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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Love sometimes appears in the most mysterious places. In The Stranger I Love by Anneka R. Walker, Estelle Lowry makes the bold decision to leave home. Set in England in the 1850s, her choice becomes clear after her brother arranges a marriage for her to a man she has never met. Knowing she must learn to take care of herself, she accepts a position in London as a governess under an assumed name. One evening, Estelle hears a faint cry for help and discovers a badly injured man abandoned in an alley. Despite the risks to her safety and reputation, she chooses to care for him. As the stranger slowly recovers, his identity remains unclear, but Estelle has grown quite attached to him. The young woman knows she cannot stay with him forever, and leaves to search for a new post, but not before giving him a token to remember her by and taking one of her own. She takes a new role as the companion of a young lady, Augusta, who lives with her mother and brother, Lord Camden. Over time, Atlas, as he’s known to his family, and Estelle, now using a different last name, develop a bond. However, their time together is cut short once Estelle’s brother comes to take her home to the fiancé she doesn’t know. Will Estelle and the stranger she helped ever meet again? And will Atlas just let her go without a fight?
A quote from Jane Austen came to mind while I was reading this book: “There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.” I think that line gets to the center of one of the themes running through The Stranger I Love by Anneka R. Walker. I really enjoyed reading it and found myself pulled into Estelle’s journey right away. I liked how her voice, confidence, and a bit of stubbornness felt honest and somewhat unusual for the time period. The writing balances quieter moments, like when Estelle sings to her patient, with more dramatic ones, such as when her fiancé arrives. Her relationships with both the stranger and Atlas kept me reading from the first chapter to the last page. I was torn about who I wanted her to end up with, which says a lot about how well the characters are written. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a historical romance. Fans of character-driven stories will also appreciate this thoughtful and engaging read.
