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The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple
Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.
Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.
Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2024
102 people are currently reading
14776 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Davidson Politano
9 books1,544 followersJoanna Davidson Politano spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
April 9, 2024
✨ "No one truly knows me." "Then, Lily...I'm no one." ✨
About this book:
“Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.”
Series: Does not seem to currently be connected to any other book.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Bible reading; A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Witnessing & Being witnessed to (Peter to Lily); Talks about God, restoration, trusting Him, & His stories; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Peter feels God impress upon him to do something & later impresses on him to trust Him; Lily doesn’t see that God is real after He didn’t answer her prayers (Peter says she’s missing out on the greatest narrative in history and it’s because an authority figure let her down that she’s paralleled it to God); Lily’s grandfather was a cleric & she used to attend church when it suited her, but feels no qualms about not going anymore; Someone used to tell Lily stories that could have symbolism to God (which she didn’t realize until much later); Lily tells Peter that she cannot convince herself that God is an active part in anyone’s story because “obeying [H]im, praying to [H]im…none of it seems to shift reality in any way” & says that God belongs to people like him who have an easy and straightforward life (Peter tells her to not mistake people’s betrayals for God’s); Lily had an old man in her childhood that she fashioned into a symbol of God which made her think of a deity that was kind (compared to her grandfather making her to read Proverbs and live them out) & thinks that she learned more from him than in a church (*Spoiler* ); Lily feels like she can do a better job with her life story than God could, but Peter says that he knows that she’s looking for God despite what she says; *Spoilers* ; Mentions of God, trusting Him, & His stories; Mentions of prayers, answered prayers, & praying; Mentions of those & places in the Bible; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of spiritual food in a religious order; A couple mentions of God’s creation; A couple mentions of a priests giving last rites and hearing confessions; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a clergyman;
*Note: All about many mentions of the legend of a gem that has healing or magic powers (said to bring “strength and life to the person holding it”), came from the heavens, feeling like it is otherworldly, and could be cursed along with many mentions of fairytales, fairies, sprites, elves, enchantresses, and a miracle water that heals; *Spoiler* ; Lily plays a fairy in a series of films about a fairy wanting to go to another world; A short play/story about a springs’ water being healing after a tragedy; A side character is a fortune teller and for about a third of the book, Lily believes the woman to be correct with her predictions (there are a few mentions of times the fortune teller was correct and gained attention for it; Peter thinks she just listens to others and then sets it up where it looks like she’s predicting what she’s learned to someone else); Lily says that the “beauty of magic is that every trick has an explanation”; Things and places are described and magic and magical; A story about a sheep and a cauldron being married and having a child (a child says that would never happen); Mentions of people who can see the future (a fortune teller & Peter, but Peter says it’s just listening and asking the right questions for him and thinks it’s the same for the fortune teller); Mentions of ghosts (also called specters, spooks, and spirits); Mentions of a legend of a haunted cave; A few mentions of cherubs; A couple mentions of seeing someone again in another life; A couple mentions of superstitions; A mention of luck; A mention of speaking to a spirit.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a ‘heavens!’, a ‘how in blazes’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘sucker’, a form of ‘what in heaven’s name’, a ‘who the dickens’, a ‘witch’, two forms of ‘care a fig’, two ‘dratted’s, and two forms of ‘heaven sakes’; A mention of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Being abducted/kidnapped, Being locked up, Breaking into a place, Pain, & Injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing the grief of others & feeling it (empathy, up to semi-detailed); Saving someone from almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Shooting birds at a hunting party (Peter, barely-above-not-detailed); Lily believes that truth can be relative and can be bent and twisted to fit one’s purposes (also could be wrapped in stories & that the truth come in layers and those layers can be manipulated; This including, that as an actress, the parts she plays were truth for a fortnight or so which has caused her to not know who she truly is because she’s become a mix of all the characters she’s played); All about many mentions of arrests, prisons, criminals, thieves, thefts, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of wars, battles, captives, deaths, major injuries, & grief (including two women for their fiancés, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of shipwrecks, deaths, & grief (including a husband for his wife and daughter); Mentions of murders, a rumored murder, & murderers; Mentions of missing people; Mentions of a corrupt government official, him taking bribes, & being a conman; Mentions of lies, lying, manipulation, & deceit; Mentions of young women running away from home (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of step-brothers taunting and picking on their step-sister because of her burns (the child says “I don’t know why I’m even here at times” and Lily tells her a story to encourage her); Mentions of hunting, hunters, & shooting birds for sport (barely-above-not-detailed); A handful of mentions of beheadings & executions; A few mentions of the possibility of a criminal being hung; A few mentions of a film with a trick illusion about men being headless; A few mentions of threats; A few mentions of poisons; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of a death in a drunken brawl; A couple mentions of the death of a mother and father (Lily, Peter); A couple mentions of alcohol; A couple mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of skinning animals; A mention of the possibility of being shot; A mention of a starving child; A mention of embezzlement; A mention of nightmares;
*Note: Every chapter starts with a quote from a classic fairytale or author; Many mentions of fairytales, books, authors, & fictional characters (including the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Thomas Hardy, J.M. Barrie, Charles Perrault, George MacDonald, & Carlo Collodi); Lily comments on it sometimes feeling like it doesn’t pay to live a moral and upright life; A mention of a man’s “very dark” temper.
Sexual Content- Three head/forehead kisses, two border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Dancing, Embraces, Warmth, & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Butterflies & Winks; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Both Lily & Peter sneak (or have others) sneak into the other’s house to leave surprises (it’s not said how they did it); Mentions of a child conceived out-of-wedlock (the parents planned to get married *Spoiler* ); Mentions of a couple kissing & embracing (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of chaperones; A mention of illegitimate heirs; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of a woman running away with a man & not being in contact with her family since; A few mentions of someone being left at the alter (*Spoiler* ).
-Lily Temple, around age 24 (?)
-Peter Driscoll, age 28
P.O.V. switches between Lily (1st person), Peter (3rd person) & a couple others
Set in 1903
400 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Like many books by this author, the opening chapter is actually set towards the end of the book, and we get a slight recapping of things that have led everything to be. I feel like if it was anyone else, I would be annoyed at that with spoilers basically given for the rest of the book, but this author does it so well that it entices me to read fast so I can find out what happened myself—and enjoy the hints until I get there.
I feel like when I typically read books by this author, my brain is scrambling to figure out how everything is connected with the little hints and suggestions we get throughout the story. This book was no different and kept me intrigued the entire time about Lily’s past. I did guess Lily’s past pretty early in, but wasn’t sure I was correct until the end.
Our main characters were very unique. She’s very fanciful and sly, but has a child-like love for stories. He’s spectacled, smart, rule-follower and has a love for finding out the truth. A pair you wouldn’t think would work, but somehow does. He’s the calm to her storm, in a way. I do question the idea of a gem having some kind of powers (which it’s implied and said that way even at the end of the book), but I will chalk it up to part of the fairytale elements in this book.
The faith content was a different take on our female lead not trusting in God in the sense that she once did but due to events stopped trusting Him. Now, that’s not a rare character in Christian Fiction, but the discussions and Peter’s witnessing and conversations were uniquely done and had a lot of thought-provoking parts. I loved the symbolism of the Gardener especially.
I don’t know if I would say this was my very favorite by this author, but I did really enjoy it and get sucked into the plot. Joanna Davidson Politano‘s writing style is unlike most and always has me questioning everything I read because things are never as they seem, especially in this book.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
About this book:
“Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past.
Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.”
Series: Does not seem to currently be connected to any other book.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Bible reading; A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Witnessing & Being witnessed to (Peter to Lily); Talks about God, restoration, trusting Him, & His stories; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Peter feels God impress upon him to do something & later impresses on him to trust Him; Lily doesn’t see that God is real after He didn’t answer her prayers (Peter says she’s missing out on the greatest narrative in history and it’s because an authority figure let her down that she’s paralleled it to God); Lily’s grandfather was a cleric & she used to attend church when it suited her, but feels no qualms about not going anymore; Someone used to tell Lily stories that could have symbolism to God (which she didn’t realize until much later); Lily tells Peter that she cannot convince herself that God is an active part in anyone’s story because “obeying [H]im, praying to [H]im…none of it seems to shift reality in any way” & says that God belongs to people like him who have an easy and straightforward life (Peter tells her to not mistake people’s betrayals for God’s); Lily had an old man in her childhood that she fashioned into a symbol of God which made her think of a deity that was kind (compared to her grandfather making her to read Proverbs and live them out) & thinks that she learned more from him than in a church (*Spoiler* ); Lily feels like she can do a better job with her life story than God could, but Peter says that he knows that she’s looking for God despite what she says; *Spoilers* ; Mentions of God, trusting Him, & His stories; Mentions of prayers, answered prayers, & praying; Mentions of those & places in the Bible; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of spiritual food in a religious order; A couple mentions of God’s creation; A couple mentions of a priests giving last rites and hearing confessions; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a clergyman;
*Note: All about many mentions of the legend of a gem that has healing or magic powers (said to bring “strength and life to the person holding it”), came from the heavens, feeling like it is otherworldly, and could be cursed along with many mentions of fairytales, fairies, sprites, elves, enchantresses, and a miracle water that heals; *Spoiler* ; Lily plays a fairy in a series of films about a fairy wanting to go to another world; A short play/story about a springs’ water being healing after a tragedy; A side character is a fortune teller and for about a third of the book, Lily believes the woman to be correct with her predictions (there are a few mentions of times the fortune teller was correct and gained attention for it; Peter thinks she just listens to others and then sets it up where it looks like she’s predicting what she’s learned to someone else); Lily says that the “beauty of magic is that every trick has an explanation”; Things and places are described and magic and magical; A story about a sheep and a cauldron being married and having a child (a child says that would never happen); Mentions of people who can see the future (a fortune teller & Peter, but Peter says it’s just listening and asking the right questions for him and thinks it’s the same for the fortune teller); Mentions of ghosts (also called specters, spooks, and spirits); Mentions of a legend of a haunted cave; A few mentions of cherubs; A couple mentions of seeing someone again in another life; A couple mentions of superstitions; A mention of luck; A mention of speaking to a spirit.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a ‘heavens!’, a ‘how in blazes’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘sucker’, a form of ‘what in heaven’s name’, a ‘who the dickens’, a ‘witch’, two forms of ‘care a fig’, two ‘dratted’s, and two forms of ‘heaven sakes’; A mention of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Being abducted/kidnapped, Being locked up, Breaking into a place, Pain, & Injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing the grief of others & feeling it (empathy, up to semi-detailed); Saving someone from almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Shooting birds at a hunting party (Peter, barely-above-not-detailed); Lily believes that truth can be relative and can be bent and twisted to fit one’s purposes (also could be wrapped in stories & that the truth come in layers and those layers can be manipulated; This including, that as an actress, the parts she plays were truth for a fortnight or so which has caused her to not know who she truly is because she’s become a mix of all the characters she’s played); All about many mentions of arrests, prisons, criminals, thieves, thefts, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of wars, battles, captives, deaths, major injuries, & grief (including two women for their fiancés, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of shipwrecks, deaths, & grief (including a husband for his wife and daughter); Mentions of murders, a rumored murder, & murderers; Mentions of missing people; Mentions of a corrupt government official, him taking bribes, & being a conman; Mentions of lies, lying, manipulation, & deceit; Mentions of young women running away from home (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of step-brothers taunting and picking on their step-sister because of her burns (the child says “I don’t know why I’m even here at times” and Lily tells her a story to encourage her); Mentions of hunting, hunters, & shooting birds for sport (barely-above-not-detailed); A handful of mentions of beheadings & executions; A few mentions of the possibility of a criminal being hung; A few mentions of a film with a trick illusion about men being headless; A few mentions of threats; A few mentions of poisons; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of a death in a drunken brawl; A couple mentions of the death of a mother and father (Lily, Peter); A couple mentions of alcohol; A couple mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of skinning animals; A mention of the possibility of being shot; A mention of a starving child; A mention of embezzlement; A mention of nightmares;
*Note: Every chapter starts with a quote from a classic fairytale or author; Many mentions of fairytales, books, authors, & fictional characters (including the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Thomas Hardy, J.M. Barrie, Charles Perrault, George MacDonald, & Carlo Collodi); Lily comments on it sometimes feeling like it doesn’t pay to live a moral and upright life; A mention of a man’s “very dark” temper.
Sexual Content- Three head/forehead kisses, two border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Dancing, Embraces, Warmth, & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Butterflies & Winks; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Both Lily & Peter sneak (or have others) sneak into the other’s house to leave surprises (it’s not said how they did it); Mentions of a child conceived out-of-wedlock (the parents planned to get married *Spoiler* ); Mentions of a couple kissing & embracing (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of chaperones; A mention of illegitimate heirs; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of a woman running away with a man & not being in contact with her family since; A few mentions of someone being left at the alter (*Spoiler* ).
-Lily Temple, around age 24 (?)
-Peter Driscoll, age 28
P.O.V. switches between Lily (1st person), Peter (3rd person) & a couple others
Set in 1903
400 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Like many books by this author, the opening chapter is actually set towards the end of the book, and we get a slight recapping of things that have led everything to be. I feel like if it was anyone else, I would be annoyed at that with spoilers basically given for the rest of the book, but this author does it so well that it entices me to read fast so I can find out what happened myself—and enjoy the hints until I get there.
I feel like when I typically read books by this author, my brain is scrambling to figure out how everything is connected with the little hints and suggestions we get throughout the story. This book was no different and kept me intrigued the entire time about Lily’s past. I did guess Lily’s past pretty early in, but wasn’t sure I was correct until the end.
Our main characters were very unique. She’s very fanciful and sly, but has a child-like love for stories. He’s spectacled, smart, rule-follower and has a love for finding out the truth. A pair you wouldn’t think would work, but somehow does. He’s the calm to her storm, in a way. I do question the idea of a gem having some kind of powers (which it’s implied and said that way even at the end of the book), but I will chalk it up to part of the fairytale elements in this book.
The faith content was a different take on our female lead not trusting in God in the sense that she once did but due to events stopped trusting Him. Now, that’s not a rare character in Christian Fiction, but the discussions and Peter’s witnessing and conversations were uniquely done and had a lot of thought-provoking parts. I loved the symbolism of the Gardener especially.
I don’t know if I would say this was my very favorite by this author, but I did really enjoy it and get sucked into the plot. Joanna Davidson Politano‘s writing style is unlike most and always has me questioning everything I read because things are never as they seem, especially in this book.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
April 10, 2024
“Can’t you feel him calling out to you from every story that wraps itself around your heart?”
I went into The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano, drawn by the premise of a secret private investigator, a mysterious silent film star, and a legendary missing sapphire. But what I actually experienced in the reading of this story was infinitely more beautiful and soul stirring. Oh, the plot was as delightful as I expected it to be and I couldn’t tear myself away from Lily and Peter and their sweet romance or the intriguing stories and cases told between them. Or the fascinating aspects of early silent film and the genius that was George Albert Smith’s contribution to the industry. But that’s not what I will remember most about this novel years from now. What will draw me back time and again is how Politano exquisitely demonstrates the power of stories and how they point us to THE Story.
"Because there was a great deal of truth in fiction – the sort too important to just be spoken outright. What heroism looked like. What it meant to love authentically. And more than anything, who the rescuer of our souls was. That was the truest story. The largest… He has written eternity in our hearts, and in every story we tell."
Fairy tales. Romance. Adventure. Missing treasure. Shipwrecks. Illusions. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple has it all. And every bit of it acts as the most beautiful of arrows to the Gardener, the one who pursues us even through death itself so that we may have abundant life here and eternal life there. There was more than one occasion when I felt tears misting my eyes and a lump in my throat at how tenderly Politano expresses these parallels. And my own passion for how stories (some, in spite of themselves) ultimately reflect THE Story welled up in my heart until I very nearly hugged my kindle in a fit of dramatics that would have made Lily proud.
Bottom Line: Fiction fans, this is our book! The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is a gorgeously-written love letter to the way fiction shapes our hearts and expresses truth like nothing else can. One which gently reminds us that “the hero on a quest, the hardship, the crisis and rescue… They’re all just a reflection” of the greatest Story ever written – and it uses each of those elements to make the point. I adored Lily in all her quirky endearingness (yes I made up that word) and her brokenness, Peter in his quiet steadiness and his unsung heroism, and the banter between them. And I alternated between grinning through their story and holding my breath as they climbed vines and dangled from chandeliers and ran for their lives. Needless to say, I was fully entertained by this delightful tale but I was also touched by the fact that, in trying to discover the elusive truth of Lily Temple, we discover some truth about ourselves too. This one will linger with me for quite some time to come, and I couldn’t be happier about it!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
I went into The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano, drawn by the premise of a secret private investigator, a mysterious silent film star, and a legendary missing sapphire. But what I actually experienced in the reading of this story was infinitely more beautiful and soul stirring. Oh, the plot was as delightful as I expected it to be and I couldn’t tear myself away from Lily and Peter and their sweet romance or the intriguing stories and cases told between them. Or the fascinating aspects of early silent film and the genius that was George Albert Smith’s contribution to the industry. But that’s not what I will remember most about this novel years from now. What will draw me back time and again is how Politano exquisitely demonstrates the power of stories and how they point us to THE Story.
"Because there was a great deal of truth in fiction – the sort too important to just be spoken outright. What heroism looked like. What it meant to love authentically. And more than anything, who the rescuer of our souls was. That was the truest story. The largest… He has written eternity in our hearts, and in every story we tell."
Fairy tales. Romance. Adventure. Missing treasure. Shipwrecks. Illusions. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple has it all. And every bit of it acts as the most beautiful of arrows to the Gardener, the one who pursues us even through death itself so that we may have abundant life here and eternal life there. There was more than one occasion when I felt tears misting my eyes and a lump in my throat at how tenderly Politano expresses these parallels. And my own passion for how stories (some, in spite of themselves) ultimately reflect THE Story welled up in my heart until I very nearly hugged my kindle in a fit of dramatics that would have made Lily proud.
Bottom Line: Fiction fans, this is our book! The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is a gorgeously-written love letter to the way fiction shapes our hearts and expresses truth like nothing else can. One which gently reminds us that “the hero on a quest, the hardship, the crisis and rescue… They’re all just a reflection” of the greatest Story ever written – and it uses each of those elements to make the point. I adored Lily in all her quirky endearingness (yes I made up that word) and her brokenness, Peter in his quiet steadiness and his unsung heroism, and the banter between them. And I alternated between grinning through their story and holding my breath as they climbed vines and dangled from chandeliers and ran for their lives. Needless to say, I was fully entertained by this delightful tale but I was also touched by the fact that, in trying to discover the elusive truth of Lily Temple, we discover some truth about ourselves too. This one will linger with me for quite some time to come, and I couldn’t be happier about it!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
April 9, 2024
Happy New Release!
4.5⭐I must say that Politano is a skilled writer who knows how to create a captivating novel. The story's setting is so well-described that it made me feel as if I were right there. The writing style is engaging and keeps me interested throughout the book.
Peter has been given the task of finding a rare sapphire called the Briarwood Teardrop, which Lily wears underneath her gown. To stay close to her and uncover the mystery of the sapphire and her story, Peter involves Lily in a case, However, while working together, Peter also investigates Lily. As he gets closer to the truth, they face more danger. The closer he gets to Lily, the more he realizes that he needs her more than she needs him.
The mystery element of the story was particularly intriguing, which added to the overall enjoyment of the novel. The characters were authentic and not just stereotypical or conformist. This book had a beautiful faith arc and often filled me with gratitude through its simple yet profound words...Mystery? Fairytale? Romance? Delightfully entertaining! with a fantastic ending. This historical fiction is perfect for those who want to lose themselves in a book. It's a must-read for sure.
I received a complimentary eARC from the publisher.
4.5⭐I must say that Politano is a skilled writer who knows how to create a captivating novel. The story's setting is so well-described that it made me feel as if I were right there. The writing style is engaging and keeps me interested throughout the book.
Peter has been given the task of finding a rare sapphire called the Briarwood Teardrop, which Lily wears underneath her gown. To stay close to her and uncover the mystery of the sapphire and her story, Peter involves Lily in a case, However, while working together, Peter also investigates Lily. As he gets closer to the truth, they face more danger. The closer he gets to Lily, the more he realizes that he needs her more than she needs him.
The mystery element of the story was particularly intriguing, which added to the overall enjoyment of the novel. The characters were authentic and not just stereotypical or conformist. This book had a beautiful faith arc and often filled me with gratitude through its simple yet profound words...Mystery? Fairytale? Romance? Delightfully entertaining! with a fantastic ending. This historical fiction is perfect for those who want to lose themselves in a book. It's a must-read for sure.
I received a complimentary eARC from the publisher.
May 12, 2024
After absolutely living The Lost Melody, I was so excited to start reading everything by Politano that I could get my hands on. But sadly I struggled with this one.
The book has many layers and tries to do a lot of things. It has some great historical fiction elements, much grounded in fascinating true stories as explained in the Author’s Note. It is also a detective mystery (part of me wished it focused more on the sleuthing by our male lead). There is a budding romance, of course. It is also part fairy tale. (The stories spun by leading lady Lily in the earlier portions are quite lovely.) And fifthly, it is an allegory for Christianity and human’s innate drawing toward God’s plan.
On to the downside points. The cover seems a bit risque for the subject matter, and also not period (1903-ish) appropriate. It is told in first person, which was often confusing as we didn’t have all the facts like we would in 3rd person. Also, it’s told from more than one perspective, without any labeling, so you had to figure out who was talking from context alone. Also, the fairytale-type quotes at each chapter heading sort of tied into the chapter, trying to set the tone, but it was too much of a stretch to make it work. I often had to re-read them once I finished the chapter to absorb how they fit in. (These worked SO great in The Lost Melody.) The Christianity element felt forced in. It was a bit intermittent, rather than a constant and regular theme. Ultimately, it could have been left out and the story told just fine.
Good, clean fiction with no steamy sex scenes or vulgarity. Recommended for fans of Christian fiction.
The book has many layers and tries to do a lot of things. It has some great historical fiction elements, much grounded in fascinating true stories as explained in the Author’s Note. It is also a detective mystery (part of me wished it focused more on the sleuthing by our male lead). There is a budding romance, of course. It is also part fairy tale. (The stories spun by leading lady Lily in the earlier portions are quite lovely.) And fifthly, it is an allegory for Christianity and human’s innate drawing toward God’s plan.
On to the downside points. The cover seems a bit risque for the subject matter, and also not period (1903-ish) appropriate. It is told in first person, which was often confusing as we didn’t have all the facts like we would in 3rd person. Also, it’s told from more than one perspective, without any labeling, so you had to figure out who was talking from context alone. Also, the fairytale-type quotes at each chapter heading sort of tied into the chapter, trying to set the tone, but it was too much of a stretch to make it work. I often had to re-read them once I finished the chapter to absorb how they fit in. (These worked SO great in The Lost Melody.) The Christianity element felt forced in. It was a bit intermittent, rather than a constant and regular theme. Ultimately, it could have been left out and the story told just fine.
Good, clean fiction with no steamy sex scenes or vulgarity. Recommended for fans of Christian fiction.
April 25, 2025
Whimsical and winsome. Mesmerizing and mysterious. Joanna Davidson Politano must've dipped her pen in pixie dust to compose "The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple," for this lyrical ode to storytelling and fairytales sparkles with every turn of the page!
This historical romance features an alluring silent film actress with a secret past and a bespectacled private investigator with a noble heart. Setting these intriguing characters in Edwardian England, Politano's glittering pen proceeds to blend the enchantment of The Secret Garden, a tender opposites-attract romance, and poignant spiritual themes gilded in metaphor to create an entrancing novel of renewed hope and restoration.
If your world-weary heart is in need of some wonderment, draw near and listen well to The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple!
This historical romance features an alluring silent film actress with a secret past and a bespectacled private investigator with a noble heart. Setting these intriguing characters in Edwardian England, Politano's glittering pen proceeds to blend the enchantment of The Secret Garden, a tender opposites-attract romance, and poignant spiritual themes gilded in metaphor to create an entrancing novel of renewed hope and restoration.
If your world-weary heart is in need of some wonderment, draw near and listen well to The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple!
August 16, 2025
Whimsical. Magical. Healing. Such a great message!
Joanna is seriously one of my favorite authors ever. And this story just explains why! Sooo well written & well rounded.
Also. Side note..Peter Driscoll is everything.
I highly recommend listening to Back to the Garden by the Erwins after reading this story…it was on my mind the whole time and just made the story more poignant!
4.75/5 stars
Joanna is seriously one of my favorite authors ever. And this story just explains why! Sooo well written & well rounded.
Also. Side note..Peter Driscoll is everything.
I highly recommend listening to Back to the Garden by the Erwins after reading this story…it was on my mind the whole time and just made the story more poignant!
4.75/5 stars
April 6, 2024
“Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale.” Hans Christian Anderson
Charming tale about Lily Temple, fairy like but human, whose identity changes as often as the roles she plays in silent films. Her past is shadowed in mystery and is connected to a blue sapphire gem that its owner wants found and returned. She tells her story as a parallel to my favorite Dickens: A Tale Of Two Cities. And her story is so like ours and the search for the Creator and Master Gardener, God. Profoundly stirring and full of allegory- the story of ultimate life changing truth. “There is a great deal of truth in fiction and more than anything, who the rescuer of our souls was.” “ God has placed eternity in the hearts of man.”
Mysterious and intriguing with an admirable hero in Peter Driscoll as well as notable supporting characters. It was remarkable to find the setting and legend of St. Anne’s Well Gardens and some of the characters were real.
Exquisitely told story of love, loss, redemption and setting things right. This is easily beyond 5 stars for me.
* I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
Charming tale about Lily Temple, fairy like but human, whose identity changes as often as the roles she plays in silent films. Her past is shadowed in mystery and is connected to a blue sapphire gem that its owner wants found and returned. She tells her story as a parallel to my favorite Dickens: A Tale Of Two Cities. And her story is so like ours and the search for the Creator and Master Gardener, God. Profoundly stirring and full of allegory- the story of ultimate life changing truth. “There is a great deal of truth in fiction and more than anything, who the rescuer of our souls was.” “ God has placed eternity in the hearts of man.”
Mysterious and intriguing with an admirable hero in Peter Driscoll as well as notable supporting characters. It was remarkable to find the setting and legend of St. Anne’s Well Gardens and some of the characters were real.
Exquisitely told story of love, loss, redemption and setting things right. This is easily beyond 5 stars for me.
* I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
April 9, 2024
“I accept your challenge, my dear flower. Change your story, your clothing, your name . . . but you’re still you, and I’ll find you.” Whimsical, enchanting, romantic, mysterious, inspiring! I adored figuring out the mystery of Lily Temple. Actress, storyteller, thief? This beautiful homage to fairytales and great storytelling captivated my imagination and didn’t let go. It’s a lyrical, gorgeously written story of redemption, seeking faith, finding love, and facing the realities of life. I loved the story within the story and the way these utterly endearing characters drew me in. I found myself missing them and can’t wait to reread the story knowing the full truth.
Lily Temple’s an enigma as she weaves her spell over audiences in the silent films she stars in and the stories she tells. When she’s accused of stealing a valuable sapphire known as the Briarwood Teardrop, Peter Driscoll, the man sent to retrieve it, finds himself enchanted not only by the beautiful supposed thief, but with the stories she tells. As he involves her in his investigations, he vows to discover who she really is.
I loved the journey this story took me on and the allusions to some of my absolute favorite stories of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, A Tale of Two Cities, and fairytales by Hans Christian Anderson. I loved the way Lily is both Wendy and Peter Pan, the gifted storyteller who doesn’t want to grow up. I loved the lovely romance between Lily and Peter. Peter while firmly rooted in reality is besotted with Lily who’s his complete opposite. His desire to find the truth about her not only mends his broken heart, but helps her finally reconcile her past and find her connection back to the Master Gardener.
The setting is magical and I was thrilled to find that the gardens, legends, locations, and some of the people mentioned were real. The mystery definitely kept me guessing. I loved the way all the pieces came together leading to a stunning conclusion.
All the stars for this book! It’s easily one of my favorites by this author and I highly recommend it to inspirational, historical romance, fairytale, and classic literature fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.
Lily Temple’s an enigma as she weaves her spell over audiences in the silent films she stars in and the stories she tells. When she’s accused of stealing a valuable sapphire known as the Briarwood Teardrop, Peter Driscoll, the man sent to retrieve it, finds himself enchanted not only by the beautiful supposed thief, but with the stories she tells. As he involves her in his investigations, he vows to discover who she really is.
I loved the journey this story took me on and the allusions to some of my absolute favorite stories of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, A Tale of Two Cities, and fairytales by Hans Christian Anderson. I loved the way Lily is both Wendy and Peter Pan, the gifted storyteller who doesn’t want to grow up. I loved the lovely romance between Lily and Peter. Peter while firmly rooted in reality is besotted with Lily who’s his complete opposite. His desire to find the truth about her not only mends his broken heart, but helps her finally reconcile her past and find her connection back to the Master Gardener.
The setting is magical and I was thrilled to find that the gardens, legends, locations, and some of the people mentioned were real. The mystery definitely kept me guessing. I loved the way all the pieces came together leading to a stunning conclusion.
All the stars for this book! It’s easily one of my favorites by this author and I highly recommend it to inspirational, historical romance, fairytale, and classic literature fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.
June 26, 2024
How beautifully imaginative and transportive this story was! Joanna skillfully weaves a complex story of secrets and fairytales and happy endings in a way that makes you see the ordinary every day in a new light—a magical light. All designed to help us view our Creator and His Story more vividly in our own lives.
This was truly a delightful read!
This was truly a delightful read!
September 17, 2024
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). This is my first time trying Joanna Davidson Politano, but I’ve been wanting to read her books for quite a while because they sounded right up my alley; and this book, anyhow, didn’t disappoint.
First off, I love the 1903 setting, especially with the filmmaking! I learned so much about the early movies. I loved the garden and all its cool parts, and the beautiful beach… and the writing style complemented everything so so well. It was so unobtrusive and so beautiful! I don’t usually enjoy modern books’ style quite this much.
I also loved the characters! Peter was such an adorable hero. He reminded me of Peter from Kellyn Roth’s Chronicles of Alice & Ivy SO much. He was just so sweet and upright and clever, and yet not flawless, because what he started out half despising he learned to appreciate by the end. He was just amazing with Lily and he loved people SO much. As for Lily—wow, she was amazing. She was so deep and layered! I hugely enjoyed slowly seeing her peel things back and admit and explain, and she kept me guessing while simultaneously letting me like her more and more. They were a wonderful couple, and their romance was so sweet and simple. Roddy was a great sidekick, despite his dislike of Lily, and I love the gardener, and the villain was SO unexpected… and I haven’t time to get into the other characters but they just FIT IN so well. <3
The plot was delightful! It was mysterious, even suspenseful, but not scary or creepy, just fascinating. It was quite twisty and so, so interwoven. I just couldn’t put the book down. And oh my STARS, I adored how much storytelling was slipped into the story. The whole constant theme of fairytales, and how it related to Lily and her past, and the allegory about God the Father, was gorgeous. I did feel like the spiritual aspect was missing a little—it was so very subtle it wasn’t quite defined, and I wasn’t satisfied—but it was certainly lovely… lovely enough to have me say this! I loved the humour, and the ending was THE BOMB.
Yes, I loved this book. <3 And I can’t wait to read more by this author!
A Favourite Quote: “Why must adults trivialize fiction so?”
“Because it’s a story.”
“Children instinctively know its worth, but then they grow up and view stories as a mere indulgence, relegated to those elusive ‘spare moments’ that rarely come, and it’s a shame. A shame! The value of stories cannot be measured.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: That tender face, the heartbreak streaked across every feature. The affection as he touched the looking glass that held the fairy he’d so lovingly nurtured into being. His head tipped to one side while she, played by me, danced and talked and laughed in the other world. Forgetting the gardens, forgetting him. He was important to her, but only a piece of her world. A small fragment. Yet his attention never strayed from her. How he watched her with such longing. Such affection. Then he scattered even more brightly colored petals in the bleak world, a reminder to the fairy of the world she’d forgotten about. An invitation to return. Little breadcrumbs back to where she belonged. Breadcrumbs. Small remembrances. Little nudges and coincidences.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Peter. What are you doing here?”
“At my own estate?” He grinned.
“Oh.” I grimaced and stretched. “Right.”
“I’m tempted to ask the same question, but I’m rather afraid of the answer.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
First off, I love the 1903 setting, especially with the filmmaking! I learned so much about the early movies. I loved the garden and all its cool parts, and the beautiful beach… and the writing style complemented everything so so well. It was so unobtrusive and so beautiful! I don’t usually enjoy modern books’ style quite this much.
I also loved the characters! Peter was such an adorable hero. He reminded me of Peter from Kellyn Roth’s Chronicles of Alice & Ivy SO much. He was just so sweet and upright and clever, and yet not flawless, because what he started out half despising he learned to appreciate by the end. He was just amazing with Lily and he loved people SO much. As for Lily—wow, she was amazing. She was so deep and layered! I hugely enjoyed slowly seeing her peel things back and admit and explain, and she kept me guessing while simultaneously letting me like her more and more. They were a wonderful couple, and their romance was so sweet and simple. Roddy was a great sidekick, despite his dislike of Lily, and I love the gardener, and the villain was SO unexpected… and I haven’t time to get into the other characters but they just FIT IN so well. <3
The plot was delightful! It was mysterious, even suspenseful, but not scary or creepy, just fascinating. It was quite twisty and so, so interwoven. I just couldn’t put the book down. And oh my STARS, I adored how much storytelling was slipped into the story. The whole constant theme of fairytales, and how it related to Lily and her past, and the allegory about God the Father, was gorgeous. I did feel like the spiritual aspect was missing a little—it was so very subtle it wasn’t quite defined, and I wasn’t satisfied—but it was certainly lovely… lovely enough to have me say this! I loved the humour, and the ending was THE BOMB.
Yes, I loved this book. <3 And I can’t wait to read more by this author!
A Favourite Quote: “Why must adults trivialize fiction so?”
“Because it’s a story.”
“Children instinctively know its worth, but then they grow up and view stories as a mere indulgence, relegated to those elusive ‘spare moments’ that rarely come, and it’s a shame. A shame! The value of stories cannot be measured.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: That tender face, the heartbreak streaked across every feature. The affection as he touched the looking glass that held the fairy he’d so lovingly nurtured into being. His head tipped to one side while she, played by me, danced and talked and laughed in the other world. Forgetting the gardens, forgetting him. He was important to her, but only a piece of her world. A small fragment. Yet his attention never strayed from her. How he watched her with such longing. Such affection. Then he scattered even more brightly colored petals in the bleak world, a reminder to the fairy of the world she’d forgotten about. An invitation to return. Little breadcrumbs back to where she belonged. Breadcrumbs. Small remembrances. Little nudges and coincidences.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Peter. What are you doing here?”
“At my own estate?” He grinned.
“Oh.” I grimaced and stretched. “Right.”
“I’m tempted to ask the same question, but I’m rather afraid of the answer.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
June 19, 2024
I know that once I pick up a book by Joanna Davidson Politano I am going to lose sleep and be completely lost in the story and this one was no exception. If you've never read any of her books then you are definitely missing out. She writes with such depth and truth that it isn't hard to fall in love with her writing.
This book has it all!! All the genres you love in one book, I mean its part fairy tale, romance, adventure, illusions, history and God's truth! At times the book is lyrical and takes you on this journey that you don't ever want to leave. I didn't know what to expect from Lily Temple but you could tell that she was looking for something more out of life. She had seen glimpses of it but never truly acquired it. I loved Peter Driscoll and what he brought to the story and to Lily's life. The way that they worked through some of the cases was compelling to experience.
I know this review will probably not give you what you may be looking for. There aren't any spoilers or too many details because I would honestly ruin the story. But I will tell you this, the story is beautifully written. It has twists that I didn't expect or see coming. I can't express enough how talented Politano is. The way that she points you to God is impeccably done. I'll leave you with one of my favorite lines of the book (and there are many...)
"Every truth. Every make-believe tale. It is part of our natures, our every story, and he wishes it this way. Because he waits for us in the garden. Longs for us to see the petals, to understand...and to draw near. He has eternity written on our hearts, and in every story we tell."
I obviously loved this book and one that will stay with me for a while. Of course I one-thousand percent recommend it if you enjoy stories that are deep and take you on a journey then this author is the one for you and this book will be perfect you! I hope you love it as much as I do!!
I received a copy of this for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This book has it all!! All the genres you love in one book, I mean its part fairy tale, romance, adventure, illusions, history and God's truth! At times the book is lyrical and takes you on this journey that you don't ever want to leave. I didn't know what to expect from Lily Temple but you could tell that she was looking for something more out of life. She had seen glimpses of it but never truly acquired it. I loved Peter Driscoll and what he brought to the story and to Lily's life. The way that they worked through some of the cases was compelling to experience.
I know this review will probably not give you what you may be looking for. There aren't any spoilers or too many details because I would honestly ruin the story. But I will tell you this, the story is beautifully written. It has twists that I didn't expect or see coming. I can't express enough how talented Politano is. The way that she points you to God is impeccably done. I'll leave you with one of my favorite lines of the book (and there are many...)
"Every truth. Every make-believe tale. It is part of our natures, our every story, and he wishes it this way. Because he waits for us in the garden. Longs for us to see the petals, to understand...and to draw near. He has eternity written on our hearts, and in every story we tell."
I obviously loved this book and one that will stay with me for a while. Of course I one-thousand percent recommend it if you enjoy stories that are deep and take you on a journey then this author is the one for you and this book will be perfect you! I hope you love it as much as I do!!
I received a copy of this for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
April 11, 2024
Oh Lily Temple, if that’s your real name wink wink, you are such a great character. I just adored her character and thought she was so funny at times. She is an actress but also a great story teller. She is in a constant battle between reality and storytelling. To her it is easier to be in a story than face reality. Peter Driscoll is an investigator who is trying to locate a sapphire necklace which leads him to Lily. She happens to have said necklace in her possession. This leads to a partnership of sorts between the two as they help each other. And soon Lily realizes her need for God in her life and that He is the author of her story. I really enjoyed this story, there is so much happening that it’s hard to put into words but it’s just great. I did have a minor issue with the gypsy fortune teller, especially since this is a Christian book but felt that she was more shown to be someone who paid close attention to others than making actual predictions so that was a little better. Overall though I thought it was a great story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley and the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Content: gypsy fortune teller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley and the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Content: gypsy fortune teller
April 9, 2024
This book... It swallows you up quickly and you can't escape its pull. Lily Temple is a force to be swept up into, and enjoyed.
The author does an amazing job with both verbal slight-of-hand and the emotional and physical aspects that pushed the story along. There was a mystery to solve. Who is who and what is what. The setting is dreamy of a long lost, time never to return again.
... but...
The two main characters were the driving force. Opposite in almost every way but finding what was missing in their own lives in each others'. So many extra things were going on, that weren't really extra, but another layer being pulled away slowly, to reveal the truth that lay hidden.
"Ah, the deception of it all. That was life, though - the stories you tell yourself, and the stories you present to onlookers. Rarely did the two match."
And God,
Always there, only one thought or prayer away. To restore what was lost and taken and replace it with something better... Himself. Filling the holes and lack with his abundant Love and Peace.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The author does an amazing job with both verbal slight-of-hand and the emotional and physical aspects that pushed the story along. There was a mystery to solve. Who is who and what is what. The setting is dreamy of a long lost, time never to return again.
... but...
The two main characters were the driving force. Opposite in almost every way but finding what was missing in their own lives in each others'. So many extra things were going on, that weren't really extra, but another layer being pulled away slowly, to reveal the truth that lay hidden.
"Ah, the deception of it all. That was life, though - the stories you tell yourself, and the stories you present to onlookers. Rarely did the two match."
And God,
Always there, only one thought or prayer away. To restore what was lost and taken and replace it with something better... Himself. Filling the holes and lack with his abundant Love and Peace.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1766269624i%2F169222098._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 27, 2024
This book popped up on at my library and I took a chance and decided to give it a try. I wasn’t too sure what I thought about Lily at the beginning. Oh, boy, I was confused. I loved how her and Peter met! I wasn’t a fan of the fortune teller…it just felt strange to me. Overall, this book was a miss for me. It was just an okay read. I didn’t really get into it and I was confused a lot of the time.
One quote that stuck out to me was this:
He has eternity written on our hearts, and in every story we tell.
One quote that stuck out to me was this:
He has eternity written on our hearts, and in every story we tell.
June 11, 2024
The last 1/4 was definitely the best. I found the rest of it too long and too... reflective and emotional. Everything just seemed so dramatic in the characters' heads (part of that is the narrators fault).
I did think I was neat the Politano tried to write an "inspired by" Tale of Two Cities story. I happened to read that book earlier this year and somehow missed the whole plot line of the book. I am grateful to Politano for summarizing the story for me XD
I won't say this is a bad book (I did rate it 3 stars) but it was just too dramatic for my tastes, and I don't think I will be returning to this author.
I did think I was neat the Politano tried to write an "inspired by" Tale of Two Cities story. I happened to read that book earlier this year and somehow missed the whole plot line of the book. I am grateful to Politano for summarizing the story for me XD
I won't say this is a bad book (I did rate it 3 stars) but it was just too dramatic for my tastes, and I don't think I will be returning to this author.
April 13, 2024
I feel as though a bit of my own story has come full circle with the reading of Lily’s. And like Lily, I had my own Gordon Makepiece who brought a garden to life for me when I so desperately needed it. This book touched me in a very special way and I doubt very much I’ll stop thinking about it in the days to come.
But why should YOU read it? Well, let’s just say this one will resonate with each of us that loves story. And those who don’t believe fiction is worth their time? Well, they should read it even more.
But why should YOU read it? Well, let’s just say this one will resonate with each of us that loves story. And those who don’t believe fiction is worth their time? Well, they should read it even more.
September 17, 2024
I simply love Joanna’s books. ❤️
January 26, 2024
Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for this gifted copy!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “Would that this could be my story, instead of the one I had to live. For once, I wished someone could truly save.” Lily Temple is a beautiful actress weaving seamless stories in silent films, but she is also a woman of great secrets including the necklace she often wears. When a stranger begins to follow Lily, her instincts tell her to flee, landing her right in the path of private investigator Peter Driscoll. As Lily helps Peter discover the truth of an unsolved romance, he is determined to learn the truth about her and the necklace she wears. Lily’s mysterious identity has many layers from a troubled past, but even her master storytelling ability can’t save her from what she’s really running from and searching for.
Analysis: If ever a book were to have layers, I would say it is this one, but Joanna Davidson Politano weaves them together beautifully. There are stories of mystery, fairytale, and romance just to name a few. I wasn’t fully prepared for all the details, but I absolutely loved how it all came together. This book kept me turning the pages for more! I had to know who Lily really was and how all of the storylines connected. Lily’s guarded heart left me hoping for her to discover the beauty of true love. And steady, insightful Peter was the perfect one for her. Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is just the spiritual depth that it brings to storytelling. Lily Temple may be a good storyteller, but ultimately she points us to the greatest Storyteller of all.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “Would that this could be my story, instead of the one I had to live. For once, I wished someone could truly save.” Lily Temple is a beautiful actress weaving seamless stories in silent films, but she is also a woman of great secrets including the necklace she often wears. When a stranger begins to follow Lily, her instincts tell her to flee, landing her right in the path of private investigator Peter Driscoll. As Lily helps Peter discover the truth of an unsolved romance, he is determined to learn the truth about her and the necklace she wears. Lily’s mysterious identity has many layers from a troubled past, but even her master storytelling ability can’t save her from what she’s really running from and searching for.
Analysis: If ever a book were to have layers, I would say it is this one, but Joanna Davidson Politano weaves them together beautifully. There are stories of mystery, fairytale, and romance just to name a few. I wasn’t fully prepared for all the details, but I absolutely loved how it all came together. This book kept me turning the pages for more! I had to know who Lily really was and how all of the storylines connected. Lily’s guarded heart left me hoping for her to discover the beauty of true love. And steady, insightful Peter was the perfect one for her. Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is just the spiritual depth that it brings to storytelling. Lily Temple may be a good storyteller, but ultimately she points us to the greatest Storyteller of all.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 3, 2023
The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is a wonderful historical fiction that has mystery, suspense, and a cast of well-drawn characters that make for a delightful read.
I enjoyed traveling to England at the beginning if the 20th century…the Edwardian era is always a fascinating polar change to the Victorian era…and Ms. Politano as always did an excellent job painting that canvas for the reader. Her talents at painting vivid portraits of characters, lands, and cultures is always impressive.
Peter and Lily are great main characters that represent a lot of life’s paradoxes. The people we present to the world, and the real person within…what is truth and what is a falsity…what we want and what we need.
I enjoyed the pacing, the plot, and I enjoyed how it all finally came to an end.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Revell for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/9/24.
I enjoyed traveling to England at the beginning if the 20th century…the Edwardian era is always a fascinating polar change to the Victorian era…and Ms. Politano as always did an excellent job painting that canvas for the reader. Her talents at painting vivid portraits of characters, lands, and cultures is always impressive.
Peter and Lily are great main characters that represent a lot of life’s paradoxes. The people we present to the world, and the real person within…what is truth and what is a falsity…what we want and what we need.
I enjoyed the pacing, the plot, and I enjoyed how it all finally came to an end.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Revell for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/9/24.
April 2, 2024
1903 England
A unique nod to storytelling and fairy tales! The main female character, Lily Temple, is a silent film actress with multiple identities. She is excellent at fabricating tales.
"Truth has many facets." - Lily Temple
The first chapter was my favorite. The humor and confidence of Lily is so engaging and hooks readers into needing to know more about the details dangled.
My left brain thinking got frustrated at times with not understanding what was going on in the multiple story layers, but it all came together at the end. And the writing, as expected, is beautiful. My favorite subplot was the search to determine the identity of a missing or deceased soldier.
Loved the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter.
My gratitude to publisher Revell for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
A unique nod to storytelling and fairy tales! The main female character, Lily Temple, is a silent film actress with multiple identities. She is excellent at fabricating tales.
"Truth has many facets." - Lily Temple
The first chapter was my favorite. The humor and confidence of Lily is so engaging and hooks readers into needing to know more about the details dangled.
My left brain thinking got frustrated at times with not understanding what was going on in the multiple story layers, but it all came together at the end. And the writing, as expected, is beautiful. My favorite subplot was the search to determine the identity of a missing or deceased soldier.
Loved the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter.
My gratitude to publisher Revell for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
February 9, 2025
This was a very poetic read. I feel like I didn’t tie together some important threads because I wasn’t reading it slow and deep enough. Like, I know they were there and brilliantly done, but I didn’t puzzle it out enough on my own. Which did lead to a big surprise reveal at the end for me!
There were a lot of exciting adventures, hope-filled moments, and ultimately, a very good God-centered message.
There were a lot of exciting adventures, hope-filled moments, and ultimately, a very good God-centered message.
April 4, 2024
I had a feeling I was going to love this book and I am so happy to say that was the case! I’m not surprised because Joanna Davidson Politano is one of my absolute favorite authors and I always love her books. This one was no exception. It was beautifully whimsical and original, filled with themes of restoration and hope. I was swept away to 1903 England to a world of fairytales, secrets, and romance by Joanna’s poetic writing. I loved every minute reading it!
I absolutely loved how Lily’s story slowly unfolds. At first her story is a complete mystery that is only hinted at, but chapter by chapter, it’s slowly revealed in all its complexity. And so is her character. At first, Lily is as elusive to you as the reader as she is to investigator Peter Driscoll. She is full of secrets and mystery but as the story progresses, she reveals her story a little at the time. The way the story is told made the book that much more suspenseful and compelling. I loved that Lily’s POV is written in first person! It made me feel really connected to her character.
Peter Driscoll was such a lovable hero with his steadiness, integrity, and intelligence. I loved his desire to help restore broken stories and bring truth to light. He’s the calm-to-the-storm kind of hero and I truly love those type of heroes! He was the perfect match for Lily!
The romance was beautiful! It made me feel the way the romance in a good classic movie does and I loved it. I loved their banter, their adventures, their friendship-to-more. They were such a fun couple to read about!
This book had the kind of dreamy setting that made me want to spend a day in a beautiful garden or cozy cottage with a cup of tea. It was wonderful!
It was also so neat to learn a little about silent films, something I’ve never read about.
The highlight of this novel for me was without a doubt the faith content. It was woven into this story so beautifully! The message touched my soul. It left me feeling so hopeful and inspired as I was reminded of a beautiful truth. For me, that is the best feeling I can have after finishing a book.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book! It did more than entertain me— it made me think about why I love stories so much and left me inspired.
If you love books that include elements of fairytales, faith, and secret identities, I think you’ll love this book!
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved how Lily’s story slowly unfolds. At first her story is a complete mystery that is only hinted at, but chapter by chapter, it’s slowly revealed in all its complexity. And so is her character. At first, Lily is as elusive to you as the reader as she is to investigator Peter Driscoll. She is full of secrets and mystery but as the story progresses, she reveals her story a little at the time. The way the story is told made the book that much more suspenseful and compelling. I loved that Lily’s POV is written in first person! It made me feel really connected to her character.
Peter Driscoll was such a lovable hero with his steadiness, integrity, and intelligence. I loved his desire to help restore broken stories and bring truth to light. He’s the calm-to-the-storm kind of hero and I truly love those type of heroes! He was the perfect match for Lily!
The romance was beautiful! It made me feel the way the romance in a good classic movie does and I loved it. I loved their banter, their adventures, their friendship-to-more. They were such a fun couple to read about!
This book had the kind of dreamy setting that made me want to spend a day in a beautiful garden or cozy cottage with a cup of tea. It was wonderful!
It was also so neat to learn a little about silent films, something I’ve never read about.
The highlight of this novel for me was without a doubt the faith content. It was woven into this story so beautifully! The message touched my soul. It left me feeling so hopeful and inspired as I was reminded of a beautiful truth. For me, that is the best feeling I can have after finishing a book.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book! It did more than entertain me— it made me think about why I love stories so much and left me inspired.
If you love books that include elements of fairytales, faith, and secret identities, I think you’ll love this book!
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.
Want to read
November 7, 2023Ahhhhh cannot wait !!!!! 😍😍
April 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
"𝑨 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚— 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆.”
If you’re looking for a book filled with the most beautiful lyrical prose, you need only look to Joanna Davidson Politano. Time and time again, I’m struck by how fantastic her writing is and how it works to pull you deep within the pages of her books. Hers are books meant to be cherished, to be read slowly, sip by sip, page by page, deliberately taking in each word to piece together the story as a whole. The endings will never leave you wanting; that’s a guarantee!
A woman known by many names, but currently holding to the moniker, Lily Temple, learned the hard way that truth can be relative. Anyone can bend truth to fit their own intent, thus nullifying the absoluteness of it. Lily lived her life hiding behind her stories until she met Peter Driscoll, and then he patiently persevered to sort through her tales to patch together her elusive truth.
This story was not an easy one, but it was necessary and it was beautiful. I wouldn’t have had it written any other way because this was a tale that only Joanna Davidson Politano could have composed. The captivating voice in which this story was told kept me absolutely riveted for the entirety of the book.
These characters took my heart and ran with it! The depth to their stories was incredibly soul-deep, leaving you aching for them. I loved the enchantment of Lily, the patient love and all-seeing depth of Peter, and the brooding faithfulness of Roderick. Their journey towards uncovering and releasing the truth was truly exceptional! I loved the spiritual depth found in this story as well, watching Lily find her way into the tender embrace of her Heavenly Father, the Gardener.
Favorite quotes:
𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢—𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝚂𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚜, 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠.
"𝚈𝚎𝚜, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 ... 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝."
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚗𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎.
𝙸𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢.
"𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔𝚢, 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗-𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕, 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝙻𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚃𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢'𝚜 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝚆𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚒𝚛𝚌𝚕𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕."
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗."
𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚎. 𝙾𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛—𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚛—𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗.
𝚈𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 ����𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗—𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.
"𝑨 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚— 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆.”
If you’re looking for a book filled with the most beautiful lyrical prose, you need only look to Joanna Davidson Politano. Time and time again, I’m struck by how fantastic her writing is and how it works to pull you deep within the pages of her books. Hers are books meant to be cherished, to be read slowly, sip by sip, page by page, deliberately taking in each word to piece together the story as a whole. The endings will never leave you wanting; that’s a guarantee!
A woman known by many names, but currently holding to the moniker, Lily Temple, learned the hard way that truth can be relative. Anyone can bend truth to fit their own intent, thus nullifying the absoluteness of it. Lily lived her life hiding behind her stories until she met Peter Driscoll, and then he patiently persevered to sort through her tales to patch together her elusive truth.
This story was not an easy one, but it was necessary and it was beautiful. I wouldn’t have had it written any other way because this was a tale that only Joanna Davidson Politano could have composed. The captivating voice in which this story was told kept me absolutely riveted for the entirety of the book.
These characters took my heart and ran with it! The depth to their stories was incredibly soul-deep, leaving you aching for them. I loved the enchantment of Lily, the patient love and all-seeing depth of Peter, and the brooding faithfulness of Roderick. Their journey towards uncovering and releasing the truth was truly exceptional! I loved the spiritual depth found in this story as well, watching Lily find her way into the tender embrace of her Heavenly Father, the Gardener.
Favorite quotes:
𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢—𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝚂𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚜, 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠.
"𝚈𝚎𝚜, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 ... 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝."
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚗𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎.
𝙸𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢.
"𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔𝚢, 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗-𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕, 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝙻𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚃𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢'𝚜 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝚆𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚒𝚛𝚌𝚕𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕."
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗."
𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚎. 𝙾𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛—𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚛—𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗.
𝚈𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 ����𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗—𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.
May 23, 2025
*4.5 stars
"We cannot burden the ending of any story with our expectations."
I fell madly in love with Politano's A Midnight Dance back in 2023, and I've been equal parts excited and terrified to read anything else from her since. I started here, drawn in by promises of moving pictures and unreliable narrators. And I'm very glad to say, I was enchanted.
The opening scene caught my attention instantly, and I was swept up in the story of Lily Temple and Peter Driscoll, and the Gardener who authored their story. I love the way Politano writes a novel, digging so deep into her characters that I truly feel like we're friends by the time we part ways at "the end". There are so many twists and turns and mind-blowing moments, as well as heart-breaking and heart-warming ones. The gentle leading Lily undergoes to finding the true Author is perfection, and I just adore the way Politano does faith content.
For me, the prose could get a bit too flowery at times, leaving me a little lost and dropping my rating by a half-star. But overall I'm so glad I've read another Politano novel, and I can't wait to pick up my next one. 4.5 stars from me!
"We cannot burden the ending of any story with our expectations."
I fell madly in love with Politano's A Midnight Dance back in 2023, and I've been equal parts excited and terrified to read anything else from her since. I started here, drawn in by promises of moving pictures and unreliable narrators. And I'm very glad to say, I was enchanted.
The opening scene caught my attention instantly, and I was swept up in the story of Lily Temple and Peter Driscoll, and the Gardener who authored their story. I love the way Politano writes a novel, digging so deep into her characters that I truly feel like we're friends by the time we part ways at "the end". There are so many twists and turns and mind-blowing moments, as well as heart-breaking and heart-warming ones. The gentle leading Lily undergoes to finding the true Author is perfection, and I just adore the way Politano does faith content.
For me, the prose could get a bit too flowery at times, leaving me a little lost and dropping my rating by a half-star. But overall I'm so glad I've read another Politano novel, and I can't wait to pick up my next one. 4.5 stars from me!
May 27, 2024
Joanna Davidson Politano never disappoints with beautifully told tale.
It did take me a little while to get into the story, but the ending was well worth the journey. I was invested, just like Peter in finding out who Lily Temple really was. I also loved the mix of all of the little mysteries that were going on behind the scenes too and seeing how they each connected with the characters.
I especially loved the setting of the roaring 20s, as that's my favorite era to read about. The mix of the setting and the story was a lot of fun.
*thank you to Baker Publishing for a copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
It did take me a little while to get into the story, but the ending was well worth the journey. I was invested, just like Peter in finding out who Lily Temple really was. I also loved the mix of all of the little mysteries that were going on behind the scenes too and seeing how they each connected with the characters.
I especially loved the setting of the roaring 20s, as that's my favorite era to read about. The mix of the setting and the story was a lot of fun.
*thank you to Baker Publishing for a copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
December 30, 2024
My goodness! This novel was a delightful fairytale weaved with themes of trust and the Creator.
I have been looking forward to this book for quite some time. I must say it did not disappoint.
There were so many twist and turns. Some of the plot points were not expected while others were delightfully comforting.
Lily Temple was my favorite part of the novel. Her love of fairytales reminded me of me. She was running from everything: the Truth, her life, herself. Yet God found her. Her relationship with God only progressed.
Peter was very interesting. He was perfect and normal in Lily’s eyes, but even he, who believed in God, had problems. He was broken and hurt, but he knew the Creator.
The themes in this story were excellent. The constant heartbeat of a garden, the Creator, and Eden made this story for me. The floral and natural aspects brought this story to life. Learning about filmmaking in this time period piqued my curiosity. The nuances and “magical aspects” truly enchanted me. The themes is fiction versus truth, story versus reality was enthralling. Connections to fiction do weed out truth. This book truly explained why fiction is so important!
Content: violence (minor, lightly detailed), certain war/familial/betrayal themes, light romance (unexpected pregnancy out of wedlock, old love betrayal), kisses (three, up to semi-detailed)
I have been looking forward to this book for quite some time. I must say it did not disappoint.
There were so many twist and turns. Some of the plot points were not expected while others were delightfully comforting.
Lily Temple was my favorite part of the novel. Her love of fairytales reminded me of me. She was running from everything: the Truth, her life, herself. Yet God found her. Her relationship with God only progressed.
Peter was very interesting. He was perfect and normal in Lily’s eyes, but even he, who believed in God, had problems. He was broken and hurt, but he knew the Creator.
The themes in this story were excellent. The constant heartbeat of a garden, the Creator, and Eden made this story for me. The floral and natural aspects brought this story to life. Learning about filmmaking in this time period piqued my curiosity. The nuances and “magical aspects” truly enchanted me. The themes is fiction versus truth, story versus reality was enthralling. Connections to fiction do weed out truth. This book truly explained why fiction is so important!
Content: violence (minor, lightly detailed), certain war/familial/betrayal themes, light romance (unexpected pregnancy out of wedlock, old love betrayal), kisses (three, up to semi-detailed)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2024
I typically have high hopes for Joanna Davidson Politano’s books, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. After liking but not loving The Lost Melody, I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple.
What I Liked:
-Adelaide and “her soldier” was my favorite part of the book honestly. They were side-characters making up only a small portion of the book. But I loved it.
-Peter. He was a cool dude. And he wears glasses sooo #boyswithglassesftw
-Lily’s desire to “return to the garden” and the connection to our human desire to return to The Garden (Eden) was really cool. Made for some cool, relatable imagery.
-The quotes from classical stories at the start of each chapter were neat and definitely added to the “garden fairytale” vibe.
What I Didn’t Like:
-Most of the characters seemed flat and uninteresting. I found that I didn’t care what happened to most of them.
-Lily. She annoyed me at times. I felt like I never connected with her at all because there was SO much important backstory that was only given in teensy glimpse throughout the book, and then all dumped right at the end. It felt like there was no way to get to know her earlier on.
-There seemed to be a lot of people and places and things that didn’t really have anything in common.
-I feel like usually with this author, her hints are more clear, or we (as the readers) are given more information earlier on. With this book, I felt like I was guessing about almost everything until less than 50 pages from the end. Sometimes things were implied, but not clear enough to know if we (as the reader) should believe it or not. Although, that said, maybe if I’d cared more and paid more attention I would’ve figured it out quicker. As it was, I found myself caring less if I solved it ahead of time or not.
-Peter and Lily’s romantic relationship. In my opinion, it felt like they were only together because they were the main guy and gal in the book so of course they’re going to fall in love.
-Without giving spoilers, the start of chapter 37 really confused me. I feel like it was a purposeless add-in, but that’s just me.
-Usually I love this author’s writing and find myself going “wow what a unique way to say that.” But with ETLT, it was more like “that was alot of words and I’m still not entirely sure what that meant.”
Anyway… I will continue reading all of JDP’s releases because I’ve really loved some of her books. This just wasn’t one of them, unfortunately.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books publishing in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
What I Liked:
-Adelaide and “her soldier” was my favorite part of the book honestly. They were side-characters making up only a small portion of the book. But I loved it.
-Peter. He was a cool dude. And he wears glasses sooo #boyswithglassesftw
-Lily’s desire to “return to the garden” and the connection to our human desire to return to The Garden (Eden) was really cool. Made for some cool, relatable imagery.
-The quotes from classical stories at the start of each chapter were neat and definitely added to the “garden fairytale” vibe.
What I Didn’t Like:
-Most of the characters seemed flat and uninteresting. I found that I didn’t care what happened to most of them.
-Lily. She annoyed me at times. I felt like I never connected with her at all because there was SO much important backstory that was only given in teensy glimpse throughout the book, and then all dumped right at the end. It felt like there was no way to get to know her earlier on.
-There seemed to be a lot of people and places and things that didn’t really have anything in common.
-I feel like usually with this author, her hints are more clear, or we (as the readers) are given more information earlier on. With this book, I felt like I was guessing about almost everything until less than 50 pages from the end. Sometimes things were implied, but not clear enough to know if we (as the reader) should believe it or not. Although, that said, maybe if I’d cared more and paid more attention I would’ve figured it out quicker. As it was, I found myself caring less if I solved it ahead of time or not.
-Peter and Lily’s romantic relationship. In my opinion, it felt like they were only together because they were the main guy and gal in the book so of course they’re going to fall in love.
-Without giving spoilers, the start of chapter 37 really confused me. I feel like it was a purposeless add-in, but that’s just me.
-Usually I love this author’s writing and find myself going “wow what a unique way to say that.” But with ETLT, it was more like “that was alot of words and I’m still not entirely sure what that meant.”
Anyway… I will continue reading all of JDP’s releases because I’ve really loved some of her books. This just wasn’t one of them, unfortunately.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books publishing in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
June 2, 2024
This book was out of this world. A tragic kind of whimsy, but with a happily ever after of course. Politano never fails to ensnare her readers stories of nagging questions, stunning atmosphere, swoony heroes and deep spiritual lessons. And elusive truth of course *wink*.
Despite Lily’s… shall we say, shiftiness, I still managed to connect with her and become entangled in her side of the story. She had a truly rich point of view dripping with a fairy like tone. There was a tad of darkness to it that was beautifully transformed when she finally found what she was looking for… Her Father.
Which leads me to the spiritual theme in this story. It was subtle at first, tentatively creeping up on me until I was engulfed in the profound splendor of it. In one way it was so sweet and meaningful, yet from a different angle it was like a wake up punch, beckoning you towards the Lord. I love it when fiction accomplishes that!
Another thing that Politano did wonderfully is the romance. Ok, I know, Peter Driscoll isn’t Jack from a Midnight Dance or A Rumored Fortune’s hero Vance, but boy was he Lily’s other half. The chemistry. The dynamic. The conversation. All of it superb. They were absolutely made for each other and I ate it up each moment.
The historical aspect was quite enjoyable and being released into the world of early filmmaking and early 20th century England was fun!
So… why 4 stars? Well for one, this book had so many moving pieces that tied neatly at the end, but there were moments that I was adrift, or would be inclined to skim over past memories–despite the gorgeous prose–and I would sometimes feel confused about what exactly was going on. Secondly, well, there is no second, except for the fact that this isn’t an all time favorite but that’s not the books fault by any means.
March 14, 2024
Enchanting!!! The author is such a talented wordsmith and I enjoyed every thought-provoking moment of this captivating story. In the Elusive Truth of Lily Temple several threads are beautifully woven together keeping the reader guessing, while sprinkling nuggets of truth, beauty, whimsy, suspense and love along the way.
"The more fiction wove through my heart, the clearer the truth became. Because there was a great deal of truth in fiction-the sort too important to just be spoken outright. What heroism looked like. What it meant to love authentically, and more than anything else, who the rescuer of our souls was. That was the truest story." Amen to that!
I love captivating fictional stories that share not only thoroughly enjoyable tales, but also beautiful truths. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple takes you on just such a journey. I got lost in this wonderful whimsical story and savored each step along the way. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early ecopy. All opinions are my own. My own per-ordered paperback will have a special place on my keeper shelf along with all this author's other stories!
"The more fiction wove through my heart, the clearer the truth became. Because there was a great deal of truth in fiction-the sort too important to just be spoken outright. What heroism looked like. What it meant to love authentically, and more than anything else, who the rescuer of our souls was. That was the truest story." Amen to that!
I love captivating fictional stories that share not only thoroughly enjoyable tales, but also beautiful truths. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple takes you on just such a journey. I got lost in this wonderful whimsical story and savored each step along the way. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early ecopy. All opinions are my own. My own per-ordered paperback will have a special place on my keeper shelf along with all this author's other stories!
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