In her debut novel, Ruth Axtell Morren tackles a difficult and often controversial subject: Conversion of non-Christians. In this story, young Methodist Althea Breton goes to work as a nurse in the household of Simon Aguilar. Simon, a widower, is a fairly young member of the House of Commons and a member of the Church of England in name only – he is, in fact, a Sephardic Jew turned atheist.

Simon’s daughter Rebecca is an invalid and in need of a skilled nurse to care for her. Althea, the half-sister of Simon’s friend, is recommended for the job. A convert to Methodism – a far more radical move in that time than it would be today – she decided to leave her family to live and work in the impoverished East End of London, and as part of her vocation, learned nursing skills. As an educated woman, she can also help provide Rebecca with basic lessons.

Althea and Simon both distrust each other initially. Althea must overcome her prejudicial beliefs about Jews and learn to deal with her employer’s atheism and seemingly cold ways. Simon, for his part, is alternately annoyed and intimidated by Althea’s sure belief in God and is tormented from within by the feelings he begins to have for her. On top of all this, he is conscious of Anti-Semitism and fears that Althea may be prejudiced, as were many Europeans of the time. However, as Simon and Althea spend more time together, each begins to respect and gradually to fall in love with the other, despite their fears and disagreements over religion. As each one learns to regard the other with an open mind and heart, a strong relationship begins to develop.

The intriguing plotline, the politics of the time, and the differing cultural backgrounds of the two protagonists could have given the author a lot of promising material with which to work. However, this story stays on a disappointingly superficial level. While great inner turmoil is hinted at, the reader is often told rather than shown what goes on in the hearts of the characters. For example, at the beginning of the story, the reader learns of Althea’s beliefs regarding the Jewish people. However, by the end of the first chapter, she is suddenly “cured” of all her prejudices. This development comes about in such a simplistic manner that it is hard for the reader to accept.

In addition, the story focuses on the conversion of Simon’s household and on the religious lives of the characters in general. While this could have been a positive plotline had it been handled with sensitivity, the author puts a lot of preaching into the mouths of her characters – particularly Althea – and does so in a clumsy manner that interrupts the narrative flow. Even though I initially liked the characters, the unnecessarily preachy tone made me lose interest as everyone seemed to be rather simplistic and “too good to be true.” Althea’s charge Rebecca often speaks like a miniature adult and, while this allows the author to bring a lot of religious points into the dialogue, it makes Rebecca into a rather unbelievable character at times.

Author Morren brings a lot of historical background into her story that many Regency-set historicals lack, and she’s obviously researched the political debates of the day, as well as living conditions in London and Sephardic culture in England at the time. This lends her story a certain richness, which is unfortunately more than counteracted by her simplistic characterizations and the heavy-handedness that accompanies the inspirational themes. As for the conversion theme at the base of the book, this review is not the appropriate forum for discussion, but it’s something that would probably be a turnoff for many readers.