Missing the historical.: (2010-08-23) 
It's a romance, but where is the "historical" part? Aside from the petticoats and corset that kept falling on the floor and the brief "battle" in India, this could have taken place at any time and in any place.

The main male character had a slight wronged kicked puppydog complex that was a bit of a turn off.

3.5 Stars - A little inconsistent for me, but overall an entertaining historical romance: (2010-07-28) 
Plot Summary: Leo and Bryony's marriage wilted and died several years ago. Since then, Bryony has traveled the globe, acting in her capacity as a doctor when needed, and trying to forget her biggest failure. While in a remote corner of India, Leo shows up with unexpected news - her father is dying, and she must return to England. Their journey back to the coast is waylayed by illness, storms, and rebellion, and along the way Leo and Bryony have ample time to rehash what went wrong, and who was to blame for their failed wreck of a marriage. They've also discovered that the burning attraction which first drew them together is alive and well.

Despite the typical `regency rake' cover, Not Quite A Husband is atypical in many ways. Set in 1897 India, the heroine is a physician who has travelled the world on her own, but true to Victorian mores, she is a repressed, buttoned-up prude. As the story unfolds, it first seems that Bryony's cold-hearted nature - both emotionally and physically - are to blame for their failed marriage, but this book proves that no one person is ever to blame for the failure of a relationship. The question remains whether they can overcome their past and be together, and since this is a romance, I know the answer will be yes, but that doesn't make the journey any less interesting. At times, their obstacles to couple-dom seem insurmountable.

I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love all of it. The beginning dragged a bit, the middle was fantastic, and the end was satisfactory. I wanted to love it the whole way through, but I still admired several unique facets of this story, and one of those included the sex scenes. They were novel and refreshing in ways that I cannot detail here (even I have my limits), but let's just say that sex is not always the typical `insert tab A into slot B' variety. I appreciated the variety and realism.

I can see why many regard Sherry Thomas as a rising star in the historical romance genre, and I intend to try His At Night next.

Impressive page-turner: (2010-07-24) 
Whenever a book can give me a jolt of an educational experience wrapped up in beautifully crafted prose, then I'm just simply delighted. Add to that a can't-put-down page-turner and you have this delightful book. I really enjoyed learning about India in the late 19th century. I'm not a historian so I'm taking the author's word for her authenticity. She made me feel like I was along for the trek through the mountains back in the day. The story of Leo and Broney's troubles rang all too true for historical as well as contemporary couples. Misunderstanding abounds but then we are treated to reconcilliation. A true Historical Romance and one not to be missed.

I kept hoping...: (2010-06-20) 
I kept hoping that I would begin to like the characters in this book. I got the part where he was facinated by her for many years, and she is a woman not of the times in that she is driven, quirky and indulged in her professional pursuit by her family. I really wanted to find something I liked about her. I could not. Here is a woman with no sense of humor and who takes herself way too seriously. He is better, but the two of them together never ring quite true to me until the very end. I loved the epilogue, and was glad that they forged what seemed to be a solid life together, but up until that point I found her really unlikable, and could not really understand why he was so committed her since for the majority of the story she treated him like dirt.

ANOTHER ONE OF A KIND 5 STAR BOOK FROM SHERRY: (2010-06-15) 
I wish I'd done this review immediately after reading the book. Better late than never, my tribute to an amazing author. Leo and Bryony have a marriage that has elements of Classical Greek Tragedy. They love each other deeply and yet their marriage was over before the wedding ceremony. Bryony is a strong woman, a very successful doctor in a time when women were only beginning to make their way into professions, even then it was not well taken. Leo is a prodigy, and a beautiful man with a beautiful brilliant mind. Both have an "hamartia", a fatal flaw, that brings tragedy to their lives and relationship. Their love is complex, their lives are complex and they end up in a situation that forces them to really look at their individual lives, motivations, and love. This is another Sherry Thomas masterwork! The use of language is beautiful, perfect. The words draw the reader into the emotions of the characters in such a way the reader deeply feels the joy, the sorrow and the love. Another laugh, cry, laugh some more and cry some more until reaching the ultimate end. I LOVE THIS BOOK! This book also makes me think Sherry Thomas shares Robin Schone's genius. This is my favorite Sherry Thomas book. Sherry Thomas, like Robin Schone, is one of my very favorite authors of any genre.