Book Review: The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano

Is it a sign of the times, or just my bad luck to read samples of some books, then buy them or get them from NetGalley, only to read a few chapters and give up? Or maybe it’s my state of mind, which really has no name right now. Between my health issues and current affairs, I’m not sure what I’m feeling from day to day.

Anyway, when a friend sent this meme…

… I had to chuckle. I’ve been looking for my ducks for quite a while now. How about you?

One book I have finished recently is The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano.

Genre: Christian / Historical Fiction / Romance
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: October 20, 2020
Number of Pages: 400

Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1859 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor.

Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings—mostly negative ones—about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa’s search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words.

Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.

This is such a charming story with all the right ingredients for an enjoyable read, great characters and a compelling plot. The way Willa wins over the irascible Golda, her charge at Crestwicke Manor, is just one example of the ways the different characters change once that letter starts to circulate.

As a horse-lover, I did enjoy the character of Gabe and his way with horses. I could see how Willa was drawn to him, yet reluctant to show her heart because of her dream to be a doctor. The tension between her desire and her heart was so deftly drawn, I could relate to her dilemma.

Aunt Maisie, or Crazy Maisie as some of the people at the manor called her, was a delightful character, and the teasing story she told about the mysterious Rose played out in perfect segments. The final reveal wasn’t a total surprise to me. I’d begun to suspect, but false leads as to the identity cast a shadow of doubt just when it was needed.

Overall, this is a very satisfying read, and  I recommend it to all readers who like a bit of religion, and a bit of romance, in a story about a woman making tough choices and charting her own future. That wasn’t so easy to do in the 1800s, or even the early 1900s, and Willa’s courage and determination are to be applauded.

While I wasn’t part of the official Lone Star Literary Blog tour for this book, I did receive a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BUY LINKS

Amazon┃ Barnes and Noble ┃ Bookshop.org

Christianbook.com ┃ IndieBound ┃ Baker Book House

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears and A Rumored Fortune. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story.

She lives with her husband and their two kids in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

  Website ║ Bookbub ║ Facebook ║ Twitter

 Pinterest ║ Amazon ║ Goodreads

That’s all from me for today folks. If you’ve read a good book lately, please let us know in a comment. I’m sure there are plenty of people looking for a new story to entertain them while social distancing.