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Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi is a writer living in Los Angeles County, California. She takes delight in the sublime and the ridiculous, the extraordinary and the everyday, the magical and the mystical, and the wisdom that can be extracted from it all. With her degree in law, she has focused on her legal publishing career for many years, writing and editing treatises. But her first loves are history and fiction. Her historical novel, I, Sofia-Elisabete: Love Child of Colonel Fitzwilliam (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Indie Books of 2018. Her historical novella, Twelfth-Night Cake & the Rosings Ghost, was a finalist in the 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards in the UK. In 2021, her short story, “Goya’s Muse,” was published in The Copperfield Review. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Regency Fiction Writers, and the Magic Realism Writers.
Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite
Only Sofia-Elisabete by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi keeps you guessing as to what Sofia will say or do next. She lived with her noble father for the first five years of her life in England. Living with her mother in Spain made Sofia miss her father's patient demeanor more, and Sofia longed to go back to him. When Sofia-Elisabete becomes a young woman, she finds there are many restrictions placed on her. After her stepfather gambles their home away, she is expected to do her best to procure a loan for the family. She finds her family has no problem using her as a pawn in their lust for material goods and prosperity. Sofia-Elisabete finds the man she loves, but can they make their way through the expectations of their families?
I found Only Sofia-Elisabete enthralling as the principal character faces many challenges. Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi hasn't just written a novel. She has created a character that comes alive with dreams, disappointments, and the wish to live a life she loves with whom she loves. The author skillfully places hardships in Sofia-Elisabete's path which seem too heavy for such a young woman. Her resourcefulness and spunk get her through one trial and often into another. This novel has a refreshing change of scenery from most historical romances. I finished the book feeling as if I had walked by Sofia's side as the story unfolded. I highly recommend this novel as a rare and beautiful gem. It is a journey that will capture your heart and hold you until its mystical ending.
