4.5 stars for this latest novel by Joanna Davidson Politano. Politano has a varied talent for writing, ranging from gothic to fantastical. This one is on the fantastical side of her writing and really pulled on the importance of story. Particularly THE Story - the greatest story ever told. I enjoyed how the author used written stories - referencing my favorite Dickens novel, verbal stories such as Lily learned from a valued friend, and stories told in the movies - all to harken back to the Love story that God tells in His Word about how He created us and woos us back to Him when we look to lesser things for fulfillment. Through this focus on story, I enjoyed learning some of the history of modern motion pictures and was thrilled to see in the author's note how much of that was factual.

This book had a wonderful overarching message, using wonderful characters, a great mystery and a sweet romance. Though the larger story was filled with the Biblical narrative, the faith thread throughout this one was more subtle in the details of the story itself. I think this book would have greater appeal to people who are naturally creative as there were some elements that felt a bit over my head, but it's a great read for anyone who enjoys stories, which let's face it, is all of us! Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is a gorgeous blend of beguiling Historical Fiction (do read the author's notes to learn about her inspiration), enchanting whimsy with slivers of fairy tales, mystery and romance. The thread of faith in God is a constant.

Peter Driscoll is in prison and cine-star Lily Temple, his beloved, is desperate to get him out. But how can she prove his innocence? Can they fully trust one another? Peter's clever detection and Lily's particular skillset complemented the case and partnership. One must sometimes become a chameleon for the greater good.

Hidden/stolen jewels in books pull me in, so the sapphire mystery was up my alley. I enjoyed the faith-based story, always refreshing. Lily is spunky yet not over the top and Peter is wonderful, creating an ideal backdrop for sweet romance. The garden descriptions are stunning! But what gripped me more than anything was the captivating writing, full of vitality and emotion. The quotes from Classics books at the beginning of the chapters added thoughtful detail. Very cliché but the writing really swept me away into another world!

My sincere thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating novel which made my heart smile.

3.5 stars
Lily Temple is a master storyteller. And as such, readers are never sure what in fact is the truth and what is a cleverly woven story with yards of fiction. Joanna Davidson Politano creates a whimsical narrative through Lily’s story. The prose is elegant and different from what readers are used to, as Lily immerses herself in a world of fairy tales.

Solicitor and inspector agent, Peter Driscoll is out to discover Lily’s connection to a famous sapphire that went missing years ago. As Peter pursues his case, Lily continues to spin stories though Peter – somehow – is able to deduce fact from fiction. And when readers are finally exposed to fact, a surprising connection is revealed – in true Politano form.

I admit that Lily’s character is difficult to like. She resists telling the truth for what it is, instead choosing to tell stories to make her point. Even when we discover why she is the way she is, it was still difficult to want to see a positive outcome for her. I never did connect with her – even when she did the noble thing at the very end of the story.

However, Peter Driscoll is the kind of hero that makes historical romance so engaging to read. He’s noble, honest, a hard-worker, kind, and everything good. He’s had a rough go of life and the friends he chooses are loyal to a fault, testifying to Peter’s solid character. Yet, he’s enchanted by Lily’s stories…

Beautiful prose, detailed setting, and delightful twists make this story a literary treat.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own

Politano writes beautiful stories and I adored The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple.

The pacing is layered, thoughtful and a little bit slow, while being packed with depth and mystery.

Lily has many identities and a hidden past, but you can’t help but like her. She weave tales on screen as rich as the ones that have brought her comfort and hope in her own life. She teaches and explains life through the medium of story and she has a lot worth saying.

Peter is also an infinitely likable character. He has a rare gift of listening to people and hearing what they don’t say. He is a rescuer, a restorer and his role as private investigator is tied to his belief in God and his hope to help others. He sees beyond the surface and though he is initially resistant to Lily’s fairy stories he listens and he begins to unravel a story that needs to be told.

I loved the complexity of the book. Lily’s story, Peter’s story, the story of the Briarwood Sapphire and the tales of so many other characters come together in adventure, mystery, loss, hope, beauty and restoration. While I read and enjoy many novels that I’d describe as an afternoon snack, this tale is a rich meal that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Oh - this book! These characters. This plot. The redemption! Deep struggles AND delights. Twists and turns. Absolutely gorgeous language and imagery and setting. I was THERE - in the garden, the prison, the mansion, on the screen, in the hearts of Lily and Peter, and more. This one will grab you from the first page, keep you engaged every page thereafter, and stick with you long after you close it.

Trope: mystery
Steam level: 1

This author is new to me, and while I found her turns of phrase creative and the world-building and imagery well done, I was expecting more of a straight-ahead HR/mystery and was a bit lost here as the plot seemed to meander and stretch out over a few chapters too many. There are numerous references/homages to classic fiction such as Alice in Wonderland, as well as biblical and film analogies, some of which are effective, others seemingly meant just to distract (literary sleights of hand, so to speak). The ending is cute, but after reading the book for several days I guess I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic or deeper emotionally. Maybe I missed something?

Overall: this wasn't really my taste, but might appeal to those who are familiar with the author's writing and have read her previous books.

This is set to be released April 9. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

I struggled with this book. I kept opening and closing it, but I did finish. As grateful as I am for the work put i to this book, I’m just not sure it was for me.

I love Joanna Davidson Politano’s writing. She’s very talented and creative and weaves such beautiful stories that whisk the reader away to other lands and times. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple is set in Edwardian England in 1903 and features Lily Temple, actress and spinner of fairy tales, and Peter Driscoll, an investigator who is tasked with finding the Briarwood Teardrop, currently in Lily’s possession.

This story is a cross between a fairy tale and a realistic story, and at times I couldn’t tell which was which. The characters were engaging and entertaining. I loved the way Peter interacted with Lily and came to understand her. I always enjoy Politano’s deep thoughts and meaning that she embeds in her stories. I recommend this author to those who enjoy creative historical fiction with hidden depths.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale.” Hans Christian Anderson
Charming tale about Lily Temple, fairy like but human, whose identity changes as often as the roles she plays in silent films. Her past is shadowed in mystery and is connected to a blue sapphire gem that its owner wants found and returned. She tells her story as a parallel to my favorite Dickens: A Tale Of Two Cities. And her story is so like ours and the search for the Creator and Master Gardener, God. Profoundly stirring and full of allegory- the story of ultimate life changing truth. “There is a great deal of truth in fiction and more than anything, who the rescuer of our souls was.” “ God has placed eternity in the hearts of mam.”
Mysterious and intriguing with an admirable hero in Peter Driscoll as well as notable supporting characters. It was remarkable to find the setting and legend of St. Anne’s Well Gardens and some of the characters were real.
Exquisitely told story of love, loss, redemption and setting things right. This is easily beyond 5 stars for me.
* I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required

I had a feeling I was going to love this book and I am so happy to say that was the case! I’m not surprised because Joanna Davidson Politano is one of my absolute favorite authors and I always love her books. This one was no exception. It was beautifully whimsical and original, filled with themes of restoration and hope. I was swept away to 1903 England to a world of fairytales, secrets, and romance by Joanna’s poetic writing. I loved every minute reading it!

I absolutely loved how Lily’s story slowly unfolds. At first her story is a complete mystery that is only hinted at, but chapter by chapter, it’s slowly revealed in all its complexity. And so is her character. At first, Lily is as elusive to you as the reader as she is to investigator Peter Driscoll. She is full of secrets and mystery but as the story progresses, she reveals her story a little at the time. The way the story is told made the book that much more suspenseful and compelling. I loved that Lily’s POV is written in first person! It made me feel really connected to her character.

Peter Driscoll was such a lovable hero with his steadiness, integrity, and intelligence. I loved his desire to help restore broken stories and bring truth to light. He’s the calm-to-the-storm kind of hero and I truly love those type of heroes! He was the perfect match for Lily!

The romance was beautiful! It made me feel the way the romance in a good classic movie does and I loved it. I loved their banter, their adventures, their friendship-to-more. They were such a fun couple to read about!

This book had the kind of dreamy setting that made me want to spend a day in a beautiful garden or cozy cottage with a cup of tea. It was wonderful!
It was also so neat to learn a little about silent films, something I’ve never read about.

The highlight of this novel for me was without a doubt the faith content. It was woven into this story so beautifully! The message touched my soul. It left me feeling so hopeful and inspired as I was reminded of a beautiful truth. For me, that is the best feeling I can have after finishing a book.

In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book! It did more than entertain me— it made me think about why I love stories so much and left me inspired.
If you love books that include elements of fairytales, faith, and secret identities, I think you’ll love this book!

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.

"It's a remarkable moment, seeing a story come full circle, and they eventually do, it seemed. That's when you know they are complete. Romances end on a series of repeated notes from the beginning of the melody, terrified heroes face down the dragons that once defeated them. Broken people return to the rocks that broke them...and find healing. Those final moments, the way the circle closed, made a story what it was --tragedy, irony , or happily ever after."

What a story this is!! The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple, by Joanna Davidson Politano is a captivating tale of mystery, romance, and the complexities of unraveling the truth. Set against the backdrop of Edwardian England, this novel transports readers into a world of silent films, and hidden secrets.

Lily Temple is a story with a story, where fact and fiction are so deeply entwined it took me a couple chapters to deliniate between the story telling and the story itself. Lily herself is an enimga with a deeply guarded and secret past. She believes in the power of a well told story and somewhere buried within her stories lies the truth of her past.

Joanna Davidson Politano is one of my most favorite authors. I can count on her books to be deeply layered with interesting characters and an intriguing storyline. This book met and exceeded all my expectations! I loved the patience of our inquiry agent Peter, who listened and understood Lily. The nods to Alice in Wonderland that were woven throughout. The intricacies of film making and secrets behind the movie magic were interesting and fun to read. Like "ah-ha" moments.

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple continually points the reader to the Gardener. The One who cares for us in our own story. The One who lovingly prunes and waters. The One who is the source of life.

I can hardly wait to read whatever Joanna writes next!

Read if you like:
Restoration
Regrets
Fairy Tales
Mystery
Faith Thread

Thank you, Joanna Davidson Politano, Revell Fiction and Net Galley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions express here are my own.

This historical Christian romance with a little mystery kept me on my toes from beginning to end. This was my first Joanna Davidson Politano book and it will not be my last.

Inquiry agent Peter Driscoll has earned a reputation for his uncanny ability to find anyone and anything. When he’s hired to locate a long-lost sapphire with reputed mystical properties, he is only temporarily taken aback when he finds the jewel strung from a necklace worn by a mysterious film actress, Lily Temple. Peter decides that the most efficient way to learn how Lily came to be in possession of the gem is to request her assistance in a missing person case. Peter soon learns that Lily’s true identity is only a small piece of a much larger puzzle as he uncovers a series of criminal indictments against innocent people.

This genre-bending novel is set in 1903 in the English seaside resort town of Hove. Part historical mystery, gothic romance, and spy adventure, this beautifully crafted work of Christian literary fiction explores the relationship between our mortal human nature and our eternal spirit as we navigate through life’s journey.

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple is a story about a story. The narrative is whimsical, and has an almost dreamlike quality. The tone and mood of the story is reinforced by the chapter headings which feature quotes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and the fairy tales of Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen. Lily Temple is a first person narrator, and she tells Peter Driscoll’s story in third person. However, the reader is frequently reminded that Lily is not to be trusted to disclose the entire truth,

This is not a fast-paced read. It requires the reader’s patience (perhaps the better word would be "faith") that Lily’s and Peter’s individual stories will weave together in the way that all great fairy tales deserve. I found both Lily and Peter to be fabulous characters, and their intense chemistry makes for a truly satisfying slow burn. I also loved how the story gradually unfolded, so that I was often left with more questions than answers, and that Lily layered each element of the story over the other until the entire picture was revealed.

The author's prose has a delicate, earnest quality which was perfectly suited to the themes of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and the author’s writing style so much that I intend to read more of her work.

Thank you Austenprose, Netgalley, and Revell for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

One thing that can certainly be said about Joanna Davidson Politano is that she certainly knows how to captivate a reader with her stories... just as much so as the title character! This story was such a beautiful blend of romance and mystery, drawing us into this place and time. I very quickly found myself intrigued in the lives of Peter and Lilly and wondering where the story would take them... and it truly was quite an adventure with lots of secrets revealed as the story progressed. It was intriguing and unique, and I found myself enjoying every single moment of it. As a fan of stories, I of course loved all the literary references throughout. I also really loved the messages of faith that were weaved effortlessly into the story as well!

If you're looking for a beautiful Christian historical read, this is absolutely one to experience for yourself.


**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Revell for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own

In the age of silent film, Lily Temple works at a small film studio in Brighton, turning fairy tales into reality on the screen. She lives, breathes, and speaks in stories and allegories, floating through life in an effort to stay safe from her past and present troubles. When private enquiry agent Peter Driscoll is tasked with tracking down a legendary sapphire, she seems to be the key to recovering it and restoring it to its lawful owner. But looking for the jewel ends up being more dangerous than either of them counted on, and the stories that Lily spins may be the only thing that can save them in the end.

I'm not giving anything away by telling you that we start out with Lily herself telling us that she's an unreliable narrator. But she is whimsically so. With all the secrets and stories hiding things in the past, the dual point of view (Lily and Peter) becomes extremely helpful as things get more and more entangled. The art of storytelling is central to the action and the plot, and I found myself feeling like I was in a Christian version of a Wes Anderson or Baz Luhrmann film: sometimes monochrome, sometimes colorful, and sometimes the colors were a little too bright. There were plenty of overt and subtle literary references throughout, and the overarching themes were of freedom, choice, and redemption. My mind was in a whirl throughout as the story united reality and whimsy into a satisfying whole.

Thank you Netgalley and Revell for access to this arc. I had never read anything by Joanna Davidson Politano but this blurb looked interesting. But I didn't find that the blurb matched the actual book. The writing it lovely and elegant. I did get a feeling of whimsy and enchantment. What I didn't truly understand is what the plot was about and what was going on. I felt totally lost and the further I pushed on, the worse that feeling got. By the end of chapter 11, I realized sadly that I had no interest in the characters or in seeing how the plot would resolve. DNF

I found this book to be inspiring and full of gems - of truth and wisdom, tucked into a story well told. I found it fascinating how Politano was able to weave elements of storytelling into the narrative, then employ those as she wove her tale. There was sweeping beauty in the story, a beautiful and whimsical flavor. I loved the unexpected twists of the plot, the allegory of finding God in one's life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

“We’re all of us a combination of romance novels, humorous tales, and tragedies, depending on what angle we show the world.”

Joanna Davidson Politano has such a unique, lyrical, and vibrant voice that it’s easy to fall into her books and happily live there. This newest book revolves around fairytales and the author’s voice is perfectly suited and mesmerizing. Set in 1903, Lily’s first person voice is captivating, impulsive, and quite mysterious. Her past will have you guessing until the very end and the truth of Lily Temple is indeed elusive. Peter’s third person voice is alluring, daring, and incredibly intelligent. His heart is loyal, steadfast, and genuine and he made for an excellent hero. There were tons of surprises in the plot and I loved their faith journey. Learning about different illusions in 1903 film making as well as introduction of color was quite fascinating.

If you enjoy unique historical fiction with fantastic writing, this is the book for you. It’s one of my favorite reads of 2024! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I thought this book was well-written and it had a unique storyline, which pulled me in right from the beginning. It was interesting to learn more about the early days of filmmaking. The author had a very poetic and whimsical way with words, making the story feel a bit like a fairytale. I enjoyed the quotes and references to Alice's Adventures In Wonderland as that is my favorite book!
At times I did feel that some of the scenes dragged on a little longer than was necessary, and there was something confusing at times about the pacing of the story, but overall it was an easy and enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Who is Lily Temple - an actress, a thief, or maybe someone else entirely? An investigator is hired to find a missing jewel which leads him to a woman with multiple aliases who still manages to entrance his heart. There are several twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

I enjoyed this story, and lovers of historical fiction will too. This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and some discussions of faith.

Family friendly.