Review + GIVEAWAY: A Respectable Actress

A Respectable Actress
By Dorothy Love
Thomas Nelson, 2015

Summary

When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father's death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah's Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night's performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best---and handsomest---lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can't go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip's dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

My thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed A Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love, an impressively well-written story that often made me think of Eugenia Price's St. Simons trilogy. It features romance, mystery, suspense, and even some gothic overtones. I’ve always been a fan of gothic romances, so this was an added delight, as was the blend of murder mystery with the post-Civil War setting of Georgia’s St. Simons Island and Savannah. What pleasantly surprised me was the complexity of this story and the knowledge I gained from the theater world at that time. Although A Respectable Actress stands alone, those who have read The Bracelet will enjoy Celia Mackay’s involvement with India’s situation.

From Savannah’s Southern Palace Theater to Philip’s St. Simons plantation, Indigo Point, I found the historical setting fascinating and rich in its detail. India’s character was inspired by the life of a 19th-century actress, and Philip’s plantation is modeled after King’s Retreat, a large plantation on the southern tip of St. Simons Island. I connected with India from the beginning, easily sensing her struggles and fears at feeling like an outsider - first from career choice, then as a murder suspect. And Philip, the attorney hired to defend India, is the type of leading man I enjoy - quiet, almost brooding, prone to keep things to himself in the beginning.

There’s nothing predictable about A Respectable Actress, and readers will also love all the surprising twists and turns that Dorothy packs into this story. I didn’t feel much chemistry between Philip and India, yet I think there’s an authenticity to Dorothy’s writing and their romance fits the times. They are likeable characters and I enjoyed the unfolding of their sweet relationship.

The only thing that disappointed me at first was the seeming lack of a spiritual message, for this is why I read Christian fiction.  Philip and India’s faith or belief system is never outwardly conveyed. On the one hand, I felt this excellent, high-quality story should be classified as “clean” rather than “Christian” fiction . . . yet on the other hand, I could see a subtlety of faith in action through characters’ actions in caring for others, possibly reflective of the religious beliefs of the plantation owners at the time. 

A Respectable Actress beautifully conveys historical elements in Georgia’s lowcountry in an intriguing story that hooked me from the first paragraph and kept me entertained throughout. Highly recommended.

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A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. When she isn't busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. The Loves make their home in the Texas hill country.

Find Dorothy online at dorothylovebooks.com, Twitter, and Facebook

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Litfuse landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/dlove

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GIVEAWAY

My deepest thanks to Litfuse Publicity for providing a giveaway copy of A Respectable Actress.

To enter the drawing, please click on this link to my Facebook page and share. Then leave a comment about any other of Dorothy’s books that you might have read, or what appeals to you about this story.

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Saturday, November 14. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents