Deep Within a Woman's Heart by Joanna Joslin: A Book Review

Deep Within a Woman’s Heart
Author: Joanna Joslin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Union Bridge Books
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 302
Source: This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis: Emily Taylor, a young headmistress from Yorkshire, first sails aboard the RMS ‘Lusitania’ in 1910 whilst travelling to attend a family wedding on Long Island in America. During that first voyage, she makes a number of acquaintances, all with secrets in their pasts: Amelia Davenport, a flamboyant elderly widow with a salacious history, who is emigrating to America with her son and his family; Sam Jackson, a tough New York Police Inspector, driven by a personal vendetta; Christian Verholt, the heir to a wealthy banking dynasty whose double life includes a mysterious partner; and Niall Branigan, the charming Irish doctor whose twinkling emerald eyes mask hidden family secrets. But as the threat of the First World War looms, it is not only Emily’s life that changes dramatically as a consequence of these encounters, but also the lives of those close to her back in England.

      My review: The sinking of the Lusitania is one of the saddest moments in the history of WWI. This story chronicles the Lusitania’s sinking of the ship. It starts in 1910 with Emily, a schoolteacher, who aboards the Lusitania in 1910. Along the way, she finds love and soon she comes across a crime. Teaming up with Detective Jackson, she joins the investigation that spans two continents and the sinking of the Lusitania.

     I usually do not like to read disaster stories. I find it to be depressing because of the times we live in. However, this story captivated me. The story has romance, mystery, and suspense that kept me glued to my seat wanting to know more about what happened in this story. Because of the plot, I was able to read the disaster of the Lusitania. While it is still depressing, I was happy that the author spent little time writing that event, so that it did not go into overbearing details of this tragedy.

     The main character is Emily. At first, Emily seems to be serious, but she has a spontaneous side. She marries a doctor in secret. This is because as a headmistress of a school, she cannot marry. Instead, she must marry her profession. She is very intelligent, for she notices details about the mystery. She also is very bold; for she is not afraid to reprimand others if she feels like she is crossing the line. She is a good friend and has a compassionate side. She likes to help others.

     Overall, this book is about family, friendship, love, and choices and filled with adventure and suspense. What I did not like about it was an instant love in this plot, however; I did feel that their love begins to mature and grow. It starts out slow and then gradually picks up speed. With great characters, and a well-developed plot, this book will captivate you from the first page until the very end. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and disaster stories. If you like reading books about the Titanic, then you will definitely enjoy this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars