In 1523, roughly five years after Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, the reformation of the Catholic Church is spreading. When the writings of Luther reach a group of nuns, sheltered in a convent for most of their lives, Sister Katharina leads their escape. Joining the reformers is a crime with severe consequences, and the nuns will have to make new lives for themselves in an unknown world.
Martin Luther houses the nuns until he can find permanent assistance for them, and Luther and Katharina soon find themselves struggling with new desires. Though the attraction is undeniable, neither will admit to it. Pride, class, and a devotion to the cause keep them at odds. But as threats grow worse, and prospects dwindle, the two must make a decision that could greatly affect an entire movement.
I loved it. That’s the short version. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it. I must admit, for Christian romance, the sexual tension is thick. It jumps off the page. But it is in no way vulgar, or explicit. These are the days when a fingertip grazing a woman’s face was scandalous, and Hedlund portrays that extremely well.
As with Newton and Polly, the author’s notes section explains what was fact, and what was embellished or entirely of her own creation.
1) Overall Plot = 5
2) Characters = 5
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 5
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 5
Average of score 5 out of 5
Jess Boudreaux 