The Number of Love (2019) — A Celebrate Lit Tour: A Guest Post, My Thoughts, and TWO Giveaways

About the Book

The Toughest Puzzle She’ll Have to Solve Might be the Wishes of Her Own Heart

Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, she discovers for the first time in her life that numbers aren’t enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the intelligent Margot, but soon the dangers of the war draw ever closer. Margot and Drake will have to work together to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together.

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

More from Roseanna

When I told my best friend and critique partner what book I was pitching next to my publisher, her response was something along the lines of, “That sounds awesome. Also, you’re crazy, and I do not envy you writing that one.”

I laughed…and knew exactly what she meant. Because I was setting out to write a heroine who was a mathematician—which I am definitely not. A heroine who was utterly indifferent to love and marriage—which makes for a difficult story when one writes romance. A character who had an unshakeable faith—which has to be shaken at least a bit in order to make for growth throughout the story. And more, a character who has “issues,” let’s call it, that those familiar with such things will recognize…and which those who aren’t will probably think are quirks.

I was setting out to write a story that would be challenging for me, every step of the way. And the result is a book I’m incredibly in love with and so happy to share with the world.

The Number of Love is all about Margot, who thinks and even prays in numbers. Born and raised in Belgium, she and her family fled to England in 1914 when the Germans invaded her homeland. Thanks to her remarkable abilities with numbers and patterns, she’s now employed at Room 40, the Admiralty’s secret codebreaking branch. But as I was contemplating what sort of man could ever win Margot’s heart, I knew he had to be very different… someone active where she’s still. Someone outgoing where she turns inward. Someone who sees in her what she never can, and who believes she can grasp the dreams that society tells her are unbefitting a woman. This is how Drake was born—a field agent employed by Room 40.

I can honestly say this is the only book I’ve ever written that required me to borrow my daughter’s algebra book while I was writing it, LOL. And though every single scene was a challenge, it was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope you’ll join me on the journey that Margot and Drake are on, which answers the question my husband cheekily asked more than once as I was writing it: what is the number of love?

My Thoughts

You know those stories that leave you satisfied and sad at the same time? Satisfied because the book is good in every way. Sad because the final page has been read, but you’re just not ready for the adventure to be over. Yeah, this is exactly the kind of story The Number of Love is. This book is so excellent I can’t help but be excited for the future novels in this series.

My most favorite thing to do is to study God’s Word. I pray and sing and go to church, but God meets me the most when I am in His Word. When I study, I’m all in. I have my Bible, my Strong’s concordance, a few of my favorite online sources opened, a notebook, my favorite highlighter and pencil, and some sticky notes. I mark my current study Bible up with facts, connections, notes, prayers, thematically similar Bible verses, Hebrew/Greek word studies, number symbology, personal connections, etc. When I am in God’s Word I feel like I am in His presence. The world quiets down, and it’s just me and Him. In these moments, He speaks to me. He leads me. In these moments I am at peace, and I feel safe and loved. It’s truly the best feeling!

As they do to almost every human on earth, traumas throw me for a loop. In my personal experience, they hurt me so deeply I shut down for a while. I struggle to pray or sing or go to church. I struggle with getting into my Bible and studying. Honestly, I struggle with the most basic of human interactions. I become like a hurt animal who crawls into a hole to escape the world. In these moments, God’s Voice seems to disappear. It scares me. I feel alone, cold, and utterly shaken.

Margot De Wilde endures a devastatingly unexpected loss that throws her world into chaos. Her beloved numbers, the conduit through which God has used her entire life to communicate with and guide her has been shut off. God’s Voice disappears. Margot becomes angry, scared, and lost. She, too, becomes the wounded animal who wants to hide in a hole until life becomes a little more understandable again. What really rocks Margot’s world is that communicating with God was always so easy. But when communicating with God stops being easy, when it is clear He isn’t right there, how does one find Him again? This is the question Margot desperately wants answered.

I will not share how Margot gets to the bottom of this scary question because I will not ruin any part of this magnificent book. But, I will share how I answer this question. For me, I try with all my might to remember two things. First, God is ALWAYS there no matter what. It’s kind of like a radio. Certain frequencies pick up certain stations. If your radio accidentally gets bumped it could mess with the frequency and then you no longer hear your favorite station. All you have to do is get back to the right frequency and you’ll be fine. God is always at the same station. He is unchangeable. I just have to make sure I am set to the right frequency. Sometimes this is harder said than done, but I have to remember in times of utter grief and pain that God is always right there! The second thing I remember is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. These are the verses where Paul talks about being strong in weakness. Even though he may be physically or emotionally weak, if he relies on Jesus Christ, he is the strongest man alive. I love the mental image these two verses create, and I try to keep an image of me leaning into Jesus in my mind so I can stay strong.

When it feels like God has gone silent, I force myself to Bible study. I force myself to utter some kind of prayer or praise to God. Eventually, the forcing leads back to my normal habit of studying and praying, and I do hear God’s beautiful Voice again. I find my proper frequency again. Margot eventually realizes that she needs to lean into God no matter what. She puts one tiny faith footstep into motion, which allows God to help her get back on His right station. I’m going to be honest, I sobbed like a baby when Margot hears God’s Voice again. I’m not sure I’ve ever been more relieved for a fictional character.

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White is an outstanding story. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent reading this beautiful novel. The action, the intrigue, the timely themes, and the endearing characters make The Number of Love a 2019 must-read novel for sure. I highly recommend purchasing a copy for yourself today. You will not be disappointed!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form and in paperback from the publisher, Bethany House, via snail mail and NetGalley & Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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GIVEAWAY #1

To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of winner’s choice of TWO signed books, Fruit and Floral Flavors Sugar Shapes, and some Roseanna M. White swag!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter. 

https://promosimple.com/ps/de86/the-number-of-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

GIVEAWAY #2

I am giving away ONE (1) paperback copy of The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White. The giveaway begins today, 6-23-19 at 5:00 am (PST) and ends on Thursday, 6-27-19 at 12:00 pm (PST). To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below. Good luck!

CONGRATS TO Darlene O.!

You have won this giveaway. Thank you for participating. I appreciate your support!

***Please Note: Open to Continental U.S. mailing addresses only.*** One winner will be notified via email at the end of the giveaway and will be announced here on this page. For full giveaway disclosures and policies, click HERE.

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BLOG STOPS

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Moments, June 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 17

Girls Living For God’s Glory, June 17

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The Avid Reader, June 18

Stories By Gina, June 18

janicesbookreviews, June 18

Reflections From My Bookshelves, June 19

Inspired by Fiction, June 19

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Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 19

As He Leads is Joy, June 20

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, June 20

Blossoms and Blessings, June 20

Real World Bible Study, June 21

Multifarious, June 21

Emily Yager, June 21

A Reader’s Brain, June 21

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For the Love of Literature, June 22

Simple Harvest Reads, June 22 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

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