I just loved this book! It is the best book by this author that I have read. I was able to read this book smoothly and seamlessly. It was a pure delight to read. I just kept thinking about the book all the time and kept picking up up to read in every moment that I had. If I could rate this book higher than a 5 star I would, it was just fabulous. Great job Jennifer Delamere!

"Line by Line" is a romance set in 1881 in England. The historical details about working a telegraph in a shipping business office dominated the story. The main characters had such bland personalities that they came across to me as mainly a way to demonstrate the technology. They're very emotionally detached from events, and the scenes all revolved around the work or the question of marriage.

There was a spinster book that gave advice on how to catch a man, and this could have been funny. Except Alice was unsettled by the advice and uncomfortable that her friends (who knew she's determined to be a spinster) knew that she has the book. Despite the many reasons given to Alice for why she should marry (companionship, financial support, children, etc.), she suddenly changed her mind after one very passionate kiss. So, she wants to get married because she likes kissing? Not a very good reason. It turned out the main reason she wanted to be a spinster was because she enjoyed working the telegraph so much.

Happily, Douglas was very supportive of her having a job, including jobs not normally open to women. He was friends with her and admired her. Only his ambition to secure his future by marrying a wealthy, socially-connected bride got in the way of his considering Alice as a wife. (Well, and her repeated declarations that she would be a spinster for life.) He was a very reserved, serious man who thought only about work. They were a good match and had similar interests. There was no sex or bad language.

In Line by Line, Ms. Delamere pens an enjoyable read highlighting the Victorian working class. It centers around a female character who has chosen the pursuit of a career, not a husband as many of her contemporaries have done. Ms. Delamere has crafted the story of an ambitious young lady who is pursuing a career in a male-dominated business world. The author' research into the field of telegraphy and its contributions for business and industry on a world-wide scale is an engaging backdrop.
I love the hero and heroine and how each faced moments of introspection and soul-searching as the realized that 'the best laid plans' can change. This story is filled with witty conversations and well-plotted romantic moments that will captivate readers. This is my favorite book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Line by Line
by Jennifer Delamere
“Alice McNeil resolved at a young age to travel through life unencumbered by love or marriage, free to make her own decisions. A seasoned telegrapher, she's recently acquired a coveted position at an important trading firm, but when the company's ambitious junior director returns to London, things begin to change in ways Alice could never have imagined.
For Douglas Shaw, years of hard work and ingenuity enabled him to escape a life of grinding poverty. He's also determined to marry into high society--a step that will ensure he never returns to the conditions of his past.
He and Alice form a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, but anything deeper is not in their plans. However, when Alice accidentally raises the ire of a jealous and vindictive coworker who's intent on ruining her life, Alice and Douglas are forced to confront what is truly important in their lives. Will their growing bond give them the courage to risk finding a better way?”
Impressions: I have never read a book by this author and I was happy to find I enjoyed this book. The story was smooth and engaging.
Liked: I liked how self-reflective both Alice and Douglas are as they started to see flaws in their thinking. I think it is good to be self-assessing and reflective of one’s self. It allows for growth. I enjoyed the spinster book and think it was a fun idea. I’m sure it would be an entertaining read.
Disliked: I disliked how the situation was managed at the end with Henley and Company. It seemed odd to trust and respect someone then to act as Mr. Henley does toward Douglas and Alice. It makes Mr. Henley appear as a weak businessman which is not reflected in his success. Overall it just didn’t sit right.
Learned: Money, Money, Money, Money …Money! Money is not the root of evil but the love of money is. Douglas was asked, “Why you are acquiring it, and what will you do with it?” This is a very good question to ask once you start making money. It is easy to get caught up in making money and wanting things but not wise or fulfilling in the end. If you want more information on how to manage your finances check out daveramsey.com.
Quotes:
“If a person is going to spend so much of their life’s blood and sweat on something, it should be something that is elevating in character.”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This was an interesting book. I didn’t know too much about women telegraphers. I enjoyed the mystery and the romance in the book. I’ve read several of this author’s books and each one is good. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the early copy

Line by Line by Jennifer Delamere is a story that will take you back in time. Before the internet and telephone, telegraphy was the means of communication across the globe. Jennifer makes a compelling story about how, not only communication was at the height of industry, but how women were addressed as being intellectually inferior.

Alice McNeil is an independent young woman, who does not feel that she needs a man to complete her life. Her goals as a telegraphist finds her matched with a surly co-worker, who makes nothing but trouble for her. Douglas Shaw pulls himself out of poverty, determined to marry into high society. He and Alice form a friendship, but their growing bond leads them to decisions that change their lives. When the surly co-worker sets Alice up with lies, Douglas sets out to discover the truth. In doing so, he finds out more than he imagined.

The author had done a wonderful job of research which makes the story come alive with how things were in the past. I found the reference to the Spinster book very funny. As the author states at the end there was such a book written in 1901.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

LINE BY LINE by JENNIFER DELAMERE takes place in Victorian England at the time that telegraphy was fast changing business dynamics, in much the same way that the internet is doing in modern day business practices.
I find this really fascinating, especially seeing women coming into their own in this career, working alongside men. Add to this some gentle romance, a wealth of interesting characters and good Christian content and you have a most enjoyable read.
The story takes place in London in 1881. Alice McNeil has procured a prestigious position in the telegraphy department of Henley & Company, who deal in imports of wheat and cotton. Douglas Shaw is Mr Henley's right hand man and he and Alice relate well in that they are both interested in business practices, particularly inventions that benefit businesses financially. Douglas, who comes from abject poverty and has worked hard to rise above his origins, is ambitious and quite a social climber. He encourages Alice to aim for a higher position in the company.
The introduction of "The Spinster's Guide to Love and Romance" and its effect on everything, particularly on Alice's determination to stay unmarried, brings some lively humour into the story.
The book deals with love and marriage, jealousy and relationships between family members, friends and co workers, all against the background of the social norms of the time.
It is a delightful book and one I can highly recommend. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Line by Line
by Jennifer Delamere
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 30 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 05 Aug 2020

I love a good Historical fiction novel! I love the light romance and learning about a time or place that is different than what I know.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bethany House for a great book. I will recommend it to our patrons. Many of our readers like the good Christian books that Bethany House publishes.
5 star

This new series by Jennifer Delamere is one you won’t want to miss! Miss Delamere has written a sweet love story set in England in the late 1800’s. Douglas and Alice are two independent people who are trying to work their way up the business ladder but instead find love in a very unconventional way! Full of drama, romance and a bit of intrigue, I found this book to be a delightful read!

Line by Line is the start of a new series by Jennifer Delamere. This book is a history loving reader's delight. The story revolves around a heroine who is a telegrapher. The Victorian era is full of new inventions and books like this one brings those things to life for the reader. This book also features a visit from Andrew Carnegie. There is fun humor as well sprinkled throughout. I really enjoyed it. There is romance, but I wish it had a bit more. Overall, a very good read.

This is such a delightful beginning for Jennifer Delamere’s new Love Along the Wires series.. It opened my eyes to the tremendous impact of telegraphy on business in England and the development of international commerce—as well as on how people interact with one another in society at large. The story is beautifully told. I loved that the heroine is resolute and faces life challenges head-on, while managing to find both a satisfying career and a loving relationship.

4.5 stars! I really liked this book. I read it in three days and I think that contributed to how much I enjoyed it. It was fun to learn more about telegraphs. I loved both of the main characters, but I also enjoyed many of the side characters. It was a fun story that had people changing for the better! Cute, clean romance.

This book started out a little slow for me. While I found Alice's occupation as a telegrapher and the look at business practices of the day to be interesting, I found Alice's insistence on never marrying a bit overly emphasized; I also found her friend Lucy's insistence that she should marry to be tiresome and really wanted Alice to tell her off! The story picked up for me about 20-percent through, and the final 25-percent was great--particularly the resolution--and moved very quickly.
My favorite things about the book:
the historical setting was very interesting--there's a look at businesses, telegraphy, class differences, societal expectations for women, and more, all artfully woven into the story;
Douglas's journey to realizing there's more to life than business and getting ahead financially and socially;
Alice's intelligence--I love how quick-witted she was how she wanted to learn more about business and had valuable input;
Alice's mishaps when she tried to use a book entitled The Spinster's Guide to Love and Romance to help her, not to find a husband but to get along better with men;
and, as previously mentioned, the resolution. I won't give details so there are no spoilers, but I love the way one character reached out to the other!
Fun start to a new series! 4 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What an amazing read!

I loved so many things about this story. First, the historical setting and the profession of telegraphist, which were both well done and interesting. I also liked the contrast between life in London and life in the country (Alice's family).

Alice is a telegraphist and she values her independence. She's approaching her later twenties and she doesn't want to marry to only become a wife and mother without any education and growth. She's good at what she does and intends to keep single.

Douglas has been traveling in American working for his company and finally returns home to London. He's ambitious and has plans to keep climbing the social ladder, which include marrying an heiress.

When Douglas and Alice meet at the office where they both work, they become friends but soon their relationship develops into something more. Little by little, their attraction grows and it starts upsetting the plans each made before.

One of the things I loved was to see their individual growth and how they changed their minds from what they wanted in the beginning to how they end—together but still individuals.

Can't wait for the next in the series!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is an exceptional story with many wonderful and colorful characters. I was drawn into the story from the very start. A great plot that leads to a story with humor and a lot of soul searching for the main characters. The author does a wonderful job at making the case that even the best laid plans can and will go awry. Learning about the telegraph was a neat tidbit along with how much memorizing went along with it. This is a sweet clean romance that will keep the midnight oils burning for the outcome. There is so much to love about this story!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

A Change of Hearts

Get a fascinating peek into Victorian London’s industrial age and how telegraphy was transforming business and working class life in Line by Line, Book 1 in Jennifer Delamere’s new Love Along the Wires series. Not only did I feel like I had a front row seat to the technological improvements and workplace developments taking place, but I was also reeled in to the emotional struggles and changes experienced by the hero and heroine, Douglas and Alice. Each had envisioned their own predetermined route to success in life until some momentous events brought about deep soul-searching as to what was really important and whether or not they should change course.

This poignant story was not without its laugh-out-loud moments, however, and had several humorous quips sprinkled throughout, many of which were related to Alice’s purchase of a particular book and the advice contained therein.
I so love a historical fiction book that not only pulls me in with great storytelling, but also teaches me something I hadn’t previously known or considered. That’s what you will find in this and other books by Ms. Delamere: wonderful, inspiring writing woven with informative and interesting facts. Am looking forward to seeing other characters from Line by Line appear in their own stories. Great start to a new series!

#LinebyLine #NetGalley #BethanyHouse #JenniferDelamere

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own.