Review: A Portrait of Loyalty

 

A Portrait of Loyalty

by Roseanna M. White

 

About the Book

 

He sees patterns in what she deems chaos. She sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed.

 

Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.

 

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. With her father’s connection in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.

 

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon’s loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is more than one couple’s dreams–it becomes a matter of ending the war.

 

My Thoughts

 

Roseanna M. White does it once again! Painting a vivid picture of the secretive Room 40, the world of propaganda photography, and the Bolshevik movement, A Portrait of Loyalty is a gripping novel that beautifully wraps up the complex world of The Codebreakers.

 

This book has it all. It is at once filled with heart-pumping suspense that keeps you turning pages and melting moments of romance that you want to pause and savor. Themes of hope in the midst of tragedy and forgiveness during war are consistent throughout the book.

 

I loved Lily and Zivon. Both were strong and loving people; the kind of characters that take up residence in your heart and stick with you long after the last page is turned. I’m always a fan of strong female leads, which Lily certainly was, and I love sweet heroes like Zivon who love these resilient women and let them shine. We also have a wonderful cast of supporting characters in this book. I loved Lily’s sister Ivy and the sweet relationship they had, as well as their parents. I also love that we got peeks at characters from past Codebreakers books, as well as Roseanna’s Ladies of the Manor and Shadows Over England series.

 

As with any Roseanna M. White novel, true historical events interweave with the fictional plot that draw your interest and immerse you in the period. The author’s attention to detail brings the world of London during WWI to life and makes the reader feel as if they’re there. This is just one of many reasons why I love her books so much.

 

Fans of Christian historical romance will love not only A Portrait of Loyalty, but The Codebreakers series as a whole. Highly recommend!

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to Bethany House, NetGalley, and the author for a complimentary copy.