A Mosaic of Wings is the best kind of book! Engaging characters. A unique plot. Lovely writing.

The story begins in Ithaca, New York, in 1885. Nora Shipley is about to graduate from Cornell university with a degree in entomology. She desperately wants to continue her education but is out of funds and her step-father is out of patience. They come to an agreement of sorts: if Nora wins a scholarship, she may continue at Cornell for a master’s degree. If she doesn’t win the scholarship, she will move to Long Island to become her aunt’s companion, and possibly marry or be courted by her step-father’s business associate.

Because Nora’s mother’s health is precarious, she declines a place on a team in India that would help her scholarship chances. But when Nora and her step-father clash yet again, she finds herself in India, along with Owen Epps, the young man who was her competitor for grades and accolades at Cornell.

There are all kinds of twists and turns on Nora’s journey, in Ithaca, India, and personally. Nora learned lessons about following one’s conscience, doing the right thing, and how God views all His creatures.

Nora and Owen’s relationship grows naturally and, of course, the scholarship is an issue between them, as well as some events in India.

I loved this story of an unusual young woman with brains and a strong spirit.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kimberly Duffy a little over a year ago at a writers’ event. She had recently signed a contract for her first book and I’m so pleased to be able to offer a review of it.

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I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. This did not induce me to write a favorable review. The well-written book did that.