🏝️🏴‍☠️💗 "The Nature of a Lady (The Secrets of the Isles #1) 💗🏴‍☠️🏝️

 

MY REVIEW 

 

Series: The Secrets of the Isles (Book #1)

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Bethany House (May 4, 2021) 

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0764237187

ISBN-13: 978-0764237188

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“1906

Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Bethany House (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required or requested, all words are my own.

Last year I participated in a “Bookstagram” tour for the author’s Dreams of Savannah which sounded so intriguing. Sadly, due to other commitments, I haven’t been able to get to that book. It is up on the TBR list though. However, I have heard a lot about the author’s writing and was excited to be a part of this.

 

As anyone knows – I am a newcomer (well, after two years, am I really one) to historical fiction. I don’t read every single one out there, but if the story grabs me, I will definitely grab the book.

 

The Nature of a Lady marks the first book I’ve read by the author. And, what a fascinating read! Pirate treasure, mistaken identity, a missing person, interconnected characters, and romance. How could I not want to read this? As a fan of The Pirates of the Caribbean, the pirate aspect was one I was intrigued to read about. I wondered how the author was going to work it in.

 

And, then there’s the matter of that GORGEOUS and STUNNING cover! From the foliage to the dress – there is elegance and class in it! I honestly couldn’t keep from glancing at it every time I picked it up!

 

Book covers are either hit or miss. They either draw the reader in or push them away. True we shouldn’t judge books by the cover, but they’re what draw us to the book. If a cover is well done I am more likely to pick it up to see what it is about. The covers don’t keep us interested though – the characters, plot, and story do.

 

Speaking of …

 

The characters. And, what characters they are!

 

Slight spoiler –> the idea for this book came to the author when she was signing copies of her latest release, The Number of Love. This is mentioned in the back with the author’s note. As she was signing the books, White was noticing a lot of people had the same name if not variations of it. By the time she reached the sixth (6^th) Elizabeth she remarked “oh, look! Another Elizabeth!”. Obviously, that stuck with her and the idea of this book came into play.

 

The main character is Elizabeth “Libby” Sinclair who rents a cottage on one of the Isles of Scilly (pronounced “silly”). The previous tenant? Elizabeth “Beth” Tremayne. And, as stated, the prior Elizabeth has vanished.

 

There’s Beth’s brother Oliver, Libby’s maid Mabena (a lady with her own secrets), Oliver and Beth’s Mamm-wynn (Cornish for grandmother), and other characters that round this out.

 

Mamm-wynn is a delight in it and the reader will wonder if she is batty, senile, or has some psychic ability – she is “something” though.

 

The story is told from Libby, Oliver, and Mabena’s POV.  

 

The writing in this is definitely descriptive with authentic terms and language to the time and region, and written with short chapters (for some reason it makes the story flow faster and easier). White draws the reader in with the prose and keeps them entertained all the way to the end.

 

The Nature of a Lady has a clear British TV/Movie vibe to it. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see it as a mini-series when complete. And, that’s just from this first book.

 

After the prologue, which is about 260 years before the beginning of the story, I was hooked. It begins with John Mucknell in the sea of the Isles of Scilly along with a battle. This is very accurate to the time as the isles were popular with pirates and smugglers.

 

I had heard of The Pirates of Penzance, so it was fascinating to see the beginning is set in Penzance, Cornwall, England.

 

There, Libby is set to go on a holiday before reluctantly accepting a marriage proposal initiated by her brother, Lord Telford (Bram). But, that isn’t what Libby wants.

 

She sails off with her maid, Mabena, to St. Mary’s. Libby and Mabena are more friends as opposed to employer and employee. They’re not there long when they’re told the previous Elizabeth vanished. How odd is that?

 

It is very clear that Mabena doesn’t like their landlords.

 

The reader is then sent off to meet Oliver who is engaging in a boat race.

 

It isn’t long until Mamm-wynn is introduced with a cryptic message for Oliver about Beth “she isn’t where she ought to be”. Of course, the poor old dear’s mind is going – or is it? Still, it prompts Oliver into visiting the cottage his sister is renting.

 

Obviously, Beth isn’t where she ought to be. In her place is Elizabeth, or rather Libby. And, she bears a striking resemblance to the missing one.

 

Libby, after arriving, is immediately drawn into what has obviously caused Beth’s disappearance. But, Libby and Beth aren’t the only ones into something or rather keeping a secret, Mabena is as well.

 

Oliver also remembers Libby, but can’t immediately place her. Although she doesn’t immediately recognize him, Libby has thought much of the botanist she met years earlier after her father died. And, it is clear that Mabena and Oliver know each other as well.

 

It definitely isn’t by “accident” that Libby and Mabena are on St. Mary’s – Mabena knows something is wrong with Beth.

 

As a result of Libby’s “appearance”, Oliver then finds a letter from Beth who was connected to something that caused her disappearance. But, is the disappearance of her own doing or by the people she is entangled with?

 

Libby runs into Charlotte, someone she met, and Mabena sets Charlotte straight about a rumor. This causes tension between Libby and Mabena. But, there is also another reason for Mabena’s sour mood – Cador, Casek Wearne’s twin brother.

 

Libby meets up with Mamm-wynn who takes an instant like to her. And, I was beginning to wonder about her – whether she was a little “off” or had a sixth sense.

 

Slight spoiler –> After the “Beth” incident, Mamm-wynn knows that Libby needs a “wrap” and brings a custom-made one for her; she gives Oliver a set of pearls “knowing” Libby would need them.

 

Libby learns Mabena’s secret which adds to the intrigue already in this book.

 

Oliver, Libby, and Mabena work together – and add Casek to the group – to figure out what happened to Beth. And, it turns out – it is a connection to the prologue (isn’t it always).

 

In addition to the search and treasure hunt, Libby has to contend with her brother (Bram/Lord Telford), along with potential suitor Lord Sheridan who has his own stunning revelation.

 

And, despite the danger to Libby, she has to see things through.

 

White takes readers on an adventure –> twists, turns, gunmen, treasure, romance(s), and unexpected suspects. The action goes right up until nearly the end with an exciting conclusion with some interesting reveals on the romance end.

 

I definitely had to stay up a bit to finish this one as I couldn’t put it down after chapter 23. That didn’t surprise me given how this began. By chapter three I was definitely entertained, and by halfway – I was finding it difficult to put this book down. The action really picks up around chapter 16.

 

What intrigued me was some of the story had a modern vibe given that it takes place in 1906. But, it also had a historical vibe as well.

 

The period of the late 1880’s to 1920’s is one I have difficulty getting into. This was very different, and I credit that to the author’s writing.

 

Given the time, there are some behaviors that were accurately portrayed for the time. I also had to laugh at the idea of a 52 year old man being “OLD” back then. Today, some men are still very young at 60.

 

This is the first book of the series, and usually they are standalone reads in general. However, I was able to get a sneak peak at the second book and readers will definitely want to read this one prior to it, and read book #2 as well.

 

As this is distributed by a Christian/faith-themed publisher, there will be slight references to God and some prayers. These are not integral to the story line nor are they frequently occurring. This is a very clean read with little intimacy between the main characters and no foul language.

 

Fans of the author and those who enjoy Historical Fiction, along with those who have romantic notations of pirate stories, are sure to enjoy this read.

 

I am very much looking forward to the second book and grateful to be on the launch team for it next year in 2022. I hope to have read Dreams of Savannah by then. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to read any other books by the author.

  

 

 

RATING:

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.roseannamwhite.com.

 

 

You can also find her on the following social media accounts:

 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite

 

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