The Love Note – Joanna Davidson Politano

The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano
Also by this author: A Midnight Dance
Published by Revell on October 20, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Historical
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five-stars

Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1859 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.

The Love Note is another amazing story from Joanna Davidson Politano. This is a story of a lost love letter, and its vast impact, bringing much chaos, but ultimately pushing each finder to be their best.

One thing, that really sets this book apart for me, and leaves me just a tiny bit in awe, is the quotes scattered throughout. One of my favorites:

“Do away with petty criticisms and subtle corrections, and leave the fixing of your spouse to God. It frees you up to simply love and enjoy them, which will prove a greater influence in the end.”

These impart so much wisdom and truth, and complement the story beautifully. In this story, the main character, Willa, discovers an old love letter hidden away in a desk. She is determined to solve this forgotten mystery and discover who missed out on the love of a lifetime.
She takes a position as a nurse at Crestwicke, the estate from where the letter originated.

On her arrival there, the letter does nothing but create problems. It gets lost and found numerous times, and each time the finder assumes the letter is meant for them, and this indeed brings about much conflict and many issues.

At first, I found it a bit unrealistic, and even slightly astounding that so many assumed the famed letter had been written just for them. But then, I also realized the value, and how it drew them to new heights, and helped them reach beyond themselves, and pushed them to reach their full potential.

Politano has become one of my ‘must-read’ authors, and this book has cemented that even more firmly in my mind. I just love her voice, the characters, the plot, the setting, all of it. She has a way of weaving words, showing deep truths in beautiful prose. Truths about love, about marriage, about God, about forgiveness.

And then, there’s the storyline. What a plot. So many twists and turns, oh my! Talking of surprises, this one is just full of them. I had no idea what come next!

I especially loved Willa, and the way she was so determined to advance herself in the medical field in a day where this was deemed impossible for females. This path that seemed so clearly laid out before her had many hard things, all of which came together in unexpected ways to help her become a better person.

I also loved the secondary characters. Each one was displayed in so many ways. Their flaws were revealed bit by bit, and I learned that not one of them was who they at first appeared to be (Isn’t this how life really is though?!). I really loved the way they found the redemption and resolution they needed.

I read Joanna Politano’s  books because I know that they are truth-filled and very likely I will be challenged in my own journey of life. I find her stories to speak to my heart, right where I most need to hear it, and then help me learn and grow.

five-stars