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. Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.
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The Love Note is yet another magnificent plume in Joanna Davidson Politano’s bonnet. I was hooked within the first few pages. I especially loved how she took the character I liked the least, Golda, and turned her into someone I was both cheering and crying for by the end of the story. Well done on another unforgettable book!
Oh, my. What a glorious read. When an author can TRULY make me question at the end what the outcome will be…in a romance, that author has done the amazing and Johanna Politano does this and makes it seem EASY. Read this book. Grab some tissues. Immerse yourself. What a wonderful book.
I have read all of Joanna Davidson Politano’s novels. I believe “The Love Note” is the best so far. As you read you can feel the atmosphere of the times. The heroine takes a love letter she found back to the place from which it came, setting off a whole series of heart-breaking/heart-warming events. This is the first time in a long time I have taken the time to copy down important/inspirational passages. Joanna’s prose is so unique. At the same time, she describes her wonderful characters with all their fears and flaws. You find yourself rooting for all the characters that, as their lives are touched by this healing person, they will be touched and changed for the better. God is a strong presence throughout this story as He is throughout our stories. Joanna restores faith and hope to the reader for this day and time.
I am looking forward to “A Midnight Dance”. I have a feeling that will be her best novel yet.
Mesmerizing in its lyrical beauty, The Love Note swept me into an unforgettable romantic mystery. Author, Joanna Davidson Politano, has a magical way of weaving theme within her pages allowing the story to stay with you long after the last page. I love the vivid way Ms. Politano brings the character and setting to life, which makes it hard to not race through the story because it’s just so good. Highly recommend The Love Note to ALL readers-this is a must read story!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.**
Just when you believe you’ve figured out the mystery of The Love Note, Politano throws another curve and keeps you guessing. I enjoyed every minute in this novel. At the beginning of each chapter I look forward to the witty quotes from the protagonist’s pen. Those short snippets are both delightful and genius. I highly recommend The Love note to anyone who has ever loved a Gothic romance or wonders if she might.
“The deep-seated desire in all of us for authentic love is a miracle. Not because of the bliss of a fulfilled ending, but because of the relentless pursuit it awakens in us-and the treasure we eventually find if we search long enough.”
WOW! The Love Note by Joanna Politano is truly enchanting. Joanna Politano has created an amazing story that draws you in deeply and beckens your heart to reimagine the love God has for you and your own love story.
I was delighted to enter the world of The Love Note. Willa Duval, the main character is lively, thoughtful, and refreshing. She finds a letter in an old desk that she is determined to return to its rightful recipient. Highlights for me were the setting at Crestwicke manor, the mystery woven through the story, the romance in new and old relationships, and the twists and turns that lead to an incredibly satisfying ending. (Insert big happy sigh here)
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading The Love Note. I look forward to having this book on my shelf and taking it out to read again and again. It is a fantastic story that I highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano beautifully overwhelmed me. Twenty-four hours after finishing this novel I still have no idea how to adequately put into words how stupendous and marvelous this story is. The storyline is superb. I devoured this book in two days. I truly did not want to put this book down ever. In fact, I want to re-read it just to stay in that glorious book fog that comes when a reader has experienced a truly great piece of fiction. The characters are endearing and unique and very relatable. The heartache each character hides — some deeply, some not so much — ripped my heart into pieces. I actually ached for them because I know what it feels like to feel the way they do. The letter, the central object of The Love Note, is exquisite, but it’s more than that. The letter is a microcosm of the depth and complexity illustrated throughout the narrative. At first glance, the love note is just that, a note from one party to another, but by the end of the story it becomes so much more. It becomes a beacon of hope and illustrates a love greater than anything mere humans can experience. The Love Note is a breathtaking novel that, simply put, must be read immediately.
Let me just say that EVERYTHING about this novel is my favorite, but if I had to pare down to a single thematic idea, it would have to be moving out of God’s way. Willa is a force to be reckoned with. She is feisty, highly intelligent, and a woman of action. Her heart is always in the right place, but things often don’t work according to her plans and she gets frustrated and disheartened. I had to laugh at Willa’s antics because I definitely saw myself in her character a few times. There are two moments in the story that really stood out to me. First, a conversation between Willa and wise, old Aunt Maisie. In frustration Willa states, “Why can’t I ever seem to say the right thing? My words … they’re still wrong, Aunt Maisie.” Aunt Maisie tells Willa that the problem lies with Willa. Willa is using her words, not God’s. Willa rushes in to save the day instead of pausing, praying, and saturating herself in God’s Words. I may have blushed a little at Maisie’s brilliance while scenes of my past flitted across my mind’s eye. We humans would do well to pause a bit before we speak and act.
The second moment that stood out to me is when Willa contemplates her love story. She states, “My love story took longer than most to fully show itself.” This one phrase from the novel made me contemplate my own love story. Mine took a LONG time to show itself. Like Willa, I believed I was slated to be a spinster and that devastated me. I remember all the disastrous relationships I desperately entered into hoping with all my heart that this one would be the one. But they never worked out. It was when I gave up, when I stopped trying to do things my way, that I finally met the man who would be my husband. As Willa realizes in this novel, I had to come to the understanding that I was getting in the way of the story God had planned for me and along the way I made some pretty terrible mistakes. Don’t worry, Willa is much better than I am and her story is nothing like mine, but the idea of getting in God’s way is the same. Willa’s words and actions do get her and others into a little bit of trouble. My words and actions have done the same. The lesson is clear: to experience the best God has for us, we must stop, pause, saturate ourselves in His Word, and let God be God.
I could go on and on with this review. The Love Note is excellently written, highly engaging, and utterly breathtaking. This is a novel I will not ever forget. The Love Note is a must-read story, and I implore you to purchase a copy for yourself today. You will not regret your purchase.
I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Fleming H. Revell Company, via NetGalley, in order to review. I also received a paperback copy of this novel from the author, Joanna Politano, as well. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
1862 brings Willa to a crossroads that she doesn’t want to consider. Marriage, which she feels will cease her ability to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor, or finding a way to acceptance in the medical field and pursue that dream on her own. She agrees to a contract with her father. She must successfully attend a patient or marry whom her father chooses.
She finds a love note in her desk that begins to guide her life’s course as it takes her to a family from her childhood. She wants to determine who wrote the note or at least deliver it to its recipient, if she can identify who that is. When the love not is misplaced, it weaves its way through the household effecting the family and staff along the way.
Politano builds and layers the characters of this gothic-feeling story in a beautiful way, introducing their thoughts and insecurities as the story expands. Clues to the past unfold as this deeply moving storyline is revealed bit by bit. The spiritual arc that she weaves in is both heartfelt and thought provoking. This story went way beyond what I expected. I truly loved its characters, setting, the writing style and the plot twists. It will be one that I reread again and again.
This book is appropriate for teens and older. There are no overly descriptive intimate scenes and no bad language. Book discussion questions are included for book clubs.
I’d give this 6 stars if I could! This story is a work of art! And with art, readers may interpret and appreciate it according to their own experiences. This book was inspiring and soul stirring for me. There were many times in the story that I was struck by the tremendous wisdom of the words and had to write them down (I would’ve underlined them but it was a library book). The plot is fantastic — a single love note changing the lives of so many individuals who are needing to be noticed, loved, and valued. It was fascinating (and a little humorous) to watch each person discover the letter and see how they reacted. I loved the tender conversations Willa has with the poet Longfellow. The guilt and pain he carried for years over his wife’s death was heart wrenching. The best part of this story was how the note healed a marriage. Communication is hard, especially in a marriage. Feelings get hurt and sometimes we choose distance rather than openness. It made my heart happy when marriage vows were honored and the relationship was renewed. This is the best book I’ve read in a long time and I’ll be reading more from Joanna Politano.
I cannot find the words to express my appreciation of and delight in this book, so I will not attempt it. I will say it is an exquisite story with so many beautiful layers you will catch yourself gasping or crying.
Willa Duvall is single mindedly focused on becoming a doctor of medicine in a era when even nursing was considered a lowly job. A female doctor was unheard of and certainly frowned upon in the late 1800’s. In defiance of her father, she takes a nursing job at Crestwick Manor after finding an unopened old love letter in an old desk that orginated from the manor.
When she misplaces the love note, interesting things happen as the note is passed through the house and curious revelations are discovered. Willa herself is quite compelling as she cares for her charge, Golda Gresham. Mrs. Gresham is a difficult sort, but she strives to take the best care of her that she can, and discerns that at times she fails at that endeavor. I myself would have a hard time even considering this occupation back in that era. Cleanliness and sterilization were really not well known back then. I truly enjoyed the story and the interaction of the characters both good and bad, with quite a few surprises as well as twists and turns and a bit of a mystery along the way. This wonderfully crafted novel is what the author is known for. I will definitely be reading more of her work, having read nearly everything she’s published.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
I was first introduced to Joanna Davidson Politano, an author whose prose you will never get enough of, when our book club picked Lady Jayne Disappears for our monthly read. Many of us were skeptical because we had never picked a debut author before to read. We had to take our hats off to this outstanding author whose debut read like a seasoned pro. Now we wait in anticipation of her next work of art.
This brings me to Joanna Davidson Politano’s newest great read. The book rating world only allows a rating maximum of 5 stars, however, The Love Note, in my opinion, deserves a mega million more, and this is why:
1. It’s uniqueness. Joanna gives us the insight of ~A scientist’s observations on love quote at the beginning of each chapter. I tried to pick a favorite, but could not, as they all were a favorite in a different
2. The actual love note which touches each character who reads it, including myself, in a very different way, and the chaos it causes.
3. The mysteries, yes, I said mysteries. Some created by the love note, some surrounding the individuals within Crestwicke Manor.
4. Willa Duvall’s interaction with everyone. My favorite were her conversations with Aunt Maisie. I wish I had had someone in my life when I was Willa’s age like Aunt Maisie to give me this advice, as it would have saved me a lot of heartache. “Make your heart a deep well of the Almighty by saturating yourself in his presence, and your words will come out drenched in him no matter what you say. I can promise you, no matter how many brilliant things you have to say, he has better ones.”
5. The ending of which is awesome I will not utter a word about.
My list of reasons why this book deserves so many stars actually is endless, so I recommend to everyone who reads Historical Christian Romance, with Mystery and Suspense give The Love Note a try you will not be disappointed.
My hat goes off to you again Joanna for taking me on such a wonderful enjoyable journey. Looking forward to next year’s journey, A Midnight Dance.
I received a complimentary copy (or ARC) of this book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write a review, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Due to the fact that Politano is easily one of my favorite authors, “The Love Note” was one of my most anticipated 2020 releases. When I finally got to reading this interesting story during Christmas break, I was not disappointed nor exactly blown away.
“The Love Note” began at a snail’s pace, I was honestly worried that I was going to have to rate a Politano book with less than four stars. Although the characters were full of all of Politano’s characteristic quirkiness, it took time for the pages to pull me in, as soon as they did, I fell in love.
Each character was unique and overflowing with their own secret and precious stories. Maisie was, interestingly enough, the first character who I truly enjoyed. Her depth, words, and wisdom made me curious about her. Gabe followed, his quiet strength and deep love for both Willa and Golda made him the type of character that is impossible to dislike. Golda was fascinating, an angry and deeply hurting woman who has given herself over to bitterness. Her transformation was shockingly complete, and simply beautiful.
Sadly, Willa never stole my heart. I admire her passion for the work she loves and her dedication to her dreams. I simply could not connect to her, and at times she mildly annoyed me. Somehow this did not lower my rating, perhaps simply because I loved many of the other characters deeply.
When I first read the letter, I must admit to rolling my eyes. Before long, my thoughts changed and I had, what we will call, an “oh wait” moment where I understood Politano’s purpose for the letter. Politano’s subtle message about love was powerful. No human being can fulfill the human longing for true love, love that lasts forever and never fails or disappoints us, only God’s love is unfailing and completely fulfilling. Seeing Willa’s quest for love begin at Maisie’s urging and end with the realization that the love she was searching for was God’s all consuming love, was beautiful.
The setting, Crestwicke, was perfect. Exactly as it sounds, the chilly, old manor is set by the ocean and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. The manor grieved with its inhabitants and responded to the loss of love and deep sadness. The ruins were captivating and their broken beauty was simply lovely. Creswicke is easily one of my favorite fictional manors.
Although it took time for me to fall in love with this story, it has imprinted itself on my heart with its important reminder that God’s love must be my life’s foundation. I eagerly look forward to re-reading this story.
“The whole thing left me confused and not a little unsure of myself. I’d stepped into the middle of a novel–no a chapter–and was attempting to fumble through it. Yet I wanted the rest of the story.” – Joanna D. Politano
“Matched souls always find their way back to one another, for they seek refuge in the same place.” – The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano
Who could imagine the far-reaching impact of a sealed love letter found in an old desk? The Love Note is filled with history, mystery, romance, and so many beautiful quotable passages.
Willa Duvall’s passion is to save lives through a career in medicine; however, in 1865, it’s not proper for a woman to be a physician. She finds herself at Crestwicke Manor to serve as private nurse to the Gresham family matriarch – and solve the mystery of the never-opened love letter.
Through a clever set of events, the unsigned letter is read by several members of the household, who believe it’s intended for them. Much confusion ensues, and the mystery of the letter’s author and its intended recipient deepens.
This novel and its exploration of many forms of love was deeply meaningful. The characters are flawed and grow in wonderful and believable ways. Since this is Christian fiction, faith is woven throughout and especially at the end. I’ll be thinking of this book and several of its quotes for quite some time.
I always love Joanna’s imagery. This novel was no different, it pulled me in at the very start.
I loved all the little love stories in between the main characters love story. Joanna weaved them all together so I never felt lost in the story. I did feel like there were parts of it that were rushed, but I understand in the scope of the story being told that was probably necessary.
The mystery was fun, and kept me intrigued throughout the book. The author blended the emotions of heartache and loss with hope and love beautifully. It was a truly moving story.
Beautifully written and unpredictable, this was a great first experience of Joanna Davidon Politano’s work. The characters all stood out and their stories interwove (interweaved?) beautifully with the overall theme of second chances at love.
I was pulled into this story right from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. With many unexpected twists, I was kept guessing and turning pages to find out what would happen next and how it would all turn out in the end. Joanna Davidson Politano has written a delightfully captivating story, but beyond that this gem points the reader over and over again to God and his unfailing love for us, and reminds us that true love is sacrificial.
With dynamic characters and an exciting plot this story is one that you are sure to be talking about with all your friends!
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
A single, unsigned love letter wreaks havoc as it makes its way to different residents of Crestwicke Manor. Some are encouraged and enraptured by the words while others are enraged by them. And at the center of this is Willa Duvall—intelligent in ways of medicine but somewhat naïve when it comes to love.
Something that makes a book a standout for me is when the author surprises me, and Joanna Davidson Politano does just that. Not once, but multiple times as the truth behind this note is peeled back layer by layer.
But the best thing about The Love Note is the moral of the power words wield. This book made me stop and consider whether I’m using my words to build others up or tear down, to heal and mend or to wound and scar.
A sometimes haunting, often thought-provoking, and somewhat convicting story that had me rooting for Willa to find the true desires of her heart early on.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
What havoc could a simple love note cause? Well this particular one has turned the Crestwicke Manor on it’s head and every one is touched by the powerful words that someone has written to their beloved.
This was a deep and compelling story that was very poetic in its telling. Cutting to the heart of the matter is the question, what is love? And more importantly what is true love? Is it between a husband and wife, or a mother and her children? What author Politano does is show all aspects of true love, even the most important one- the one with our heavenly Father.
From the beautiful cover to the beautiful story on the inside, this is my favorite read by author Politano. As I have mentioned before this story is about love and I also really liked how this story has a bit of a mystery due to the unknown author of the letter. I liked the human aspect of this story and how everyone was touched by those powerful words. It made them stop and ponder life and opened many eyes to how precious living is. I also felt it had a touch of a gothic feel as well, in the sense that there was great sadness in Crestwicke Manor.
If you are looking for an authentic original read with a great story and a spiritual thread, The Love Note might just be your next read.
I was provided with a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Brilliant in so many ways! The twists and turns kept coming. The humor in the reaction of the people who came across the letter. But mostly the poetic way Joanna weaved her novel had me weeping at the end. After going through all the emotions, this book will leave you pondering long after you’ve read it.