Title: Flight of
Fancy
Author: Laurie Alice Eakes
Pages: 344
Year: 2012
Publisher: Revell
With
this title as well as the picture on the cover, I misjudged the book. It wasn’t until I began reading it that I
actually started to enjoy the story. The
novel begins in the year 1812 in England.
The story involves many threads that come together to weave a
masterpiece with an unexpected ending.
During the time frame of the novel, ballooning was in its infancy. Surprisingly, there is a woman who was raised
to become a countess who would rather fly.
Cassandra is a character that loves the Lord, yet based on the outcome
of an accident that brings her deep pain walks away from Him and her fiancée.
Lady
Whittaker’s son, Giles, has been a friend to Cassandra. He is suddenly thrust into becoming an earl
with the passing of his father and older brother. A major is trying to keep Giles under his
power by blackmailing him. The major
wants to bring Lady Whittaker’s past into the present. A dowry would help repair the mansion and
grounds on the Whittaker estate, except it is withdrawn by Cassandra’s father.
There
is much in the book to keep a reader’s attention from drifting far from the
story. We are introduced through
Cassandra to the nuances of experimenting with ballooning, as well as
understanding God’s great love and forgiveness.
Giles learns that though the path that is before him is not of his own
choosing, God has a great plan. Lady
Whittaker is a character who reflects the wisdom gained from walking with the
Lord, as well as repenting from mistakes.
During the time period of the novel, there is a
revolt as the weavers see machines coming to England and putting many men out
of work. There is more than the weavers’
concerns behind the revolt. Someone
wants the attention on the revolt instead of himself. Who is it?
Who stands to gain the most or lose the most? Is it just money that is at stake? Arranged marriages are a part of the culture at
this time, but just how much are they still?
It
was such a joy to sit back and get lost in the various settings that include
having tea, ballooning, and the English coast.
The threads if the novel include plots of murder, blackmail, fighting,
but also faith, forgiveness, adventure as well as believing. We see how believing in the Lord helps us to
stay the course even when we would rather it go in another direction. Having characters admit mistakes and see how
repentance can make us whole again on the inside is seen. I hope that you make time to read, relax, and
enjoy a wild adventure that includes a mystery!
My
rating is 4 ½ stars.
Note: I received a
complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely
my responsibility. Other reviews can be
read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/
. Also follow me on Twitter
@lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457
