In the first of a new series, "The Codebreakers", this book has ties to the author's Shadows Over England series. Featuring a more mature Margot de Wilde, little sister of Lukas de Wilde from "A Song Unheard", I found it not only fun to catch up a little with Lukas and Willa but interesting to see what was next for Margot.

Margot has been working as a codebreaker in Room 40 for her country and enjoys the way that God talks to her through numbers. In spite of her age (17), her unique mind is critical to England's war efforts. She also has a very close relationship with her mom - after all, it's been just the two of them for some time - but no true friends. Margot wants to get an education, not get married; the other girls just can't relate. While at work one night she cracks the code of communications about spy number 18, and feels an overwhelming and urgent need to pray for him. She has also encountered some strange newcomers to the neighborhood - are they friend, or foe?

Drake Elton meets Margot when he brings his sister to Room 40 for an interview for secretary. He is intrigued with her answers to his casual questions but immediately leaves to return to the field, deep undercover as he works to prevent a biological attack. When he is wounded, he returns to England and eventually to the care of his sister, Margot's new friend.

With many strong subplots, sweet romance, and a mystery that kept me guessing almost to the end, I happily recommend this book. Also, if you have not read any of the author's other series I highly recommend those as well! Starting with the Shadows Over England books first will only enrich your enjoyment of this one, but it can easily be read alone.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

When I got the chance to read The Number of Love, I was so excited. I always liked reading about spies and codes. This book took you deep into the heart of Room 40 as seen through the eyes of Margot. I thought Margot was an interesting character. She saw the world through the filter of math and numbers. I had to wrap my mind around the whole hearing the Lord’s voice in number form. I did feel like she learned how to really hear the Lord’s voice. I l thought the characters were well written. I liked some better then others.
One of my favorite things about historical fiction is learning something new about the time period the story is set. I did not realize that there was the threat of biological warfare during WW1. It makes me want to find out more.
This was a good story. I enjoyed it and had to know what happened. It didn’t capture me quite as much as some of her other stories. I loved how the characters from her other books popped in and out of this story. There are wonderful truths that the reader can learn right along with the characters.
I’m excited to read more of Roseanna White’s stories.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.
I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

The Number of Love is powerful historical novel. Roseanna M. White produced a well-crafted and thoughtful novel with strong, complex characters. Margot De Wilde is a brilliant mathematician whose education was interrupted by the war. She utilizes her talents by breaking the enemy’s codes. Numbers are constantly running through her head and some of them are vitally important. She relies on facts instead of emotions and pours herself into her work. Drake Elton is a naval lieutenant whose background makes him a perfect field agent for the intelligence services. Drake has a big heart and Margot is never far from his thoughts since the moment they met. Drake has an enemy following him who performs missions, but he also has his own agenda. The author did her research for this book. I like how she incorporated the historical information from the Great War along with Room 40 with the codebreakers and the work of the field agents. Faith was an integral part of the story and our character’s lives. I appreciated that Barclay, Willa, Lukas and other characters from Shadows Over England series were included in the story. The vivid and detailed descriptions allowed me to visualize the characters and scenes. I would have liked a little more action which would have added a little more spark to the story. The Number of Love is an intriguing and captivating historical novel with suspense, romance, friendship, mystery, faith and family.

I think I love spy novels even more than frontier stories.  I don't know if it's the secret codes or the chance to become someone you're not.  The way people who aren't quite normal in regular life find meaning and purpose.  At least a little bit of it is the way the work that is done in secret can save lives, stop wars before they start, or reduce the casualty count.  Maybe it's because there are spies in the Bible.  But if spy novels are just plain awesome, historical spy novels are the next level.  My favorites are World War I, World War II, Cold War stories. Today's technology makes for some great gadgets, but I love the human element and the old school, hands-on ways of doing things. So take my love for historical fiction, all things intelligence, and the last Roseanna M. White book I read, and you can bet I was eagerly anticipating The Number of Love.

A Great WWI Story

Ms. White tells a great story, long enough for my taste too!  She'll make you fall in love with the world of WWI codebreakers, and with a young lady who thinks and feels in the land of numbers.  This gal is really, really smart!  You'll feel a sense of good vs. evil and a sense of purpose - even a hunger to find purpose in what you do every day.  And you may find yourself thinking about the "bad guy" through different eyes too.  I am really looking forward to reading more of The Codebreakers series!

This Girl is a True Believer

I was so glad to get to know a cast of characters with a Catholic background.  See, while I'm not Catholic, and I'm not always on the same page theologically with my Catholic brothers and sisters, we serve the same Christ. In Protestant circles, Catholics have a reputation for being more ritualistic than religious, but I think you'll find the same thing to some degree in any tradition.  In every group of Christians, you'll find "nominal" believers (I call them "cultural Christians") and true believers.  The Catholics in this story, like so many, are true believers, and their journey of faith so closely resembles mine.

Enemy or Opponent?

I loved how our heroine, Margot, sees the enemy. When her home was occupied in Belgium by the Germans years before, she learned "that a uniform didn't make a man by nature a friend or an enemy. But choice did."  Even as she faithfully serves as a codebreaker in the secret Room 40, her desire is not to see the enemy destroyed but the enemy stopped.  At the end of the day, at the end of the battle, at the end of the war, the guy in the other uniform is a son, a brother, a father, a husband, a patriot.  Margot's love for her enemy comes out in a beautiful way at the end of the story.

"Das Gespenst," one of the German spies in The Number of Love, thinks of Margot not as an enemy, but an opponent.  The difference is honor.  Respect.  And a different desire, because when you defeat your opponent, you can shake hands and move on to the next match.  When you defeat an enemy, the enemy is destroyed.

Margot's war, "The Great War" as it was called, seems a lot more cut-and-dry than some of our wars today.  Today the battle lines seem more blurry. How much more important, then, is Margot's perspective?  On the other side of the battle, no matter how important, is another human, another life created in God's image.

It doesn't mean we shouldn't fight.

There are times to stand and fight, to come between evil and the innocent and say "it stops here."  But we fight with God's heart for those who oppose us.  We grieve when there is loss, because God grieves.  Maybe, too, we can fight in the way of honor.  A way that honors God, that honors those who have gone before us, and yes, even our opponents.  The Number of Love reminds us that in whatever fight, be it on the battlefield, the courtroom, or even with your coworker or neighbor or your teenager, we can remember that Satan, not the human in front of us, is the real enemy.

43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.  - Matthew 5:43-48 CEB

I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.

I loved The Number of Love! A very exciting story of a girl that has a fascination with numbers, Margot meets Drake, who is an undercover agent for the allied forces of WW1. He begins to understand her view of the world and begins to break down her defenses. A very exciting story to read! I enjoyed it very much!

I was very excited to learn that Margot had her own story. After meeting her in White's previous series, I was intrigued by this young woman with an amazing mind. I don't understand a thing about what she does, but she is an interesting person that I could easily connect with. A great storyline with fantastic characters makes this a must-read!

‘There were others — a brilliant confederacy — whose names even now are better wrapt in history.’
Winston Churchill in ‘The World Crisis’ , one Room 40

Oh my gosh! What an incredible beginning to a new series - certainly one you and I won’t want to miss! Young Margot was absolutely brilliant with dreams and aspirations that were not in step with the time she was living in. Working in cryptography certainly wasn’t a job for the faint of heart nor a young lady. In all of this, she realized that God was smarter than she was - she didn’t always understand but she knew she could trust Him. She lived in a world of cause and effect, actions and reactions. Emotionally withdrawn, numbers were her world until unexpected events occurred. How was she to deal with them?

A fabulous book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. With intelligence agents, German spies, kidnapping and a poisonous substance the story is sure to keep your attention!

I received this ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions stated are my own.

A mysterious read that crosses between A Beautiful Mind and Bing Bang Theory.

Margot De Wilde understands mathematics and finds comfort in numbers. After her family fled Belgium at the beginning of the Great War, Margot has found use for her talents as one of the lead codebreakers in the British navy. An unconventional position for a woman at the time, but Margot is quite unconventional herself. She does not notice any of the attentiveness of men and hopes to secure a professorship at a university after the war. While at work one day, she meets a new young lady named Dot, who is to be serving as a secretary. Dot has her own quirks and doesn’t like to leave her house but knows she must. Margot and Dot strike up a mutual friendship where each person can accept their own faults. But when Dot’s brother Drake shows up, things become much more interesting.

Drake Elton serves as a spy for the British navy. Fluent in three languages and having a grandfather in Spain who runs a prosperous shipping business gives him the perfect cover to set up a base of operations there. But after a botched mission lands him in the infirmary in London, Drake dreads the recovery time. His sister Dot comes to visit him quite often as does her friend the mathematician, Margot. Drake has never met anyone like Margot, who is extremely intelligent and can match wits with Drake on any occasion. When remnants from his mission in Spain begin to show up in London, Drake knows that he must return to duty to save his country and Margot.

This was a very entertaining story from the beginning to the last sentence. Margot became my best friend instantly and we had a great adventure throughout the journey. Granted, I’m married to an engineer, so maybe math people are my friends. Even so, the best way that I can describe Margot is like a female Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. She fully understands numbers and math but is completely oblivious to social norms. The romance between her and Drake evolved in its own time and wasn’t forced like so many books attempt. Everything flowed great and her armor was slowly chipped by Drake until it was worn down and she finally understood what it was to love and be loved. I also appreciated the author weaving faith into the story and the trials and tribulations that Margot had to go through to become the woman she was meant to be.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

I have never before considered numbers to be romantic!

Margot is a genius who thinks, dreams, and even prays in numbers. She clearly used them in learning and remembering, cataloging information in her brain by the number of times it occurred. She is not impressed with flattery or pretty things. She is extremely logical and literal (which made for amusing conversations!) Despite this, she is also witty, with a quirky sense of humor. I loved her first meeting with Drake and the responses she gave to his getting-to-know-you questions!

As a woman in a "man's world" doing cryptology, Margot was insulted when people assumed she must be a secretary simply based on her gender. As a woman who valued logic over feelings, she rebuffed the men who attempted to flirt with her, often with enumerated lists of how she would hurt them if they persisted!

While Margot was very strong and prided herself on being logical, she also had a side that was frail and hurting. After her loss, for which she felt responsible, she struggled with the sovereignty of God and personal responsibility.

While I am not a numbers person and don't do calculations in my head just because, the author made Margot's character so real and her thoughts so plausible to me. I loved the ways she was constantly calculating - from the area of a room to the angle of the stair rail to anything else that caught her attention. If not for reading the notes at the end, I would have thought the author herself was a numbers person, like Margot.

Drake was an observer. That was what made him valuable to the war effort. With the ability to see things many overlooked, and to ask just the right question, he was not only able to ferret out the enemy's secrets, he also was able to deduce the secret to Margot's heart. The manner in which he wooed her was so beautiful!

Dot, Margot's friend and Drake's sister, was also eccentric, suffering from agoraphobia. I loved her courage in getting and maintaining a job despite this.

In addition to the amazing and rich characterizations, as if they are not enough for me to suggest you run out and buy this, the mystery and suspense related to the enemy agent greatly added to my enjoyment of The Number of Love, as did the historical gems incorporated.

Though this is the first book of a new series, The Codebreakers, Margot was originally introduced in the Shadows over England series. While it is not necessary for understanding this story, it could enhance your experience if you read those first. And they are so good, you'll want to do that anyway!

“He’d chosen his words carefully, so that he’d remember his own intentions. He wasn’t waiting for her. He was waiting on her. That kind of waiting wasn’t impatient, didn’t sit there tapping its foot. That kind of waiting was service. Selfless. Unflagging.”

Roseanna White has yet again outdone herself. I don’t know how she does it, but her writing becomes more intense, more gripping, and more lyrical with each new book and series. I thoroughly enjoyed the Shadows Over England series and love that some of the beloved characters from that series have roles in this story between Margot and Drake. Of course, we met Margot in A Song Unheard (book 2 in Shadows Over England) as the quirky younger sister of the world-renowned violinist Lukas De Wilde but this book can be read as a stand-alone, without having read the previous series (but I highly recommend that you do read the series if you haven’t yet).

So knowing what a fantastic storyteller the author is, the wait for this book was agonizing....but so worth it. The deliciously fast-paced suspense, mystery, and secrecy of espionage in this book far surpass what I remember from the previous books. The fascinating and clever dialogue that is the author’s trademark is taken up a notch. Roseanna White has a way of creating unforgettable characters and she has indeed gone above and beyond in introducing Margot and Drake to the world. Margot thinks in numbers and relies on methodical calculations and logic to face the world of loss as WWI destroys everything she holds dear. She’s a very different kind of heroine with a unique voice that comes so clearly across the pages. Drake is an injured espionage agent who has survived on instinct and fearlessly takes on Margot’s intelligence to show her that emotions and feelings are not enemies but something to treasure. His devotion, maturity, and selflessness make him quite swoon-worthy. And there is a villain with a voice that sends chills up my spine whenever I think about him! And, of course, there is that gentle spiritual reminder in this book that “faith isn’t just feeling. We have to know He’s still there, unchanged, even when we can’t feel Him. When the grief’s too loud to let us hear His voice.”

Now I am in my agonizing waiting period again for the next book to be released so I can revel in Phillip and Arabelle’s story!

I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

A secret room where agents during the Great War are working to break codes and crack every German telegram before they carry out there missions. Margo is a codebreaker and one of the best. Drake is one of the best field agents they have and when Margot and Drake have to work together.. It quickly becomes one of those with danger around every turn and watch over your shoulder because the standing up hair on your neck is doing overtime. Wonderful war time drama!
I was gifted a copy, no review was required. My review is voluntary.

This is a great book for fans of historical romance who enjoy a little action as well. There is lots of intrigue and action to balance out the love story. The main character is a mathematician which made her very unique. I also liked how prayer was woven into the story. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Though The Number of Love is the first in a new Codebreakers series I would highly recommend that you first read the Shadows Over England series. In this series you will be introduced to the characters and learn back story that I would argue is fairly essential to a full understanding of this book.

I really appreciate Roseanna White’s writing and anticipate when a new book is released. The Number of Love did not disappoint. It had suspense, intrigue, character growth, grief, loss, triumph, love and faith. I am the polar opposite of the main character in both personality and thought, yet I connected deeply with her story. I think that in itself is quite a feat of writing. I imagine a mathematician would find this story even more riveting that I did. I also found the historical foundation of Room 40 and the code breakers to be fascinating and I walked away from the story with a deep appreciation for people whose gifts are far different than my own.

All in all it was a fascinating story that I highly recommend.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Number of Love is the first book I’ve read by Roseanna White and it won’t be the last! I’m now an absolute fan. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I loved the secret agent elements, as well as the history and romance. The characters are very well developed and multi-faceted. I enjoyed Margot’s sarcasm, it made her funny and appealing to someone like myself who doesn’t quite comprehend mathematics. I thought the numbers angle gave her a unique persona, and I was intrigued by how she thought and prayed in number form. I relate most to Dot, Drake’s sister. I’m a little disappointed that Dot’s story was wrapped up at the end, I was hoping there would be an entire novel dedicated to her journey as she learns to overcome her fears. I loved how a board game played a crucial part in the story. I also enjoyed the unexpected twists at the end.
The Number of Love has a beautiful theme of trusting God’s plan for our lives and trusting Him with our dreams, especially when they take a turn contrary to our own dreams. We need to be open to allow him to lead and guide us as he seems fit. We need to trust His plan instead of getting angry and bitter. Instead of asking, “Why,” we should ask a different question, like “What is He trying to teach me?” or even “What next?” We can also focus on His blessings through trials, how he protected us physically, mentally, or emotionally. This book is about learning that emotions aren’t necessarily a bad thing, that God gave them to us for a reason, and that we should use ALL our gifts to bring glory to Him.
I recommend this book for lovers of World War I stories, “spy” adventures, logical thinkers, mathematicians, and those who like a little suspense with their romance. If you’ve already read A Song Unheard, you’ll definitely want to read this one. But if you haven’t, it won’t impede your enjoyment of The Number of Love.

Spies and codes, and secrets, oh my!

The Number of Love grips you at every page turn. A new secret, a new code, a dangerous spy mission, and sweet, beautiful love stories.

Simple, yet poetic. Funny, yet heartwarming.

Not only was all the action super fun, but the characters were deep and diverse. These compelling characters really had a story to tell.
Each one had a perspective on life. It was really incredible to view such an interesting period of history through these deep thinkers and feelers eyes.

Margot was sarcastic, funny and a genius. She was generous, kind and is no like no other character I've met.

The same goes for Drake. Both were diverse and layered characters.

Not one to waste air on useless words Margot is quiet, determined and feels the need to be completely on her own.
Buuuut then Drake walks into her life and everything familiar is swept away, replaced with exciting new adventures that might just lead to the most exciting adventure of all- love.

He is feeling, she is thinking.
Combine the two and you'll get a really epic love story.


I definitely recommend buying The Number of Love!

**I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are purely my own.**

-Rebekah

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a wonderfully unique novel set during World War I. I loved how White had a female character, Margot, working among the men and being treated equally in her department. I think that this was so good. I also enjoyed how the author had Margot have a special way of hearing from the Lord. I thought that this was awesome.

I also loved the friendship developed in the book between all of the characters. I also liked the romance and the buildup of it. I was not sure if it would pan out or not. I think that this novel has great suspense elements, which made me fly through it.

After thoroughly enjoying watching Bletchley Park and being amazed by the book Code Girls, I jumped at the chance to read Roseanna M. White’s latest novel, The Number of Love. Set in England in the midst of World War I, rather than WWII like the others, I knew it would give a different perspective on women codebreakers in war time. And it was fascinating!
I so appreciated how White brought Margot’s mathematical mind to life. I am not a numbers person (shocker, right?), but I loved how Margot thought and felt in numbers. It kind of gave me a peek into the kind of mind I sometimes wish I had (at least at tax time ). And her connection with God through numbers and equations and theorems was so interesting and added such a beautiful level of depth to the character.
And the story didn’t leave me wanting, either. The plot moved swiftly, with just the right amount of action and intrigue to keep the pages turning and keep me guessing. All in all, The Number of Love, was a very enjoyable read. I definitely recommend it!
Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!

I have been excitedly awaiting this book ever since meeting Margot in A Song Unheard, and it did not disappoint! Roseanna White's characters are always the perfect blend of intelligent and quirky, her historical settings are always spot on, and the spiritual journey of her characters is always inspiring. This book checks all those boxes and more. I have always been a sucker for characters who are a little socially awkward because of their genius and for the characters who love them, both romantically and as loyal friends. For all those reasons, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it! My 14-year old daughter also read and enjoyed this book as part of our studies on WW1 this year!

I am always amazed that authors can write stories about war that people like me will want to read. Yet Roseanna M. White has done just that, and admirably so, in The Number of Love. First, in The Codebreakers series, we are introduced to Margot de Wilde, a mathematical whiz who actually thinks and perceives all of life around her in numbers. I struggled some with this. First, it was way beyond my comfort zone. I can learn and even teach a bit of math, but I much prefer words. So even just reading that much about numbers was a little bit of a struggle, but thank goodness God gives everybody different strengths. What an interesting look into the battlefield that was played, not on land, but in minds, in 'room 40' in London. I also struggled with someone who saw herself as one of the most intelligent people on earth, next to God. Yes, God gave Margot and the other codebreakers an unusual gift, but I like to think others also have/had very unusual gifts, too. So I guess I felt like she thought a little highly of herself, which, coincidently, I would say, she was on her way to putting things back into perspective by the end of the book.

What I loved about the book was plentiful. There was lots of action. The reader gets to vicariously travel a bit. There are many different storylines going at once, giving a healthy vigor and breadth to the novel. Faith and kindness play huge roles in The Number of Love and actually lead to a remarkable ending.

What I really loved, though, was that Ms. White allowed her character to question God. She asked the tough questions. But it was the answer that she arrived at that I have either never heard, or it hit me afresh. So wonderful! I would suggest reading this book just to find out what her answer from God is. The romances are sweet; I enjoyed the tie-ins to characters from other books; the suspense was palpable; but that answers for life, we can use. Thank you, Ms. White.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. I was in no way influenced by this fact, and all opinions are my own.

The Number of Love was an intriguing story. Even though it's the first in the Codebreakers series, the author has added several appearances from characters in previous books. I wish I would have read her book A Song Unheard so I could have known a bit more of Margot's life prior to this book, but it didn't prevent me from following along with the story at all. (I actually didn't know this fact until after I saw a few other reviews). it was really incredible how the author was able to weave it all together. Have you ever finished reading a book, and then you're sad because you wish you had more time with the characters? That's the type of gem you receive when reading this one. :)

I liked that Margot wasn't your typical heroine. Women are often considered the more "emotional beings" but that isn't always the case. It was really interesting to see a young woman facing hurdles that may not be typical of others. I marveled in getting inside of her mind as she faced both success and heartache. And Drake? Ohh Drake. Men, take some notes, because Drake was wonderful. Instead of trying to "fix" Margot, he found ways to be supportive of her.

I admit that while I've heard of codebreakers before and find them fascinating, I haven't read much about them in the past. At the end of the book the author shares a bit of the "fact and fiction" from her research. I always appreciate when authors share this because it shows a deep respect for true history even when the stories may (or may not) slightly alter people or events. I don't believe I've heard of Room 40 before, but it's incredible the work that those people did and how close they were as people.

I enjoyed this novel and I'm interested in seeing where the story continues with the next in the series. Fans of WWI and WWII history are sure to get sucked right in.

*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.