A Respectable Actress was a first for me…the first time I’ve read a historical novel by Dorothy Love. I thoroughly enjoyed this foray into Reconstruction Georgia in the years immediately after the war. I also loved how much research went into this novel, and how so many of the plot’s elements could be traced to actual events and people. Be sure to read to the end where I am giving away a copy of this novel and Shadowed by Grace. There’s also still time to enter this week’s giveaway. Simply go here.

India Hartley is an actress at a time when that occupation still meant you were a woman of questionable morals. When she finds herself accused of murder – that happened on the stage in front of a packed theater of witnesses – she is completely alone and probably headed to the gallows. In steps Philip Sinclair, a man who is trying to rebuild his home and the local economy after the devastation of the Civil War. As her attorney, he is determined to save her…what he didn’t realize is this case might end up saving him as well.

The setting is rich. The characters interesting. The mystery intriguing, but not terribly complex. The red herrings circle back on each other, making the book one that built steam as I approached the end. All in all this is a great read for those who love historicals with romance and mystery. Fans of Tamera Alexander will also love A Respectable Actress.

If you love historicals and are looking for a book to read this weekend, don’t forget to check out Shadowed by Grace, it’s on sale for $2.99 in ebook formats. This award-winning story of my heart will sweep you into World War II Italy.

Here’s more about A Respectable Actress:

When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.
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