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The New York rabbi giving Bridgerton a Yiddishe twist

Jo David has drawn on her experience delivering High Holy Day sermons to write a Regency romance

May 22, 2024 09:20
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Rabbi Jo David, centre, has published her first Regency romance novel titled Anarchy at Almacks. (Photo: Rabbi Jo David)
3 min read

She’s a rabbi by day and Regency romance novelist by night. It’s a double act not many people could pull off, but not many people are Rabbi Jo David – pen name Nola Saint James – who has a penchant for Bridgerton-style love stories.

Anarchy at Almacks, her debut novel, is the first published work in a series titled The Edanmore Chronicles and, like the best Regency-era romances, is a story of love at first sight.

Set in 1804 and following the courtship of “dashing Admiralty spy Lord Maximillian Browning and breathtaking, red-haired Miss Rowan Higbee”, the publication of the book has been a long time coming for Rabbi David, who admits to having found extra inspiration in Bridgerton, Netflix’s hit historical romance series.

The New York-based rabbi has been working as a minister since 1992 and is a lifelong lover of fiction – but her specific interest in Regency romances was born during a dark period in her life.