Scan barcode
carolyn_jefferson's review
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved learning more about women who were also involved with science and the problems that came from having an interest in the “male” world. Great work!
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Jennifer Moore is one of my favorite authors and I am loving this series! Inventing Vivian is the second book in The Blue Orchid Society series, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I love the premise behind the books; women considered blue stockings forming their own society to support each other in fulfilling their dreams. Vivian is one of these talented women who is brilliant at chemistry and inventing but lacks the social graces. Our first introduction to Vivian’s idea of polite conversation had me laughing. When not intimidating suitors, she longs to present one of her inventions at the Great Exhibition.
Returning from an extended stay in China, Lord Benedict’s been transformed from a carefree, thoughtless youth to a balanced, moderate, caring man. He’s come back after a family tragedy to run his father’s factories and is under an exorbitant amount of pressure to conform to his family’s expectations. When he meets Vivian again, he’s intrigued by his old neighbor. His thoughtless actions in his youth humiliated her and now he’s determined to make amends by becoming her secret benefactor.
Through a series of letters to her mysterious benefactor, Vivian’s innermost thoughts and feelings are shared. She also develops a deep friendship with Lord Benedict who seems to appreciate her inventive mind. What happens when she discovers they are one and the same? When Lord Benedict’s best friend Mister Li is implicated in a crime, Vivian and Lord Benedict must work together to solve the mystery.
I loved the introduction to Chinese and English culture in the Victorian Age. While there was so much enlightenment, there were still prejudices that needed to be overcome and I enjoyed the way the author shares these struggles in her writing. I loved Vivian’s inventions and the way her Blue Orchid society members rallied to save the day for her. The slow burn romance between Benedict and Vivian was so enjoyable. One of my favorite parts was when they were trapped in the warehouse.
I listened to the audiobook version on Deseret Bookshelf and absolutely loved it! Noah Wall is a brilliant narrator who captures the personality of each character. I love the way she distinguishes between the male and female characters. Definitely worth listening to.
Highly recommend! This series is a favorite and each book can be easily read as a standalone. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Returning from an extended stay in China, Lord Benedict’s been transformed from a carefree, thoughtless youth to a balanced, moderate, caring man. He’s come back after a family tragedy to run his father’s factories and is under an exorbitant amount of pressure to conform to his family’s expectations. When he meets Vivian again, he’s intrigued by his old neighbor. His thoughtless actions in his youth humiliated her and now he’s determined to make amends by becoming her secret benefactor.
Through a series of letters to her mysterious benefactor, Vivian’s innermost thoughts and feelings are shared. She also develops a deep friendship with Lord Benedict who seems to appreciate her inventive mind. What happens when she discovers they are one and the same? When Lord Benedict’s best friend Mister Li is implicated in a crime, Vivian and Lord Benedict must work together to solve the mystery.
I loved the introduction to Chinese and English culture in the Victorian Age. While there was so much enlightenment, there were still prejudices that needed to be overcome and I enjoyed the way the author shares these struggles in her writing. I loved Vivian’s inventions and the way her Blue Orchid society members rallied to save the day for her. The slow burn romance between Benedict and Vivian was so enjoyable. One of my favorite parts was when they were trapped in the warehouse.
I listened to the audiobook version on Deseret Bookshelf and absolutely loved it! Noah Wall is a brilliant narrator who captures the personality of each character. I love the way she distinguishes between the male and female characters. Definitely worth listening to.
Highly recommend! This series is a favorite and each book can be easily read as a standalone. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
valerieelseswhere's review
3.0
3.5 The amount of research that went into making Vivian a brilliant woman of her era is pretty cool. The characters are unique, I enjoyed the Victorian backdrop, and the story is well thought out, however, the romance fell a little flat for me. Still over all a good book and I'm looking forward to more of this series.
deshie5055's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this story. Vivian is passionate about science, something that even now is frowned upon for women. I loved that she stayed true to herself the entire story and didn't change to find love. Someone loved her for who she was, quirks and all.
Benedict is charming and the ying to Vivian's yang. His friendship and love for Zhang Wei is a great aspect of the story, as is Benedict's longing to return to China.
My favorite part of the story, though, has to be the Blue Orchid Society members. I LOVED how they support each other and help each other achieve their dreams. Such a highlight in this story! There need to be more stories that show women supporting women to that depth and level!
Benedict is charming and the ying to Vivian's yang. His friendship and love for Zhang Wei is a great aspect of the story, as is Benedict's longing to return to China.
My favorite part of the story, though, has to be the Blue Orchid Society members. I LOVED how they support each other and help each other achieve their dreams. Such a highlight in this story! There need to be more stories that show women supporting women to that depth and level!
katiemayveil's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Second book in the Blue Orchid Society series by Jennifer Moore. Set in Victorian Era London, Vivian Kirbey is an inventor, and is working to be seen in a field where most people don't think she can succeed because of her gender. Lord Benedict is next in line for his father's title, and newly returned from China after discovering the joy of a simpler life he is struggling to find his place.
This is a really sweet read that engages the reader quickly.
This is a really sweet read that engages the reader quickly.
kimber_reads's review
4.0
I loved this book! I found the characters and the plot super unique and it was so refreshing! As a girl who loves science I connected with Vivian right from the get go and really enjoyed reading about a young girl with a scientific mind! I also loved that the hero, Benedict, not only studied in China but brought the culture home with him and implemented it into his lifestyle! The Chinese aspect of this story was so fun! I’m only giving the story four stars because I found the romance a bit lacking. The plot focused more on Vivian and Benedict’s efforts to have a positive impact on the world in their own way and although their friendship progressed very nicely it kind of felt like they were friends and admired each other and then all of a sudden they were in love and engaged. I wish there was more courting that happened along the way. Despite being less romantic than I anticipated I still LOVED the characters and found the plot exciting and can’t wait to read the rest of The Blue Orchid Society series!
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review
4.0
It took me a while to finish this audiobook but it had nothing to do with the plot. This story has great flow and characters.
meezcarrie's review
4.0
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)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
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)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
emcrosb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
talesuponmyshelf_'s review
4.0
Vivian is a strong female lead fighting against prejudices in the Victorian era. She is brilliant in science and making inventions. If fact her home is full of her household gadgets. She hopes to enter an invention exhibition but no one will sponsor her. Benedict, who was unkind to her as a child, sees her brilliance and sponsors her secretly. They communicate through letters and become very close friends. It reminds me of Daddy Long Legs. Benedict had just gotten back from an extended stay in China and given a new title. He is kind hearted and hopes to improve working conditions. When his friend from China is wrongfully accused of a crime Vivian steps in to help, sacrificing being at the exhibition. She uses science to catch the criminal.
This was a great addition to the Blue Orchid Society.
This was a great addition to the Blue Orchid Society.