About the Book
Book Title: The Heart’s Appeal
Author: Jennifer Delamere
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Strong-minded and independent, Julia Bernay has come to London to
study medicine and become a doctor–a profession that has only just
opened up to women. When she witnesses a serious accident, her quick
action saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael
Stephenson. It’s only later that she learns he could be instrumental in
destroying her dreams for the future.
Coming from a family that long ago lost its status, Michael
Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought impossible. Hard
work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to regain the path to
wealth and recognition. His latest case puts him in the middle of a
debate over the future of a women’s medical school. He’s supposed to
remain objective, but when the beguiling and determined Julia reappears
with an unexpected entreaty, he begins to question what he’s made most
important in his life. But Julia may be hiding her own motivations. As
the two are tangled into spending more time together, will their own
goals be too much to overcome?
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Book
Jennifer Delamere’s debut Victorian romance,
An Heiress at Heart, was a 2013 RITA Award finalist in the inspirational category. Her follow-up novel,
A Lady Most Lovely, received a starred review from
Publishers Weekly
and the Maggie Award for Excellence from Georgia Romance Writers.
Jennifer earned a BA in English from McGill University in Montreal,
where she became fluent in French and developed an abiding passion for
winter sports. She’s been an editor of nonfiction and educational
materials for nearly two decades, and lives in North Carolina with her
husband.
Guest Post from Jennifer Delamere
Power couples?
Perhaps that’s not a concept that initially comes to mind when one
thinks of Victorian England! And yet, they did exist. I love to include
real people from history in my books, and in
The Heart’s Appeal, Julia Bernay meets two inspiring real-life couples who will make a positive impact in her life.
In 1865, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became the first woman to qualify
as a physician in Britain. She did this through a legal loophole, but
soon the laws were changed to open the medical field to all women. In
1874, Dr. Anderson co-founded the London School of Medicine for Women.
She remained involved in the school in various capacities for the rest
of her life, even as she continued to run her own busy practice. In
The Heart’s Appeal,
she becomes a mentor for Julia, opening doors for her education and
introducing Julia to people who can help her succeed in medical school.
Dr. Anderson’s husband, James Anderson (Jamie), was the joint-owner
of a successful shipping line and also served on the boards of several
organizations (including a children’s hospital). He was a handsome man,
very much in love with his wife, and fervent in supporting her choice of
a career.
In a letter he wrote to her while they were engaged, Jamie explained
his vision for their future—how they could keep their professional and
private lives separate, yet still give each other plenty of love and
support:
“I think we had better lay it down once for all as a rule that I am
under no circumstances to bring people ‘favorably under your notice’ or
‘exert any influence’ or anything of the sort. It will give people a
wrong idea of you unless I take a decided line in this matter — and as I
mean to be if I can a successful man of business, neither interfering
with your pursuits nor being interfered with by you (but having our
confidences on all feasible subjects at off times of the day and week
and mutually advising and fortifying one another), I must let people
know unmistakably not to come bothering me about your public affairs.
Will you think about this, dearest?”
Who couldn’t love a man like that?
Jamie Anderson’s outlook on life comes into play later on in
The Heart’s Appeal, when he provides advice and aid to Michael Stephenson, the book’s hero, at a critical time.
Julia also has an inspiring encounter with Dr. Anderson’s sister,
Millicent Fawcett. Millicent was married to a Member of Parliament and
actively supported her husband’s career in many ways, including acting
as a scribe for him since he was blind. She is most remembered for her
role in the women’s suffrage movement. In fact, a statue of her will be
placed in Parliament Square in London this summer. She was not a
militant suffragette, but rather campaigned for suffrage under the
banner “Law-Abiding Suffragists.”
Both couples raised families, too, and their children’s successes in
life show they were raised to have the same energetic and “can-do”
attitudes that their parents had.
Julia initially believes she must remain single to achieve her life’s
goals. But soon she finds her heart drawn to successful barrister
Michael Stephenson, who admires Julia’s intelligence and ambition. She
learns that love and the freedom to pursue her dreams do not have to be
mutually exclusive. A meeting of minds to spark a true romance? Yes,
please! I hope readers will agree this can be the most satisfying of
all.
Blog Stops
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving
away a grand prize package of that includes All four March Bethany
House historical releases (The Heart’s Appeal, plus A Most Noble Heir by
Susan Anne Mason, A Chance at Forever by Melissa Jagears, In Places
Hidden by Tracie Peterson) and a $20 Starbucks gift card!!
My Review
This is the second book in this series that I have read and enjoyed, and
there is a third sister, so there is hope of another book.
Again,
the author has set this read in 1870’s England, definitely a man’s
world, and there are those that will do all they can to keep it as such.
Our
heroine is a woman, Julia, who heart’s desire is to be a doctor, and
she uses her skills to save the life of the man that is destined to help
her, Michael.
There are twists and turns and several surprises and
bombshells, and misguided intentions, but we hope for the Lord to work
on these people’s hearts, and we are there to watch things unfold.
Now I wait patiently for the third sister, and her story.
I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
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