Fiction Friday: Lady Jayne Disappears

An exquisitely crafted haunting tale set in Victorian England.

Okay, I'll admit it. I am a jaded reader. I've been around the readerly block way too many times, so usually when I read a book, I'm mildly entertained, not enthralled in a sweet-mercy-stop-the-world-I-have-to-read-this-story kind of way.

But hot diggity dang! Today's book is one of those rare reads that makes me want to quit writing because the storytelling and craft are so a-freaking-mazing.

Lady Jayne Disappears is a debut novel written by Joanna Davidson Politano, an author I'll definitely be on the lookout for in the future. Here's a blurb:

When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.

When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.

Do yourself a favor this Christmas season…buy yourself a little gift, then sneak off to read this awesome book.