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a novel
Todd M. Johnson
Bethany House Publishers | August 3rd, 2021
Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance-ish
As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes has witnessed firsthand the danger of only the wealthy having their voices heard, and he's a strong advocate who defends the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Madeleine Jameson, arrives at his door.
In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king's regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padget returns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter--the sole proof his actions were legal--has mysteriously vanished.
Moved by the lady's distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he'd imagined.
In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king's regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padget returns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter--the sole proof his actions were legal--has mysteriously vanished.
Moved by the lady's distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he'd imagined.
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I was provided with a complimentary copy thanks to Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review.
WARNING: Possible Spoilers!
THE BASICS
For some reason, one doesn't often read very many Christian fiction novels written by the hand of men. . . Don't ask me why, but when I read the blurb of this one, I knew I had to try it out---regardless who wrote it. And wow! I have nothing against lady authors, but I could certainly tell a difference in the writing when I picked up this beauty. The storytelling was so rich & engaging, the characters wonderfully fleshed out, and the plot complex. I enjoyed this so much!!
VIOLENCE
A father slaps his hand across his teen son's face---drawing blood. Soldiers fire upon a captain & his ship, without warning, and a young cabin boy is shot in the chest---pronounced fatal shortly after.
A walk through a prison reveals the barbaric conditions: whole families imprisoned (implied due to debts); both men & women are scantily clad---starving & freezing in the cold, etc. etc.
A young woman is cruelly murdered in order to tie up loose ends---we observe her body, where her neck lies at an odd angle. (A young boy catches a glimpse of her still body almost directly after she's killed, and flees.)
A woman's horse is shot & killed right before her eyes, as a warning. The creature's body is later drug away and burned.
A mob waits at the entrance to a barrister's apartment, but he sees in advance & reroutes.
SPIRITUAL CONTENT
Christian fiction! ;D A character discusses some spiritual matters with an anglican priest, who's always pressuring him some way or another.
"God bless you," "good Lord," and "thank heavens" are used a time or two. A character asks for prayer. Scripture is referenced at least once.
LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS
"Damnable" is used in reference to something. As is "damnation." At least one use of "h--- to pay", along with some slang words such as, "garn," "prig," and "gutter snipe."
Beer is downed or sipped; mention of a prosecutor who likes to indulge in pubs; a priest comes later & takes his own mug of beer; gin is used to describe a small, drunken mob's anger---as in "gin-fueled."
ROMANTIC CONTENT
It's discerned that a young girl of 16 was raped by an older man, who thanks to his wealth & status eluded any form of justice.
A questionable man talks rather lewdly to a young woman multiple times---calling her "darlin'".
There's some form of a slow-burn attraction between William & Madeleine, but I don't recall any smooches or physical contact (i.e. an embrace or handholding, etc.), if any. SPOILER! This isn't really a romance novel, though it does imply they maaaay continue their relationship after the events of the novel has concluded...
CONCLUSION
All in all, I so enjoyed this novel & would HIGHLY recommend it to all who enjoy historical fiction with a TEENY tiny smattering of romance. I loved the story, I loved the characters, and could DEFINITELY see myself re-reading this sometime in the future (when I'm not overrun with ALL THE BOOKS---honestly, though, what a fantabulous problem to have! xDDD)
So, yes, add this to your TBR, me lovelies! You won't regret a thing. :]
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5 OUT OF 5 STARS
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Ages: 16+
Ooh, I remember seeing this one around and being intrigued, but I then forgot about it! Thanks for reminding me. ^_^
ReplyDeleteMy absolute pleasure, dearie! I really enjoyed this one!
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