Face of Fortune by Colleen Kelly-Eiding - My Review
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Face of Fortune, by Colleen Kelly-Eiding
A Wonderful Protagonist and Thoroughly Rotten Villains
5-Stars
This is the second book in “The Shadows of Rosthwaite” series, set in London in the 1760s. I did not read the first book, and I might have had an easier time in the beginning if I had, but I also thought this book worked well on a stand-alone basis.
I love the lead character, Charlotte Pruitt. She is enormously strong, capable, and independent, yet human at the same time. The writer also did a phenomenal job with the villainry. There were no less than three heinous bad guys, more than enough trouble to last a lifetime. In this book, you’ll find loads of thrilling, action-packed, suspenseful page-flipping drama.
Charlotte’s love interest is a man named James Clarke. At the beginning of the book, it seems that Charlotte has recently lost both her husband and her lover. A tormentor from her past makes her fearful, and her home is being watched. After months of separation, James disguises himself as a homeless person in order to reunite with Charlotte, without the spies detecting his presence. I enjoyed the disguise elements. For some reason, I enjoyed the book more when Charlotte was on her own than when James was by her side.
My favorite paragraph in the book comes half-way through: “Her grandfather’s voice echoed from the waterfall. This time, she heard his words. You have great strength within yourself, Charlotte. You may draw strength from the land, as well. Look to the rugged beauty of the fells, the power of the water as it rushes down the ghylls, the howling voice of the wind in the mountain passes. Take heart and find solace in these gifts. Heft to the hills like the flocks of sheep. Do not be moved by fashion and frivolity. Your passion for life is deeper than these.” Isn’t that beautiful? I also enjoyed the author’s depiction of the mountains near the ending.
I happily recommend this book for its unforgettable characters―the wonderful protagonist and the thoroughly rotten villains―that made this book so good.
