Book Description

Being an independent woman in 1913 London is certainly empowering, but Emmy Nation is tired of the inescapable damp seeping through her worn shoes and the hopeless grumblings of her stomach. When she receives an offer from Scotland Yard to boost her typist income by spying on the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), Emmy jumps at the chance. But as she grows closer to the WSPU women the lines begin to blur, and when a painful part of her past resurfaces Emmy begins to question her choices. How far are you willing to go to secure your equality?

My Review

Reviewed by Sandra Olshaski

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It has all the elements of a story that I love: historical fiction, turn-of-the-century London, an independent woman, romance and suspense.

Emmy Nation as a typist for the London Metropolitan Police is finding it hard to make ends meet. Scotland Yard asks her to infiltrate the London suffragette movement to report on their activities. The police are determined to prevent militant acts connected with the movement and to catch the women who are committing them. Emmy agrees to the request and is soon earning more money. She is an impoverished young woman, but there are hints that she has seen much better days, so right away the reader wonders about her story. Who is she and what's in her past?

This is also an interesting glimpse into the early days of the British suffrage movement. The author succeeds in writing an entertaining fiction inspired by real events. For example, I didn’t know that the suffragettes chained themselves to Winston Churchill's carriage in protest of his not supporting their petition for women's votes. Prominent women in the movement, such as the Pankhursts, were well-to-do, stylish, elegant women who could have remained in the sanctuary of their homes, but chose not to. The movement attracted women of all walks of life, however. They marched on Selfridges Department store, invaded and destroyed orchids in the Royal Botanical Gardens, were willing to starve while in prison, all to secure the vote for women. They published a weekly newspaper called The Suffragette that they sold on the street corner. Quite a statement for women back in the day who were still considered second-class citizens, whose place was in the home!

Emmy is a very likeable character who we want to succeed. She is intelligent, strong, determined, yet vulnerable. There is romance, suspense, and a certain mystery connected with Emmy. I hope the author has further adventures for her.

I highly recommend this well-written, thought-provoking novel.

Sandra Olshaski's disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

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Note: This book is rated S = mild sexual content. There is a passionate kissing scene.

Reviewed by Laura