Lilies in Moonlight: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)"Flappers are fun". So says author Alison Pittman, in the afterword to her new novel *Lilies of Moonlight*, and if one enjoys history, they will love the references, as I did. Fun for certain. :) The novel, which takes place in the mid-1920's, concerns a young woman named Lily Margolis. She has run from her hometown in Miresburgh, PA, to see the country, and seek out a more friendly climate. She is on the run from her cruel mother, and wants to find love somehow, someway.
The problem is that she looks for love in all the wrong places. She becomes every bit the "flapper" of iconic lore in American history, but not for any ideals of equality. She just wants to escape, and the best way, to her way of thinking, is to use her God-given beauty to get men to give her free things. She lies, cheats, steals, gets drunk, seduces men, and so forth. All for a free lunch.
One night, she gets drunk at a party she crashes after a move to Florida, and ends up in the lawn of a wealthy local family. Upon being discovered by the housekeeper, Eugenie, she meets said family. This being the horribly-scarred Cullen Burnside, injured in the Great War, and his mother, Betty Ruth, who is slowly sliding further into dementia.
Cullen's and Betty Ruth's lives are filled with sadness, regret, and belief that life is a shallow existence. Lilly provides light and vibrancy that shows them that life is fun and worthwhile. Meanwhile, they show her that love is real, and what she could have if she can reconcile with her mother. Does she? Do she and Cullen and Betty Ruth have a future? Most importanlty of all, will Lilly find faith in Christ? Those are the questions the novel answers.
The book was a truly fun read. Usually, I enjoy these Christian romances, but find them to be kind of, (okay, not kind of, definitely) cheesy. That was certainly not the case here. The story was compelling for two reasons. It was well-researched. The conventions, conversation, ideas, and historical trends were all realistically portrayed. Also, despite the typical happy ending, it seemed to *fit*. This was not some forced match-up between Lilly and Cullen, or Lilly and Betty Ruth. It progressed naturally, and believably.
When the topic of salvation and faith in Christ came up, it was addressed in a true-to-life manner. The way that Lilly comes to know the Lord is very much the way many people truly do come to know the Lord. I appreciated that.
An area that I also greatly appreciated was how realistically they portrayed what today would be called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The not just physical burns to his face, but the emotional turmoil that Cullen would often feel, were very accurate. I really was impressed by that.
I will say that also clever was the title, and how it ties into the story. Yes, there is the girl's name being Lilly, but there is also a connection to a symbol of her flirtatious and destructive lifestyle that is rejected for a wholesome one. There is more symbolism to the title that I have not mentioned. It is quite ingenious, and fun to read and notice. :)
The only thing I didn't like was how part of the story was driven by a "revelation from God" to one of the characters. In fairness, it was portrayed as not really true, and the result was more from individual prayer, and willing to surrender to God. The "vision" was only useful in leading to a said thoughtful meditation and surrender. Still, some could miss the nuance and think that the idea of a vision really is Biblical, despite the author's intentions.
That perhaps chance of confusion to an unknowledgeable Christian was the only drawback. This is honestly *the* most enjoyable Christan romance I have ever read. It was a greatly enjoyable read, period.
Highly Recommended.

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