Wednesday, September 18, 2013

CFBA: Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
 
 
Born of Persuasion
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 2013)
by
 
Jessica Dotta


MY TAKE:

When my sister asked me to describe Born of Persuasion as I was reading, my first response was "It's Jane Eyre meets Jane Austen." I hadn't even read the author's bio yet, but obviously I wasn't the only one with that impression! :) Which then makes me ask, how could you NOT love this book? If  you're even the slightest fan of the era or genre, you're sure to fall in love.

Julia isn't your typical Christian genre heroine. In fact, being of the age of enlightenment, she's quite outspoken against Him. Her family and true love believe differently and that creates quite a dilemma for Julia; in many ways because she chooses to let it. Her journey, spiritually and toward safety and love, are very addictive. I had a hard time leaving her world to work in mine.

I was concerned, momentarily, that after being invested heart and soul in these characters, that the ending would be tragic or not end the way I hoped it would. I love Jane Eyre, but over all the Bronte sisters were Gothic Romance writers. Dark and tragic. I prefer not to end that way. Not to give any endings away, but Born of Persuasion wrapped up in just the right way - setting the stage for the launch of the next book in the series. I can't wait to get my hands on it either.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Born of Persuasion, go HERE.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in the wrong century–except for the fact that she really likes epidurals and washing machines–Jessica Dotta writes British Historicals with the humor like an Austen, yet the drama of a Bronte.

She resides lives in the greater Nashville area—where she imagines her small Southern town into the foggy streets of 19th century London. She oversees her daughter to school, which they pretend is an English boarding school, and then she goes home to write and work on PR. Jessica has tried to cast her dachshund as their butler–but the dog insists it’s a Time Lord and their home a Tardis. Miss Marple, her cat, says its no mystery to her as to why the dog won’t cooperate. When asked about it, Jessica sighs and says that you can’t win them all, and at least her dog has picked something British to emulate.

1 comment:

Jessica Dotta said...

April,

Thank you so much for your thoughts on Born of Persuasion! I LOVE how many projects and things you dabble in. One of these days I might get around to scrapbooking myself.