The Heart's Appeal by Jennifer Delamere is the second in the London Beginnings series. Ms Delamere has already drawn the reader into late 19th century London with her first book The Captain's Daughter which introduces the reader to the Bernay daughters. This second book brings to the forefront the eldest daughter, Julia. Julia wants so much to be accepted into the first medical school to open its doors to women. She was raised in the orphanage just as her sisters had been but in the beginning she had a benefactress who had been paying her was through school but that had recently stopped. Luckily she had saved back a little and could complete this session. The next step was to pass the entrance exam and get into medical school. She planned to trust her finances to God in prayer. While on her way to attend a lecture she was in a train accident. She was not badly injured but unfortunately Michael Stephenson was hurt badly and luckily from her nursing background she knew just what to do in order to save his life until his family could get him to the hospital. After Michael, a rising barrister, was back to his sister's home to finish healing Julia decided to pay him a visit to make sure he was doing well. Michael was still in a lot of pain but agreed to meet the penniless Julia in his sister's fine home. Michael was thankful and Julia managed to convince him to tutor her in Latin to help her pass her test as a way to pay her back. Julia knows that in order to achieve her goals of becoming a doctor and then going into the mission field in Africa she must not marry. If she would marry, her husband would have the say so of what she could and could not do. Michael already had plans to marry Laura, a woman that he didn't love but had money and respect of the those in the circles that Michael and his sister wanted to be back in. While he and his sister were young his father had lost all standing in society. Michael was on his way to being a well respected lawyer in a well respected firm. His boss was close to being a judge leaving an opening for Michael to step into his shoes. As Michael tutors Julia they begin to grow fond of each other. What will happen? Will Michael declare his love for Julia and take a chance on loosing out on the foothold he had managed to attain in society? Will Julia give up on her dream to become a doctor in the mission field?
I loved this book. It has an accurate background in the law and medical field of what could and couldn't take place in society. It also opens the readers eyes to what it means to be truly poor--not just the inability to have the latest fashions but to be truly hungry. It shows how the rich still cannot be accepted into proper society because it wasn't old enough money therefore shutting the door to certain careers. To be well thought of required more than just money but also must be above reproach in every aspect of their life--as in the mentally ill could not be well thought of. I would recommend this book for reading for anyone interested in historical romance novels.
I received this book from BethanyHouse for this review.
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