The Nature of a Lady is a captivating novel with the perfect balance of mystery and romance.
Book Blurb
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.
My Thoughts
With compelling characters, rich descriptions, and tales and legends of princes and pirates and treasure, Roseanna M. White has once again crafted an incredible historical romance.
I think my favorite part of The Nature of a Lady was the characters, though. All the books I’ve read by White have included a great cast of characters, and this novel didn’t disappoint me. Libby and Mabena’s friendship was the first to draw me into the story. Not your typical lady-lady’s maid relationship, their interactions often left me smiling. And I loved the way White began to hint that things may not be as they seem. But best of all was the way they complemented one another. Libby’s sweet nature paired with Mabena’s spitfire personality to create one of the best literary friendships I’ve read lately. Then you have Oliver’s warmth and steadfastness. I couldn’t stop smiling whenever they were on the page together. These two pair so well I couldn’t help but root for them.
And White rounds out her cast with plenty of quirky supporting characters and a love interest for Mabena, even if she doesn’t want it at first.
As secrets are revealed and they worked together to solve the mystery, I was engrossed. White does a great job of drawing you in and keeping you on your toes. Especially as they get closer and closer to the mystery and unexpected characters show up.
As for the spiritual arc, I loved how Oliver and Libby discuss God and how science can help us better appreciate His creation.
Overall, The Nature of a Lady is a beautifully-written, well-cast romance historical fans will love. I can’t help but look forward to the future books in this series.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Further Information
To order The Nature of a Lady, click the book cover image above or visit your favorite book retailer.
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