The county towns of Wickenshire are all astir with the news that Mr. Montgomery Hurst is going to be married to an unknown stranger who is also a widow with three children! Who is she? Where does she come from? What is the mystery/secret that seems to be linked to them? is she even respectable?

Set in 1841, it is right at the start of the Victorian Era where society is changing. Industry has risen and people from lower classes have made lots of money in business so there is much social climbing. Many of the industrialists having more money than the aristocracy.
There are 4 main families in Wickenshire:
The Ashpoints - New money. Mr Ashpoint is a successful brewer. Very rich. Father of Diggory and Amelia (and others).
The Earl and Countess of Wickford - First family of the county. Parents of Salbridge and Lady Rose. Very respectable name, limited money.
Mr. and Mrs Elton - Squire and lady of Ludwell - parents of Augustus (MP living in London) and the beautiful and accomplished Felicia. very respectable family but again limited money.
The Hursts - Squire of Radcliffe and his new wife and her 3 children from a previous marriage

Also you have:
Sir Frederick Hammersmith - Baronet and squire. Has money and position. Single lives with his elderly mother.
Major Charles Alderton - a retired army major, independent means, rumoured to be illegitimate son of a duke.
also several other business and professional families.

It's a sort of comedy of manners about class, money, morality, gender norms, expectations, and lots of gossip. What is more important love, money or status?

I loved this book so much that I couldn't wait to finish it to find out what happens to all the characters. It was such a fun read with lots of emotions. I laughed and smiled a lot but also was irritated with some of the characters. They all felt real. I love Victorian literature and in particular those that involve communities with large amounts of characters. I love to see how everyone interact and whether they adhere to the social norms and morals of those times. I love when books look at what really is moral? what is good and bad? who decides? This book gives off a feel of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell (2 of my favourite authors) and Anthony Trollope. (The first chapter reminded me of the dance at Meryton in Pride and Prejudice with all the gossip about newcomers and who would marry who), there was also a feel of Wives and daughters by Gaskell and only yesterday, I finished reading an Anthony Trollope book which I won't name as it led me to guess part of the secret in this book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Victorian literature and especially Gaskell, Austen and Trollope. Thank you to net galley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Easy 5 stars.