Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Inventing Vivian by Jennifer Moore

Inventing Vivian, On Tour with Prism Book Tours

INVENTING VIVIAN
SERIES: The Blue Orchid Society #2
GENRE: Historical / Victorian Romance (Clean)
PUBLISHER: Covenant Communications
RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2021
PAGES: 224

Ladies of London’s High Society are known for their social graces and poise. Vivian Kirby boasts neither of these enviable qualities, though she does offer impressive conversation on chemical compositions. Unfortunately, it appears that not many men want a brilliant wife. So it is that Vivian finds kinship with a group of young women who embrace each other’s differences: The Blue Orchid Society.

After an extended stay in China, Lord Benedict has returned transformed to his family’s estate, where an encounter with Vivian, whose scientific knowledge he once undermined, leaves him determined to make amends. He arranges to help forward her research—anonymously, of course. Through letters, Vivian establishes a warm friendship with her secret benefactor, even as she’s unexpectedly drawn into a murder investigation that forces her to work alongside Benedict to unearth the truth. Soon, Vivian fears she may be falling in love with two men, never suspecting that they are one and the same.

Other Books In This Series

Inventing Vivian is a delightful read from beginning to end. I have not yet read book 1 in the Blue Orchid Society series, but I never felt lost. This is in large part to the fact that author retells the events of the night the Blue Orchid Society is formed, from Vivian’s point of view rather than Sophronia’s (whose perspective we see in Solving Sophronia). I thought this was a brilliant approach, and it makes me more eager to read future books in this series too!

The first thing that stands out to me in Inventing Vivian is the strength of the friendships. Not only between Vivian, Sophronia, Dahlia, Elizabeth, and Hazel … but also between Benedict and Zhang Wei. There’s nothing these friends wouldn’t do for one another, and when it comes to the ladies’ Blue Orchid Society there’s nothing they can’t accomplish together. As much as I love a good romance with a bit of mystery thrown in, I also love books that honor the power of friendships. As Vivian’s father said, “There’s something special about a person who believes in us, isn’t there?” And though he means it in a different context, the same can be said of friendship – and particularly the friendships in this book.

I also loved Vivian and Benedict, as romantic interests and as individuals. Vivian’s high scientific & mechanical intelligence is rarely seen in romance novels, and it was such fun to see what she would invent next. I was rooting for her to succeed in her dream to exhibit her ‘Personal Propulsion Vehicle’, and I admired her sharp problem solving skills. Benedict is a unique hero, too, particularly for heroes of the Regency or Victorian eras. Having spent some time in China has changed him for the better, and he returns to England with firm convictions and new guiding principles. He is such a considerate person of others’ needs, and acting on his compassion makes him even swoonier than he already is. And of course I can’t forget to mention Vivian’s young cousin Chester, who steals the scenes he’s in, and Vivian’s father whom I spent most of the book wanting to hug.

Bottom Line: Inventing Vivian by Jennifer Moore is witty and sweet, with a swoony romance and great characters! I loved the cultural diversity as well as the addressing of discrimination & human rights. Though it’s the second book in a series, the author perfectly catches you up right away (without feeling like that’s what she’s doing), so it works fine as a stand alone. Readers will love the sisterhood of friendship, Vivian’s intelligence, Benedict’s compassion, and Chester’s precociousness. A must read for fans of Victorian romance!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received via Prism Book Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 / loved it

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Jennifer Moore is a passionate reader and writer of all things romance due to the need to balance the rest of her world that includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. She suffers from an acute addiction to 18th and 19th century military history and literature. Jennifer has a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family, but most of the time wishes she was on board a frigate during the Age of Sail.

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Other Books by Jennifer Moore

One winner will receive a print copy of Inventing Vivian by Jennifer Moore and a $25 Amazon gift card. (US addresses only)

Ends July 21, 2021

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