Author: Joanna Davidson Politano Genre: Historical Romance Release Date: October 20, 2020 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. Reviewer: Joan Dowell I truly enjoyed this story. Each chapter opens with some words of wisdom from a “scientist’s observation on love”. Enclosed within the pages of this book is a journey that will lead you through the grief, bitterness and loneliness of a dying woman. It also holds the friendship and love of a quiet man. The ultimate love story within these pages is the love that God has for us and our love for him. I adored this story and would highly recommend it. I received a print copy of this book from Revell Publications through Interviews & Reviews in return for my honest review. Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders “I cannot decide if marriage would be a waste of the only life I have . . . or if avoiding it would be.” –-A scientist’s observations on love This is a story filled with beautiful words, the words written in a note by a mysterious person and the words chosen by the author to share this lovely, eloquent tale. From the very beginning, I was drawn into this story of twenty-four-year-old Willa Duvall, her overwhelming desire to be a doctor, and her mission to find the writer of a love note that she's found unopened in an old desk. When she accidentally loses it after taking a nursing job at Crestwicke Manor, this love note is passed to several of the residents, and each one, thinking that it was meant for them, finds their life changed for the better. Isn't this true of all words? They can affect us positively, but words can also have negative effects! Author Joanna Davidson Politano has filled The Love Note with amazing characters, a beautiful Victorian setting, and events that often occurred in English society in the mid-1800s. A young woman couldn't have both a career and marriage and Willa believed that being a doctor was more important until the words in the note prompt her to wonder what true love would be like. As the mystery continues and she is given valuable advice from some of the older residents, she realizes that she may be denying herself great happiness. More importantly, she understands that romantic love is beautiful, but God's love is the ultimate love of all! If you enjoy historical fiction and Christian romance, this is a book you will want to read. If you appreciate well-written words and a powerful faith message, this is a book that you MUST read! A complimentary copy of this book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. Reviewer: Cheryl Wood Phenomenal! The Love Note captivated me from page one. This is a story full of twists and turns and suspense. Like Willa Duvall, who refuses her fourth marriage proposal, we are all flawed. Sometimes life does not go the way we think it should. Willa discovers a forgotten love letter in the crack of her old writing desk, and the adventure starts. She and her father come up with a contract, and she decides to go to Crestwick to be a nurse since that is where the letter came from. As she looks for answers, the letter is passed from person to person affecting them in different ways. Out of chaos come hope, love, and perseverance. If you are looking to get lost in a love story, this is your book. A complimentary copy of this book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. Reviewer: Linda Klager I give this book five stars. When I saw this book's cover, I was very intrigued and wanted to read it very much. I enjoyed the quotes from A Scientist's Observations On Love at the beginning of each chapter. Willa Duvall admired her father, a doctor, very much, and traveled with him from a very young age and had a dream to one day be a doctor. Her father wanted her to marry, and that would take away her lifelong dream. Women in 1865 did not have professions after marriage. Willa made a deal with her father. She would go to Crestwicke Manor and be a nurse to an older woman. If she successfully cured this woman, her father would consider letting her go to a university to study to be a physician. This was a big challenge for Willa because her patient had heart problems. Before she left on her journey, Willa found a love letter. In the note, there was mention of Crestwicke Manor. Willa being a true romantic, wanted to find out who wrote the letter so she could deliver it to them. Willa had the love note in her apron pocket, but the note fell out when she took the apron off. It was very interesting how many people kept finding this letter. The dowager's negativity influenced most of the people living there, but when they read the beautiful and romantic words, they each wondered about a secret admirer. Isn't that true with life? If we are negative to others, it can really damage others' outlooks, but if we are positive, the world opens up to wonderful positivities. Willa remembered a childhood friend by the name of Gabe when she would visit Crestwicke. Gabe loved to work with horses, and he and Willa rode horses together. They had wonderful memories. The story progressed with Willa and Gabe, and you will be very glad that it did. Willa was a very loving and caring nurse. She helped Mrs. Gresham physically, emotionally, and mentally. This opened up Mrs. Gresham's world. Mrs. Gresham wrote beautiful poetry, and Willa helped her meet her favorite poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Wouldn't that have been wonderful to have witnessed that meeting? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow even let Mrs. Gresham read her poetry on stage. Willa also spoke to Mr. Longfellow and encouraged him to keep writing. I loved Willa's character and thought she would do very well in her future endeavors. From the book, I loved this quote: "Matched souls always find their way back to one another, for they seek refuge in the same place." I hope I have spurred you on to want to read this wonderful book. This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews. Reviewer: Winnie Thomas Beautifully and thoughtfully written, The Love Note is full of the things I’ve come to love about Joanna Davidson Politano’s books—colorful, brilliantly drawn characters, richly painted settings, and carefully developed layers. Her stories are always fascinating, but I can count on finding submerged meanings and messages that go beyond the surface story. Set in England in 1859, this book captured my interest from the first page and kept me eagerly reading and guessing to the end. It was an emotionally charged journey with many twists and turns. The author did a masterful job of revealing snippets of the plot while keeping the reader in doubt about the final outcome of the story. Willa Duvall is a spunky, ambitious heroine who sets about to find the writer and intended recipient of an old love letter she found. This sets into motion some unintended consequences. “I had a healthy obsession with love stories, after all—as long as they were not mine.” Gabe Gresham is a quiet, unassuming hero who loves working with horses, and I was immediately drawn to him. “Yes, the man needed a wife—he was the sort of blessing who should not be wasted on a life of seclusion." I enjoyed the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. They gave a little hint of what was to come and a bit of wisdom to ponder. “I cannot decide if marriage would be a waste of the only life I have . . . or if avoiding it would be.” –A scientist’s observations on love. “Love may come unexpectedly by getting to know someone different, or getting to know them differently.” --A scientist’s observations on love. I recommend this story to those who enjoy historical fiction that stays with you long after finishing the book. It’s another exquisite offering from one of my favorite must-read authors. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author and Revell Books. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Deanne Patterson The Love Note was a different type of book. Willa Duvall wants a career in medicine like her father but he believes it's his duty to see her married off. At her home, hidden away in a desk, she finds a love note, and this note starts the whole ball of yarn rolling, essentially setting up the story. She makes a deal with her father, and if she succeeds at being a long-term nurse she'll be able to practice medicine. After she goes to Crestwicke Manor, she nurses the dowager there. She brings the love note with her, and a maid finds it and thinks it was written to her. Willa is determined to find who the writer of this note was and who it was intended for. The Love Note takes us on many twists and turns as the note falls into the hands of many people in the Manor, each believing it was written to her. This note is very powerful for the emotions it sparks in the ladies believing it was written to them. The Love Note is a powerful read and will bring out many emotions in you as you're reading. As Willa takes care of the dowager we find out the true story of the love note and the history behind it. Beautifully flowing prose will keep you reading far into the night not being able to put it down. This book was provided by Baker Publishing Group, Revell Division, through Interviews & Reviews. Reviewer: Mindy Houng "That means there's so much hope for new and beautiful chapters, because God's the one writing them and he isn't done yet. You never know what's coming - unexpected tender moments, closure and healing, delightful surprises, a chance to fix what's broken." Joanna Davidson Politano knows how to cast a spell with her beautiful poetic words. The trope seems simple: find closure for the aged love letter found within the crevice of a desk. But the plot and the characters revolving around that letter are anything but simple. With writing style that is lyrical and powerful, characters who are so broken yet noble, intrigue around the love note that exposes hidden longings and layered secrets, and irrefutable spiritual truths, this book will enchant you and make you cry tears of heartbreak and joy. Willa is an energetic, impulsive, brilliant and intriguing woman who sets out to be a nurse to an ailing woman at Crestwicke Manor for a professional purpose, but also to find a closure for the two people involved in the love note she discovers. There are multiple third person narratives from the secondary characters, which help to bring together a complex plot as the love note that Willa brings to the manor exchanges hands many times among the occupants in the manor. Gabe is a wonderful hero - a steadfast, loyal, tender, faith-filled protector and rescuer - who allows Willa's set ways to soften. The words from the love note becomes so much more meaningful in the end when Willa finally sees behind the mere words. There is humor hidden in this gem of a book, and you will find yourself laughing out loud at the banter and thoughts from the characters. You won't want to miss this captivating masterpiece. It's one of my favorite reads of 2020. I received a copy of the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own. Reviewer: Adriann Harris I was first introduced to Joanna Davidson Politano, an author whose prose you will never get enough of, when our book club picked Lady Jayne Disappears for our monthly read. Many of us were skeptical because we had never picked a debut author before to read. We had to take our hats off to this outstanding author whose debut read like a seasoned pro. Now we wait in anticipation of her next work of art. This brings me to Joanna Davidson Politano’s newest great read. The book rating world only allows a rating maximum of 5 stars. However, The Love Note, in my opinion, deserves a mega million more, and this is why:
My list of reasons why this book deserves so many stars actually is endless, so I recommend to everyone who reads Historical Christian Romance, with Mystery and Suspense, give The Love Note a try, you will not be disappointed. My hat goes off to you again Joanna for taking me on such a wonderful enjoyable journey. Looking forward to to next year’s journey, A Midnight Dance. I received a complimentary copy (or ARC) of this book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write a review, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Reviewer: Laura J. Davis The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano is an exquisite tale that speaks to anyone who has longed for love. It all begins with an unopened letter found in the corner of a desk by our main character Willa Duvall. Willa wants to be a doctor and has turned down at least four marriage proposals pursuing her goal. The odds are not in her favour considering she lives in the year 1859. Determined to find the note's owner and knowing that the desk came from Crestwicke Manor, Willa takes a job there as a nurse to one Golda Gresham. Her purpose is twofold - prove to her father she could pursue a career in medicine by effectively treating and healing Golda Gresham and find the writer of the love note to let them know how much they were loved. Unfortunately, her plans go awry when she loses the note. As the note circulates throughout Crestwicke Manor, we are introduced to more characters. Each one is somehow touched by the letter's words, believing it was written for them or about someone else. Chaos quite naturally ensues. But not in a humorous way as you'd expect in a book of this nature. Each person that encounters the note and its exquisite words begins to change for the better. As Willa sees the changes around her, she loathes telling those touched by it that the note is not meant for them. Words are powerful in this book, and the words of love uttered toward the end seem more directed at the reader than at Willa. I'm willing to bet that was the intent. Which makes this love note that changed the lives of the characters in this book, something that could ultimately change the life of the reader. I highly recommend it! I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through NetGalley. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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