The Love Note is the second book that I have had the chance to read by Joanna Davidson Politano, and after finishing I can say without a doubt that she truly is a unique voice among the Christian fiction genre... not just for the unique stories she presents, but because of the beautiful style in which they are written. They have a timeless style that is just absolutely beautiful to read.

In this book we meet the very independent Willa Duvall. Willa dreams of becoming a doctor despite being female in 1865. She likes the idea of romance, but doesn't think it's the end all be all for women, and certainly not for her. When she finds an old letter, she takes on a nursing job at Crestwicke Manor to try to find the intended recipient. Not only does the letter turn her life upside down, reuniting her with her childhood friend Gabe... but it seems to turn the lives of ALL the residents of Crestwicke Menor upside down as well. With tales of romance, buried secrets and elements of great mystery, it was an absolutely beautiful story... and so unlike the classic romance that one might expect from the name. I cannot say much without giving it away, but I truly could not get enough. It tells us a great story of the true impact that words can have on each of us... and also of the importance of love and forgiveness as well.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this is certainly one not to be missed.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano captures the innate desire by all to be accepted and loved by others. Politano's style of writing never disappoints. Readers are treated to in-depth character development, historical accuracy, genuinely enjoyable characters, and mysteries to be solved.

Once opened, prepare to be swept away into the emotionally and socially complicated world of Willa Duvall. Her character struggles with her desires and preconceived notions of the world and what it has to offer. As the story develops, readers are bound to feel some connection to at least one character and his or her personal struggles. Not wanting to give away too much, suffice it to say that the way the love note affects each character is beautifully written.

One aspect of The Love Note which is especially appreciated is the fact that everything is not resolved in a two-day timeline. Characters are given time and in some cases a lifetime to develop themselves and become who they want to be. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read for those who enjoy reading about genuine love, intrigue, or historical fiction.

The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano is an excellent historical fiction that kept me interested throughout.

Setting: 1860s Victorian England
Characters: Main Character: Miss Willa Duvail- wonderfully depicted young woman that seems to be at a crossroads in life.

Intricate Plot: She wants to pursue medicine, like her father, at a time where women were not encouraged to do so. He wants her to set aside her “silly dreams” and settle into an appropriate marriage. Willa feels that there is not room for both in her life. Work or love, not both. They are at an impasse when an agreement is made for her to travel to Chestwicke Manor to participate in a challenging nursing position and if things do not settle, she is to marry someone of his liking. It is not of coincidence that Willa has found a mysterious love letter from a desk that has come from this exact manor. She goes onward in hopes of finding the true recipient of the letter within the manor. It gets misplaced and we as readers get to travel with it amongst person to person, relationship to relationship and see how its presence brings forth many misunderstandings, reflections, hopes, dreams, losses, and thoughts within each person that crosses its path. Through it all, we find the answers we are seeking, as does Willa as she finds the love that she had and wanted all along, as well as her purpose in life that she was looking to unearth throughout this journey.

I enjoyed the twists, turns, surprises, and complexities created by the author to end up with this multiple-layered romantic and mysterious plot that kept me engaged throughout. Being able to peak inside the minds of so many gave me visions of so many lives. The intimacy that was created with each character is truly unforgettable. All the characters were imperfect, complex, flawed, yet fascinating and more alike then one initially thinks. All are deep down hoping for the same thing, they may go about it in different ways, but nevertheless the same.

I enjoyed the plot, pacing, reveals, and ending. I also enjoyed the wonderful quotes that were tastefully added at the beginning of the chapters. Perfect!

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Revell Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Instagram, Amazon, and B&N accounts immediately. Publication Day: 10/20/20.

The Love Note, Joanna Politano’s latest, takes the reader back in time to Brighton, England in 1859 and is the second of her four books that I’ve read.

Willa Duvall has gained a reputation for collecting and disgarding marriage proposals. She has no interest in settling for being someone’s wife when she wants to be their doctor. But society and 19th-century culture keep her from her goal.

As she digs through her desk one day, she find an unopened, unsigned letter that she deduces belongs to someone at Crestwicke Manor where the desk came from. With pressure to marry coming from her father, she makes a bargain with him to land a lengthy nursing job or marry a man of her father’s choice. Thus starts her time at the manor.

She and others at Crestwicke fall under the influence of the anonymous letter. As it finds its way into various hands, it affects that person’s outlook on life and love.

With two of her books under my belt, Joanna Politano is quickly becoming a favorite author. Her stories have that 19th century gothic, Jane Eyre feel to them.

The Love Note is told in Willa’s first person and other characters’ third person POVs. The writing is first class, the characters both mysterious and tragic, and the setting has just the right amount of atmosphere to give it that dreary English countryside, somewhat eerie feel.

However, it’s a lovely, sentimental tale with an ending that totally blew me away with its twist and sweetness. If I could manage it, I’d give this book eight stars. Since I can’t, I’ll give it a full five.

In "The Love Note," by Joanna Davidson Politano, Willa is a young lady who is interested in science, not romance. Determined to be a doctor despite what society thinks, she spurns many proposals, much to her father's dismay. Finally, her father's patience wears thin and he gives her one last ultimatum: fulfill a rather difficult medical assignment or marry a man of his choosing. While on assignment, Willa discovers a love note from the past and tries to uncover its rightful own. Will she uncover love of her own along the way?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A light touch is my best description of this book. While there are several interesting, strong characters in this book the real main character is a single piece of paper. And the plot is how this single piece of paper with barely a few hundred words can have such varying and intense effects on the unique situations and characters in the novel.

This sweet soft romance centers around Willa, who is definitely not looking for romance. Lightly dealing with historical occurrences and situations, Willa is a woman who thinks she knows exactly what she wants. But it’s a struggle when you want what is socially acceptable for men but not for you as a woman.

Counter this with Gabe, a man of quiet strength who knows who he is. And a variety of characters who are trying to do the right thing either for the family or for themselves. A spirited horse adds a nice touch and a discussion point for how relationships work.

Like most light romances, this is a predictable tale but the letter adds just the right amount of twist to make this tried and true plot line more intriguing and satisfying. The ending was a little too abrupt for my liking as even though I knew what would happen, I would have liked just a little more closure. Maybe the author was leaving a space for another book? One can hope. A pleasant read that will leave you with a contented feeling.

The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Joanna Davidson Politano brings readers another mystery styled story about love – losing it, finding it and what it really means.

Love. A word that means many things to many people. Flippantly used on a daily basis by most of us without understanding the full impact of its meaning. In my life I have come to understand that love has many facets and until you experience them, you cannot have a complete picture of love. This book does an excellent job of bringing some of the most important facets of love to light. Sacrifice, Courage, Time and Dedication are four of the most prominent featured here. The story begins with Willa Duvall, a young nurse who dreams of becoming a doctor. Too bad the medical schools in England do not admit women to study medicine beyond nursing. But she is determined to find a way, even taking on her father’s attempts to marry her off instead of going to school. An agreement between the two might give Willa the chance to prove herself and give her a chance to return a letter she found in her writing desk. A beautifully penned love note was tucked in the side crack of the desk’s paneling and Willa aches with the longing she reads there. Knowing the desk came from the Crestwicke estate, Willa sets off to answer their ad for a nurse/companion for the formidable Golda Gresham. Having known the Greshams since her childhood, Willa holds great hope that she will not only be able to do her job but also discover the rightful owner of the letter. But her hopes are not reality and Willa finds herself in the middle of serious family drama filled with bitterness and suspicion. Soon after her arrival, the note finds its way into the hands of a lonely kitchen maid who wrongly believes it to be written to her. It then finds its way into the hands of other members of the household, bring with it various actions and reactions that shake everyone up. Wishing she could have kept the note hidden until she found out the truth, Willa turns to her childhood friend, Gabe Gresham, as well as Aunt Maisie to help her figure out the mystery before her time at Crestwicke comes to an end. With many twists, turns, revelations and secrets, this story plays out in perfect timing. Love that was down to embers flares again with new life, the hope for love long passed by is answered at last and love never expected is found by it’s most staunch adversary, forever changing the lives of all who have read the note. My favorite line that is oft repeated is: “Matched souls always find their way back to one another, for they seek refuge in the same place.” It applied so well to all the characters and their situations, regardless of how different each one was from the other. And while I enjoyed the parts of the story that focused on Willa and Gabe, I think the best parts featured Golda and Peter and Burke and Clara. It was so wonderful to see their stories of love, including the tough times when it seemed love was lost forever. Their real, raw emotions and heartbreaking despair over the loss of that precious gift was what made the story really fantastic. It’s not often that we have the chance to read of a love story that blooms again and I was so pleased to read this one. I will say that there were some disjointed parts of the story, especially towards the end. I wish Celeste and Dr. Tillman had been given a bit more page time and that Willa’s time in America was described further. I loved the inclusion of an aging H.W. Longfellow and how much his writings added to the story. It’s always fun to read of a fictional account of a historical figure. I will certainly be recommending this story to others in the hope they will enjoy it as I did. Hopefully there will be another such lovely book coming out soon.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I really liked the premise of this book and how much impact a love note can have. At times though it felt confusing as she switched from one person to the others point of view and I would find myself trying to remember who is currently the one I am reading about. I also felt it dragged along slowly at times and I almost wanted to skip ahead so I could just see what happened. #netgalley #thelovenote

The Love Note is my second Joanna Davidson Politano book, and I was not disappointed. Once again, she’s crafted an engaging tale that keeps you turning pages. This book sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. Politano has a way of tapping into a reader’s emotions and drawing them into the story. From the moment Willa finds the love note, I was hooked.

What follows is an engrossing mystery that kept me up late. Paired with the misunderstandings and compelling characters, I couldn’t help but find excuses to stick my nose back into this book until I finished it in the wee hours of the morning.

Willa’s strength translates well for modern-day readers. While imperfect and sometimes clueless, her goals are relatable. I enjoyed the slow-burn romance and watching her relationship with those in the manor develop. Politano managed to tap into emotions I didn’t realize were under the surface. Perhaps that's why I had such a hard time letting go of this book. Even now, I’m tempted to reread it and see if it impacts me the same.

I think what stuck with me the most, though, was the spiritual thread. I love the emphasis on God’s love and the importance of a relationship with Him.

Overall, The Love Note is an engaging tale with romance and mystery that historical fans will love.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

The Love Note is a historical novel set in Victorian England. Willa Duvall is a doctor's daughter who longs to become a doctor herself. When she finds a mysterious love note in an old writing desk, she goes to Crestwicke Manor as a nurse in order to look for the story behind the letter. This move leads her back to her childhood sweetheart, Gabe Gresham, and his family. Willa misplaces the note and everyone who finds it imagines that it is for them, with many unexpected consequences. As Willa balances her affection for Gabe and her desire to become a doctor, she comes closer and closer to solving the mystery.

I wanted to read this novel because I have enjoyed earlier books by the author Joanna Davidson Politano. I love Victorian settings and found the idea of an old note found particularly appealing.

The Love Note started a bit slowly for me but once Willa found her way to Crestwicke it became impossible for me to put the book down! The setting of the old, almost gothic, manor was dramatically evoked and there is a large cast of characters who are touched by this letter and the mystery.

I love the juxtaposition between Willa's scientist's mind and her longing for Gabe, like this passage:

"Huddled over John Snow’s Infectious Diseases and Germ Theory in the dimming light that evening, I marked passages about microscopic pathogens on medical instruments and forced myself to concentrate. I glanced up at my patient, who silently stabbed at her cross-stitch project in an ornate striped chair by the hearth. When Gabe appeared in the yard below striding toward the stables, all concentration disintegrated. Moments later, his stallion burst from the doors and galloped toward the hill. I felt a tug on my heart. Meet me at the ruins." (Kindle location 770).

The Love Note was a wonderful read and will surely be on a list of my favorites for this year. I enjoyed Willa as a character and admired her intelligence and determination. I loved Willa and Gabe as a romantic pairing. (Gabe is one of my favorite recent book boyfriends!) The setting is gothic perfection. The Love Note is a must read for fans of historical fiction, gothic settings, inspirational fiction (handled with a light, deft touch), and historical romance.

It is not terribly often you read a book and are sick inside when it is finished because it is one you found so good. I have read some really good books lately, but this one was excellent.
The unique premise behind it, a woman wanting to be a doctor, stuck as a nurse, being pressured to marry was not all that unique, but the note driving her was.
I think often there are love stories where things are rushed, the premise of waiting for love is not demonstrated, yet in this one, it was. It was not only encouraged, but fostered. Beautiful story that I highly recommend,

A thoroughly enjoyable romance with layers of depth. There are multiple characters that add richness and multiple points of view. I love how all the story archs creatively weave together through a single note. I was pleasantly surprised several times and was not able to predict the story early on, which made it engaging and captivating. Perhaps my favorite part of this book are the scientist’s observations on love at the beginning of each chapter. There are multiple lines I have highlighted for future reference because they are full of wisdom, insights and hope. Highly recommended, thought provoking book that will stay with you long after the conclusion. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

2020 has truly been a year of great fiction for me, with stories that have truly moved me. Perhaps because of the tumultuous times, I’ve found refuge and solace in fiction. Filled with richly crafted characters and constant affirmations of faith, Joanna Davidson Politano’s The Love Note is a gift for both inspirational and historical fiction lovers.

I pounced on The Love Note the moment I saw the cover art and title. As a lover of classical artwork, I was instantly drawn in by the woman reading the letter. The portrait invites the viewer to take a peek over the woman’s shoulder and read those mysterious lines. The title also reminded me of stories and movies I’d adored as a child, all centered around love letters and the past. No doubt about it folks, I was hooked, and upon reading, happily fell headlong in love with this story.

The premise sounds like any historical romance you might have heard of. An independent, plucky heroine on her path to challenge gender roles and become a doctor is forced by her father into marriage. Only, luckily for Willa Duvall, her father is of the decent sort, and genuinely wants happiness for his little girl. Because of this, Doctor Duvall gives his daughter one final chance, work as a nurse at a posting of her choosing while waiting for possible acceptance into medical school. When Willa happens upon a mysterious love letter within her desk, mentioning the Crestwicke she knew from childhood, fate intervenes.

Keep in mind, this is 1850’s England, in a time when the country was ruled by a formidable woman, and the battle for women’s suffrage was in full swing. I confess, at the very beginning, while intrigued, I scoffed a bit at the obvious tropes. You’ll forgive me for this reader, as you may be inclined to feel similarly, as Willa arrives at a gloomy manor ruled over by a formidable gentleman, featuring his ailing mother and family secrets fit to burst around every corner. That isn’t to say I don’t love the tropes. There’s a reason we are drawn to these stories, and there is some safety to knowing what to expect.

What transcended The Love Note for me was the way Politano turned every trope on its head and made her characters question themselves, the establishment, and force them to face what truly matters. I fell a little in love with all of them, from quite Gabe, loquacious Aunt Maisie, to Golda, the dragon matriarch of Crestwicke Manor. There is even an appearance of an aged Longfellow, with poetry and words practically spilling between the passages. Not to mention all the twists and turns. Apologies for sounding vague, but I’ll not ruin the mystery for you, simply implore you to pick up a copy as quickly as possible and fall in love yourself.

Written by an author with a clear passion and gift for the written word, The Love Note exceeded my expectations while keeping me eagerly awaiting and dreading the inevitable end.



**I was provided with a copy of The Love Note by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**

I'm going to be straight up with you that my review will probably not do this book justice because I am so overwhelmed at all of the intricacies of the story and the family. I was blown away by the twists that were revealed, the history of the characters, and the multitude of quotes that spoke to my heart. So don't go into this book expecting a sweet romantic story, it is so much more than that as I quickly discovered.

Willa Duvall is a woman after my own heart. She wants to be more than just someone's wife. She has aspirations to help people with her medical skills and knowledge as a nurse and from working with her father in his clinic. I loved that she was pushing for cleanliness and so much more when that was not the practice of doctors or hospitals. I hated that she was put into a position that she had to barter for her future with her father to pursue becoming a doctor when he just wanted her to be married. As part of the barter, she ends up as a nurse to Golda Gresham, mostly in part due to a letter that she finds in her desk. She doesn't know who wrote it or who it was meant to receive it, as it was neither addressed nor signed. Golda is quite the character and she does not take any guff from anyone including her children, much less Willa. The interaction between these two started off shaky but in the end, they had a firm friendship and mutual understanding.

Let's talk about this letter that Willa found. It is one heck of a love letter and I can see why Willa wants to find who wrote it and return it to the proper owner. What she doesn't expect is for this letter to make its way around the various characters who all think the letter was written for them. The story of this letter is pretty amazing too and just when you think you understand the who and why of the situation, a new piece of information is released changing your whole perspective on the situation.

I enjoyed all of the characters for one reason or another, but I think my favorite is Aunt Maisie or "crazy Maisie". This woman had firm beliefs and thoughts and I chuckled at her book of words. Words she wanted to use someday so she kept track of them so she was prepared. With the other characters, you had the gamut of personalities from loving, to controlling, insecure to confident. All of these personalities round out the story nicely with just enough tension to make the story engaging.

I can't forget to mention the romance portion of the story. For Willa, she doesn't feel like she needs a man to make her life whole but there is one man that seems to fill the bill, Gabe Gresham. They have been friends since childhood and there is something that pulls them together. But don't think that their path is easy because it is not and that is one of those twists I mentioned. There are several other love stories occurring, but you will have to read the book to discover those for yourself.

Here are some of my favorite quotes (and I did trim the number back - so many more I could have shared!)

"Every day, every moment, I choose you."

"It was as if God had wrapped his directions up in my friend's voice so I'd be sure to hear them."

"You needn't be afraid of your words, Miss Duvall. Only careful. They're as easy to gather as rocks, and just as easy to throw about, but don't underestimate them."

"Don't waste a moment when you find the one you love."

"That letter had been shaking up the household ever since it had been unleashed here, and now it seemed to have somehow landed with her."

"These words have a life beyond the page. They've taken flight in this house, moving where they will, seeping into the cracks of hearts. It's woken something up in them, opened them to the possibility that love exists and they are worthy recipients. And that is vital."

"Allow yourself to be caught by a man, Miss Duvall. The right one is worth the risk."

"...everyone had a story, some with cracks deeper than anyone could imagine."

"Matched souls always find their way back to one another, for they seek refuge in the same place."

Overall, I highly recommend this book. The author takes us on a journey that will not be forgotten and many wise words are spoken that we could take to heart even today.

We give this book 5 paws up.

The Love Note was a different type of book.
Willa Duvall wants a career in medicine like her father but he believes it's his duty to see her married off.
At her home hidden away in a desk she finds a love note and this note starts the whole ball of yarn rolling setting up the story essentially.
She makes a deal with her father and if she succeeds at being a long term nurse she'll be able to practice medicine.
After she goes to Crestwicke Manor she nurses the dowager there.
She brings the love note with her and a maid finds it and thinks it was written to her.
Willa is determined to find who the writer of this note was and who it was intended for.
The Love Note takes us on many twists and turns as the note falls into the hands of many people in the Manor each believing it was written to her.
This note is very powerful for the emotions it sparks in the ladies believing it was written to them.
The Love Note is a powerful read and will bring out many emotions in you as you're reading.
As Willa takes care of the dowanger we find out the true story of the love note and the history behind it.
Beautifully flowing prose will keep you reading far into the night not being able to put it down.

Published October 20th 2020 by Fleming H. Revell Company
I was given a complimentary copy/ Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

What a wonderful, fun love story! You know when you read a book and you either learn or are reminded of a great life lesson, this is one of them! This wonderful story reminded me what our words can do and the ripple effect that can happen when words of gratitude are spoken and how they can really change a person’s complete outlook.
The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano really does pull at your heart strings and reminds you to make sure you tell your loved ones how you feel about them. It could be the words they are needing to hear. This romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.
📚📚❤❤📚📚

#thelovenote #netgalley #joannadavidsonpolitano
#bookreviews #bookish #bookworm #christianbooks #lovestory
#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #revellpublishing

“Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 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.”

I love reading anything historical where women are trying to break to the mold of career choices. This story has it all, a mysterious lost letter that changes people's lives, characters that are more than they appear and a castle. It's kind of a slow build story where every page reveals something new. Couldn't put it down and need to hunt up more books by this author.

"The Love Note" by Joanna Davidson Politano is all about the unravelling of a peculiar mystery involving a long-forgotten letter, a secret love and a vast estate. Can a determined young lady seek to assemble all the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together?

All set for a promising career in medicine, Willa Duvall discovered a never-before-seen love letter in her old escritoire. Willa is driven by a strange compulsion to find the passionate person who painstakingly penned it, and the would-be recipient who unfortunately by a strange quirk of fate, never received it.

This Victorian-era tale of love lost-deferred-and-found, laced with hidden mysteries waiting to be discovered, is the perfect blend of historical romance, intrigue and mystery.

This tale is written in a powerful, lyrical style, with a complex plot, about noble yet broken characters, in an intricate tale of intrigue, that uncovers latent longings, multi-layered, deeply hidden and carefully concealed secrets and profound spiritual truths .

This highly engrossing historical fiction illustrates the awesome power of words, both expressed and unspoken, to have the power to affect Iives drastically.

Words have the extraordinary power to break hearts and hurt feelings. Words hurt, heal and love. Words with eternal impact are treasured forever.

Written in multiple layers with multiple points of view, the story takes shape and gathers momentum in intriguing, unpredictable and surprising ways. The noble characters are very well drawn and properly developed. Last but not least, a strong theme of feminism runs through the novel, assertive but not aggressive.

The Love Note," with its prayer-filled content, is the poignant tale of how a mysterious, unsent love letter transforms the lives of the noble people at Creswicke Manor. I highly recommend this stunning book to all who wish to know the true story of the layers within the layers!

An interesting story that shows it is never too late. I was drawn to this story mostly by the cover. I thought it was very intriguing.

Willa did not want to go down the traditional path of matrimony. She was called to go down a different path.
A recent discovery of a love note opened up a solution.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story. Just when you thought you figured it out.....you were wrong. It was a mystery, a love story....a tragedy and inspirational.

I am glad that this book was brought to my attention. I enjoyed every chapter. It was extremely entertaining.

I received this complimentary copy from Revell to review.

The Love Note is a love story for the ages. I found the storyline to be original, and it was told in a way as to make it delightful to read.

The story is about Willa Duval, a passionate nurse with aspirations of becoming a doctor, like her father. You may not think very much of that, as there are many doctors today that are women. However, this story is set in the mid-nineteenth century. There weren’t so many back then, if any. Further, the story is set in England, and English medical schools at that time did not accept women.

The story is not really about Willa’s path to becoming a doctor, but her passion for medicine and helping patients is prevalent throughout the story. Rather, the story is about an old note Willa finds in her desk - a love letter. While considering the significance of the note, Willa decides to try and deliver it to the person for whom the note was intended. The problem is, she doesn’t really know who that is. All she knows is that the desk the note fell out of came from Crestwicke, where she spent many days of her childhood while her father treated the owner of the property. Thus, the adventure begins.

The love letter has a very prominent role in the story. In fact, the old love letter is part protagonist and part antagonist, depending on who is reading it. I’ve never read a story where a piece of paper had such a pivotal role.

That’s enough about the storyline. I don’t want to give anything away, except to say - IT’S GOOD! But not only is the story good, the way Politano told it is also worthy of mention.

If I enjoy a story, I typically highlight a handful of passages that I think are worth remembering or otherwise well written. In The Love Note, I highlighted thirty-nine such passages! Part of that can be attributed to the fact that common language was different back then compared to today’s vernacular. However, without Politano’s way with words, I’m certain I would not have enjoyed the story nearly as much as I did.

The author's use of fine description adds significant value to the story.  For example, when I read, "Her eyes glinted like sun against gunmetal," my mind formed an immediate picture.  Here's another example that touches on several senses:  "Soon we were escorted to a box seat near the stage, with red velvet chairs and gold-fringed curtains, the smell of gaslights filling our nostrils."

The story takes a number of turns. Some of them were expected, but most of them were not. Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going, I soon learned that I was wrong. I consider that a testament to the originality of the storyline.

The pace was steady from the beginning through the climax. However, there were a number of times I wanted to skip ahead to find out what happened - but I didn’t. (I suggest you don’t either. The surprises are very nice.) Even though the storyline was original, I found all of the character arcs to also be original.

This is a wonderful read. Even if you don’t consider yourself a love story kind of reader, I think you’ll enjoy this one. I highly recommend that you give it a go!