In her last series, Roseanna M. White vaulted to the top of my automatic-read list of authors with her historical settings and vivid characters. I was also eager to read this novel because it is first in her new series and features a novelist as the hero. A book about a writer? Yes, please! The cast of characters is quite unique in this novel: a stuttering, secret novelist, an honorable spy-thief, a cranky barrister, a precocious young lady convinced she’ll marry her uncle one day, and a whole family of orphans we only begin to know. And while the first two maintain their lead status within the book, each of the secondary characters are also well developed and help to populate the story, adding depth and texture to the plot. My faith was also strengthened by this novel—especially in regards to prayer. Sometimes that encouragement stemmed from Peter’s written words and others from a memory he calls to mind, but each piece builds firmly upon Scripture and gives insight into the human experience that only wants to believe what can be seen with physical eyes. There is also a fair amount of social justice in here, with characters doing what they can to help others, simply because it is the right thing to do. I love how one person, in particular, gives in secret even when society knowing about his deeds could make his public life easier. In many ways, this book reminds me of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey because of the discussion of novels, but this time from the writer’s perspective rather than the reader’s. I appreciate how this book makes me think about reading and writing in different terms, questioning character motivations and whether this villain was smart enough for our somewhat unconventional hero and heroine. Several times I found it a bit mind-bending, to be honest, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ways this novel forced me out of my reading box and helped me think about the products of an author’s imagination in different ways. This beginning to White’s new series is absolutely outstanding and ranks among my favorite for both storyline and characters. I recommend it very highly, especially for those who enjoy historical romance, but readers of suspense, mystery, and historical novels in general will doubtless find a new favorite writer after reading this novel. I received a free copy of this book from the author and publisher but was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed are both honest and my own.
