Starting off slowly with what feel like lots of backstory, The Heart’s Appeal gains traction and tells an entertaining story of two people who struggle to get out of their own way trying to achieve their goals while fighting their growing attraction. The story is set in England, but at times the dialogue feels modern and American which I found distracting. The character development is well-done, and the relationship between Julia and Michael realistic and enjoyable. They are drawn to each other by more than physical attraction. Each appreciates the other’s intelligence, humor, and integrity which creates a solid foundation and authentic bond. Descriptions about attire and social customer immersed me in the era of the latter part of the 19th century. I enjoyed the fact the author used the real location of the London ¬School of Medicine for Women and its founder Dr. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and the information about them was interesting. I like a book that makes me want to do further research about a topic, and The Heart’s Appeal successfully intrigued me to find out more.

The Heart's Appeal was a nice read. I liked the characters and seeing how Julia's story turned out.

The romance was okay, but not a favorite. I liked Michael's sister and her story... her husband seemed to really love her.

All in all, an enjoyable story. The ending was good and I am looking forward to reading the final book in this series soon.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

This was a fun one. I appreciated the practicality and drive of Julia - especially in contrast with her previous sister's book. Writing these in 3's as seems to be the pattern can be difficult in being able to find the balance between family and individuality. You don't want them too different because they are sisters who grew up with each other, but too similar and it gets boring.

Julia's bravery and willingness to work with the poor in the slums reminded me a bit of "Call the Midwife" and the women who were willing to go where others weren't to keep people healthy.

Michael also presents someone who is thought through and facing a real conflict. He also felt like a good pair to Julia. Not someone who is going to be barreled over by her will but also won't clash too much with her.

There was more in the plot about the legalities of women's rights and discussions of the idea that a woman should have the right to choose her life rather than fall to the whims of her father/brother/husband whichever male who happens to be "In charge" of her.

Overall it was well thought out, well written and fun to read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Hearts Appeal by Jennifer Delamere is about two people Julia Bernay and Michael Stephenson. These two individuals come from different sides of the tracks and living on opposing sides. Julia Bernay is longing to become a doctor in London of the 1880s. At this time, it seemed awful for women to become doctors. However, Julia was trying her best to become one. She had gotten through nursing school and was preparing for her schooling to be come a doctor. However, her school of choice is battling a lawsuit.

Michael Stephenson is a barrister for the Grey's Inn district of London. Michael has been assigned to serve as the lead lawyer for the case against the women's doctor school.

As Julia is on her way to a conference, the train she is on derails. Coincidentally, Michael is also on this train with his sister and his girlfriend. Michael is seriously injured and a metal spike stabs him in his neck artery, but Julia with her expert  training is able to apply the correct pressure and saves him until a real doctor comes.

Julia worries over her patient and wants to make sure he is okay and that she treated him correctly. She soon arrives at his sister's house and meets Michael. Soon Michael decides to teach Julia Latin for her medical exam in exchange for saving his life. Michael agrees against his sister's orders to help Julia reach her goals. This is entirely against what he is working toward.

Will Michael and Julia get past there differences and reveal deep secrets? Will Michael and Julia help each other succeed? And the question you are most wondering about do they fall in love? Well... You are just going to have to grab your own copy.  Although I will give you a slight hint, I believe there will be a sequel . :-) I can't wait.

Before I forget I want to thank the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, for letting me review this book for my honest opinion. It was a great read and I can't wait for the next edition.

The Heart's Appeal is an interesting and enjoyable novel that delves into the heart of the matter...what is more important, love and forgiveness, or one's own ambitions no matter the cost? The plot of this novel moves quickly and is well written with some suspense, moments of sadness and anger, and of course romance. The story was both entertaining and convicting, and I enjoyed learning more about what it meant to be a female doctor in training at a time when it was very much still frowned upon in society. I liked Julia and Michael, and I thought they were well developed with relatable flaws and strengths. I enjoyed watching them work through their difficulties and learn to trust in God's plan instead of their own strengths. Overall, I enjoyed this novel.

I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Heart’s Appeal (London Beginnings, Book 2) by Jennifer Delamere
Hannah's rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks


“The Heart’s Appeal” was a very good read and a pleasant second installment in the London Beginnings series. I had been a trifle hesitant because Julia isn’t presented as the most winsome character in the first book, with her abrupt ways and her dedication to her goals. Once I got to know her in this book, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the parts from her point of view and loved learning why she was so driven to succeed in her quest to become a doctor and cross the seas. Julia’s call to be an overseas missionary doctor is a big part of her character in book one, so I was interested to find out what made that her dream.

So...book one, you ask. Yes, there is some of Julia’s personal background told in the first book, as well as the backstory of why the sisters have questions about their father’s fate at sea. But the story of her goal to be a doctor and the tale of her romance is entirely contained in this book, so while there are a few spoilers of book one and a few other small details, book two can be read alone without problem. This is a complete story in itself.

Things I Loved

The whole angle of Julia’s passion to heal bodies and her drive to learn how to be a better doctor was a delight to read. The detail of the tests and studies she had to do in order to enter the school for doctors was very interesting reading.

Also, Michael’s portions as he seeks to find the meaning of true justice while establishing his practice as a new barrister is truly interesting. Delamere writes these portions so well that we can feel his angst as he worries through what right really is.

I also loved Julia’s past of having grown up in George Müller’s orphanage with her sisters. It lent an interesting uniqueness to the backstory and it was a plus to find a recommended reading list in the back for anyone who wished to find out more about the orphanage.

Then there was the side story of Michael’s sister and brother-in-law. I really enjoyed their bits and felt that it really added a lot to the story for me.

Things I Didn't Love

Given her very Christian, faith-filled upbringing, I felt it to be a bit of a stretch that she allowed herself to feel so much attraction to a man who was agnostic. I just had a rather strait-laced idea of her and her initial reactions to him despite knowing the state of his faith didn’t quite compute. Because of that, it took longer for me to be invested in them as a possible couple. A few times some more modern American terms and some modern thinking crept in and tugged me out of the era, but overall Delamere did a good job with keeping in the mood/tone of Victorian England.

Content Advisory & Conclusion

Instances of kissing, drinking alcohol, and a number of detailed (but not graphic) medical situations. A train crash with injuries and an incident of police violence in a bad part of town.

I’m glad I got the chance to read this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend The Heart’s Appeal to lovers of rich historical detail, medical history, and those looking for a story that's hard to put down.


Purchase your copy of The Heart’s Appeal on Amazon.




Book 1 of the London Beginnings series, The Captain's Daughter is also available.




Hannah Gridley has been a dedicated bookworm since the age of 4. By day she works for a local nonprofit; in her spare time she works in a bookstore, teaches music, plays violin in two local orchestra groups and in her church, and enjoys hiking. Favorite reading genres include Christian, historical fiction, suspense, and vintage/classic novels. When she isn't working, writing, or reading, she spends money adding books to her home library or collecting fountain pens and fancy inks.







Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

One of the things that I love most about being a book blogger - is discovering new authors. I especially love when I find a book that I learn so much from. This author is in both catagoreies. Travel back to the 1880's, London. It's so hard to imagine what Julia must have gone through trying to acheive her dreams. I loved the well written characters, the tension between Julia and Michael, the settings and so much more. I have not read the first book in this series, I will be going back to do so. I really enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

Julia Bernay has every intention of becoming a doctor, now that Queen Victoria's new laws allow women to study medicine. However, there are many people who oppose this new law, and a lawsuit is begun in order to prevent these women doctors. Michael Stephenson, the barrister heading up the lawsuit, staunchly opposes women doctors. But when an injury threatens his life and Julia saves him, he begins to question everything he believed.

The Heart's Appeal is a sweet historical romance set in the late nineteenth century when women were beginning to gain rights in England. Julia is a determined young woman who wants to use her skills to minister on foreign mission fields, which would have been totally against her male-dominated culture. So yes, this is somewhat a feminist book, capturing only the best of the movement in the time when the struggle was the hardest. It was great to see a woman rise above her circumstances to follow her passion and to help others. And seeing other characters change around her because of her purity and passion was pretty cool.

One of the things that stuck out to me the most in this book was the parts that mentioned Julia's faith. She wants to be a missionary doctor, demonstrating her faith in foreign mission fields. Also, she and her sisters were raised in one of George Muller's orphanages, and the testimony of faith that he left influenced her. She confidently followed what she believed was God's will for her, believing firmly that God would provide a way, even though it seemed impossible. Her faith that the money and resources she needed to attend the medical school astounded Michael, and it was encouraging to me because I see similar situations in life when radical faith is necessary.

I really enjoyed this book! I recommend it to fans of Christian, historical romance.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for sharing them.

Part of a series but can be read on its own. The main characters are both strong and intense and the reader is able to get to know them as their deeper layers were revealed.

Jennifer Delamere shows readers an interesting glimpse of the medical and legal fields in England in The Heart's Appeal. The second book in her London Beginnings series, this installment stands well on its own. While the plot itself was interesting, and I like Michael's character, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy Julia. What Delamere surely meant to be endearing, I found obnoxious. I applaud the attempt at creating a strong female lead, but it came off as pandering rather than inspiring. Again, Michael's personal struggles and dilemmas were believable, but Julia's seemed contrived and overblown. Delamere's writing was decent and the plot moves quickly. Without Julia's pushy petulance, I would have enjoyed the novel much more.

This is the second book in the London Beginnings series, and I liked it even more than the first one. The series focuses on the three daughters of a lost sea captain, Rosalyn, Julia, and Cara Bernay, who were placed in an English Orphanage after their mother died. The first book focused on Rosalyn, the eldest, and now we are looking at Julia. Julia is a nurse who wants to become a doctor, but it is the 1880's and medical schools are just beginning to open up to women.

This book is uplifting and encouraging as it focuses on Julia's struggle to qualify for medical school. The story builds on romance, action, suspense, wonderfully created characters, and detailed historic settings which all come together to create an intriguing story. The best part of all is Julia's strong faith and her call to share the Gospel with others. Michael, the hero of the story, is focused on becoming a well-known, wealthy lawyer as he and his sister had lost everything when their father died and left overwhelming debt. He has no use for God or faith anymore. But when his life intersects with Julia's during a train accident, it starts a chain reaction for both Michael and Julia that will change the direction and plans they both have for their lives.

I love the ending as it definitely leaves this series open to discover what happens to Cara the youngest of the daughters and to unearth the truth about their father.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

The second book in Jennifer Delamere’s London Beginnings series, The Heart’s Appeal proves as captivating as the first. Delamere once again sets the historical scene for her story excellently and delves into fascinating elements of the Victorian era—class distinctions, women’s rights, and the medical profession. With the addition of romance, faith, and strong leading characters, The Heart’s Appeal is a most appealing read indeed, and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Fans of historical fiction, be sure to add this book (and The Captain’s Daughter, if you haven’t read it yet) to your reading list—it’s a sweet one you won’t want to miss.

What a delightful and intriguing read! Entirely unpredictable and packed to the brim with such a variety of people and character, that despite it being one of the lengthier novels I've read in a while - I finish it feeling quite satisfied.

I never quite know when these kind of stories are written, to what extent the author will draw on modern day attitudes and try to throw them into a historical setting. It can utterly ruin the accuracy of a period. My lack of expertise on this subject leads me to wonder how forward thinking people actually were, however I really got the feel that she got the right balance in this case. All aspects of opinions seem to be reasonably represented. This is where I am always appreciative of a good set of author notes, and I enjoyed reading the research behind the book.

Though there were several passages I lost interest in, and could skim across them easily, I felt that the pace of the development of friendship between Julia & Michael was right. Their interactions were natural, and I felt that even though some do not like it when a couple are drawn to each other despite suffering religious opinions - I found it genuine. Who are we to assume that people are only drawn to each other when every single part of them perfectly aligns? I'd argue this is very rarely the case. Michael is as forward thinking as Julia, yet his past experiences have led him to have doubts over the existence of a God. Julia on the other hand, despite her long driven goals, cannot help falling for a man that has wonderful morals and genuine goodness - regardless of his faith. I prefer to read stories that bring the reader to the realities of life. Some couples never are able to resolve these spiritual divisions and yet still succeed in love and life. For those that desire these conflicts to be made smooth, they should be content at the turn around.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, full of eclectic characters. Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC. This is my honest review.

I'm jealous! Green-eyed with envy! That's hard to do for someone who is blue-eyed. Why? Julia Bernay. That is why. She is beautiful, smart, brave and refuses to let the time and culture she lives in control her or her desires to become a doctor. She stands her ground and even sticks her nose where it don't belong just to help out a friend. Then there is Michael, who without warning is injected into Julia's life and interrupts her well laid plans for her future. Julia begins to encounter different paths to the one she thought she would never deter away from but life happens. Decisions must be made, she asks herself "What is God's will for my life?" She truly sets out to do God's will. But is it His will or her own desires? A great read! Are you seeking God's will or your own desires? I ask myself that question as well.

Blessings,

Karen

Rating: 5*

I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.

This is the first book I've read by Jennifer Delamere and believe me, it won't be the last. The Heart's Appeal is the second in a series, but since I was privileged to be given this book, I did not read the first book. That does not matter at all.

The characters were interesting and believable. They held my interest throughout the book. As in any good book, you get a mix of personalities and this book did not disappoint in that manner.

Another thing I liked about this book was that it wasn't a typical romance. It was about a women in the 1880's and how they were trying to break out of the mold set for them. This book was about women wanting to become doctors, not totally, but this was the theme. The book held my interest from cover to cover.

I always try to comment on the editing. This book was very well done.

Would I recommend this book, yes, most definitely.. If you like historical fiction and/or a good romance, you will enjoy this.

Last, but certainly, not least this is a Christian book. Was it preachy? No, did it have sound doctrine, yes. Was everyone in the book a Christian, no. Did everyone end up a Christian, no.

First book I’ve read by this author. Set in late 19th century London where female doctors were nearly unheard of and often looked down upon, this story deals with a court case against one female doctor and by association the London College of Medicine for Women.
Well-developed characters and storyline.
I received this title from the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the historical setting of this book, especially the details of the struggle women had to become physicians during those times.
I thought that Julia was an interesting combination of bluntness, honesty, compassion, and strong faith. The dramatic opening in the first chapter certainly caught my interest, and I wanted to continue to follow the story to see how things turned out for Julia and Michael. Although this is the second book in the series, I had not read the first book. That did not lessen my enjoyment of this one. I’ll be interested in reading other books in this series.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion about this book.

This is Jennifer's second novel and I think she did a smashing job. While the genre is definitely drama, a genre that I can struggle with, I didn't have a problem getting through the story. While I sometimes got frustrated with Michael and his stubborn heart, I never stopped cheering for him. (...and his sister! I confess I wanted to punch her at times, but she winds up with some redeeming qualities by the end.)

I particularly enjoyed the look into the early days of woman physicians and the pressure and prejudice they endured. It was fascinating to learn about medical practices of the time (another confession, I skipped some paragraphs because I'm terribly squeamish, though nothing gets graphic, I assure you I'm just a wimp) and to live inside a female doctor's head. Even in contemporary fiction, I feel like we don't see a lot of female doctors, so to have it in a historical setting was intriguing.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book.

I received a complementary copy of this book. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The two main characters, Julia and Michael, felt they needed to make sacrifices to achieve their dreams.  Michael felt obligated to his sister and their struggle to survive.  Julia felt she must give up having a husband and a family to become a doctor.

Both discovered that with GOD they didn't have to make these sacrifices at all.  Julia thought she knew her destiny.  Michael discovered that he had to listen to his heart.

Wonderful story of the difficulties Julia and her female colleagues experienced to go to medical school. I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend to friends and family.



I received this free to review.

Strong-minded and independent Julia Bernay comes to London to study medicine and become a doctor--a profession that has only just opened up to women. She witnesses a serious accident, and through her quick actions saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael Stephenson.

Coming from a family that long ago lost its money and its respectability, Michael Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought was impossible. Hard work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to rise above his family's stigma and set him on the path to wealth and recognition. But his well-laid plans are upended when the accident brings Julia into his life.

Michael soon discovers he's met a woman every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. Sparks fly--but will they find common ground?

An interesting read about the struggle women had in becoming doctors. Even though Julia saved Michael's life she still wasn't looked upon as good enough to be a doctor just because she was a woman. Nurse was fine but men were the only ones smart enough to be doctors.

I judge books on: does it hold my interest and is it one I would consider reading again. I can say yes to both. I recommend this book to everyone.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in anyway.