Book Review: Born of Persuasion

Author: Jessica Dotta
Publication Date: September 1, 2013
Publisher: Tyndale House
Series: Price of Privilege Trilogy # 1

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.

My father wasn’t a believer in fairy tales, but amongst those who’d embraced the Enlightenment. The one gift he’d given me.

Edward’s hazel eyes met mine. What I once expected our reunion would be, I no longer recall, but this I know: that day utterly destroyed my childish illusions.

I rested my head against the wall and deliberated whether marriage to Edward was still an option. Whether I could allow the church to become my asylum after all.

Before he could veil his thoughts or mask his hunger, I was his unbridled desire.

Debut author, Jessica Dotta, has written this highly unique and unbelievable fantastic inspirational, historical fiction book that is the first in a brand new series. It is so hard to find this type of fiction; good, strong, gothic, historical fiction that adds a bit of mystery and a bit of romance as it progresses! Yes, all of this wrapped into one! I am such a fan. This book very much reminded me of some of Jane Austen’s work, and it was not easy to put down. Everything is so rich and descriptive that you just want to hold the book flat and jump into this gothic and utterly romantic world!

When readers first meet Julia they will realize that she has just been dropped into the middle of some horrid circumstances and in order to not spend her life in servitude she must marry, and fast! Julia’s first love, Edward, is unable to marry her, so readers are ultimately left guessing if Julia will choose to marry the mysterious Mr. Macy. I might be the only one, but at times Mr. Macy reminded me of Mr. Darcy. Julia is a fascinating character and I love to watch how authors like Dotta develop characters like Julia, which they have put in sometimes trying situations. Julia is faced with many unsavory, and sometimes terrifying decisions, but she gets stronger and smarter as the book progresses.

The suspense, deceits, secret affairs, and mystery were more than enough to convince me to buy into what Dotta was laying out. Her writing is fantastic, and she has a sure knack for keeping a reader involved. The Victorian setting never gets tiring. The petticoats, the language, the etiquette, and so much more all keep me wondering why I was not made for this time period instead. This book will leave you guessing more than a couple of times, and you may find yourself questioning Julia’s actions or motives, but I truly think it will all pan out in the end!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Tyndale House in exchange for my honest review***