"The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple" is a beautifully-written and original story from author Joanna Davidson Politano! The Edwardian-era setting is described with a vividness and attention to detail that really immerses the reader into the story. The characters feel three-dimensional and like real people of that time period along with personalities, thoughts, emotions, and personal difficulties of their own. I love these characters! Peter and Lily are both such multifaceted and lovable characters. I feel as if I am friends with them now. The romance in this book is sweet, swoony, and was an absolute delight to read! In addition to the enthralling story line, wonderful characters, and the sweet romance— is a focus on the themes of love, trust, and faith. The author has done wonderful work creating a story that is captivating, magical, and dreamy. This story has a beauty and vividness to it that makes it really feel like a film from the Golden Age of Cinema. This is a book that will keep you reading late into the night! The author's writing style is smooth and sparkling with beauty, wit, and emotion. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It is fabulous. 5 stars!

Thank you very much to AustenprosePR, Joanna Davidson Politano, Baker Publishing Group, Revell, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with both physical and digital copies to read and review honestly.

BOOK REVIEW - The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple - Joanna Davidson Politano- 5/5 Stars

THE STORY
This book is so hard to describe, it's dialogue is lyrical and poetic, full of analogies and visional pictures. The mystery is deep and twisted, you never figure anything our until you're supposed to. The characters are layered and complicated, intriguing and frustrating. I loved the storytelling theme and how it can all link back to the Great Author of our lives. The first half of the book is a bit slow and can be a little confusing at times but if you stick with it, it picks up pace, with more clarity, adventure and romance. This is definitely my new favourite book by Joanna Davidson Politano!

THE ROMANCE
It took time for me to come to like Lily's character but Peter had me from the start. Serious quiet MMCs are seriously underrated in fiction! I'll take them over an extroverted flirt any day! I love that he won Lily over with pure kindness! This book was a slow burn but it had a good pace to it and some lovely romantic moments.

THE TRUTHS
I loved the theme of peace in this story. No matter how hard we try to wrap ourselves up in our 'happy places', we can never know true peace until we go to the source of all peace, God. Only God can give us peace that transcends place, time and circumstances. His peace doesn't make our trials disappear but rather gives us clarity and strength to carry through them. So next time you're feeling lost or anxious, don't bury yourself in your 'happy place', seek true peace in the Creator of those happy spaces.

A story of the power and delight of stories, the value of fairytales, and the way they can change a life.

Part mystery (of which there are several), part historical fiction (multiple characters actually existed and are woven into the story of the fiction characters) and part parable (weaving God’s love for us), it is a tale that keeps your interest to the final page.

Each chapter begins with a short excerpt from a fairytale. I loved that so much!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Revell for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC!

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple is a historical Christian fiction story that tells the tale of the aforementioned Lily Temple. Full of mystery, sleight of hand, Sherlock-style observational skills, and fairy tale elements, Politano's latest story is one of hope, redemption, and searching for the One who will never leave you.

I really did like this book, but I had a few gripes that kept me from truly loving the book. First, I didn't care for the changing perspectives. I liked getting the story from both Lily and Peter's points of view, but Lily's chapters are written in first person, while Peter's chapters are written in third person. It took a while for my brain to adjust to the back-and-forth, and honestly, I wish everything would've just been in third person omniscient. Second, the beginning was a bit confusing. I'm not sure if it was the changing perspectives or the deliberate mystery of Lily or something that just wasn't clicking in my brain, but I had to reread the first few chapters to make sure I hadn't missed anything. And finally, I knew that this was a work of Christian fiction and was excited for that aspect, but there's a lot of preaching shoved into the story. Some of the faith-based elements felt organic, while others felt like they were added just to have more God in the story. I guess I prefer more subtle or less frequent reminders in my Christian fiction.

That being said, I did love the use of garden imagery to appeal to Lily's lost faith. The detailed settings and various fairy tale elements are used well to remind Lily and readers about God's garden and how he cares for us as a gardener cares for his plants. Also used well are Peter's personal testaments of faith that remind Lily of God's love and peace.

Overall, Lily Temple is truly an enchanting book. It reads like a historical fairy tale, and there are several mysteries that all tie together and have a satisfactory ending. However, there are a few major aspects that kept me from giving this book a higher rating.

#BookReview : THE ELUSIVE TRUTH OF LILY TEMPLE by Joanna Davidson Politano

“Her search was bigger, more significant, than that. She was longing for God with every fiber of her being, even if she didn’t know it, and that meant God was searching for her. Drawing her to himself.”

Like Lily Temple, I was impressed by the author’s storytelling capabilities. It’s my first book by her and it won’t be my last. The beginning of the book drew me in, making me want to know more.

This whimsical book took me to a world of fairy tales, beautiful gardens and interesting characters. Yes interesting, but a lot to keep track of sometimes. I felt like I was there with the beautiful descriptions. Then there was Lily Temple. She was as elusive as the book title suggests. Her true identity remained a mystery, mirroring Peter’s own confusion. They have undeniable chemistry. I liked it best when Peter pointed Lily towards God. Her path to redemption was unique, a whimsical journey that brought her a sense of peace and belonging she never thought possible.

Faith messages and classic book quotes like Alice in Wonderland were mentioned in the book. This was a fun and unique redemption story.

Rating: 4 ⭐
Pub date: out now

Thank you Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Loved the opening – I was captured by the very first sentence! The fairytale draws the reader in...
Very few books turn out to be ‘a rare gem’ : this is one of them.
What an absolutely brilliant writer : & what an imagination she has! And she carries us along, knowing that fairy stories cannot be true & yet...believing...& hoping...
This book is magic!! Multi-layered, beautifully written, with illuminating thoughts dropped in at just the right moment, it is a book to ponder long after its conclusion.
(How could she possibly have written this book, at a time when she had just had a baby?!?!? Is she herself from another world?)
I will let the author have the last word : “It’s easy to believe our stories need rewriting. That it’s too risky, too important, not to take control, to ensure the right outcome. But here’s the problem with that...The further we get from the story’s author, the more we lose sight of our actual story. We long for our stories to come full circle, but that’s the only one that will...You’re focusing on the ghostly reflection, rather than the real story. The small here-and-now story instead of the longer. The eternal. The magnificent...”

About this book:

“Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.”


Series: Does not seem to currently be connected to any other book.


Spiritual Content- Prayers; Bible reading; A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Witnessing & Being witnessed to (Peter to Lily); Talks about God, restoration, trusting Him, & His stories; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Peter feels God impress upon him to do something & later impresses on him to trust Him; Lily doesn’t see that God is real after He didn’t answer her prayers (Peter says she’s missing out on the greatest narrative in history and it’s because an authority figure let her down that she’s paralleled it to God); Lily’s grandfather was a cleric & she used to attend church when it suited her, but feels no qualms about not going anymore; Someone used to tell Lily stories that could have symbolism to God (which she didn’t realize until much later); Lily tells Peter that she cannot convince herself that God is an active part in anyone’s story because “obeying [H]im, praying to [H]im…none of it seems to shift reality in any way” & says that God belongs to people like him who have an easy and straightforward life (Peter tells her to not mistake people’s betrayals for God’s); Lily had an old man in her childhood that she fashioned into a symbol of God which made her think of a deity that was kind (compared to her grandfather making her to read Proverbs and live them out) & thinks that she learned more from him than in a church (*Spoiler* When the man disappeared, Lily recalls it feeling like God also disappeared and she longs for them both again *End of Spoiler*); Lily feels like she can do a better job with her life story than God could, but Peter says that he knows that she’s looking for God despite what she says; *Spoilers* Lily feels towards the end that God is the only hope she has left & feels a “fathomless peace” after crying out to Him; Lily craves that peace she sees in others and reads the Bible *End of Spoilers*; Mentions of God, trusting Him, & His stories; Mentions of prayers, answered prayers, & praying; Mentions of those & places in the Bible; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of spiritual food in a religious order; A couple mentions of God’s creation; A couple mentions of a priests giving last rites and hearing confessions; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a clergyman;
*Note: All about many mentions of the legend of a gem that has healing or magic powers (said to bring “strength and life to the person holding it”), came from the heavens, feeling like it is otherworldly, and could be cursed along with many mentions of fairytales, fairies, sprites, elves, enchantresses, and a miracle water that heals; *Spoiler* At the end, we’ve seen a few times where the gem has helped those who have it; Peter wonders if it’s true that the sapphire has a healing quality & Lily thinks it’s true that the gem has “something powerful” about it *End of Spoiler*; Lily plays a fairy in a series of films about a fairy wanting to go to another world; A short play/story about a springs’ water being healing after a tragedy; A side character is a fortune teller and for about a third of the book, Lily believes the woman to be correct with her predictions (there are a few mentions of times the fortune teller was correct and gained attention for it; Peter thinks she just listens to others and then sets it up where it looks like she’s predicting what she’s learned to someone else); Lily says that the “beauty of magic is that every trick has an explanation”; Things and places are described and magic and magical; A story about a sheep and a cauldron being married and having a child (a child says that would never happen); Mentions of people who can see the future (a fortune teller & Peter, but Peter says it’s just listening and asking the right questions for him and thinks it’s the same for the fortune teller); Mentions of ghosts (also called specters, spooks, and spirits); Mentions of a legend of a haunted cave; A few mentions of cherubs; A couple mentions of seeing someone again in another life; A couple mentions of superstitions; A mention of luck; A mention of speaking to a spirit.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a ‘heavens!’, a ‘how in blazes’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘sucker’, a form of ‘what in heaven’s name’, a ‘who the dickens’, a ‘witch’, two forms of ‘care a fig’, two ‘dratted’s, and two forms of ‘heaven sakes’; A mention of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Being abducted/kidnapped, Being locked up, Breaking into a place, Pain, & Injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing the grief of others & feeling it (empathy, up to semi-detailed); Saving someone from almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Shooting birds at a hunting party (Peter, barely-above-not-detailed); Lily believes that truth can be relative and can be bent and twisted to fit one’s purposes (also could be wrapped in stories & that the truth come in layers and those layers can be manipulated; This including, that as an actress, the parts she plays were truth for a fortnight or so which has caused her to not know who she truly is because she’s become a mix of all the characters she’s played); All about many mentions of arrests, prisons, criminals, thieves, thefts, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of wars, battles, captives, deaths, major injuries, & grief (including two women for their fiancés, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of shipwrecks, deaths, & grief (including a husband for his wife and daughter); Mentions of murders, a rumored murder, & murderers; Mentions of missing people; Mentions of a corrupt government official, him taking bribes, & being a conman; Mentions of lies, lying, manipulation, & deceit; Mentions of young women running away from home (*Spoiler* including Lily *End of Spoiler*); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of step-brothers taunting and picking on their step-sister because of her burns (the child says “I don’t know why I’m even here at times” and Lily tells her a story to encourage her); Mentions of hunting, hunters, & shooting birds for sport (barely-above-not-detailed); A handful of mentions of beheadings & executions; A few mentions of the possibility of a criminal being hung; A few mentions of a film with a trick illusion about men being headless; A few mentions of threats; A few mentions of poisons; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of a death in a drunken brawl; A couple mentions of the death of a mother and father (Lily, Peter); A couple mentions of alcohol; A couple mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of skinning animals; A mention of the possibility of being shot; A mention of a starving child; A mention of embezzlement; A mention of nightmares;
*Note: Every chapter starts with a quote from a classic fairytale or author; Many mentions of fairytales, books, authors, & fictional characters (including the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Thomas Hardy, J.M. Barrie, Charles Perrault, George MacDonald, & Carlo Collodi); Lily comments on it sometimes feeling like it doesn’t pay to live a moral and upright life; A mention of a man’s “very dark” temper.


Sexual Content- Three head/forehead kisses, two border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Dancing, Embraces, Warmth, & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Butterflies & Winks; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Both Lily & Peter sneak (or have others) sneak into the other’s house to leave surprises (it’s not said how they did it); Mentions of a child conceived out-of-wedlock (the parents planned to get married *Spoiler* and do which saves the woman from being ruined *End of Spoiler*); Mentions of a couple kissing & embracing (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of chaperones; A mention of illegitimate heirs; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of a woman running away with a man & not being in contact with her family since; A few mentions of someone being left at the alter (*Spoiler* Peter *End of Spoiler*).

-Lily Temple, around age 24 (?)
-Peter Driscoll, age 28
P.O.V. switches between Lily (1st person), Peter (3rd person) & a couple others
Set in 1903
400 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

Like many books by this author, the opening chapter is actually set towards the end of the book, and we get a slight recapping of things that have led everything to be. I feel like if it was anyone else, I would be annoyed at that with spoilers basically given for the rest of the book, but this author does it so well that it entices me to read fast so I can find out what happened myself—and enjoy the hints until I get there.

I feel like when I typically read books by this author, my brain is scrambling to figure out how everything is connected with the little hints and suggestions we get throughout the story. This book was no different and kept me intrigued the entire time about Lily’s past. I did guess Lily’s past pretty early in, but wasn’t sure I was correct until the end.

Our main characters were very unique. She’s very fanciful and sly, but has a child-like love for stories. He’s spectacled, smart, rule-follower and has a love for finding out the truth. A pair you wouldn’t think would work, but somehow does. He’s the calm to her storm, in a way. I do question the idea of a gem having some kind of powers (which it’s implied and said that way even at the end of the book), but I will chalk it up to part of the fairytale elements in this book.

The faith content was a different take on our female lead not trusting in God in the sense that she once did but due to events stopped trusting Him. Now, that’s not a rare character in Christian Fiction, but the discussions and Peter’s witnessing and conversations were uniquely done and had a lot of thought-provoking parts. I loved the symbolism of the Gardener especially.

I don’t know if I would say this was my very favorite by this author, but I did really enjoy it and get sucked into the plot. Joanna Davidson Politano‘s writing style is unlike most and always has me questioning everything I read because things are never as they seem, especially in this book.





*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.

Magical! I wish I could give more than 5 stars.

With prose reminiscent of the fairy tales of old, Politano spins a new tale to capture our imagination. The author celebrates the power of story and points those who dare to get lost within its pages to the most powerful story of all.
This story was not at all what I imagined it would be, it exceeded my expectations into a story that was told on a totally different plane. It did tell a story of a private investigator and a silent movie star, a missing gem and the miscarriage of justice, yet its' prose grabbed me and held me captive, seeking the eternal TRUTH woven within all the stories.

Our main character, Lilly Temple interlaces truth within the stories she spins. And much like the Dickens characters in one of the story she shares, she is on a search for truth, to expose injustice, to seek redemption. In her words, the power was within how our hearts responded to the stories. "All our own flaws and questions dressed up in other people's clothing, strolling around in front of us so we may more clearly see what's true about our selves. Truths deeper and more meaningful than mere facts, told in a way our minds can uniquely understand."

This is a many layered story, but at its root is the hero, Peter, who is seeking to rescue the lost, to restore the broken, to point them towards the one story that can bring about healing.

Fans of George MacDonalds stories will love the whimsical twists of words in this unique story that will forever live in my heart.

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

I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Politano’s books but for some reason I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the story. I am so sad because I was really looking forward to this story.
Life is really hard right now and it’s not only impacting my day to day life it’s affecting my reading time and life.
I really liked The Lost Melody and The Love Note by her. So, please check those out.

While I DNF this one I will try it again when life calms down.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an exquisitely beautiful story!!
“He has eternity written on our hearts, and in every story we tell.”
This story is a search for finding oneself. And a search for our loving Father, who is woven deeply throughout the very soul of this story.

Who is Lily Temple? This is a question asked by many, and nobody was able to get close enough to this elusive actress to get any answers.

Lily hears from her fortune-telling friend that she needs to be on her guard against a certain gentleman. So she runs right into Peter, and sort of recruits him to be her guardian. She quickly discovers that Peter is someone she can trust. But....will she trust him enough to tell him about her past?

I loved seeing the relationship between Lily and Peter evolve. And hearing more of Lily's backstory. And reading how all the puzzle pieces in this story fit together. Because that is what this story felt like...a gorgeous puzzle with so many scattered pieces.
But...this book is a prime example of the reason Joanna Davidson Politano is one of my all-time favorite authors. She so deftly weaves together the entire story, and gives us just an amazing, lovely story.

This is a story of accepting love, trusting, and so much more. It is filled with action and adventure, with hints of fairy tales mixed in.
The setting is also a masterpiece. It made me feel like I actually visited these places.

I enjoyed the historical elements of it, and learning more about the early days of films and motion pictures. And the process of making things appear magical.

This story is a new favorite of mine, and will be one of my top reads of the year. It is one that will linger in your heart long after you've finished reading.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I feel as though a bit of my own story has come full circle with the reading of Lily’s. Like Lily, I had my own Gordon Makepiece who brought a garden to life for me when I so desperately needed it. This book touched me in a very special way and I doubt very much I’ll stop thinking about it in the days to come.

But why should YOU read it? Well, let’s just say this one will resonate with each of us that loves story. And those who don’t believe fiction is worth their time? Well, they should read it even more.

I truly appreciate Politano's mastery of storytelling, her skill in the artistry of using words to build ethereal mental images, and the way she uses language to create a melody. I admire the way she uses fiction to explain truth, the most important of truths. In The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple she has woven a sense of fairy tale into a work of historical fiction set in the silent film era. The story also includes a mystery involving a missing gem. While all I have said about Politano's writing is true, I must admit that I wasn't in the right headspace to truly appreciate the whimsical nature of this story at this time, although I still feel comfortable recommending this book because I can imagine myself having been enthralled with it at another time. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this novel from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Oh Lily Temple, if that’s your real name wink wink, you are such a great character. I just adored her character and thought she was so funny at times. She is an actress but also a great story teller. She is in a constant battle between reality and storytelling. To her it is easier to be in a story than face reality. Peter Driscoll is an investigator who is trying to locate a sapphire necklace which leads him to Lily. She happens to have said necklace in her possession. This leads to a partnership of sorts between the two as they help each other. And soon Lily realizes her need for God in her life and that He is the author of her story. I really enjoyed this story, there is so much happening that it’s hard to put into words but it’s just great. I did have a minor issue with the gypsy fortune teller, especially since this is a Christian book but felt that she was more shown to be someone who paid close attention to others than making actual predictions so that was a little better. Overall though I thought it was a great story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley and the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Content: gypsy fortune teller

This is a good story even though it rambles a bit. Would have been a great story if the God twaddle had been left out. Ambiguous ending didn’t help either. After all the discussion of 'justice must be done' it wasn’t clearly shown. Your supposed to have faith that it happened.

I don't mind books with characters being people of faith, But I find those marketed as Christian Fiction are too simplistic. The underlying message of 'just have faith in God and everything will fine', is easy out for an author.

When I originally requested ARC from Austenprose, I thought this was Historical Fiction. When I received the ARC through Netgalley, I realized it's Christian Fiction. I then Googled the Author and found her website with the heading "Hey, I’m Joanna, and I love Jesus.", in bold print. I almost immediately marked it DNF. But I read the first chapter, was intrigued and continued on. I did enjoy the mystery of the story. It had potential for more. Hence the 3 stars.

Glad I didn't spend money on this I would have been disappointed. I would read this author in the future if she wrote Historical Fiction without the proselytizing.

Elusive? I’ll say. My mind has been roaming through this story trying to decipher this elusive truth of Lily Temple. Joanna Davidson Politano brilliantly gives us her thoughts in first person while the rest of the story is in third person. An amazing perspective combination that a lot of authors could not achieve.

I have to say that I love this story! The character of Lily Temple is built on the very definition of elusive for around 10 chapters while placing the reader on the edge of magical realism, wrapped in an ethereal fairytale and, then, whisked up in the throws of several mysteries. I actually gasped at a twist I didn’t see coming! Brilliant! I must also add that Peter Driscoll is an endearing hero that you just want to hug throughout the book.

Beyond the exceptional writing and skillful storylines, I can always count on Politano’s books being grounded in faith. This one explores the love of the Father…the true Gardner of our lives.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

“Can’t you feel him calling out to you from every story that wraps itself around your heart?”

I went into The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano, drawn by the premise of a secret private investigator, a mysterious silent film star, and a legendary missing sapphire. But what I actually experienced in the reading of this story was infinitely more beautiful and soul stirring. Oh, the plot was as delightful as I expected it to be and I couldn’t tear myself away from Lily and Peter and their sweet romance or the intriguing stories and cases told between them. Or the fascinating aspects of early silent film and the genius that was George Albert Smith’s contribution to the industry. But that’s not what I will remember most about this novel years from now. What will draw me back time and again is how Politano exquisitely demonstrates the power of stories and how they point us to THE Story.

"Because there was a great deal of truth in fiction – the sort too important to just be spoken outright. What heroism looked like. What it meant to love authentically. And more than anything, who the rescuer of our souls was. That was the truest story. The largest… He has written eternity in our hearts, and in every story we tell."

Fairy tales. Romance. Adventure. Missing treasure. Shipwrecks. Illusions. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple has it all. And every bit of it acts as the most beautiful of arrows to the Gardener, the one who pursues us even through death itself so that we may have abundant life here and eternal life there. There was more than one occasion when I felt tears misting my eyes and a lump in my throat at how tenderly Politano expresses these parallels. And my own passion for how stories (some, in spite of themselves) ultimately reflect THE Story welled up in my heart until I very nearly hugged my kindle in a fit of dramatics that would have made Lily proud.

Bottom Line: Fiction fans, this is our book! The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is a gorgeously-written love letter to the way fiction shapes our hearts and expresses truth like nothing else can. One which gently reminds us that “the hero on a quest, the hardship, the crisis and rescue… They’re all just a reflection” of the greatest Story ever written – and it uses each of those elements to make the point. I adored Lily in all her quirky endearingness (yes I made up that word) and her brokenness, Peter in his quiet steadiness and his unsung heroism, and the banter between them. And I alternated between grinning through their story and holding my breath as they climbed vines and dangled from chandeliers and ran for their lives. Needless to say, I was fully entertained by this delightful tale but I was also touched by the fact that, in trying to discover the elusive truth of Lily Temple, we discover some truth about ourselves too. This one will linger with me for quite some time to come, and I couldn’t be happier about it!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This was such an incredible story woven together and it reads like a tribute to the power of stories. As patient Peter listened, the storyteller Lily learned to be vulnerable as piece by piece she revealed her life to him. Together these compassionate characters took risks to help others discover truth. In doing so, they discovered truths about themselves, their faith in God and about each other. I absolutely loved all the little references to famous tales within this big story. The author not only talked about the impact of wrapping truth within fiction, she demonstrated it! This romantic adventure makes you want to believe that even when hearts are broken, it is worth the risk to love and be loved. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Joanna Davidson Politano’s writing style. Her latest, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple, is Politano’s hallmark mix of intrigue, complexity, and surprising twists. Set in Edwardian England, readers embark on a journey to discover truth amid a whirlwind of fantastical stories. Amid corrupt legal systems, missing people, and a stolen jewel, Politano’s plot thickens as her characters discover a romance quite unexpected.

This book was truly a joy to read. With twists and turns that kept me guessing to the end, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple delighted me from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

“I accept your challenge, my dear flower. Change your story, your clothing, your name . . . but you’re still you, and I’ll find you.” Whimsical, enchanting, romantic, mysterious, inspiring! I adored figuring out the mystery of Lily Temple. Actress, storyteller, thief? This beautiful homage to fairytales and great storytelling captivated my imagination and didn’t let go. It’s a lyrical, gorgeously written story of redemption, seeking faith, finding love, and facing the realities of life. I loved the story within the story and the way these utterly endearing characters drew me in. I found myself missing them and can’t wait to reread the story knowing the full truth.

Lily Temple’s an enigma as she weaves her spell over audiences in the silent films she stars in and the stories she tells. When she’s accused of stealing a valuable sapphire known as the Briarwood Teardrop, Peter Driscoll, the man sent to retrieve it, finds himself enchanted not only by the beautiful supposed thief, but with the stories she tells. As he involves her in his investigations, he vows to discover who she really is.

I loved the journey this story took me on and the allusions to some of my absolute favorite stories of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, A Tale of Two Cities, and fairytales by Hans Christian Anderson. I loved the way Lily is both Wendy and Peter Pan, the gifted storyteller who doesn’t want to grow up. I loved the lovely romance between Lily and Peter. Peter while firmly rooted in reality is besotted with Lily who’s his complete opposite. His desire to find the truth about her not only mends his broken heart, but helps her finally reconcile her past and find her connection back to the Master Gardener.

The setting is magical and I was thrilled to find that the gardens, legends, locations, and some of the people mentioned were real. The mystery definitely kept me guessing. I loved the way all the pieces came together leading to a stunning conclusion.

All the stars for this book! It’s easily one of my favorites by this author and I highly recommend it to inspirational, historical romance, fairytale, and classic literature fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

An intriguing mystery wrapped up in a fairy tale, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Lily Temple is a silent film star, knowing for spinning tales on the silver screen, but who is she really? Peter Discroll is a detective bent on solving the mystery of Lily Temple and the Briarwood Teardrop Sapphire that she keeps close to her.

The story unfolds in nonlinear fashion, that added to the mystery. Well told and complex, with stories within the stories. With truth hidden in fairy tales. I liked that Peter served as a solid reference point, strong in his faith and seeking justice throughout.

It took a while for me to appreciate the intricacy of the plot, with the interwoven stories and pathways that all make sense if you bide your time. Artfully written, with a solid core of faith, and a plot that keeps you guessing!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.