The Number of Love

The audiobook caught my eye when I was looking through the library catalogue. In 1917, a Belgium teenager Margot De Wilde is working in London for Room 40 as a codebreaker when she meets the Elton siblings. Drake Elton, ostensibly in the navy, has spent most of the war undercover in Spain; his sister Dot is starting a new job as a secretary for Room 40.

I was surprised to realise that this was Christian fiction. The main characters are all practising Catholics of European background who are working for British intelligence, so in some respects they’re not a very diverse bunch, yet I liked how accepting both the narrative and the characters themselves are of people’s unusual quirks. Most notably, Margot, who is brillant with numbers, show more is determined to pursue a career in academia and is disinterested in conforming various social conventions, while Drake’s sister Dot struggles with leaving the house and has much more domestic goals for her future.

I also liked that, while they share the same beliefs, the relationship they each have with prayer and with God is very personal and therefore looks different for each of them. And all their conclusions or pronouncements on issues of faith felt in keeping with the characters’ personalities and circumstances.

A few quibbles aside -- such as the first part having less codebreaking than I was expecting -- I ended up enjoying this a lot. I’m curious about the author’s other books, since the library has quite a few of them.

The book wins points for a cover that near-exactly matches a scene described in the book, and loses points for using the word “airplane” -- I don’t actually, maybe it was sometimes used in Britain in WWI, when aeroplanes were still comparatively new, but the word makes me cringe. show less

This. Is. My. Favorite. Roseanna. White. Book. Period.

I reserved it for bedtime reading (whose idea was that?) and stayed up way too late on several occasions to finish “just one more chapter.” White’s world-building, character development, and grounding in history are very nearly unparalleled. I have not read a WWI novel in some time that I liked as much as this one, and do believe White is well on par to become the Sarah Sundin of WWI writing with this book/series.

Washington state plays home to Boeing, a plane manufacturer with several excellent museums. Every time I visit one, I get more and more fascinated with local and world history. So, reading Number of Love fit right in with that! I’m ready to keep learning, that’s show more for sure.

I especially appreciated the author’s note at the end. White shared more about true and tweaked elements and how they fit into the story. Can book 2 come out … next week, please? 😀

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. show less

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White blends war-time intrigue, delicious romance, and lurking danger to create a captivating story that is unexpectedly thought-provoking.

Roseanna M. White's writing finesse shines in her prose and characters. My favorite character in The Number of Love is Margot. She fascinated me with her mathematical genius and unique way of thinking. The correlation between numbers and Margot's prayers prodded me to consider... Does God use our unique abilities and interests to speak to us in ways others might not understand? I think so.

What I loved most in The Number of Love was the author's treatment of God's silence during difficult times. I could identify with many of Margot's thoughts and emotions. Plenty of show more time is allotted to the examination of this issue and easy, pat answers are bypassed in favor of deep character development. Margot's struggle and resulting growth was a pleasure to observe.

The Number of Love is the first novel in The Codebreakers series by Roseanna M. White. It does have returning characters from her other novels, particularly A Song Unheard; however, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy inspirational historical romances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have 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." show less

One thing one can always depend upon when reading a story by Roseanna White is her attention to detail and accuracy. Reading one of her stories is a delightful way to have a history lesson. I must admit I have read a lot of WWII stories but very few WWI. I knew that there had been code breakers in WWII, but to learn that we had them in WWI was what drew me to wanting to read this story. Another eye opening fact was that there were submarines back then and that men would actually drive into the deep ocean trying to retrieve the enemy’s code books.

If I had to pick a favorite character it would be Dot, Drake’s little sister, followed by Margot. The author brought to life the true meaning of how one feels as we delve into the minds of show more these two quirky individuals with real live social struggles. Dot with her fear of leaving the security of her home, and Margot living in her mind of numbers. How their friendship developed and their way of helping each other constantly kept me looking forward to reading their interactions within this story.

This book overall was a very charming story to read. Would I read it again? Maybe, maybe not and here is why... Drake, who was the English spy working in Spain, in this intriguing WWI Christian historical novel, started out so strong in the beginning that I was looking forward to reading his part in this duel POV more so than Margot’s. However, once he returned home to England after being wounded the story took a complete right turn so to speak for me until about the last quarter, and then the story picked up, but not like the on-the-edge-of-your-seat action I have read in Roseanna White‘s other books. I would have to say that this story was more mind action than physical which is a slightly different approach for this author which was a surprise and took some getting used to. My rating 4.5 stars for historical and Christian content, 3.5 stars for mystery & suspense, and romance.

I received a complimentary copy (or ARC) of this book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley for its JustRead Publicity Tour. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. show less

This may have been my first book by Roseanna White, but it definitely will not be my last! From the very first page, I was captivated by this unique story and drawn into the complex plot. In general, I have not read a great deal of historical fiction set during WWI, and never about those responsible for decrypting and encrypting enemy code. There is an enigma surrounding codebreakers, one that brings to mind spies, conspiracies, and scheming. “The Number of Love” has all of that and more, tautly woven into an absorbing narrative.

Employing meticulous pieces that continue to add to the puzzle as a whole, White calculatingly draws the reader into what becomes a multifarious story. Early on in the novel, the setting is relatively show more serene, and Margot De Wilde had me grinning from the outset. There is so much to love about her character, particularly given the time period in which she lives. Forging a career for herself and defying convention, she is very much an innovative woman in a man’s world. She carries herself with aplomb and a sarcastic wit and is incredibly intelligent, being the only female codebreaker of the confidential Room 40, and only 18 years old at that.

“Mathematics never led her astray.” As an English major and someone whose worst subject was always math, Margot’s aptitude awed me. It was fascinating for me to read how White created this character who thinks and acts in terms of mathematics, whose ultimate goal is to complete her university studies and attain a professorship. Witnessing how Margot implements mathematical principles into all aspects of her life gave her character a stimulating individuality. Another aspect of her character that I really appreciated was her faith in God, demonstrating that the sciences and math do not preclude the existence of God and a personal relationship with Him. I thought that it was very fascinating that God communicates to Margot, and vice versa, through numbers. Also, the insight into the grieving process is well done, including facets of post-traumatic stress and anger toward God. Social anxiety is explored as well, along with various relationships and their consequences. “The Number of Love” provides a tale of intrigue, romance, and faith in the midst of battles both personal and national, a thoroughly engaging novel highly recommended for historical fiction lovers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. show less

As usual, Ms. White has done an excellent job! The characters, the setting, the plot, the romance, the mystery, the intrigue, the history that inspired it all—each aspect is expertly handled. Every time, I read one of Ms. White’s books, I am amazed at just how well she writes, how well everything flows, how quickly and easily I’m drawn into the story and into the characters. There’s not a thing that feels unfinished by the end of the book. Everything is well developed and fits together. I may start out, as I did with Margot, loving her one instant and not so sure about her the next, but by the end, I have come to understand her better and love her all the more because of the vulnerability Ms. White shows in her characters.

And show more boy, did Ms. White introduce some wonderfully intriguing characters in this book! The same number of characters mentioned in another book by a less skillful author might be too much and too hard to follow, but not so with Ms. White. Each character is smoothly introduced and developed in such a way that gives them a distinctiveness that helps settle each of them uniquely into their place in the story. They feel like real people, not just characters on a page . . . even to the point, that I could not help but hope for a redemptive ending for the villain of the story.

I loved both of the main characters (even though I might have spent some time a bit frustrated with one of them 🙂 ) and the development of their friendship and relationship. Margot’s struggle to let herself see and feel beyond the logical was real. I loved the unique way that the Lord spoke to her heart showing the depth of both His knowledge of her and His love for her. Drake’s patience and his ability to read people and help them get to the heart of the matter made him a wonderful match for Margot. Ms. White demonstrates, through Drake’s love for Margo, the beauty of a love that is patient, that waits, that knows intimately enough to see the heart behind someone, that gives what is space needed, that steps back when asked, that is willing to selflessly adjust its method of showing love to accommodate how another receives love.

The new supporting characters introduced have most definitely captured my attention, if not my heart. I enjoyed their side stories and I am more than ready to read about any of them who might be featured in the future books of this series. I also adored the cameo appearances of characters I came to love in Ms. White’s Shadows Over England series. They perfectly rounded out the book and satisfied my “epilogue” loving heart!

The mystery captured my mind and most definitely kept me engaged throughout the book. And I loved the spiritual journeys of the characters as they were faced with walking out their faith when it was no longer as easy as it once was for them, as they had to come to terms with grief in their lives while figuring out how to still trust the Lord.

As it is with all of Ms. White’s books I’ve read, I could go on and on about the things I love about The Number of Love, but I will leave off here before I reveal too much. There is so much both to love and contemplate in this book! If you’re looking for a book with depth and hope and characters that feel more like friends by the end, The Number of Love is a must read!

**I received a complimentary copy The Number of Love from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. show less

I’ve been wanting to read Margot De Wilde’s story since I met her in Roseanna White’s previous series. She is such an unusual heroine with a unique way of looking at, and coping with, the world. Her intelligence and wit shines in The Number of Love, and Drake Elton is the perfect counterpoint to her character. He sees something deep inside her and is willing to work to understand her world. White is a master at creating fascinating and colorful characters, and this story has plenty of them, including several cameo appearances of people from her Shadows Over England series. It was such fun to see them pop up here and there.

With a setting in London during World War I, this tale is replete with rich historical detail and fascinating show more information about the intelligence network during the war. The author’s research shines through and adds such deep interest to the story, while the inspirational themes of faith, hope, courage, and the power of love lend depth and satisfaction. I would recommend this book to those who love well-written historical romantic fiction with large doses of suspense and intrigue thrown in.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own. show less