It’s 1899 in Newport, Rhode Island, and Lilly struggles to conceal her career as a dime novelist because of the stigma attached to it. She feels good about her secret— she’s enlightening working class girls and honoring God.

But Jackson, a former suitor, threatens her secret when he becomes Lilly’s new publisher. Determined to revive his floundering publishing house by maximizing their most promising–and most secretive–author, he wants to find “Fannie Cole” and convince her to go public.

When a gossip columnist discovers Lilly’s true identity, she finds that being faithful to her calling involves more than putting pen to paper. It requires her to stand up for her faith and for herself, no matter the consequences.

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James creates entertaining characters who capture your attention, struggle through their circumstances, and frustrate your sensibilities. Watching Lilly and Jackson navigate their lives and careers around each other, their families, and society makes the reader shudder with aggravation, but only because James does such a good job of pulling you into their world of social classes and propriety.

Though the ending seemed a bit rushed, the book is an entertaining romantic read, full of classic romantic elements set in a turn of the century beach town. If you enjoy historical romances, I’m confident you’ll like this book.

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I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”