The Making of a Gentleman

Title: THE MAKING OF A GENTLEMAN
Author: Ruth Axtell Morren
Publisher: Steeple Hill Books
August 2008
ISBN: 978-0-373-78621-3
Genre: Inspirational/historical

Innocent of a crime, Jonah Quinn nevertheless was scheduled to hang from the hangman’s noose. Just moments before he hangs, he escapes, and takes prison volunteer Florence Hathaway hostage, to ensure his freedom. He lets her go as soon as he’s sure he’s safe.

God seems to have other plans. Sick and with nowhere to go, Jonah finds him looking up Florence and asking for help. Florence and her brother take Jonah in, and come up with a plan to win Jonah a royal pardon. If their plan works. After all, clothing doesn’t change a man’s heart.

THE MAKING OF A GENTLEMAN started out kind of depressing, but once we moved past the hangman’s noose and had Jonah and Florence on the run it improved drastically. I enjoyed getting to know Florence, and Jonah, and the cast of secondary characters made the story complete.

The faith message is quite strong, but fits in with the characters’ voices so it isn’t overly preachy. A fascinating tale, THE MAKING OF A GENTLEMAN is an endearing Regency-era love story. $6.99. 448 pages.