Love on Assignment (Ladies of Summerhill)
In James’ second Christian historical romance set at Summerhill, Charlotte Hale, 22, supports her paralyzed younger sister and their elderly arthritic aunt. When her irascible boss offers her a special assignment, she eagerly accepts, even though she must sink her scruples to spy on Daniel Wilmont as live-in governess to his two children. Daniel is a well-respected biblical scholar at the local Christian college, but he also writes columns urging social reform, and many local industrialists want him silenced. When Daniel proves himself above reproach and Charlotte finds herself in love, she must weigh her growing faith and persistent conscience against the lure of her ambition and her family’s need for money. In spite of historical inaccuracies and jarringly modern attitudes, James uses carefully described settings and characters and an entertaining if improbable plot to dramatically contrast life in the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island, between the working class and the wealthy. --Lynne Welch