The Test of Gold

 

Evangeline "Lindy" Lindenmayer's mother has her life all planned out. Mrs. Lindenmayer has spent countless dollars on providing the finest education, introducing her daughter to the "right people", buying her fashionable gowns, and organizing social events to give her the best of life. Or, is it actually to have Lindy be the crowning jewel of social success to further her own place in society?

There is only one flaw in Mrs. Lindenmayer's plan, her daughter. Lindy questions her opulent and extravagant lifestyle, wondering if there is more to life than power and parties.  She sees that all of the wealth and privilege her mother so desperately wants is not for her. The charming and handsome seminarian, Jack Winthrop continues to open her eyes to others' needs by example and see that life offers so much more. 

Lindy is drawn more and more to Jack and living a life of simple contentment. Things look bleak for their bourgeoning relationship as Mrs. Lindenmayer does all she can to achieve her goal of having wealth and power through Lindy.  Mrs. Lindenmayer was such a conniving and scheming parent! I was frustrated and worried for Lindy as her mother never really took into account what Lindy wanted to do with her life.  Because of Mrs. Lindenmayer's insatiable need to be a part of society, her beautiful and sweet daughter is just a means to that end. I had to keep reading to see what she was going to do next.

Standing up to her controlling and manipulative mother takes great courage and I liked and admired Lindy all the more for following her heart and convictions.  I recommend reading this beautiful love story. This is the first book in The Hearts of Gold series and look forward to reading more of these historical romances. 

Thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author: 

Renee Yancy has been living vicariously through historical fiction since she was a young girl. Some of her favorite books are Shogun by James Clavell, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, and Cold Sassytree by Olive Ann Burns. She discovered Anya Seton and Pearl Buck in her teens, and spent her freshman year in high school reading every book about Cornwall, England that she could find. She is an archaeology buff as well and plans to go on a dig someday. Her goal is to make her stories as historically and archaeologically accurate as possible. Every object she describes, from jewelry, dishes, furniture and glassware, are actually in museums all over the world. The food and recipes in her books are authentic recipes gleaned from intensive research. She has visited Ireland, Scotland, and England to stand in the places where her characters lived.