💗 💔🖋️📜 "The Love Note" (2020) 📜🖋️ 💔💗 - Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Revell (October 20, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800736893

ISBN-13: 978-0800736897

⬅️ Click Picture for Purchase Information

 

“Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 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.”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher; Revell (a division of Baker Books); for providing a complimentary review copy through their Revell Reads Blogger Program. A positive review was not required in any way, nor was it requested. All words are my own.

This was the first novel I’d read by the author and I was really drawn to the premise – “Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 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”. That drew me right away, and I had to read it. I was drawn to that “suspense” aspect of the novel.

 

As anyone who knows me can tell you – historical fiction really isn’t my genre. It is one I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate. There are several authors I’ve read that really get me interested in it.

 

The cover was one of those “girl with no face” or at best “back to the camera” type of covers that makes me wonder a bit. Some readers have stated this is a bit annoying. That didn’t bother me; after all, you don’t judge a book by the cover.

 

And, the fact this is apparently a standalone read works better in its favor than if it was part of a series.

 

It is told in first person through Willa as well as Essie. It then goes into third person with Golda, Gabe, Cara (Burke’s wife), Burke, and Dr. Tillman. Thus there are at least seven POVs told. And, that was a bit much for me to take in. It probably would’ve worked better to divide the parts up or to reduce the POVs.

 

First of all – this is published by a Christian/faith themed publishers. This is important to note as some people have expressed issues with the biblical references, references and mentions of God, as well as prayer and scripture.  It is a clean read with no references to sex and definitely no foul language.

 

Set in England towards the end of the U.S Civil War, young Willa is determined to go into medicine. This love note she finds leads her to Crestwicke where she becomes the “nurse” to aging Golda Gresham. Willa has reasons to succeed on both angles.

 

But, that is not all that Willa finds. She also finds her friend and Golda’s son “Gabe” there. But, there is also something – Burke wanting to put his mother in an “institution”.

 

This is where the story diverged from what I thought it was going to be and what it ended up being.

 

For me, I found it dealt more with Willa and her desire to practice medicine rather than the love note touching everyone. There are quite a few medical terms along with other references.

 

Soon after arriving, Willa loses the note. Essie, the maid, finds it. She thinks it is left for her and wants to know who wrote it. It then ends up in Clara’s hands, and Burke thinks it is for her. No wonder she would want it to be. Readers might be taken aback by his verbal abuse towards his wife.

 

While Willa is administering and nursing Golda, who isn’t the easiest patient; Willa is trying to solve the mystery of the writer’s identity.

 

Burke is also on a mission to see that Golda is put in an institution, though the “why” is not even revealed and that part of the story is abandoned. It is clear something is going on at Crestwicke. It is also clear that something is going on between Golda and her children. Willa picks up on the fact that Golda doesn’t seem to like her daughter Celeste.

 

Willa is also reunited with her childhood friend and Golda’s son, Gabe. It is almost apparent that the two have feelings for each other. Yet, something and someone is standing in their way – Golda. Though her reasons are NEVER made clear in the book.

 

There is also Golda’s sister, Maisie, who knows far more than she is telling. And, it is through her that Willa soon discovers the story behind the letter.

 

But, Willa also learns about love, even from poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, someone that Golda admires and who Willa connects with. It is Longfellow who sees a connection between Willa and Gabe. He offers Willa advice in not wasting moments.

 Still, Willa is focused on her career and gets a boost when a school says it will consider her, though in reality, I think the reader sees what will be long before the story got there.

 

Eventually, Willa finds the author – or so she thinks – but it is not what she was expecting and finally the real “Rose” is revealed. I saw that plotline coming as it was just a bit too direct for me. Willa is questioning God as to why he brought her where he did and what her purpose is.

 

It is within the last 80 pages that the novel really gets to the heart of the mystery. And, it is here that the greatest character development takes place. The character that it is – surprising. And, through Willa, it leads to a reconciliation between characters. The Greshams’ life is exposed – Golda and Peter’s tale is told in a heart-breaking manner. Golda sees that her life has made her bitter and that has made her ugly.

 

She then resolves to use the time she has left to make amends. And, the reader sees the parallels in Golda’s life as well as Willa’s life.

 

Willa is eventually offered a great future in the medical field and Gabe is offered a chance to work elsewhere.

 

The readers learn, in the closing chapter the heirloom that Golda took, which she bequeaths to Willa upon her (Golda’s) passing.

 

The ending is predictable, but sweet. And, it closes out a rather interesting love story/suspense.

 

Politano’s writing is vivid, descriptive, and captivating. It draws the reader in. There is a beautiful part of Willa’s father’s letter that talks about love and how beautiful it is to belong to someone else and that her work cannot hold her like a husband can. This part is quite poignant.

 

Overall, sadly, I felt a complete disconnection with the characters despite how well written and complex they seemed. The only one that kept my attention was Gabe. I tried to enjoy the book as I was reading it, but found that I was reading it to get it done. I honestly had a love/hate affair with this book. It was a tedious read and I was hoping that each day perhaps I would look at it differently.

 

There was a slightly funny moment regarding a red teacup that got broke. And, Maisie had more hidden for those just in cases.

 

Another problem exists that in the beginning, the story is set in 1865, yet three (3) years later it is 1862. Does this begin in 1865 and end in 1868, or does it begin in 1862 and end in 1865?

 

Also, the term and issue with using “labels” to sort people and things (in this cases, horses), is a relatively new idea. I’ve only heard the “labels don’t fit people” speech within the last five (5) years.

 

Fans of the author and/or genre might enjoy this read. I am reluctantly sad to state I found it a bit tedious. I would like to think it was because I had too much going on, then again, I have read other books during this month.

 

This was a very low “four-star” read for me (around 41 points on a 1-50 scale). I really wanted to like it far more than I did.

 

 

 

RATING:

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

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. You can find her at www.jdpstories.com.

 

 

You can follow her on the following social media accounts: 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannadavidsonpolitano/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/politano_joanna