I was delightfully surprised by the story. While it deals with occasional heavy themes, it's still a light-hearted, almost whimsical tale. The way the love note accidentally gets passed around--some believing it's written to them, some believing it was written to someone else in particular--sets the whole household astir, while Willa is trying to track down both it and its rightful owner before the chaos gets out of hand (too late!).

Sometimes it's a little annoying how stubborn Willa is about seeing what's right in front of her, but at the same time, I've been known to do that too--dig in my heels and reject something out of hand simply because too many people have been pushing me toward it. And the more they push, the more I want nothing to do with it, no matter how much I may actually like it. It's not my most sterling quality, nor is it Willa's. 

Gabe was solid and perfect, and I actually really liked Golda, even if she is cantankerous and not terribly kind to begin with. I did guess some of the mystery before it was revealed (the author sprinkled little hints and clues from the beginning), but it pleased me that I was right. The ending surprised me--it wasn't standard for a romance, yet it was wholly satisfying romantically anyway.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

The Love Note was a different type of book.
Willa Duvall wants a career in medicine like her father but he believes it's his duty to see her married off.
At her home hidden away in a desk she finds a love note and this note starts the whole ball of yarn rolling setting up the story essentially.
She makes a deal with her father and if she succeeds at being a long term nurse she'll be able to practice medicine.
After she goes to Crestwicke Manor she nurses the dowager there.
She brings the love note with her and a maid finds it and thinks it was written to her.
Willa is determined to find who the writer of this note was and who it was intended for.
The Love Note takes us on many twists and turns as the note falls into the hands of many people in the Manor each believing it was written to her.
This note is very powerful for the emotions it sparks in the ladies believing it was written to them.
The Love Note is a powerful read and will bring out many emotions in you as you're reading.
As Willa takes care of the dowanger we find out the true story of the love note and the history behind it.
Beautifully flowing prose will keep you reading far into the night not being able to put it down.

Published October 20th 2020 by Fleming H. Revell Company
I was given a complimentary copy/ Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

What a wonderful, fun love story!  You know when you read a book and you either learn or are reminded of a great life lesson, this is one of them!  This wonderful story reminded me what our words can do and the ripple effect that can happen when words of gratitude are spoken and how they can really change a person’s complete outlook. 
The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano really does pull at your heart strings and reminds you to make sure you tell your loved ones how you feel about them.  It could be the words they are needing to hear.  This romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.
📚📚❤❤📚📚

#thelovenote #netgalley #joannadavidsonpolitano
#bookreviews #bookish #bookworm #christianbooks #lovestory
#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #revellpublishing

“Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor.

Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings--mostly negative ones--about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa's search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words.”

I love reading anything historical where women are trying to break to the mold of career choices. This story has it all, a mysterious lost letter that changes people's lives, characters that are more than they appear and a castle. It's kind of a slow build story where every page reveals something new. Couldn't put it down and need to hunt up more books by this author.

"The Love Note" by Joanna Davidson Politano is all about the unravelling of a peculiar mystery involving a long-forgotten letter, a secret love and a vast estate. Can a determined young lady seek to assemble all the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together?

All set for a promising career in medicine, Willa Duvall discovered a never-before-seen love letter in her old escritoire. Willa is driven by a strange compulsion to find the passionate person who painstakingly penned it, and the would-be recipient who unfortunately by a strange quirk of fate, never received it.

This Victorian-era tale of love lost-deferred-and-found, laced with hidden mysteries waiting to be discovered, is the perfect blend of historical romance, intrigue and mystery.

This tale is written in a powerful, lyrical style, with a complex plot, about noble yet broken characters, in an intricate tale of intrigue, that uncovers latent longings, multi-layered, deeply hidden and carefully concealed secrets and profound spiritual truths .

This highly engrossing historical fiction illustrates the awesome power of words, both expressed and unspoken, to have the power to affect Iives drastically.

Words have the extraordinary power to break hearts and hurt feelings. Words hurt, heal and love. Words with eternal impact are treasured forever.

Written in multiple layers with multiple points of view, the story takes shape and gathers momentum in intriguing, unpredictable and surprising ways. The noble characters are very well drawn and properly developed. Last but not least, a strong theme of feminism runs through the novel, assertive but not aggressive.

The Love  Note," with its prayer-filled content, is the poignant tale of how a mysterious, unsent love letter transforms the lives of the noble people at Creswicke Manor. I highly recommend this stunning book to all who wish to know the true story of the layers within the layers!

There were some parts of the book that was slow and very descriptive which I was able to 'see' into the story very well. 
When I said slow I meant that I could imagine myself in the picture and ' hearing their conversations. I could even imagine in what the characters might've looked like too.
I liked  Willa in more ways than one.  She doesn't want to go with tradition. She wants to do things her way and that's what makes things start to get interesting. 
While other readers found her sort of snooty I found her a delight! Her outgoing and feisty personality suits her well. 
Here's something she said to Aunt Maisie;  The Love Note had taken flight in this house., moving where they will, seeping into the cracks of hearts. It's woken something up in them, opened them to possibility that love exists and they are the worthy recipients. And that is vital. Truth and compassion always at war within Willa's outspoken self.
Readers this is what I truly love about Willa.
Another favorite passage is : 
There's power in  simply listening to the one you love, because it gives weight and value to your beloved's thoughts before they're even spoken. Folks another truth spoken.  I've often felt that way with my other half. 
I enjoyed the other characters as well. Each one has brought something different and new challenges to the story. 
Politano has a superb style of writing and I've come to like it very much. Her characters are realistic and I love how she pulls you into her story. 
I am going to say that the many twists and turns that the author has put her characters though was very interesting.  Some I never even saw coming! It made me want to keep turning the pages to see what our friends are going to do next.
I recommend this book. 
My thanks to Revell Publication for this eBook. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own

An interesting story that shows it is never too late.  I was drawn to this story mostly by the cover.  I thought it was very intriguing.  

Willa did not want to go down the traditional path of matrimony.  She was called to go down a different path.  
A recent discovery of a love note opened up a solution.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story.  Just when you thought you figured it out.....you were wrong.  It was a mystery, a love story....a tragedy and inspirational.  

I am glad that this book was brought to my attention.  I enjoyed every chapter.  It was extremely entertaining.  

I received this complimentary copy from Revell to review.

The Love Note is a love story for the ages.  I found the storyline to be original, and it was told in a way as to make it delightful to read.

The story is about Willa Duval, a passionate nurse with aspirations of becoming a doctor, like her father.  You may not think very much of that, as there are many doctors today that are women.  However, this story is set in the mid-nineteenth century.  There weren’t so many back then, if any.  Further, the story is set in England, and English medical schools at that time did not accept women.

The story is not really about Willa’s path to becoming a doctor, but her passion for medicine and helping patients is prevalent throughout the story.  Rather, the story is about an old note Willa finds in her desk - a love letter.  While considering the significance of the note, Willa decides to try and deliver it to the person for whom the note was intended.  The problem is, she doesn’t really know who that is.  All she knows is that the desk the note fell out of came from Crestwicke, where she spent many days of her childhood while her father treated the owner of the property.  Thus, the adventure begins.

The love letter has a very prominent role in the story.  In fact, the old love letter is part protagonist and part antagonist, depending on who is reading it.  I’ve never read a story where a piece of paper had such a pivotal role.

That’s enough about the storyline.  I don’t want to give anything away, except to say - IT’S GOOD!  But not only is the story good, the way Politano told it is also worthy of mention.

If I enjoy a story, I typically highlight a handful of passages that I think are worth remembering or otherwise well written.  In The Love Note, I highlighted thirty-nine such passages!  Part of that can be attributed to the fact that common language was different back then compared to today’s vernacular.  However, without Politano’s way with words, I’m certain I would not have enjoyed the story nearly as much as I did.

The author's use of fine description adds significant value to the story.  For example, when I read, "Her eyes glinted like sun against gunmetal," my mind formed an immediate picture.  Here's another example that touches on several senses:  "Soon we were escorted to a box seat near the stage, with red velvet chairs and gold-fringed curtains, the smell of gaslights filling our nostrils."

The story takes a number of turns.  Some of them were expected, but most of them were not.  Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going, I soon learned that I was wrong.  I consider that a testament to the originality of the storyline.

The pace was steady from the beginning through the climax.  However, there were a number of times I wanted to skip ahead to find out what happened - but I didn’t.  (I suggest you don’t either.  The surprises are very nice.)  Even though the storyline was original, I found all of the character arcs to also be original.

This is a wonderful read.  Even if you don’t consider yourself a love story kind of reader, I think you’ll enjoy this one.  I highly recommend that you give it a go!

The Love Note is such a beautiful novel. Not only is the cover beautiful but the story itself is equally beautiful.  As much as I wanted to read this book as fast as I possibly could, I read it at slower pace than I normally do, so I could savor each and every word the author has written.

The premise of the book fascinated me as did the dialog, and the letter discovered by Willa piqued my curiosity as much as it did hers.  I originally thought that Willa would be my favorite character, but that changed throughout the story as so many interesting characters made their appearance.  I loved how the letter made its way around Crestwicke Manor and how many lives it touched.   I especially loved the ending, even though I wasn’t ready for it to end.
There is so much to love about this book and the authors writing that I would wind up gushing if I continue to rave about how phenomenal The Love Note is.  Not only do I recommend this novel but also anything written by this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are completely my own.

My thoughts...I was delighted with the progression of this newest novel by Joanna Davidson Politano. I was intrigued by the cover and the book summary, but as I started reading I will confess I was kind of disappointed. I thought, "this isn't the romantic story I thought it would be." By the end, it became one of my favorite reads of 2020. I loved that the entire story is cleverly crafted around a mysterious love letter and how it impacts each person whose hands it falls into. Based on their individual perspectives, the love letter means something different. Willa believes she knows from the beginning who the original author was, but her search is for who it was written to. She is also using the love note as a direction for where she should go so that she can avoid an arranged marriage. I loved the twists and turns in the story as each person takes on their own journeys of discovery. I loved the relationship that developed between Willa and her patient. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will conclude with saying that this book addresses expressions of love in many forms: romantic love, love for family and friends, and the love of God. I would definitely recommend this book!


*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.*

In this highly engrossing, totally original Christian historical romantic fiction, Ms. Politano mixes science and faith to show the power of words. Words both expressed and unspoken, written words, careless words, honest words all have the power to affect lives. They hurt feelings, break hearts, change events. They also heal, give hope, and express love in various forms.

"… that’s what words do, when you choose ones with eternal impact. They are remembered, repeated, embraced. They burrow deep and remain, outliving short human lives and becoming a legacy.."

The Love Note is a departure for me from my usual reads. Its prayer-filled content is a far cry from the steamy stories I myself write. Nevertheless, I find myself enjoying this tale of how a mysterious unsent love letter transforms the lives of everyone in Crestwicke Manor.

Written in multiple points of view (first-person for the heroine Willa, third-person for others), the story takes shape in intriguing, unpredictable, and surprising ways.  The named characters are so well drawn and properly developed that the sheer number of them doesn’t confuse the reader. There’s a strong theme of feminism that’s assertive but not too aggressive to be controversial. And the romance is not confined to one couple. At least three more found love restored or newly-discovered.

"Matched souls always find their way back to one another, for they seek refuge in the same place."

While I mostly enjoyed the story, I wish that humor was more consistently employed throughout the book. It was present in the beginning but was gone in the second half. As a romance writer, I want more focus on the romance between Willa and Gabe. There were lovely moments, but I always wish for more.

The Love Note
Joanna Davidson Politano

Miss Willa Duvall was the daughter of Dr. Phineas Duvall, a Dr. of renowned intelligence and knowledge. He wanted to open a Spa clinic to help his patients. She had tried to get into a medical school but was turned down because she was a woman. She had just turned down her fourth proposal.
She wasn't interested in marriage but being a doctor was her aim. She made a deal with her father and she picked a job and if she did a good job then she could choose and when. If she failed then her father chooses. She decided on Crestwicke and Golda Gresham.
Gabrial Gresham's second son and best friend. She hadn't seen him in five years and she had missed him. He ran the stables and hoped to raise the perfect horse and race him. He was still handsome, "with deep maturity, untold strength, the freshness of youth and traces of hurt". 
She had found a note hidden in her desk and had come here to find to whom it was written and who wrote it. It was misplaced and Essie the maid got it and her whole attitude changed, she was lonely. Each one of the ladies somehow ended up with it and it changed them. It was a sincere and lovely note. There are a lot of stories woven into this book. It was romantic and so much was going on. She and Gabe had a lot to do even if they had to do it alone. Five years is a long time. It is written so it is romantic and leaving the person feeling better. I loved the writing and sentiment. It was so entertaining and engaging. You could not put it down and it was so worth the time. I was mesmerized. 
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Joanna Davidson Politano has written an enchanting story about the power of words and the way they can touch our hearts. The story centers around Willa Duval, a nurse who wants to become a doctor in a time when that’s not a woman’s profession, and an anonymous love letter she finds in her desk. As the letter makes its way through the manor, touching each person in a different way, it sets changes in motion that alter the lives of its readers forever. 

I absolutely loved the author's writing style and the beautiful way she crafted this deeply layered story. Willa is a bold and confident heroine, determined to reach her goals and still longing for a love that will give her the freedom to pursue her dreams. Gabe Gresham is a delightful hero, understated but charming in his own way. His tender heart allows him to see beyond the surface of everyone around him. The final chapters brought an unexpected yet satisfying conclusion - I never guessed the true author of the letter until it was revealed! This was the first of Joanna Davidson Politano’s books I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What I Loved: Love is in the air in the most unlikely of places. Where only bitterness and strife seem to survive, the members of the Crestwicke household has the makings for true love hidden around every corner. From the distant husband and wife, the unappreciated servant, the miscommunication between spouses, secret love between friends, and the desire for affection from all of those involved, the unsigned love letter touches everyone in its path in the most peculiar way.
It didn’t take long for me to be swept up in its path myself. And I promise you, this isn’t a novel you’ll want to miss reading for yourself. 
The Biblical truths of genuine love and the destruction of bitterness are woven into every chapter in the most natural way. 
I could go on and on, but some stories are best experienced, so please take my advice. Go. Pick. Up. A Copy. Then you can tell me how this memorable love letter touched your heart. 

Rating and Recommendations: As one of the top books I’ve read all year, I give it 5 stars and then some. I highly recommend it to Christian historical fans of all shapes and sizes. Trust me, you’re going to love it. 

~ I received a copy from Revell. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one.

Another amazing story from Joanna Politano.
I am always in awe of the quotes she uses, usually one at the beginning of each chapter. These impart so much wisdom and truth, and complement the story beautifully.
In this story, the main character, Willa discovers an old love letter hidden away in a desk. She is determined to solve this forgotten mystery and figure out who missed out on the love of a lifetime.
She takes a position as a nurse at Crestwicke, the estate from where the letter originated.
On her arrival there, tho, the letter does nothing but create problems. It gets lost and found numerous times, and each time the finder assumes the letter is meant for them, and this brings many issues to the service.
This author has a way of weaving words, showing deep truths in beautiful prose, and it spoke right to my heart, down deep, right where I needed it most.
Truths about love, about marriage, about God, about forgiveness.
And the story. Oh my. Talk of surprises, this one is just full of them. I didn’t know what to think! Each character was displayed in so many ways. Their flaws were revealed bit by bit, but I really loved the way they found the redemption and resolution they needed.
Ms Politano just moved up another notch in my estimation and is at the top of my list, one of my must-read authors.
I find her stories to challenge me, and help me learn, and grow.
If you are looking for faith-filled fiction that challenges and inspires, you won’t want to miss it!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

It started with a note. A love note found in a secret compartment of a desk. Willa needed to return it to its intended. When she and her father strike up an agreement with a contract, she chooses to go to Crestwick to be a nurse. That’s where the letter originated. As she seeks answers, the note is passed from person to person affecting them all in different ways. Every character is on a journey and it’s a beautifully written novel. I was in awe of the content and how it was presented. I felt like it was a classic literature read. Truly, our words matter. And this novel displays that over and over again. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated are my own.

Brighton 1865.
An old love letter lost and then found, goes missing and changes the lives of those whom it touches. 

Willa desperately wants to pursue her dream of medical college, while her father would rather that she married. She has one month to complete her assignment or marry the man of her father's choosing. But the lover letter has her rethinking her choices, and her future.

A beautiful heartfelt tale of love, forgiveness and second chances. I loved how this story quietly wove a spell over me, blending the present with touches from the past, with tastes of regret and lost love, in this beautiful tale of hope and enduring love.

This story is unique in that it isn't exactly a full on romance or mystery, but falls somewhere along those lines nonetheless. It shows various relationships at varying stages of longevity, as they are each touched by the letter, sometimes for the better and others for the worse. 

I loved how well developed the characters and their relationships were, Gabe was one of my favorites in his gentle way that he trains horses, as well as how he loves enough to trust. There is also a strong foundation of faith that holds everything together. This book does an excellent job of showing so many different turning points in the lives of the characters that I came to know and love over the course of the book. Highly recommend!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is one book I didn’t want to end; I believe it’s my favorite of the year!  Truly amazing how the author took the subject of a “simple” love note and wove it into such a beautiful story.  A love note is discovered by Willa in a writing desk, and in her quest to discover the actual writer and recipient she is led down a path of hidden family secrets.  Willa wants to become a doctor and in order to prove that intent, she is put into service as a nurse to the quirky Golda Gersham in the mysterious Crestwicke Manor.  As other members of the family happen onto the love note, hearts are opened and lives changed.  

Don’t dismiss this book as just another love story; it is so much more than that.  This is a book to savor and enjoy.

Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review; all opinions are my own.

The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano beautifully overwhelmed me. Twenty-four hours after finishing this novel I still have no idea how to adequately put into words how stupendous and marvelous this story is. The storyline is superb. I devoured this book in two days. I truly did not want to put this book down ever. In fact, I want to re-read it just to stay in that glorious book fog that comes when a reader has experienced a truly great piece of fiction. The characters are endearing and unique and very relatable. The heartache each character hides — some deeply, some not so much — ripped my heart into pieces. I actually ached for them because I know what it feels like to feel the way they do. The letter, the central object of The Love Note, is exquisite, but it’s more than that. The letter is a microcosm of the depth and complexity illustrated throughout the narrative. At first glance, the love note is just that, a note from one party to another, but by the end of the story it becomes so much more. It becomes a beacon of hope and illustrates a love greater than anything mere humans can experience. The Love Note is a breathtaking novel that, simply put, must be read immediately.

Let me just say that EVERYTHING about this novel is my favorite, but if I had to pare down to a single thematic idea, it would have to be moving out of God’s way. Willa is a force to be reckoned with. She is feisty, highly intelligent, and a woman of action. Her heart is always in the right place, but things often don’t work according to her plans and she gets frustrated and disheartened. I had to laugh at Willa’s antics because I definitely saw myself in her character a few times. There are two moments in the story that really stood out to me. First, a conversation between Willa and wise, old Aunt Maisie. In frustration Willa states, “Why can’t I ever seem to say the right thing? My words … they’re still wrong, Aunt Maisie.” Aunt Maisie tells Willa that the problem lies with Willa. Willa is using her words, not God’s. Willa rushes in to save the day instead of pausing, praying, and saturating herself in God’s Words. I may have blushed a little at Maisie’s brilliance while scenes of my past flitted across my mind’s eye. We humans would do well to pause a bit before we speak and act.

The second moment that stood out to me is when Willa contemplates her love story. She states, “My love story took longer than most to fully show itself.” This one phrase from the novel made me contemplate my own love story. Mine took a LONG time to show itself. Like Willa, I believed I was slated to be a spinster and that devastated me. I remember all the disastrous relationships I desperately entered into hoping with all my heart that this one would be the one. But they never worked out. It was when I gave up, when I stopped trying to do things my way, that I finally met the man who would be my husband. As Willa realizes in this novel, I had to come to the understanding that I was getting in the way of the story God had planned for me and along the way I made some pretty terrible mistakes. Don’t worry, Willa is much better than I am and her story is nothing like mine, but the idea of getting in God’s way is the same. Willa’s words and actions do get her and others into a little bit of trouble. My words and actions have done the same. The lesson is clear: to experience the best God has for us, we must stop, pause, saturate ourselves in His Word, and let God be God.

I could go on and on with this review. The Love Note is excellently written, highly engaging, and utterly breathtaking. This is a novel I will not ever forget. The Love Note is a must-read story, and I implore you to purchase a copy for yourself today. You will not regret your purchase.

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Fleming H. Revell Company, via NetGalley, in order to review. I also received a paperback copy of this novel from the author, Joanna Politano, as well. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"That means there's so much hope for new and beautiful chapters, because God's the one writing them and he isn't done yet. You never know what's coming - unexpected tender moments, closure and healing, delightful surprises, a chance to fix what's broken."

Joanna Davidson Politano knows how to cast a spell with her beautiful poetic words. The trope seems simple: find closure for the aged love letter found within the crevice of a desk. But the plot and the characters revolving around that letter are anything but simple. With writing style that is lyrical and powerful, characters who are so broken yet noble, intrigue around the love note that exposes hidden longings and layered secrets, and irrefutable spiritual truths, this book will enchant you and make you cry tears of heart-break and joy.

Willa is an energetic, impulsive, brilliant and intriguing woman who sets out to be a nurse to an ailing woman at Crestwicke Manor for a professional purpose but also to find a closure for the two people involved in the love note she discovers. There are multiple third person narratives from the secondary characters, which help to bring together a complex plot as the love note that Willa brings to the manor exchanges hands many times among the occupants in the manor. Gabe is a wonderful hero - a steadfast, loyal, tender, faith-filled protector and rescuer - who allows Willa's set ways to soften. The words from the love note becomes so much more meaningful in the end when Willa finally sees behind the mere words. There is humor hidden in this gem of a book, and you will find yourself laughing out loud at the banter and thoughts from the characters. 

You won't want to miss this captivating masterpiece. It's one of my favorite reads of 2020.
I received a copy of the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.