by Jen Geigle Johnson
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications (August 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 152440845X
ISBN-13: 978-1524408459
Molly O’Malley, lady’s maid to the progressive Lady Amanda Halloway, is determined to continue the life’s work of her lost love, killed in the Peterloo Massacre. But when her efforts and a trip to Lady Halloway’s charitable orphanage culminate in her own abduction, Molly’s eyes are opened to the horrifying crimes transpiring in the city’s slums. Despite the risks, she broadens her mission and is drawn ever closer to the peril all around them.
Thomas Flaherty, a footman in the Halloway household, has been with Molly from the beginning, but he fears she will never trust him with her heart. Even though her cause and happiness are of foremost importance to him, his loyal patience is tested by the fears that keep her at a distance. But with their safety on the line, Thomas is resolved to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves.
Risking their lives and their love, Molly and Thomas and a team of nobles on their side will stop at nothing to empower the powerless, no matter the personal cost.
Molly O’Malley is a lady’s maid. She tragically lost the love of her life ten years ago. She wants to love again, but she is afraid of what she stands to lose. Thomas Flaherty is a footman in the same household. He loves Molly and has patiently waited for her, but he worries she will never be ready to let him in.
I liked hearing from the working class of Thomas and Molly. Though Molly has a very unusual relationship with her employer, because it is so friendly and casual. I loved hearing more about the orphanage and the children.
The summary on the back of the book gave no hint that there would be two other major characters and many chapters would be told from the point of view of Lord Annesley and Lady Chloe. Chloe is shy, but she finds her voice fighting for women’s suffrage. Due to his father’s poor choices, Annesley is forced to act like a puppet for the villain of the story, Theo. The longer he follows Theo, the more he is pulled away from Chloe.
As a side-note, I found it funny that it seemed like every character in the book winked. A lot.
During this period of history, there were positives like the fight for a woman’s right to vote. There were also the devastating events like the Peterloo Massacre, child slaves, and brothels.
“If it was important enough for him to die for, then it is important enough for me to live for.”
Molly, Thomas, Lord Annesley and Lady Chloe came from different social classes but all came together to fight for what they believed in.
“Suffrage was the great unifying topic.”
Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I enjoy when authors research an era and weave historical events into their book in an interesting way. Some speeches in the book during the suffrage rally were direct quotes from those who really fought for women’s right to vote. Coughing during the political speeches was so juvenile. I was surprised to find out that people actually did that.
To read more about the fight for the freedom of the lower classes, you can find Lady Amanda and Lord Nathaniel’s story in The Nobleman’s Daughter.
While I received a complimentary copy of this book, I was not required to write a positive review.
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