Portrait of Loyalty
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4.8 • 12 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.
Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father's connections in propaganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.
After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon's loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple's future dreams--it becomes a matter of ending the war.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The deeply spiritual third installment of White's The Codebreakers series (after On Wings of Devotion) features a romance between a Russian cryptographer and an English photographer amid the destruction of WWI. Lily Blackwell, 23, leads a double life: most people know her as a nurse's aide and the dutiful daughter of a navy captain doing her best to assist in England's war effort. But she's also a skilled photographer and photo manipulator who works for the government's propaganda operations. Devoutly religious Russian cryptographer and intelligence officer Zivon Marin has been loyal to the czar's regime, but is forced to flee his homeland with his brother as the Bolshevik revolution takes hold. He flees to England and ends up working for British government intelligence, where he's introduced to Lily. As they embark on a relationship, Zivon fears secrets from his past will tear them apart and perhaps destroy his faith. Lily also faces doubts about her work trying to dupe German intelligence and the toll it exacts on the innocent when their efforts provoke more intensive German bombings. White's smooth flowing narrative and resonant themes of misinformation and social upheaval will draw readers in to this glowing love story.
Customer Reviews
This is a fantastic historical romance!
I love all of the main characters in this book. This includes all of Lily Blackwell’s family. It is easy to connect with them and all of the different emotions that they experience going through the story.
One of the things that I enjoyed was the brief glimpses at the characters from the previous books the author set before and during WWI. None of them are central enough that the previous books need to be read first though.
At the same time there are a few characters that are working against them and it was just as easy to dislike them. There is just enough intrigue to really keep the reader guessing as to how things are going to work out. I really like how Admiral Hall stays on top of everything that is going on in the intelligence world.
I had never realized that the revolution in Russia took place during WWI. This was quite an eye opener for me. It really made me realize how little I know about world history. Part of me wants to study it further. But I don’t want to get bogged down in books filled with historical facts. I love the personality that comes in historical fiction books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*