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My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I was instantly attracted to this book by its cover and the premise of the story. A woman writer in the 19th century with a male pen name, the mysterious disappearance of Lady Jayne, the Gothic setting of a gloomy estate of nearly 100 rooms...well, I just couldn't wait to dig into this book.

Aurelie Harcourt has just lost her father to death. She lived with him in one of London's debtor's prison and now moves to her aunt's wealthy home in England's countryside, where she meets his family for the first time. Apart from the aunt, they believe Aurelie to be a distant relative and do not know who she really is, nor that her father is the famous author Nathaniel Droll. Aurelie now takes over this role in secret and wants to find out what happened to Lady Jayne who was her mother.

The story is filled with secrecy both on the part of Aurelie and her father's family. There are twists and turns that kept me guessing and enough creepy dark hallways and abandoned dusty rooms that gave this book a Gothic feel. There were comic moments too, especially when Aurelie incorporated the idiosyncrasies and behaviors of the family into her characters in the story installments that got published.   

Lady Jane Disappears is a well-written impressive debut. The author succeeded in immersing me in the setting and story. I enjoyed the book's storyline and the romance too, although I found Silas's character to be underdeveloped. We know next to nothing about his family life and he did a few things that were unconventional for the time period. There were a few loose threads at the end of the story too, like what happened to Kendrick, Nelle, and Juliette when she ran away, making the ending feel a little rushed.

This was an entertaining novel and I look forward to reading Politano's next book. If you like historical Christian fiction with a mysterious plot and a good-hearted unconventional heroine, look no further. This one is sure to please.

Disclosure: Thanks to the publisher for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her manuscript for Lady Jayne Disappears was a finalist for several contests, including the 2016 Genesis Award from ACFW, and won the OCW Cascade Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. 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 two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.

I was immediately attracted to this novel. From its poetic title to its symbolic book cover and book description. My instincts were right.

Title: Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix

Category: Adult fiction,  336 pages

Genre: Literary Fiction, Christian Fiction

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: December 6, 2016

Content Rating: G +M (There is an attempt of suicide)

Book Description: 

"I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing."

It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream---reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family's undoing.

At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren's past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It's thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2gzxgeq



I was immediately attracted to this novel. From its poetic title to its symbolic book cover and book description. My instincts were right. Of Stillness and Storm is full of depth, rich in character with an expat and missionary setting that pulls you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the last page, leaving you spent with conflicting emotions.

Lauren is a dutiful and supportive wife to Sam, her missionary husband who is living his dream of helping tribes in remote areas of Nepal. He is usually gone for three weeks at a time into these remote regions while Lauren and their thirteen-year-old son Ryan make the best of their expat life without him every time he's gone. Ryan, who never wanted to leave his home is resentful, withdrawn and brimming with unleashed anger. Lauren is torn between supporting Sam and trying to be a good mother to Ryan.

Their lives begin to unravel when Aiden, a friend from Lauren's life connects with her on Facebook. A friend from her past, from her teen years who "gets" her and understands her. As Lauren becomes distracted with her own unmet needs and Sam refuses to acknowledge that his absence and obsession is tearing his family apart, Ryan is left to deal with his loneliness and misery. The stillness with become a storm.

I loved reading this book. Michèle Phoenix's writing style is beautiful, lyrical and full of depth and emotions. She brings Nepal to life, as well as the expat life. As a woman, I understood Lauren's feelings of wanting to be supportive to a husband she loves, while dealing with a teenager who is angry. She aches for her son, for what is lost and for her feelings of helplessness. She works hard to keep it all together.

Through a dual timeline, the story goes back and forth between the present day and Lauren's past when she first met Sam, the way they fell in love and their joy at their son's birth after trying for so long. The author succeeds in creating depth for her characters in this way, in unravelling the layers of emotions and where they came from. We come to understand Lauren's former connection with Aiden and what he meant to her.

Of Stillness and Storm is thought-provoking and would make a great book club choice. It explores family life and what it means to be a missionary, especially when one has a family. It touches on obsession, first love, unresolved issues, and faith. This book has made it on my best reads for 2016 list.

After visiting the author's website, I was excited to realize I have her previous novel Tangled Ashes on my Kindle! I have now moved that book up on my TBR list. And I will make time to read her other previous novels too. Her website also includes videos and the backstory to her novels which I thought was so interesting. I am now Michèle Phoenix's latest fan.

To read more reviews, please visit Michèle Phoenix's page on Litfuse.

Disclosure: Thanks to Litfuse for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.





Born in France to a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle Phoenix is a consultant, writer and speaker with a heart for Third Culture Kids. She taught for 20 years at Black Forest Academy (Germany) before launching her own advocacy venture under Global Outreach Mission. Michèle travels globally to consult and teach on topics related to this unique people group. She loves good conversations, mischievous students, Marvel movies and paths to healing.

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Amazon Digital Services
ISBN: 978-0985352936
Published December 18, 2012