Melanie Dickerson's A Spy's Devotion is a historical that is set in regency times. It's the story about a poor relation, a person who is financially dependent on extended family for their survival and well being. In this novel, the poor relation is Julia Grey, who lives with her Uncle Robert Wilhern, his wife, and daughter, Phoebe. Julia serves as Phoebe's companion, trying to restrain her cousin's impulsive behaviour towards an eligible gentleman, Mr. Nicholas Langdon. The entire Wilhern Family wants to help Phoebe get her heart's desire. Julia must also make a match soon so that she can avoid being cast off from the family to be a governess as soon as Phoebe gets married.
At a ball, Julia gets a chance to dance with Mr. Langdon, and she realizes that she could also develop an attraction towards this man. Not wanting to hurt her cousin or invite the displeasure of her aunt and uncle, Julia tries to keep her distance from him, but Mr. Langdon seems to single her out over her cousin. Julia reminded me of Elinor Dashwood from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, as she is quick to recognize the inappropriate displays of Phoebe's emotions. Like Elinor, Julia tries to hide her feelings for a man who she realizes must be unavailable to her because of the expectations of others.
Nicholas is on furlough, recovering from injuries that he sustained while fighting on the Peninsula, and had been expecting to rejoin his regiment soon. However, an important document to the War Office had been stolen from him which contained coded information about a war plot against the British. The primary suspects for the theft are Robert Wilhern and one of Julia's suitors, Mr. Edgerton, a man who Julia feels uncomfortable with. Nicholas' superiors want him to discover if Julia's uncle and Mr. Edgerton are responsible for the disappearance of the diary and whether they are guilty of treason. His leaders suggest that he take advantage of Phoebe's interest in him to get close enough to the Wilhern Family so that he can spy on them.
Nicholas is a man who has been burned by love in the past when his ex-fiancée jilted him to marry a wealthier older gentleman. However, he can't seem to keep his attention away from Julia. He's an honourable man who is a bit of a stickler for propriety; he refuses to dance with any female twice at a ball, not wanting to raise any woman's hopes unnecessarily. Somehow he manages to break his own rule and dances with Julia twice one evening, which earns Julia the ire of the entire Wilhern Family. Through his investigations of her uncle, he manages to spend time with her, even convincing her to spy on her own family on his behalf.
Will Nicholas be able to recover the missing document and apprehend the people who stole it? Will he enter into a relationship with Phoebe so that he can spy on the Wilhern Family more easily? Will Nicholas be able to complete his mission in another way and win Julia's heart? Will Julia be able to avoid marriage to Mr. Edgerton? Will she need to give up her hope for marriage and become a governess in order to survive?
As I mentioned before, the novel is set in regency times, but it feels more like what I'd call a historical. I feel that a typical regency romance usually tells the story of a light hearted romp with witticisms peppered throughout the tale. A Spy's Devotion feels more serious; however, it touches on a common theme that often appears in regencies: the necessity for members of the ton and gentry to attempt to make the best match for marriage, ideally to someone who has acceptable social connections and wealth, or face financial hardship. Other characteristics typical of regencies that appear in this story is the importance of maintaining a pristine reputation and avoiding compromising situations that could lead to social disgrace or ruin. Of course, A Spy's Devotion also contains espionage, treason and the possibility of invasion from Napoleon.
I didn't think that the characters experienced a lot of character growth. The plot unfolded and things happened to Nicholas and Julia that threatened to keep them apart. They prayed, but the prayers only reflected that they were people of faith. I found that A Spy's Devotion was more of a story in which I read to see what would happen next and to see whether Nicholas and Julia would get together in the end. Nevertheless, I found the novel enjoyable to read, and am glad to know of another author who writes Christian historicals.
Disclaimer: I was provided with an e-copy of A Spy's Devotion from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Thursday 18 February 2016
Monday 1 February 2016
Review: Perfect Alibi by Melody Carlson
I've been away for two months.
Two words.
Writer's block.
I found it difficult to get myself to sit down in front of a computer to write a review, so I finally did it the old fashioned way. I wrote using a notebook and pen, away from the computer, and I was able to get something down on paper.
Anyways, I'm back with a review of a Love Inspired Romantic Suspense novel titled, Perfect Alibi, by Melody Carlson, who has written over 200 books. I've reviewed one of her previous books, Trading Secrets, which was a young adult novel, but she also writes for older audiences.
In Perfect Alibi, Mallory Myers, a young Portland journalist, flees to her hometown of Clover. She is trying to escape the nightmarish discovery in her apartment where she found the body of her best friend, Kestra. Kestra had been murdered there and Mallory fears that she is next. Mallory is certain that she knows who the murderer is: her ex-boyfriend, Brock Dennison, a popular news-anchor of a Portland television station. When she voices her suspicions to the police, she faces disbelief and skepticism. Instead, she comes to realize that she is considered to be the primary suspect for Kestra's murder.
On top of that, Mallory is still receiving death threats, which started when she first broke up with Brock. The threats follow her to Clover. No one believes in Mallory's innocence because everyone thinks that she is making up the threats in order to throw off suspicions from herself.
The exception is Fire Chief Logan McDaniel, one of Mallory's former high school classmates. He had been interested in her romantically in the past, but hadn't acted on his attraction then. His protective instincts are roused when he sees the threats made against Mallory. The threatening texts indicate that her harasser is physically nearby and is able to find Mallory even when she is supposedly in seclusion.
Brock Dennison has the perfect alibi. How could he have murdered Kestra when he was on the air, delivering that evening's newscast? It also doesn't make sense that Brock could be the author of the threatening texts when he is Portland, which is located three hours away from Clover.
Will Mallory and Logan be able to expose Kendra's real murderer and prove Mallory's innocence? Will Logan be able to protect Mallory from being killed next? Is Mallory trying to deceive everyone so that she can get away with murder?
I thought that the novel was okay. The female and male protagonists were both believers, and they didn't seem to be suffering crises of faith. The conflict seemed to be more about whether Mallory could prove her innocence to the the rest of the world, including to Logan, who found himself doubting her every once in a while. Perfect Alibi is a basic inspirational, romantic suspense novel with believing protagonists, and I didn't think that either of the central characters experienced huge development or growth in their faith after their adventures concluded.
As with Love Inspired's practice, the Bible verse inscribed on one of the first few pages of this novel reads, "Be gracious to me, O God...for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by." (Psalm 57:1 NASB) The verse describes what Mallory must do in order to get through the circumstances that she finds herself in.
I found the book to be entertaining, and enjoyed the ride that I had with Mallory and Logan in Perfect Alibi. I would probably read more of Ms. Carlson's romantic suspense novels in the future.
Two words.
Writer's block.
I found it difficult to get myself to sit down in front of a computer to write a review, so I finally did it the old fashioned way. I wrote using a notebook and pen, away from the computer, and I was able to get something down on paper.
Anyways, I'm back with a review of a Love Inspired Romantic Suspense novel titled, Perfect Alibi, by Melody Carlson, who has written over 200 books. I've reviewed one of her previous books, Trading Secrets, which was a young adult novel, but she also writes for older audiences.
In Perfect Alibi, Mallory Myers, a young Portland journalist, flees to her hometown of Clover. She is trying to escape the nightmarish discovery in her apartment where she found the body of her best friend, Kestra. Kestra had been murdered there and Mallory fears that she is next. Mallory is certain that she knows who the murderer is: her ex-boyfriend, Brock Dennison, a popular news-anchor of a Portland television station. When she voices her suspicions to the police, she faces disbelief and skepticism. Instead, she comes to realize that she is considered to be the primary suspect for Kestra's murder.
On top of that, Mallory is still receiving death threats, which started when she first broke up with Brock. The threats follow her to Clover. No one believes in Mallory's innocence because everyone thinks that she is making up the threats in order to throw off suspicions from herself.
The exception is Fire Chief Logan McDaniel, one of Mallory's former high school classmates. He had been interested in her romantically in the past, but hadn't acted on his attraction then. His protective instincts are roused when he sees the threats made against Mallory. The threatening texts indicate that her harasser is physically nearby and is able to find Mallory even when she is supposedly in seclusion.
Brock Dennison has the perfect alibi. How could he have murdered Kestra when he was on the air, delivering that evening's newscast? It also doesn't make sense that Brock could be the author of the threatening texts when he is Portland, which is located three hours away from Clover.
Will Mallory and Logan be able to expose Kendra's real murderer and prove Mallory's innocence? Will Logan be able to protect Mallory from being killed next? Is Mallory trying to deceive everyone so that she can get away with murder?
I thought that the novel was okay. The female and male protagonists were both believers, and they didn't seem to be suffering crises of faith. The conflict seemed to be more about whether Mallory could prove her innocence to the the rest of the world, including to Logan, who found himself doubting her every once in a while. Perfect Alibi is a basic inspirational, romantic suspense novel with believing protagonists, and I didn't think that either of the central characters experienced huge development or growth in their faith after their adventures concluded.
As with Love Inspired's practice, the Bible verse inscribed on one of the first few pages of this novel reads, "Be gracious to me, O God...for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by." (Psalm 57:1 NASB) The verse describes what Mallory must do in order to get through the circumstances that she finds herself in.
I found the book to be entertaining, and enjoyed the ride that I had with Mallory and Logan in Perfect Alibi. I would probably read more of Ms. Carlson's romantic suspense novels in the future.
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