Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta - a book review

 

If you’re a Jane Austin fan you are going to love this book.  Jessica Dotta’s writing is very descriptive and thoughtful.  You can tell she weighed every word before writing it down.  It is a heartfelt, suspenseful, emotional tale of perseverance.  The many plot twists keep you interested from cover to cover.  This is what the publisher says about it:

“The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.”

 The main characters comes across as very human, portraying a multitude of flaws, vulnerabilities and shortcomings, but also strengths and moral fortitude.  While
I liked the main characters, the character of the maid, Nancy, added a slightly comic touch to this very dramatic story.

 

I highly recommend this book if you are a lover of Regency and Victorian novels.  This book is publisized as a Christian novel but you won’t find it ‘preachy’.  There is very little doctrine present so even if you’re not a fan of Christian novels, you will still like it.

Go here to read an excerpt    https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-7555-7.pdf

 

If you would like to learn more about Jessica Dotta, visit her website.

This is the first of a planned trilogy.  I can’t wait to read the others!

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers  through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”