I’m really enjoying this trilogy! I was immediately hooked and found myself feeling quite torn between Mr. Macy and Lord Dalry. I love both characters! I’m very intrigued about Julia’s past and excited to put all the pieces together in book three!
I will say I didn’t love the ending. It felt rushed.

“When tempers flare, people are always far more interested in expressing their hurt than in seeking solutions.”
― Jessica Dotta, Mark of Distinction ( )

I really was just pulled along by the need to find out what happened. ( )

This is the second in this historical Christian trilogy. I was persuaded to continue this series by a fellow reader.

I'm sorry to say that I struggled with this book even more than the first one but for different reasons. At least in the first book I was engrossed in the story and wanted to know what happened despite the offence caused by the nature of the account. In this second book, I found that I had lost interest and no longer cared what happened to the heroine or anyone else for that matter. I knew that didn't bode well.

Nothing really happens in this second book as the main character is caught in a seemingly never-ending dilemma in relation to which man she will marry. The problem, she is already married and has been since early on in book one. Therefore, the whole topic is irrelevant as she is not legally free to marry--she should just face up to her poor decisions and accept the consequences rather than taunt these other men and subject the readers to the monotonous dialogue about it.

I have grown to dislike the main character and somehow wish the man she actually desires to marry will reject her. This is probably not what the author was hoping when writing this series. The character is weak-willed, whiny and annoying.

I will not give the plot away for those who wish to subject themselves. However, events at the end of the second book caused me to do a double-take. Circumstances have not changed since the first book and yet the main characters follow a course that they had determined impossible by the end of the first book?! It is as if the author expects the reader to have forgotten everything that has gone before or to think that the passage of time changes things. It doesn't.

I was told this was a story of Christian redemption. The main character has some sort of religious experience in this book but I would hardly call it a conversion--she doesn't refer to sin, repentance or redemption, only to love and a feeling of peace. Indeed, other characters seem to mark the same feeling as their own "conversion" experience. Yet, becoming a Christian is not a feeling or an experience. It is a decision to trust that Jesus died in our place and for our sin.

I have access to the third book in this series but really cannot bring myself to give more time to it.....sorry to disappoint those that think this series is worthy of high praise....The only redeeming feature in these books are some of the quotations amongst the dialogue which I have highlighted as I read them.

I can't recommend these books. ( )

Mark of Distinction, book 2 in Jessica Dotta’s Price of Privilege series, won the 2015 Inspy Award for Historical Romance. With its incredibly complex characters and plot and excellent writing style this novel rates a highly recommended read from me. Be sure to read Born of Persuasion first though — this series must be read in order.

Mark of Distinction finds Julia in London at the home of her father and in the middle of an elaborate ruse to allow her to take her place in the center of society as the mysterious Emerald Heiress. Julia is very much alone — her father is cold and distant, Macy is still a threat and family and friends cannot be trusted. Only Isaac seems to take Julia’s interests to heart, thus causing Julia’s struggle with staying true to her love for Edward.

Dotta tells Julia’s story from a past tense, first person POV, but the story is revealed in bits and pieces allowing the reader to experience the tension of secrets, plots and deceptions. This novel is very Victorian with its sensibilities, restrictions and position of women as property. Characters continue to be complex — one never knows just whom to trust. The contrast between Macy and Isaac is powerful. Macy exemplifies the allure of evil and the deception of counterfeit love; Isaac is a picture of Christ (and I have to admit that I rooted for him to win Julia’s affections).

Mark of Distinction was a page turner for me; I was furiously reading to find out what would happen to Julia. And then wham! — Dotta slams on the brakes with Julia’s encounter with God. Her conversion is very moving, and I found myself reading the passage again and again.

A must read for fans of historical fiction, Mark of Distinction is truly a winner!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Tyndale for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinion expressed are mine alone.) ( )

As our story continues, the plot thickens. Finding sanctuary with her father, Lord Pierson, Julia becomes the center of London society. Being one of the wealthiest heiress’ in the country and keeping her past a secret at all costs drains her body, mind and spirit. She no longer knows who she is or what her heart truly longs for. Lord Pierson has plans of matrimony for Julia to Lord Dalry. Macy is still on the loose and is always searching for his “lost wife”. Thoughts of Edward are ever at the forefront of her thoughts. Will Macy expose Julia and Lord Pierson? Will Julia submit to her Father’s decisions regarding her future? When all seems lost will she turn to the One who will never leave us nor forsake us?

As I proceed with this trilogy I am constantly frustrated with our characters, yet I have been drawn in so much that I must finish! There are a few character inconsistencies in Mark of Distinction regarding Lord Pierson. Nothing major, but enough to make me a tad confused. Yet without it, there would be no story. Julia’s personality is slightly aggravating as well. She is constantly making the worst decisions and then has extreme consequences to face. Although the beginning of her journey towards God is touching. Lord Dalry is an all around good guy and I like his character a lot! Mr. Forrester’s treatment of Julia made me quite upset. Constantly putting her down, in front of her father and Lord Dalry, and never believing her story. He ends up helping her, but in the worst possible way.

Although I will probably not read this series again, I am enjoying it and am looking forward to seeing how Jessica Dotta ties up the loose ends in Price of Privilege. ( )