Celestial Persuasion - Mirta Ines Trupp

Trupp's prequel to Jane Austen's Persuasion is both alike and unlike anything I've ever read. Alike in that, it read like a Jane Austen regency romance, complete with Emma Thompson's voice as my internal narrator (I don't know why. It's just something my brain does.) Unalike in that, our protagonist is older (ripe old age of 27!), Jewish, and an astronomer! Oh, and she also immigrates to pre-revolutionary Buenos Aires, an unlikely setting for a regency romance!

Abigail Issacs suddenly finds herself alone and with few options for her future, until friends of her recently-late brother Jonathan put her on the path to fulfill his secret plans to immigrate and open a school in Buenos Aires, upending all her own plans for the future. One of these friends is the amiable Lieutenant Raphael Gabay, who is frustrated and confounded by the brilliant astronomer's ambivalent-bordering-on-irritated attitude toward him. Will Abigail see past his jests and quips to his true feelings?

This book had a fresh perspective and was well-researched and well-written. I wanted more of everything. I definitely wanted more Mr. Gabay! More of Mr. Gabay's story. More of Mr. Gabay's plans. More of Mr. Gabay's pining. More of Mr. Gabay's ardor. MORE MR. GABAY!