The Good Barrister by Diane Coia-Ramsay

Author

The Good Barrister

Sparks fly in Glasgow, Scotland in 1910, when upper middle class and highly educated barrister, Benedict Cochran, falls for a shopkeeper’s daughter, whose family he considers to be well beneath his station in life. He does everything in his power to kill the strong attraction he feels for the beautiful Sophie Sullivan, who has learned all of her manners from self-improvement books and her manner of speaking from elocution lessons, However Sophie has her own plans that will take her to New York, in pursuit of a betrothal to an American millionaire. Both families get caught up in the intrigue in this romantic turn of the last century light-hearted tale of the out-dated class system that governs peoples lives, and strict social etiquette which must be very closely be adhered to.

Reviews

This tension-filled historical romance, set in early 1900s Glasgow, finds 23-year-old Sophie Belle caught in a social-class-defying, whirlwind affair with the dashing Scottish barrister Benedict Cochrane. Sophie, who works at her family’s haberdashery while dreaming of escaping to the glamourous New York City to live with her aunt and uncle, knows she’s a spinster in most people’s eyes, but she could care less—she has plans for herself, and they don’t include a husband. Enter the 34-year-old Benedict, who inadvertently stumbles onto Sophie after his sister, Euphemia, makes her acquaintance at a tea shop—and immediately starts falling for her, despite her lowly status as “a shopkeeper’s daughter.”

The dynamic between the couple is rife with both fiery arguments and undeniable chemistry, as Benedict’s aloof arrogance clashes with Sophie’s kindness and strong-willed charm. Coia-Ramsay, the author of several historical romances, including Bernadette Barrymore, captures the tension of that love-hate relationship against the backdrop of class divide in early 20th century Great Britain, transforming it into a significant source of conflict throughout the book. It is Benedict’s growing attachment to Sophie—and the looming threat of her departure to America—that pushes him to act rashly, culminating in an impulsive proposal to avoid losing her that infuses their interactions with both frustration and passion.

Coia-Ramsay’s worldbuilding is rich with period details, from Benedict’s love for Scotland to the social nuances of their world, and the supporting characters, particularly Euphemia and Judge Hicks, add layers to the narrative, weaving in a parallel romance that offers its own moments of intrigue. The initial hostility between Benedict and Sophie simmers with excitement, though some readers may find his domineering attitude difficult to digest by modern standards. Nonetheless, their journey across the Atlantic as they navigate their new life together offers plenty of emotional highs, solidifying the story as a thrilling exploration of love and class in a changing world.

Takeaway: Historical romance rife with passion and early 20th century social class conflict.

Comparable Titles: Darcy Burke’s One Night of Surrender, Eva Devon’s The Beast and the Bookseller.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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