The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White

The Nature of a Lady
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9780764237188
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: May 4th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
1906. Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.


My Review:
The Nature of a Lady is a Christian romance set in 1906 in England. Oliver's sister has gone missing. People keep delivering messages and objects to Lady Elizabeth because she's living in the same vacation cottage and both women have a similar look. However, Oliver's sister promised an archaeological find to some men who now think that Lady Elizabeth is their contact and is withholding their prize. They've already killed one boy to get their treasure. Libby and Oliver must find Beth before more people get hurt.

Libby and Oliver shared an interest in science and studying nature. Oliver encouraged Libby to learn more, sharing his knowledge with her. He also respected her intelligence and her courage during their efforts to protect and find his sister. She encouraged him to live up to his faith and forgive a longtime rival. All of the characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to the main characters.

Libby felt that science explained the world without a need for God. Oliver, a vicar, explained that learning more about God's creation didn't negate the need for God. He helped her to a sense of wonder at Christ's act offering salvation. Based on one sentence, it seemed like Libby still felt that the things she discovered using science should be used to reinterpret the Bible. I'd assert instead that the Bible helps us to properly interpret what we discover through science. After all, God knows how He created everything! There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance with a mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.