"A Portrait of Loyalty" by Roseanna M White - The Codebreakers, book 3

Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee, he arrives in England to offer his services to the Brits. Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera--and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. She's recruited to British intelligence, even though her mother would disapprove. After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. When her photographs reveal that someone has been following Zivon, his loyalties are called into question--and his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he'd feared.

I really liked Lily; her part in the war effort is fascinating, especially since it is able to utilize her artistic gift to such great effect And she's just supremely likeable--willing to stand up when she needs to, yet respectful authority. She dearly, dearly loves her family and hates to be a source of controversy. I understand her dilemma, torn between two things that both seem right yet her parents are diametrically opposed over. 

Zivon was a marvelous hero--self-sacrificing, so kind, always paying attention. Though Zivon struggles with hate and unforgiveness, Father Smirnov's wisdom in how to deal with it was spot-on. It was lovely to see cameos of other characters throughout White's three related series. 

Having taken a course purely on the Russian Revolution in college, I loved its prominence in this novel--even if was from the perspective of an exile in Britain. Since I specifically researched feminism in the Revolution for our sole graded work, I was delighted? dismayed? to see the new ideals so accurately portrayed by Nadya.

Highly recommended! Winner of the 2021 Christy Award for Historical Romance.

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

Relates series:

Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Codebreakers comes third chronologically.