This is the first book by Jennifer Delamere that I have read and I absolutely adore this book! I need to backtrack and read The Captain's Daughter, which is the first book in this series. This second installment can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Anyone who enjoys a well-written historical romance set in 1881 England will love this book. If you're already a fan of Jennifer Delamere's, then you're in for a treat. If you're not, this book will turn you into one!

The characters Michael and Julia are very real, flawed, and completely lovable. Michael, as a lawyer, is charming, upstanding, hard-working, and intelligent but needs his moral compass and his faith realigned. Julia, a nurse aspiring to matriculate into the women's medical college, is compassionate, dedicated, straight-forward, stubborn, curious, and faithful. Her goal in life is to become a medical missionary to Africa and with this goal in mind, she presses forward, no matter the obstacle. Her faith carries her through many trials and tribulations and ends up helping quite a few people around her.
The plot is well-crafted and the infusion of faith is natural to the story. The setting of Victorian England is captivating and the story itself is totally engaging. As a physician myself, I have been intrigued by the history of women in medicine and the author highlighted so poignantly a segment of what women in the late 1800s went through to obtain their heart's desire and calling.

I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher and via Celebrate Lit Tour. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I have to honestly say that this wasn't my favorite book by Delamere and I struggled a bit more to stay engaged with the plot/storyline at times. The overall premise of the book held a lot of potential and it is definitely a book that can stand alone (as part of a series).

Set in late 19th century England, the book focuses on the uphill battle women faced as they attended medical school in hopes of becoming a doctor.

The main character meets her "interest" after an accident in which she saves his life - and then later finds they are on opposite sides of the table in their fight for women's rights to pursue a medical degree. However she needs help studying for her exams and ends up convincing him to help her out.

I think the hardest part of me was the development of the relationship between the two main characters. There didn't seem to be quite as much "depth" - most of the situations they find themselves in resolve quickly. One thing I did appreciate is the inner conflict one of the main characters undergoes when his profession and changing views collide.

Overall a good peek inside another part of Victorian England and another historical time for women.

History lovers are in for another treat with this second novel in the London Beginnings series from Jennifer Delamere. I love the way that history often surprises us when we dig past the layers of generalizations, by revealing characters who were very forward-thinking for their time. Such is the case with Dr. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and her husband James Anderson, both of whom are actual historical persons and secondary characters in this novel. Although their role in this story is minor, their advice and example are in some ways pivotal to the development of Julia and Michael’s relationship (two professionals whose spheres of expertise may occasionally run into conflict). What’s more, it was a fairly revolutionary approach to marriage for the time in which they were living.

However, the complexities in any relationship between Julia and Michael aren’t limited to perceived gender roles; Michael is currently helping to represent the Earl of Westbridge, who is suing one of the lecturers at the London School of Medicine for Women for comments she made at a public rally to repeal the Contagious Diseases Acts. If they win, the damages will likely force the school to close its door—meaning this case is in direct conflict with Julia’s interests. And yet, when Julia asks Michael to tutor her in Latin so that she can pass her matriculation exam, how can he refuse the woman who saved his life?

I loved everything about this plot and the way it was firmly rooted in a tiny part of history that I would otherwise have never known about. I also enjoyed getting to know Michael and Julia and watching their friendship develop over Latin, of all things! (Okay, I admit my nerd-girl heart really enjoyed that! :-) ) And it’s a well-rounded plot, with a few sub-plots weaving in and out of Michael and Julia’s budding romance. In fact, one sub-plot waits until the very last line of the epilogue to play out, and I’m very curious to know what will follow from that in the next book in the series.

This is definitely a series to check out if you love a solid bite of history with your romance.

The Heart’s Appeal is another vivid historical from Jennifer Delamere, focusing on the contrast in society’s classes as well as the pull for women’s rights in Victorian England.

Into this setting comes practical and driven Julia, who for all her strength and determination still very much has a heart that can be broken. She also loves God deeply and has a heart for those who don’t know Him. This passion motivates her desire to go to medical school, her longheld dream of becoming a missionary doctor to Africa at the heart of her goal. So focused is she on these dreams of her own making that she nearly derails her own chance at true love – and, more importantly, nearly misses the dreams that God has for her instead. And what I love about those dreams is that He takes her own dreams, the ones she is fiercely clinging to, and makes them even better. He doesn’t dismiss them; after all, He created those dreams in her heart – He just shapes them into something that sees the bigger picture.

Oh – and I mentioned true love, didn’t I? Well that’s where Michael comes in – a barrister with a huge conflict of interest where Julia is concerned. That doesn’t, however, stop his heart from getting involved. He also can’t ignore the fact that she saved his life (a great scene – I can’t wait for you to read it!) or that she’s become inextricably a part of his life.

My favorite part of this story, however, isn’t the romance (I can hear your collective gasps!). It’s instead Julia’s heart for her Savior and her tenderness toward those who haven’t met Him yet. Y’all know I don’t like stopping my story for a sermon, but Delamere does a great job of weaving this into the framework of Julia’s character so that her discussions of the Gospel feel organic and natural. I love the thread of the spiritual heritage she and her sisters were given at George Mueller’s orphanage (he is a longtime faith hero of mine), and his practice of Jesus and prayer in every aspect of life has intrinsically shaped Julia’s own walk with God.

Bottom Line: The Heart’s Appeal continues the story of the Bernay sisters in another richly atmospheric and poignant love story. Not only the love between a man and a woman (demonstrated at various levels with different characters) but also the love of a dream and the love of God. Delamere’s writing style is warm and engaging, as are her characters, and the history she includes is intriguing. I am most interested in the ongoing arc related to the Bernay sisters’ father and can’t wait for Cara’s story to see how it all plays out!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

The Heart’s Appeal had such a wealth of history contained within its pages. I loved that Julia spent part of her childhood in one of the orphanages run by George Müller. Adding to the story the probable impact of being raised in this manner by such a man of faith was a great touch.

This story is a great mix of faith, history, and romance. The love the author has for the Lord and for history shines through bright and clear.

I really appreciate that the author didn’t attempt to take the easy road in the conflict of interest Michael experienced because of his attraction to Julia and the fact that he was obligated to assist the man who was trying to shut down the only medical school open to women. Additionally, during this conflict, more details about what was involved in being a barrister were shared.

Reading this book gave me a much greater appreciation for Women’s Suffrage than I had before. I have known of the inequalities between men and women but didn’t really understand the implications in the way that I do now.

While I hesitate in describing this book as “gritty”, that adjective comes to mind. Julia and Edith go to the slums of London to help and to gain medical experience in a clinic there and the circumstances and events that take place reveal deplorable conditions. With this book being about aspiring doctors, there is also quite a bit of discussion about diseases and the treatment of conditions that has the potential to affect people with weak stomachs (which would be me!) The entire story is not this way, but I felt this was worthy of mention so you would perhaps carefully pick the time when you read this. :)


This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net

You can read Jennifer's guest post at AmongTheReads.net


I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me this item. My opinion and review were not influenced by this gift.

How many of you have seen an accident and hesitated to stop and render aide? As we step back in time to the late 1880s we find a young woman who finds herself a witness to an accident. I loved how Julia did not hesitate to help the injured when disaster strikes. She is a very gifted and determined young woman. Her actions save the life of Michael Stephenson and another woman on that fateful day. I admire Julia for her quick thinking and confidence. Her desire to become a medical doctor is within her reach until something gets in her way. I always enjoy stories about women in a different time period who pursue a career that is frowned upon by some simply because they are female. Julia will have a battle to overcome and she will need strength and guidance to not let her dream be taken away.

Michael is thankful for Julia's abilities to save his life after an accident happens. He is a true gentleman and wishes to pay his debt of gratitude to Julia. I loved how Julia was able to get Michael to help her with something that would direct her to becoming a doctor. Michael has a prestigious career as a barrister. He is ambitious and I really liked his energy to be the best at his job. It was very refreshing to read how Julia shared her faith with Michael. She reminds me of a gentle soul who cares for others without hesitation. What happens when Julia finds out that Michael could cause the school she wants attend to become a doctor be shut down?

Family is very important to both Julia and Michael. When things start to heat up with the upcoming court case, will Michael turn his back on Julia? I could feel the anguish from both of them. Their feelings for each other have grown strong but something may tear them apart. The story is like a magical scene of Lords and Ladies as they try to find their standing among the aristocrats. The author brings out a lovely look at the rich and famous during this time period in a way that captures the curiosity of many. I was stunned when the earl said to Julia "You're another of those females who simply will not understand your place. You ought to get back home to your family " I can assure you that did not sit well with Julia.

The story is very captivating and written with historical details that make the characters so realistic. You don't want to miss this enchanting story of a very determined woman who wants to prove that women are qualified to do jobs that will help save lives and open doors for others to reach their destiny. The ending is one you don't want to miss as the court decides if the London School of Medicine for Women will remain open or close their doors forever. Sparks fly between Julia and Michael as they find themselves on opposing sides What will the verdict be? You can find out by grabbing a copy of this mesmerizing story.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Thanks to the recent release of the audiobook, I got through this title in two days, but sadly there is no listing for the audiobook, so I had to use this one. I did get approved for this title on NetGalley, so I guess I have that excuse.

I think I enjoyed this book better than the last one, which I felt was rather far-fetched at the beginning. The story was interesting, and a lot of the details were interesting and well-drawn, especially about the geographical region where the story was set. Some of the details about the early days of women in the medical profession and their struggles to be accepted were fascinating. Of course, I liked the parts about Julia's Latin lessons too, as a Latin student myself, although this was a minor aspect of the story.

The romance was well done without being overwhelming or mushy for the most part (except a couple of scenes): and some of the relationships between secondary characters such as Michael's sister and brother-in-law provided more depth.

So why the lower rating? Two reasons. One was that I found Julia rather interfering. I understand that she wanted to be a missionary and help people, but her actions were not always related to that. At times, she seemed like she was trying to 'fix' everyone else's life and problems. That might work out in Fiction, but it doesn't always do so in real life.

Second: the Americanisms. In some parts of the story, there seemed to be a concerted effort to avoid American terms and phrases, but the lapses stood out. A Londoner talking about police officers on every 'block', which is not and has never been a unit for measuring distance in Britain, was one example. In other places, they used terms like 'gotten' and 'candy'.
I don't know whether the use of certain American terms was a result of deliberate editing choices to make the story more understandable for American readers or not, but I find them jarring.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not influenced by the Publisher and was not required to write a positive one.

Book two in Jennifer Delamere’s London Beginnings series is even better than the first. Which sets a pretty high bar for the final book, but I have faith Delamere will deliver for her readers (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot to say about The Heart’s Appeal).
Delamere creates a vivid picture of life in Victorian England which includes an inside look at the legal system and the conflicting opinions of women moving into the predominantly male profession of physician.
I really liked Julia Bernay. She’s practical and pragmatic, focused and driven, and straight-forward to the point of bluntness sometimes. But because of her tender heart toward broken people—whether it be physical or spiritual—those other qualities don’t hinder her character.
Michael Stephenson is as driven as Julia but with completely different motivations. Despite the differences in their social standings, their being on opposing sides of a court case that may ruin Julia’s future, their divergent life paths, these two form an unlikely friendship.
If they can let go of the grip they have on controlling their futures and listen as God gently redirects them, that friendship just may become more.
In addition to all of that, readers also get to learn more about Captain Bernay (the girls’ father) and are treated to a cameo from Rosalyn and Nate from the first book in the series.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I loved the historical aspect of this story and seeing how difficult it was for a woman to make her way in the medical field and medical school. Despite the odds being stacked against her, Julia works hard for what she believes in. I think I may of liked her story even better than her sister's!

Jennifer Delamere has written an intriguing story about women becoming doctors in a time and place when it wasn't an easy task.

Julia is in London taking the prerequisites to pass her matriculation exam. She has been invited to a lecture by a famous female doctor, but while on the underground, it derailed. Julia was unhurt, but other passengers were injured. One of the passengers was Matthew Stephenson, a barrister who is trying a case that could shut down the women's medical school. While Julia assumed their association was over after their encounter on the train, there were other forces at play.

Jennifer's characters are well-defined, and the settings are written in vivid technicolor. The Heart's Appeal involves some well known historical figures as well as these historical issues. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a lady doctor to cure your ills.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

“There was only one place in England where women could be trained as doctors, and Michael was working for a client who was trying to put it out of business” (location 365). Things become a bit more complicated when Julia, a woman trying to get into that school, witnesses a severe accident and acts to save a life of someone who threatens her future.

It was interesting to read about women trying to become doctors in 1880s London and seeing some of the obstacles they faced. Julia’s belief that God would help her through each obstacle was beautiful…something she learned while in George Mueller’s orphanage. Her faith was so real and authentic. It was a good reminder that we don’t often realize the impact our lived-out-faith has on others.

Both Julia and Michael think they have their lives planned out. Yet they find that some things are out of their control. I enjoyed watching their eyes open to the possibilities around them when other doors shut to them.

This is book two in the London Beginnings series; however, it can easily be read as a standalone. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

London Beginnings:

Book 1: The Captain’s Daughter

Book 2: A Heart’s Appeal

THE HEART'S APPEAL by JENNIFER DELAMERE is a charming love story which takes place in London in 1881. Not only is the historical setting well described, but there is also a strong Christian message.
Julia Bernay is a student at Queen's College on Harley Street where she hopes to qualify to study at the London School of Medicine for Women. She is a nurse but feels the Lord calling her to become a doctor and go to Africa as a medical missionary. Having grown up with her sisters at George Muller's orphanage, she is a well grounded Christian and trusts her Lord implicitly. Julia meets Michael Stephenson, a young barrister, his sister Clarissa, and Laura Maynard, the youngest daughter of Viscount Delaford, in a carriage on the London Underground. There is an accident, Julia saves Michael's life, and life changes for all those involved.
The plot has many twists and turns, the characters are well portrayed and it is an altogether lovely book. This is the first novel I have read by this Author, but it most definitely won't be the last!

This story. Oh man. I’m trying to gather my thoughts but my heart is just so full of Julia and Michael’s story that coherent thought has fled. I had previously read The Captain’s Daughter, but for some reason it didn’t resonate with me as much as this story did. I have a feeling that I’ll be thinking back on this book for a while.

I haven’t read anything by Jennifer Delamere before this story, and now that I have I know I would enjoy more by her. The Hearts Appeal is the second book in the London Beginnings Series. I haven’t read the first one, but don’t feel that it is necessary to enjoy this one. That being said, I wouldn’t mind reading it to get to know Julia’s sister better. This book was unique in so many ways, and I enjoyed being taken on an adventure unlike any before. Julia being in the medical profession on the cusp of when women were allowed to become doctors was interesting. I found myself imagining what the world was like, and how it would be exasperating knowing most men didn’t acknowledge that women could be doctors. Julia was fun to get to know and I enjoyed her interactions with Michael, the barrister whose life she saved. I liked the story of Michael working hard to achieve his position in society, and how much he appreciated his sister. They each have a heart to help others, and while that is a great thing, sometimes it can get you into some trouble. Will they bow to the expectations of others, or decide to forge their own way in a world that is rapidly changing? I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. The author obviously researched both the medical field and the court systems, so the characters were not only fun, but smart too. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another wonderful story by Jennifer. Julia and Michael had quit a few twist and turns in their romance. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Julia Bernay knows exactly what she wants to do with her life--she's going to be accepted to medical school and become a doctor so she can then go to Africa as a medical missionary. Michael Stephenson is establishing his career as a barrister and planning to court the daughter of a viscount in order to improve his social standing and his sister's. When an accident leaves Michael severely injured, Julia is able to save his life, only later finding out that he is one of the barristers working on a case that could shut down the very medical college she wants to attend. Julia asks Michael to tutor her in Latin--her weakest subject on her upcoming entrance exams--and as he does, he finds her changing his mind about the lawsuit, his plans in life, and God...but honor and circumstances stand in the way of them exploring their growing feelings.



This is such a great series! I love reading about the Bernay sisters, all so different from each other. (The series doesn't have to be read in order.) The setting (Victorian England) is so interesting; I really liked seeing how someone from Julia's station lived, as well as the poorer classes she tried to help. I felt like the characters--not just Michael and Julia but others as well--were well-developed and intriguing. The plot moved well and definitely made me want to keep reading! Highly enjoyable!



I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Heart's Appeal is the second book in this series and my second read by Jennifer Delamere. In both books Jennifer Delamere has included aspects that I just don't find to be typical in the other books that I've read from the time period. In The Captain's Daughter Nate and Rosalyn work in the theater. And in The Heart's Appeal Julia is going to school in hopes of pursuing a career as a doctor. These just aren't entirely typical for the time period, although the culture was in the middle of making some big changes right along this time as well. Either way, I enjoyed reading something a bit different from what is expected of the time.

Julia has a pretty one track mind in the beginning of this book. Her thoughts are medical in nature almost all of the time. Even interactions that she has with complete strangers she was more intrigued with their medical needs than their personal story at times it seemed. Of course, she softens a bit and when I think about it, she did really care about the entire person and their needs not just the physical. It just didn't appear that way at first.

I won't say that Michael was hard to like, yet I've definitely found main characters easier to like than him for sure. His love for his family was one of the biggest attractions for him. Yet that was also one of his biggest weaknesses at the same time. I did appreciate his character growth and the path he took throughout the story.

Personally, I found myself questioning what it was about these two characters that drew them to each other so much in the beginning. Of course there was the life saving incident, but the actual tutoring should have been the biggest chemistry and relationship building part, yet I felt there was more "telling" than "showing" in this area. The two declared their feelings at a time when I wasn't sold. As time passed and the events toward the end of the book were actually more what ended up selling me on the couple but as I said, they'd already declared feelings at that point.

To that point Julia has a very strong faith in God which she doesn't hesitate to share with everyone she meets. I personally respected her for doing this, but I can see where some readers might find this annoying. Michael's opposition to God is something that I was surprised wasn't a bigger problem for Julia when it came to thinking about taking their relationship further.

I found the aspects of feminism within this book refreshing as to the true struggles of women during this time period when compared to the messages and struggles of today. That's all I'll say about that.

The Heart's Appeal was an enjoyable read. I had some questions about the depth of the relationship between Julia and Michael given their religious differences and the times the readers was shown that the two were together. I enjoyed the last portion of the book perhaps the best as things started to make more sense to me with the changes the characters were making within themselves that made their feelings and potential relationship make more sense. The Heart's Appeal gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Heart's Appeal? What did you think? Let me know!

The Heart's Appeal
by Jennifer Delamere
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 06 Mar 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Heart's Appeal through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:



Julia Bernal is a strong minded, independent women who comes to London to study to become a doctor in the late nineteenth century. After witnessing a serious accident she is able to help save a man's life though her quick actions!


Michael Stephenson comes from a family that long ago lost there money and respectability, but Michael was able to do what many thought wasn't possible through hard work and his knowledge of the law has allowed him to raise past his families stigma, and find a path to wealth and recognition. But the plans he has laid out for his life are turned upside down when the accident brings Julia into his life.


It does not take long for Michael to discover that Julie is every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. It does not take long for sparks to fly, but can they find common ground?

I give The Heart's Appeal five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

The second installment of the London Beginnings series by Jennifer Delemere focuses on Julia Bernay, orphaned daughter of a ship's captain. She and her sisters, Rosalyn and Cara, grew up in George Müller's orphanage in Bristol, England. After Rosalyn makes a successful start in London, Julie finds the courage (and resources), to move there as well. She plans on furthering her nursing training and studying medicine.

Whilst riding the underground trains to attend a lecture, the train wrecks and Julia uses her medical knowledge as a nurse to save the life of a fellow passenger. Unbeknownst to her, the life she saves belongs to Michael Stephenson, a young barrister involved in a lawsuit against the medical school for women that Julia hopes to attend.

This well-researched novel explores the British social classes during a time of great change in society. Julia's training and upbringing question the long-held beliefs of the aristocracy about the place of the poor in the world. She knows God has called her to use her gifts of healing and empathy to minister to the poor in Africa.

Her growing friendship with Michael makes her question her calling. For Michael, his friendship with Julia throws into disarray all of his long-held plans. Plans he made with his devoted sister to regain their social standing after their father's death.

If you love historical inspirational books, you'll love this one. Careful historical research and attention to details make it a delight to read. You don't need to read the first book in the series in order to enjoy this one (but you might as well, it's a great book, too!).

This is the second book in this series that I have read and enjoyed, and there is a third sister, so there is hope of another book.
Again, the author has set this read in 1870’s England, definitely a man’s world, and there are those that will do all they can to keep it as such.
Our heroine is a woman, Julia, who heart’s desire is to be a doctor, and she uses her skills to save the life of the man that is destined to help her, Michael.
There are twists and turns and several surprises and bombshells, and misguided intentions, but we hope for the Lord to work on these people’s hearts, and we are there to watch things unfold.
Now I wait patiently for the third sister, and her story.
I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.