Revealing the Truth by Lorri Dudley is a historical romance. I could not put this book down as I began reading about Katherine and her ruthless guardian. The famous Jenkins Lipizzaner horses add an excellent dimension to this book. When her carriage is run off the road and left for dead, Katherine is rescued by a kind couple.

British spy Stephen Hartington’s assignment to uncover an underground horse-thieving ring brings him home to his family’s manor, and upon climbing through a bedroom window, he finds himself unexpectedly hit over the head by a candlestick.

Katherine worries about who she can trust but finds herself inexplicably drawn to Stephen. I loved the dynamics Lorri Dudley creates between the two characters. Stephen’s sister added an interesting dimension to this book. I loved the twists and turns the plot took until the very end.

So if you enjoy historical romances, check out Revealing the Truth by Lorri Dudley for yourself. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

“Courage is a habit.”

Lorri Dudley’s historical romance Revealing the Truth leaves me wishing I could just bask in the happiness that comes with reading such a well-written book. I loved it for the romance thread, and for the deceptions that made for great reader angst. The spy aspect added depth, as did the relationships that were either horrific or beauteous and life-giving. Dudley also outdoes herself with some twists that elevate the novel to a new level.

I wished the novel had itself included more about the Lipizzaner horses, but it did include a lot of horse riding, and some horse handling tips. I was interested enough to research the Lipizzaner horses to get a feel for why that breed was important to the novel.

I loved the way that the faith of Stephen, Abby, and his parents, influences Katherine. They are quick to pray when a need arises and urge others to do the same. They can encourage others to trust, because they, esp. Stephen’s mother, have learned how to trust God. However, it is Abby that explains her fear and how she overcame it. “I let fear have its way. Soon, it controlled me. You should have seen it. I would shake uncontrollably just being near a horse, which is dreadful when you live on a horse farm. It spilled over into other areas of my life too. I couldn’t ride in a carriage or go into town. My world shrunk as I became captive to fear.”
“Courage is a habit...My faith grew one step at a time.”

If you like Christian romance, encouragement in your faith, spies of England in the 1800s, horses, or you just enjoy seeing good family relationships, I highly recommend Revealing the Truth!

I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Arrogance is having too high of an opinion in one’s self, otherwise known as putting on airs. Confidence is humbly knowing who you are and what you can do through Christ Jesus. I am confident.”

“We think we can change our behavior to fix our lives...What we really need is to trust God and let Him change our hearts.”

“Faith requires trust, not logic.” ( )

This book has everything a reader who loves historical fiction would want. I loved the setting and learning about horses. I do like horses but they are intimidating to me. Our leading lady Katherine is at home around horses. She is gentle with them and has no fear. I loved reading how she was able to calm even the most demanding horse.

What a shock it is for Katherine after her parents die, to discover that her cousin has decided to marry her and take over her inheritance. The only thing she can do is run away and try to get help before she loses everything her parents worked hard for. I don’t care much for amnesia stories but this one was worth reading. It has secrets, danger, spies and a very good faith thread which points readers to learning to trust Him.

Stephen is a bit suspicious of Katherine when she is brought to his family home. Being found on the side of the road near frozen to death and not knowing who she is makes him wonder if she can be trusted. I liked how he slowly starts to have feelings for her but puts his trust in God before making any decisions about her. Stephen has his hands full trying to catch horse thieves while also wanting to get to know Katherine better.

The author gives us a great adventure with twists in the story that made me wonder just who could be trusted. Some think Katherine could be part of the horse thief ring, but Stephen can’t believe she is that calculating that she would use him and his family in order to steal from them. There are tense moments when danger draws near and causes Katherine to decide if she needs to finally tell the truth of who she is.

The tension mounts when an unexpected person arrives to claim Katherine as his wife. What a surprise that is when Stephen was just about to give his heart to her. I loved how the author keeps us guessing as a plot develops to catch the thieves. I kept wondering if Katherine would finally surrender to God and allow Him to keep her safe. The ending is full of surprises and I’m happy to learn that there will be another book in this series.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Revealing The Truth by Lorri Dudley is book one in Agents of Espionage series. This is a great start to a series. It has suspense, mystery, action and romance. The writing is so clear it is easy to imagine the surroundings and feel the suspense. The story takes the reader back to England in the 1800’s where men pretty much rule the world. When Katherine’s father died, she took care of their farm with Lipizzaner horses by herself, until the day a distant relative arrives at the door and takes over the farm and tells her they are to marry.

I just adored the characters of the Hartington family. Even though they have suffered loss and setbacks their faith is so strong and are so welcoming to strangers. Their Christian faith is very evident. I appreciate how Katherine and Stephen both don’t really know who they can trust. I enjoy the small bits of humor woven into this story as well.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review. ( )

Fake memory loss, a conniving deadly relative, a horse thieving ring, and a handsome agent of the crown made Revealing the Truth hard to put down! I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, slow build Regency romance. It’s my first book by Lorri Dudley and certainly won’t be my last. The characters and plot completely drew me in and I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next.

Katherine’s world is thrown upside down after the loss of her parents. She’s taken on the sole responsibility for running her family’s estate and caring for their prized horses. When her cousin arrives and tries to force her into an unwanted marriage, she flees but winds up in a carriage accident. When she’s rescued by a kind family, she’s not sure she can trust them. Pretending memory loss after the accident seems like the best option. When she starts to fall for the family’s eldest son, she has to decide how much of herself she can reveal so as not to endanger her sister who’s away at school, and the family she’s come to care for.

Stephen is a secret agent for the crown, currently on the trail of a horse thieving ring. When he meets the beautiful stranger his family has taken in, he can’t decide if he can trust her. Is she in league with the thieves? As he grows closer to the feisty Kate, he’s in danger of losing his heart. But, what of the woman he nearly proposed to back in London? Will he risk everything to fall for Kate?

I loved Kate and Stephen! Their banter and teasing were delightful. Both fight their feelings for different reasons, but the pull is undeniable. I enjoyed the way they grew to trust each other. I also enjoyed Stephen’s family, especially his twin sister Abby. I can’t wait for her story.

The mystery was intriguing with plenty of suspenseful situations. While I thought Kate’s feigning memory loss went on a little too long, it served as a great tool in ratcheting up the suspense and angst. The ending was quite a surprise and I’m still grappling with the twist. I also enjoyed how faith was gently woven throughout the story in a natural, believable way. The setting was fantastic, though Kate does things sticklers of Regency customs might frown on.

All in all, a compelling, romantic story inspirational historical romance fans will enjoy. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. ( )