What a delightful novel of twists and turns that kept taking me by surprise! Jane Orcutt knows how to write a story! ( )

I had heard mixed reviews about this book, and was not sure if I wanted to read it. I finally started it and was pleasantly surprised at what a fun and interesting book it was! The entire story is told from the main character's view, Isabella. From her funny thoughts about certain situations to her way of telling the story, it drew me in. The characters are fun and interesting and what made it so good, was that each character what not what they first seemed. I liked that. The author seems to have done her research about China and is very detailed and I feel like I have learned something new. Even though this was the first book I have read by Jane Orcutt, she is an author I will definitely be looking for more from in the future!

Storyline:
Isabella is a young woman on the brink of becoming an "old maid". With no husband prospects in sight she decides to take fate into her own hands after meeting a missionary named Phineas Snowe at a party. She decides that God has given her several prompt signs, and that it is His will for her to go to China with Phineas to be a missionary. After asking permission to go with him and receiving a prompt "no" Isabella decides she will go anyway and stows away aboard his ship. What follows is a wonderful adventure even though Phineas and his situation is not what it first seems! ( )