Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network–field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.
Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the intelligent Margot, but how can he convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?
Amid biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together. [from back cover]
Room 40
I enjoy puzzles and word games. I like World War II stories, especially with a thread of intrigue and romance, so why not World War I? Hence, Roseanna White’s latest book, The Number of Love, was a definite for my TBR stack.
First, the cover is captivating ~ filled with mystery. And on Margot’s face, a hint of something more. Suspicion? Wariness? Longing? Warning? This is the first in The Codebreakers series ~ so what does 18 written in the fog of her breath on the glass mean? Is she doodling? Sending a clue? Answers must be found.
Zimmerman Telegram as decoded by Room 40 – WW I
The heroine, Margot De Wilde, is an unusual woman. I love her quirky personality and penchant for numbers. But the various ways this aspect of her is displayed in the story reflect sheer genius on White’s part. Other characters are drawn equally well, resulting in a book you don’t want to put down.
When your country is at war and you work intercepting and decoding messages from the enemy, your days are already filled with tension. When threads of that war come alive in your small enclave, the tension soars. White takes readers on a twisty, roller-coaster ride as “assets” interact, and safety for England—perhaps even the world—is at risk. Who has even a moment for romance in such perilous times?
When Drake finds a way to grasp a few moments for romance, White’s mastery of creating memorable characters and spinning a yarn are on full display. This story brilliantly clasps your hand and pulls you in from chapter one. And never disappoints. I savored it, and had difficulty writing a review because I want to talk about everything!
The moment we meet Brook Eden, her playfulness and audacity invite us to join her. And from page one when she cajoles best friend Justin to teach her to drive the Rolls Royce he’s parked in front of her, we dash off with them on adventures from Monaco to England.
From inciting incident, to growing trouble, to resolution, White fills the story with surprises, twists and turns like a mountain road. I particularly admire a scene when the family has been praying for a missing member, White gives the reader a glimpse of the amazing, unique way that prayer is answered, while no one in the story ~ even those who are the answer ~ has a clue. Masterful plotting and writing, there and throughout. I highly recommend this riveting tale to fans of historical romance and suspense.
Ansel is a place where God’s presence and provision hovers over the residents like the fog hovers over the coast, and gossip is shunned but residents are not. Each one’s well-being is valued by the townsfolk who see beyond behavior and into a person’s heart, needs, and broken spots—which are handled respectfully and tenderly. Ansel residents help each other find ways to stitch together the rent pieces. In short, it’s a place anyone would like to live in.
“If everything around you is broken, it’s time to unbreak something.” [p 75]
[conversation Robert observes about a man missing after World War II]“Your husband,” Eva says gently. “He hasn’t returned … yet?” Her wording is hopeful but gentle and Robert wants to kiss her for it. He would have blundered that question a thousand ways. [p240]