Publisher Description:
It’s 1885, and all Nora Shipley wants, now that she’s graduating from Cornell University as valedictorian of the entomology program, is to follow in her late father’s footsteps by getting her master’s degree and taking over the scientific journal he started. The only way to uphold her father’s legacy is to win a scholarship, so she joins a research expedition in Kodaikanal, India, to prove herself in the field.
India isn’t what she expects, though, and neither is the rival classmate who accompanies her, Owen Epps. As her preconceptions of India–and of Owen–fall away, she finds both far more captivating than she expected. Forced by the expedition leader to stay at camp and illustrate exotic butterflies the men of the team find without her, Nora befriends Sita, a young Indian girl who has been dedicated to a goddess against her will.
In this spellbinding new land, Nora is soon faced with impossible choices–between saving Sita and saving her career, and between what she’s always thought she wanted and the man she’s come to love.
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My Review:
I love the cover of this book and was intrigued by the publisher’s description. I can’t remember ever reading another book that has a lady entomologist as the main heroine. I wasn’t sure at the beginning that this was the book for me, but I am so glad that I kept reading. I would have missed a beautiful, well-written story.
This book not only has a great storyline, but also fired my imagination and made me feel as if I’d traveled to a different time and place. The author did a fabulous describing the setting in India and giving us a look at the culture of higher education in the year 1885.
The main character, Nora, is intelligent, caring, somewhat impulsive, and driven to have a career in entomology that will honor her father’s memory. She tried to balance pursuing her dreams with the realities of her home situation. She is also in competition with Owen Epps for the scholarship that is essential in furthering her career. Owen and Nora find themselves on the same research expedition in India. Their competition fades as their friendship grows and they find themselves wondering about a future together. Nora faces a potentially career-ending decision as she struggles with the culture in India that will not only affect her, but the lives of several other people. The character of the young Indian girl, Sita, was perhaps my favorite character in this book and her courage proved to be a major influence in Nora’s life.
I enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
About Kimberly Duffy
Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio. When she’s not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes readers back in time and across oceans. Her books feature ahead-of-their-time heroines, evocative settings, and real-life faith. Kimberly loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of 20 years. He doesn’t mind.
You can find Kimberly at:
www.kimberlyduffy.com
