I was hesitant to read this book. I'll admit, I judge books by their covers and this one didn't seem like a story that I would be interested in. But I took a chance and had Blogging for Books send it to me (thank you!). I absolutely don't regret it. 

The year is 1909 and the Panama Canal is in the midst of construction. A man named James Holt is sent to Panama under mysterious circumstances and really without explanation by Teddy Roosevelt himself. Given a hefty amount of money and very specific instructions, he sets off to ask around about the missing mother to a girl he met in the lobby. But his questions will land him in a lot of trouble and in the middle of a new generation of revolutionary politics.

The back of Saffire describes it as a "love story within a historical mystery". Although love stories aren't generally my cup of tea, "historical mystery" sounded enjoyable. I would call Saffire Brouwer's love letter to the Panama Canal, it included history by the armfuls and speaks of the building of the Panama Canal with awe. There was much less love story and mystery though than I was led to believe. I wish there was more mystery, or even the mystery that we were promised on the back of the book. The focus is quickly moved off of the mystery of Saffire's missing mother and is never returned until the epilogue. I was quite content with the level of romance involved though. It was cute and a nice touch, without becoming the focus of the book; not enough to categorize it a love story by any means. The back also says a lot of stuff about ghosts and pirates, hauntings, sins, desires and stuff, which there was pretty much none of, so the back really can't be trusted.

That being said, it doesn't mean the book wasn't really good. Because it was. It was just very different from what I was expecting. In a good way. The story was so good in fact that I made massive progress in it without even realizing and had found myself finished with the book quite quickly.

The characters are well developed and you grow to love them through their quirks, their secrets and their mannerisms. Saffire is bold, wise beyond her years and the greatest of allies. Holt is sassy and stubborn but has a good heart. Miskimon is endearing in a quiet but dignified kind of way, really very soft underneath. I quite enjoyed the banter between all of them, it really took the book to another level for me. Without it, I don't it would have sparkled as it did. 

Overall, a really solid historical fiction and one that I'll proudly keep on my shelf.

p.s. Two thumbs up! Way to go Mr. Brouwer! No swearing, no lasciviousness, no nothing. Squeaky clean.

If you want to learn more about Saffire, go on ahead and click right here.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in return for this review.