Line By Line By Jennifer Delamere

Line by Line
by Jennifer Delamere
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764234927

While this is the first book I've read by Jennifer Delamere, it's not the first book of hers that I own... go figure. Line by Line came as a review option, and I figured it was the perfect time to try out her books finally!

Summary:

Can her dreams of independence withstand a dash of love? Since she was young, Alice McNeil has seen a career as a telegrapher as the best use for her keen and curious mind. Years later, she doesn't regret her freedom in foregoing marriage, especially when she acquires a coveted position at an important trading firm. But when the company's ambitious junior director returns to London, things begin to change in ways Alice could never have imagined.

For Douglas Shaw, years of hard work and ingenuity enabled him to escape a life of grinding poverty. He's now determined to marry into high society--a step that will ensure he never returns to the conditions of his past. 

He immediately earns Alice's respect by judging her based on her skills and not her gender, and a fast camaraderie forms. However, when Alice accidentally angers a jealous coworker and his revenge threatens both their reputations, Alice and Douglas are forced to confront what is truly important in their lives. Will their growing bond give them the courage to see the future in a different light?

My Review:

I have to admit Line by Line was a great introduction to Jennifer Delamere's writing.

We start off by meeting Alice who is fine with the idea of becoming a spinster. Her new job seems like a perfect fit for her. She's got a quick wit and is incredibly smart. Alice certainly seems satisfied with where she is in life.

Then we meet Douglas who is very self assured and knows he's a good looking man! Unlike Alice, he's got big plans to make it rich. He's got his eye set on a banker's daughter... one he's never met, but he seems unaffected by it.

Unfortunately both of them have to work with Archie Clapper. What a cad. he's a crabby man who does nothing but sneer and make snide remarks. He can't stand the fact that a woman works as his "equal". He was a very well written villain! It's rather funny (at least for a time) when Alice uses what she learns from a spinster book she finds at a book store on Archie. The amusement doesn't last long.

I really enjoyed watching Alice and Douglas grow as individuals throughout this story. They certainly came to know themselves better as well as each other. One of the best elements to this story was the addition of Andrew Carnegie. He had quite the impact on Douglas' outlook on life. What was interesting was the teacher who impacted Alice and the direction her life had taken, gave her instruction a bit of a spin, which Alice hadn't expected.

What I enjoyed the most was the tension of both Alice and Douglas to stay true to their courses they'd set from the start of the story. It was great to watch Douglas be so impressed with Alice's insights into the business world. My favorite scene is when Alice teaches Douglas how to dance. It was an ingenious way to do on Jennifer Delamere's part!

I'm hoping we'll get to know Rose and Ellen more in the rest of the series. They're both friends of Alice's. Lucy is also one of Alice's friends, but she rather annoys me. lol I'm not sure what book 2 will be about, but since Rose sends telegrams for the post office, maybe her? I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

About the Author:

Jennifer Delamere's(www.jenniferdelamere.com) debut Victorian romance, An Heiress at Heart, was a 2013 RITA Award finalist in the inspirational category. Her follow-up novel, A Lady Most Lovely, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and the Maggie Award for Excellence from Georgia Romance Writers. Jennifer earned a BA in English from McGill University in Montreal, where she became fluent in French and developed an abiding passion for winter sports. She's been an editor of nonfiction and educational materials for nearly two decades, and lives in North Carolina with her husband.