an interview she had on a fellow podcast (I believe it was Wicked Wallflower Pod but I could be wrong) and after listening to her I just knew that I needed to pick this book up and I was so blessed that Avon gifted me this ARC and boy what a cover. ISNT IT GORGEOUS??!! I truly love it so much. It’s sexy but tender and packed with all the romance we expect from the books and boy this author DELIVERED on a powerful story. I honestly had such a ball with these ladies and their love story.
I don’t think love works like that. You might as well ask the earth whether the sun or the moon is more important. You can’t always judge by what came before. Sometimes, there is a revolution.
So our story begins in England in the year 1816 where we have our two lead heroines, Lucy Muchelney and Catherine Kenwick, the Countess of Moth. Lucy has just been hurt when her lover of five years decided to marry leaving their relationship in the dust. Lucy is beyond hurt but then an opportunity arises in which Lucy will get away from the reminders and start a new journey. She receives a letter from the Countess of Moth requesting her aid in translating a French volume of celestial mechanics and since this is Lucy’s specialty and what she has worked her whole life with her father, she goes to visit the Countess and they strike a bargain. As they begin to work on this five-volume work, a new relationship forms between Lucy and Catherine, but will this pair find their way to their own happily ever after?
There is no brilliance of though, no leap of logic that can take place without the power of imagination. Our learning requires intuition and instinct as much as pure intelligence. We are not simply minds, trained like lamps on the world around us, producing light but taking nothing in; we are bodies, and hearts, and hopes and dreams. We are men, and we are women. We are poetry and prose in equal mesausre. We are earth and clay, but we are all–no matter our shape–lit with a spark of something divine.
This was truly such a heartfelt love story and I have to be honest from the very beginning I was in TEARS. I so didn’t expect the level of emotion that this author displays in her stories but boy did it show here. What you really start feeling though is the pain that Lucy is going through here. But as a friendship forms between Catherine and Lucy, a budding rose of love develops. Catherine and Lucy both have reservations about starting a relationship but they take a chance on each other and it proves to be fruitful for them both. The way these two support each other is truly remarkable and how they really see the deeper sides of each other is beautiful. You never really expect to find such poignant moments but they flowed in and out of the story like ocean waves landing across the shore.
Why would I go anywhere?” She whispered, her mouth hot against Catherine’s temple “Everything I want is right here, because YOU are here”
Their relationship is far from perfect and they both make some mistakes along the way to their HEA, however, the mistakes made are human ones and relatable in every way. Through every touch, every kiss, every sweet word the reader is taken across their journey of finding their own strength and the reaffirming power of the love they hold for each other. Its a true delight in every way and I found this book packed with treasures and delights that I never wanted to end! A TRUE JEWEL OF THE REGENCY ERA!
Nothing in the universe stands alone. Everything is connected–in real, mathematical, provable ways–across the span of the entire cosmos. As long as we live, we influence one another. You and these women you’ve rediscovered…but also you and me. I was wrong to ask you to leave. To say there could be noithing permanent between us. We’re already forever…
About Olivia Waite
Olivia Waite writes erotic, historical, and paranormal romance -- sometimes all three at once. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with the love of her life and their mischievous miniature dachshund.
0 Comments