Book Review: The Nature of A Lady by Roseanna M. White
The Nature of A Lady is about Elizabeth “Libby” Sinclair a nature lover who escapes society’s pressures by retreating to the Isles of Scilly. While there, she discovers the dangerous secrets of her holiday cottage’s former occupant, Elizabeth, who mysteriously disappeared.
Oliver Tremayne, a gentleman, and Viscar is determined to discover what happened to his sister, Elizabeth “Beth” Tremayne. He enlists the help of Libby, who shares his love of botany and biology, to discover what has happened. They go on a journey filled with adventures, delving into myths, sunken ships, and betrayals, and find love along the way.
Introduction
I chose to read The Nature of A Lady because it contains all my favorite elements: mystery, romance, and a sweeping beach setting. I haven’t read anything by Roseanna White before, so I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book.
Instead of getting it digitally, I knew I had to read this book in the physical form. I managed to read this book in about a week and that was me savoring every poignant line.
It was filled with a dose of sunshine, the wonder of creation, the joy of questions still needing answers.
Review of the book
Plot
The plot was a little more slow-moving than I am used to reading, but I still really enjoyed it. I would say the plot was quite simple overall and a little bit predictable. There were some surprises at the end that I wasn’t quite expecting but overall the main focus was on the character’s development.
When I started to read it, I think I expected a little bit more treasure hunting, but it was really a slow build until everything got wrapped up quickly at the end. But the real beauty of this book shines in the different characters and the amazing setting!
Setting
The setting makes this the perfect book to read on a summer vacation or at the beach. It is based on the Isles of Scilly which is depicted on a beautiful map at the beginning of the book. The botany on the island was described in great detail and I loved the inclusion of so much boat travel.
The descriptions of the different islands they traveled to were so clear that I could easily put myself in Libby’s shoes to experience it. What really made the setting so powerful was the way Mrs. White used it to teach Libby about God’s creation and His love for her. I really enjoyed the writing style of Mrs. White. It was a combination of great dialogue intersected by in-depth descriptions.
Characters
This is really where the book shines for me! The main characters are Libby Sinclair, Oliver Tremyane, and Mabena Moon. But there were also so many great side characters I fell in love with including Casek, Mamm-wynn (Oliver’s grandmother), Bram, and so many more!
Mrs. White’s unique writing style will transport you so thoroughly into their world that the characters will live on in your heart.
Oliver’s faith was amazing to read and his tender relationship with Libby was breathtaking to read. It was like the bloom of romance, that slowly unfolded over time. I don’t know how the author managed it but almost every character mentioned had growth over the book and learned a valuable lesson.
Characters are a big reason why I read books, and without giving anything away, Mrs. White did a fantastic job of creating lovable characters!
Themes
One of the main “biblical” themes was the focus on God’s creation and love for each of us. This fit is perfect for the type of character Libby is. She didn’t understand that God seeks a relationship with us and thought He was only present on Sundays. She couldn’t reconcile what she saw in science with the bible. Does this ring true for anyone else?
The author did a great job of showing the beauty of God’s creation and how even as a scientist when we name a plant, God also knows are true name and created us.
Some other themes included friendship, forgiveness, and the importance of family.
My thoughts on the book
I highly recommend The Nature of A Lady for your summer or spring reading list. Well, the slow pace might not be for everyone, I enjoyed building to the climax point and the amazing character growth.
Reading this book was like taking a calm walk on the beach, you will feel refreshed and peaceful immersing yourself in Libby’s adventures in the Isles of Scilly.
You can find the book on Amazon and other book retailers!
If you loved this book, then you should read…
Love historical romances? Then make sure to check out this book list of Christian Regency romances to find your next favorite read!
About the author
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author. She homeschools her two kids, designs her own book covers, and writes sweeping historical novels. Roseanna lives in West Virginia with her family, is a member of ACFW, and is a speaker. You can learn more about her amazing books here: https://www.roseannamwhite.com/books
