Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.
Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.
Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.
Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.
Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.
Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.
Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, Facebook
MY REVIEW:
This is book three in the Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series and the final of the series. You do not need to have read the other two books to understand what is going on and this book is completely understandable. Of course, this book is so enjoyable, you'll definitely want to read the first two books.
This book is a murder mystery, however, you won't be shocked by anything horrid in the descriptions by the author. I was pleasantly surprised that I never could figure out, until the end, who had committed the murder! This, in my opinion, is the true test of a good mystery! I don't want to figure it all out too quickly!
Lydia is you typical sweet young librarian. She works at the lending library to support herself and her mother after her father dies. I love her tender care when it comes to caring for her mother and how she manages their finances so they can live modestly yet comfortably. I related to Lydia as she seems quiet and reserved and loves books!
Sebastian is a man that comes into her library but he is a complex man. He owns a saloon in the rough part of Chicago and has to manage himself to be tough when he must, yet, when at the library, Lydia sees a different side of him that we see more and more as the book goes on.
This book doesn't hide the fact of the more horrible parts of the big city of Chicago that we see in the late 1800's. It's a book full of twists and turns and will hold your attention late into the night! I know!
This book was so good and the mystery was so excellent. I highly recommend this historical mystery and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group
Blessings - Julie
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