Thursday, June 20, 2019

The Number of Love by Roseanna M White

I am generally not a fan of historical fiction but I really liked this novel. It was the character development that drew me in. Margot is quite a gal. Her personality and her thinking in numbers was well done. And there is some great witty dialogue too. Christian faith is well presented in this novel. It is shown as a regular part of their lives.

I also like the way White gave readers information. For example, Margot didn't like to cook. Here is how we are informed: “...recipes were just mathematics, after all. But they were mathematics she usually happily left to theory.” (187)

One aspect of the novel I didn't like was a bit of head jumping. One chapter, following a male German spy ended and the next followed a male English spy. It took me a couple of paragraphs to realize we had changed characters. I would appreciate such a change being made clear to readers within a sentence or two.

I had to laugh about one phrase in the book. Margot was looking forward to a “hot cup of tea.” (355) My mother would love a hot cup of coffee, she'd say. My father would correct her – a cup of hot coffee. I did laugh, wondering if Margot's cup was hot but her tea cold!

Novels about women with responsibilities during war years usually delegated to men are popular now. This one is a good addition and highlights one feisty code breaker during WW I. There is a discussion guide included so this pleasurable book would be a fine choice for a reading group.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author. She is a homeschooling mom as well as an editor and designer of book covers. She has written several historical novels. You can find out more at www.roseannamwhite.com.

Bethany House, 368 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

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