The Heart’s Appeal

The Heart’s Appeal
Jennifer Delamere
Bethany House, 2018

Julia Bernay is striving against the odds to become a doctor in 1881 London, despite her humble childhood and society’s prejudice against female professionals. In the right place at the right time, Julia saves the life of a stranger on a train. She never expects to see him again, but when she learns of his connections to a lawsuit against the medical school she hopes to attend, she feels God prompting her to seek him out with a strange proposal.

Barrister Michael Stephenson agrees reluctantly to Julia’s request for him to tutor her in Latin, not because he doesn’t want to, but because he wants to a little too much. He is attracted to her determination, openness, and beauty, but he knows that a relationship with a woman who is below his station and connected to the defendant side of the most important case he has ever prosecuted will be a source of displeasure to his sister, as well as a threat to his career. Still, one can’t refuse a debt of honor to the person who saved one’s life, so they begin to meet weekly to study together.

As they get to know one another, Michael puzzles over Julia’s unwavering faith in spite of so much opposition, and Julia begins to question if what she thought was God’s will for her life is truly what she is supposed to pursue. Together they must wade through their painful pasts and the confusing present to determine what the future holds for them – together or apart.

This post contains affiliate links. Read more about that here. This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

If you like a story of love and self-discovery woven into the history of women’s rights then The Heart’s Appeal will appeal to your heart. Following Julia on her journey to becoming a doctor is so interesting and inspiring. She is completely committed to her dream and works hard to achieve each step in the right direction, despite criticism from many who think a woman’s place in is caring for her home and family.

This story is rich in true historical figures and events. Julia and her sisters are orphans, and grew up at Ashley Downs, the orphanage famously run by George Muller. The orphanage was built in 1849, the first of five such houses, and Mr. Muller never did any fundraising. Every need from food and clothing to housing and transportation was provided by donors without solicitation as a direct answer to prayer. The impact of growing up in such an environment is reflected in Julia’s faith and dedication to God.

Julia finds several friends and mentors along her path to medical school, but the most notable one to me is Dr. Elizabeth Garret Anderson. She is based off of a real life female doctor who lived in London during that time period, practicing and teaching other young ladies in medicine. Dr. Anderson was the cofounder of the London School of Medicine for Women, established in 1874. She was a pioneer for women in so many ways and I’d never heard of her until I read this book!

There are also references to the Great Comet of 1881, with people sitting outside to view this marvel of astronomy. While it’s an interesting side note, it also serves as a way to highlight class distinctions, contrasting people celebrating in the streets with other groups viewing from the comfort of a yacht party. The Heart’s Appeal deals a lot with social injustice, and the difference in treatment a person could expect based on being aristocracy, working class, or somewhere in between.

Michael’s life as a barrister is interesting to observe as well. Questions of justice and fair laws arise, again within the context of class discrepancy. Merging social class questions and women’s rights is the issue of some questionable laws regarding the treatment of prostitutes. It’s a sort of moral grey area that is examined from several perspectives in a thought provoking way.

The Heart’s Appeal is a multi-layered story dealing with justice, social reform, family loyalty, faith, forgiveness, and love. I didn’t realize when I started reading it that it is actually the second in a series, so now I feel like I need to go back and read more about the Bernay family from the perspective of a different sister. I really enjoyed the accurate historical aspects of the story, and how seamlessly all the different topics wove together to bring depth to the characters and their lives. Two thumbs up from me!

Do you like stories that deal with important issues or do you prefer to escape in a light hearted story? I like both, depending on my mood!