Review – Born of Persuasion

From the Back Cover:  She never imagined securing her future would require delving into the past.

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens.

However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own.

But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

It is not easy writing a story in the style of a Gothic romance. I can assure you that Ms. Dotta has done an exceptional job. She has combined all the elements:  A recently orphaned girl with secrets about her mother’s death, an unknown guardian who wants nothing to do with her, a childhood love who spurns her, a dark and mysterious man, an ancient house, and a group of people all with hidden motives and secrets of their own. There is a lot going on in this book, scheming manipulations, incredible deceit and really nasty people as well as really good people.  “Born Of Persuasion” is also a romance that can only be found in Victorian London.  Jessica Dotta knows how to weave a captivating story with wonderful characters that breathe.  I am so looking forward to the third and concluding book in this series.