Book Review: A Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love

About the Book: When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father's death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah's Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night's performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best---and handsomest---lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can't go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip's dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1MUVRqX

My Thoughts:  I don't know much about the theatre or life of an actress, other than to know it has not always been a respectable form of employment.

Unfortunately, this book just didn't hold my attention.  I'm hard pressed to say what exactly it was, but I just was not captivated by the storyline.  It took me much longer to read this book than normal because I kept putting it down and forgetting about it.  

I enjoyed the mystery portion of this book more than the romantic subplot which seemed a bit forced or an odd fit.  

Other than that, I can't put my finger on anything "wrong" with the book, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.