Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review below...
The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple
By Joanna Davidson Politano
Christian Historical Fiction, Romance, Suspense
Hardcover, Paperback, eBook & Audiobook, 400 Pages
April 9, 2024 by Revell
Summary
Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.
Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
THE ELUSIVE TRUTH OF LILY TEMPLE is a lyrically styled story about a silent film actress who has lived many personas in order to hide her real self away. The characters are each intriguing with a plot that grows in intensity as the story unfolds. Fans of the author, genre, and readers who enjoy a story that feels much like reading a fairy tale will enjoy this one.
I was intrigued by Lily Temple from the start. Add Peter Driscoll who was also a complex character and definitely the ying to Lily's yang and you have two main characters with multiple layers and heart. They also could say much with just a look or two, an inflection, or a few words. The author did a rather fabulous job in conveying so much in their interactions. There were a handful of side characters who greatly added to the story and never felt one dimensional. It was a well-rounded and diverse group of characters that were all well drawn.
This story was a bit of an adventure, which is an understatement if there ever was one. Readers are kept guessing as to Lily's background and how the pieces will all fit together until almost the very end. There were layers upon layers to disclose and discover, and other people who needed rescuing or help along the way. There was a string of faith weaved through this story that was more prevalent in the last third of the book. It's on the stronger side, but not overly so. The romance was sweet with moments of heartbreak as well, which made for a story that pulled on all the emotions. It was also a story that kept me engaged.
I think this writing style that is so lyrical and fairy-tale like is very beautiful. It's just not necessarily my preferred style to read, so I struggled a bit with the first third to half of this story. I also felt like there were a lot of words and pages and the story could have been shortened. It's more of a personal preference more than anything as the author was excellent in the execution and overall feel of the story where you literally do feel like you've entered a fairy tale for much of the book.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable story with all the feels. Readers who enjoy multi-faceted characters and intriguing, lyrical stories are sure to appreciate this one.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
What do you like about the book? Does it sound like one you'd like to read?
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.