Do you know the best thing about a favorite author coming out with a new book? That a favorite author has a new book.

Do you know the worst thing about a favorite author coming out with a new book? Reading it in two hours.

Wow, I love how "A Portrait of Loyalty" is not your usual WWI story.

There's romance, there's intrigue, there's hope, there's sadness, there's just so many emotions, thoughts, and feelings spinning through your mind as you read this new masterpiece from Roseanna M. White.

I highly recommend you read this book!

Sixteen up due to kissing, mentions of unsaved characters who sleep together, and a pregnancy outside of romance.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher/review company. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. ( )

This book was the 2021 Christy Award winner for Historical Romance and it so deserves the accolades. The author masterfully combines espionage of WWI, the revolution in Russia, artistry and beauty of photography, astounding faith, and sweet romance to create one unforgettable novel. I loved learning about British intelligence and how codes and photos were used during the Great War. Zivon was a fantastic hero - so noble and dedicated and intelligent. His journey to forgiveness through grief and anger was heart-breaking but full of truth and encouragement. Lily's compassion and tenderness were the perfect antidote to Zivon's shadowed past. The plot was intricately detailed and there were quite a few gasp-worthy twists.
If you enjoy historical romance, this is a must read! I received the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. ( )

Set during World War I this tale involved a female photographer - Lily - whose talent for photography has become more than just a hobby. Her father's influence gained her entrance into the British secret intelligence world, where she manipulates photographs for the war effort. Lily keeps her work a secret from her mother, who objects to the altering of photographic images as a form of lying that is morally reprehensible. The other main character in the book is Zivion, a young man who fled the revolutionary forces in Russia with his brother. A train accident separated him from his brother, but he felt that he must accept the offer to work for the British so that he could help them win the war, and perhaps restore Russia to it's Czarist government. Zivion has a lot of adapting to do as he learns to live in a new country, but his new friend Lily and her family prove to be very helpful. Little does he know that there are people out there from his home country that will put him - and Lily - in danger.
I found this historical romance fascinating. The discussions on the use of altered photographs for the war effort - or for propaganda - made the think about how images are still used for such purposes today - and is that right or is that wrong? Zivion's story was also interesting because I know so little about the events of the "October Revolution" and what the aftermath meant for thousands of Russians who fled the country, or whose families were divided along party lines. Yes, at the end there is a happy, romantic ending - but there is so much more to this book and I would heartily recommend it to fans of thoughtful historical fiction. ( )

London, 1918. Zivon Marin is a cryptographer who has fled Russia and now hopes to persuade England to act upon his information. Lily Blackwell, under the guise of visiting her father at his work, is working for British Intelligence as a photographer.

I was surprised by how long it took before I really cared about them and their relationships -- White’s other books hooked me because I became quickly invested. Here, it takes a while for Lily and Zivon to get to know each other and at first, although they have their own worries, they have little reason to worry about each other.

Eventually the story finds more dramatic sources of tension, not limited to the Spanish flu pandemic. It may have been a stronger story if it had introduced some of those tensions earlier and therefore had room to explore them in more depth.

But I was invested enough, I wanted a happy ending for these characters. And it was interesting to consider the way dark-room photography could be used -- and manipulated -- in aid of the war effort. ( )

I loved this story—partly for its wonderful characters, but also partly because of the history woven seamlessly into its pages! I feel like I learned a lot more from this book than from some of the others, history-wise; I knew the Bolshevik Revolution happened right around the time of World War I, but it’s one thing to know and another thing to see it through the eyes of a character you’re empathetic with. That part was very well done—that, and seeing the effect of the Spanish Flu. How horrible! Makes the pandemic we’re living through seem relatively light in comparison.

The characters? They were spot-on, as I’ve learned to expect from White. She knows her characters and somehow manages to think with their mindsets, and the results are astounding. I’d love to take some character creation classes from her! Whether they are musically, mathematically, or artistically inclined, she does a great job bringing that out in everyday circumstances that just go to prove how much they are geared for those things—it’s a beautiful experience as you read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It wasn’t my favorite of the whole series (I’m a loyal Margot fan), but I felt like it did an excellent job wrapping up the series, and was the perfect addition to them overall. As a historical fiction addict, this one tickled my fancy in that way, but also provided some sweet but not over-the-top romance, which was lovely. If you enjoy that combination within the realms of a well-told story, I’d recommend you check these books out.

I was given a complementary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it. ( )