Skip to main content

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

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Right Worthy Woman by Ruth P. Watson: A Book Review

A Right Worthy Woman Author: Ruth P. Watson Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Atria Books Release Date: 2023 Pages: 303 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the vein of The Personal Librarian and The House of Eve , a “remarkable and stirring novel” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author) based on the inspiring true story of Virginia’s Black Wall Street and the indomitable Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who became the first Black woman to establish and preside over a bank in the United States.       Maggie Lena Walker was ambitious and unafraid. Her childhood in 19th-century Virginia helping her mother with her laundry service opened her eyes to the overwhelming discrepancy between the Black residents and her mother’s affluent white clients. She vowed to not only secure the same kind of home and finery for herself, but she would also help others in her community achi...

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The AncientWorld by Adrienne Mayor: A Book Review

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The Ancient World Author:  Adrienne Mayor Genre: Nonfiction, History Publisher: Princeton University Press Release Date: 2014 Pages: 530 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Amazons—fierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known world—were the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons.      But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging, and lavishly illustrated book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrio...

Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley: A Book Review

Queen of Exiles Author: Vanessa Riley Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: William Morrow Release Date: 2023 Pages: 447 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Acclaimed historical novelist Vanessa Riley is back with another novel based on the life of an extraordinary Black woman from history: Haiti’s Queen Marie-Louise Christophe, who escaped a coup in Haiti to set up her own royal court in Italy during the Regency era, where she became a popular member of royal European society.       The Queen of Exiles is Marie-Louise Christophe, wife and then widow of Henry I, who ruled over the newly liberated Kingdom of Hayti in the wake of the brutal Haitian Revolution.      In 1810 Louise is crowned queen as her husband begins his reign over the first and only free Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. But despite their newfound freedom, Haitians still struggle under mountains of debt to France and indiffe...