By Joanna Davidson Politano

Willa Duvall has turned down four marriage proposals. She has no desire to become a proper society wife. She wants to be a doctor. And she wants an authentic, passionate, and devoted love, like the one she discovered in an unaddressed love letter slipped between the cracks of her secondhand desk. Determined to deliver the letter to its owner, and determined to avoid her father’s attempts at matchmaking, Willa takes a nursing job at nearby Crestwicke Hall. Little does she know, her good intentions will turn Crestwicke Hall upside down as the letter makes its way from person to person inspiring bitterness, suspicion, regret, hope, and love. No one is left untouched by the effects of the letter, least of all Willa. Will she find a love like the one in the letter, or will the cost be too steep? And when the letter is finally delivered to its rightful owner, will it be too late to set things right?

Pros: This book has everything I love about a Joanna Davidson Politano book: Victorian Era setting, fantastic cast of characters, nods to the arts, tragic backstories, complex motives, witty yet also profound writing, serious story depth, and a neat twist at the end. I also appreciated the Longfellow cameo, and the subtle hints at Florence Foster Jenkins, Dr. Quinn, and the Hallmark movie The Love Letter.

Cons: Would I have liked a higher stakes mystery? Sure, but you can’t have everything.

Bottom Line: A beautifully written Victorian era romance that’s as satisfying as your favorite comfort food.