Julia Bernay has come to London to become a doctor—a glorious new opportunity for women during the reign of Victoria. When she witnesses a serious accident, her quick actions save the life of barrister Michael Stephenson. He rose above his family’s stigma, but can he rise to the challenge of the fiercely independent woman who has swept into his life?

I appreciate how the author incorporate real-life events into her story, and I generally love historical romance, but I just didn’t connect with this book. I’m not a fan of characters who have all the answers or stopping scenes to explain historical events or expectations. The heroine, Julia, seemed to know more than everyone and perfectly judged them based on their appearances and her brief interactions with them (though that might have changed in the second half of the book; I was skimming by then). That’s just not a plot style/trope that I enjoy; had I known this was that kind of story, I probably would have skipped it.

If, however, you like the main-character-saves-the-day type story, and you don’t mind explanations of every historical event mentioned, you might enjoy this book. It just wasn’t for me.