A Respectable Actress
by Dorothy Love
Christian Historical Romance, Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
October 13th 2015 by Thomas Nelson
Summary
When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.
India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.
A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.
Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.
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My Review
A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS was so much more than I was expecting. The feel of the characters, setting, and writing immersed me in post Civil War Georgia. The dialogue was accurate and even humorous at spots. The descriptions of the run-down and destroyed buildings as well as the unfortunate circumstances of the people brought the story to life. In the middle of this all was the story of India, an actress framed for murder, and Philip, an attorney who defends her. Add some suspense and a little romance and you have a fabulous story!
India was such a great character. She was humble, but confident, lonely, beautiful, posed, and so sweet. I love how she was so grateful for everything and willing to help where she could. Philip was also a great character and love interest for India. He had some things to work through and some twists that deeply affected him, but through it all he was steady and India's support. There were also other interesting characters that added so much to the plot, such as Philip's sister, the housekeeper, some of the other servants, India's benefactor who pays for Philip to represent her, and some others. Each character felt unique and drawn well.
The plot felt mysterious from the beginning. There is quite a bit that happens at first and then the story settles down for a piece while India's case is prepared. It then picks up in a big way about two-thirds of the way through and keeps some intensity, be it suspense-wise or romance-wise, to the end. I enjoyed the pace and felt so invested in this story. I also liked that the romance was slow to build and felt right for the circumstances. The story was great from beginning to end!
I'd recommend A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS to those who enjoy historical romance, historical suspense, or a combination of the two. This was my first book that I've read from this author, but it definitely won't be my last.
Content: Some violence, but otherwise clean.
Source: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson, through Litfuse, for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
India was such a great character. She was humble, but confident, lonely, beautiful, posed, and so sweet. I love how she was so grateful for everything and willing to help where she could. Philip was also a great character and love interest for India. He had some things to work through and some twists that deeply affected him, but through it all he was steady and India's support. There were also other interesting characters that added so much to the plot, such as Philip's sister, the housekeeper, some of the other servants, India's benefactor who pays for Philip to represent her, and some others. Each character felt unique and drawn well.
The plot felt mysterious from the beginning. There is quite a bit that happens at first and then the story settles down for a piece while India's case is prepared. It then picks up in a big way about two-thirds of the way through and keeps some intensity, be it suspense-wise or romance-wise, to the end. I enjoyed the pace and felt so invested in this story. I also liked that the romance was slow to build and felt right for the circumstances. The story was great from beginning to end!
I'd recommend A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS to those who enjoy historical romance, historical suspense, or a combination of the two. This was my first book that I've read from this author, but it definitely won't be my last.
Content: Some violence, but otherwise clean.
Source: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson, through Litfuse, for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
About the Author
A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. When she isn’t busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. The Loves make their home in the Texas hill country.
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