Joanna Davidson Politano has done it again! She had penned an intriguing and emotional historical fiction piece that will keep you up all night trying to find out exactly what is happening. Set in England in the late 1800s, this clever story really delivers on all fronts. It is predictable in every way, but then something unexpected twists the plot and things become uncertain. This format is repeated often in the story, and it is these very twists that make things so compelling.
The novel opens with an interesting premise involving the leading character, Raina Bretton, which immediately has the reader wanting to shout at her to make a different choice and to flee as quickly as she can. Her emotional vulnerabilities are exactly what Mr. Prendergast preys upon to get his way. Although the story is largely about her playing at being a woman of wealth, there is so much depth to her emotional anguish and desire to improve the world. The story brings up the oft discussed and pondered curiosity of whether or not sudden wealth would change a person in a positive or negative fashion.
Little can be said here without giving away the intensity and enjoyment of this plot, but the deep emotions of love, regret, and hope are just a few hints at the excitement that awaits within these pages. Make sure you have plenty of time to solve the mysteries contained in these pages.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Revell
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Several instances where a man grabs a woman by the arms and pushes her against a wall to prove his point; man threatens to kill a woman if she does not do what he wants; report that a man has killed people who got in his way and he would do so again, if needed; person struck with an object; fire is set in a building.
Sex/Nudity: A man gives a woman an unwanted kiss; report of an unwed pregnancy.
Mature Subject Matter:
Deception, embezzling, murder, illegitimate child.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Man’s breath smells of brandy on several occasions.
