A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

Ottilie Russell is 3/4 British but looks like her mother who is Indian. She has been raised in India in the late 1800's and trained to be expert at beetle wing embroidery. When first her mother dies, and then her grandmother, (her father having died years before) she struggles to keep food on the table for herself and her younger brother, Thaddeus. Then one day a man, Everett Scott, arrives from England and informs Ottilie that her brother is now Baron Sunderson, and has to return to England to assume his title and inheritance.  Ottilie must decide whether she should leave the only home she and her brother have ever known or risk staying in Calcutta where there is a cholera outbreak.  She also needs to decide whether her growing friendship with Everett is developing into something more. 

I started this book because it came up in a search for "Christian Romance" but it had a different setting than many I have read.  It turned out to be a good choice.  The depiction of India was interesting, especially the details about elytra, or beetle wing embroidery.  I looked it up later and it was a real trend for a while during the imperial period in British history. The characterizations were good as well.  Ottilie is a complex and sympathetic heroine, as are the other main characters.  Finally, the Christian element was a little different than many I have read, noteably Roseanna White.  Ottilie doesn't pray for guidance and eventually receive direction. Instead, she prays for patience and that God will resolve things and he does.  She doesn't receive any inspiration per se, she just finds comfort in reading the Bible.  I would imagine that kind of Christianity would resonate with a lot of people.  (432 p. 2021)